Carmel Mountain Preschool
Carmel Mountain Preschool, 9510 Carmel Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92129
About
Carmel Mountain Preschool offers activities such as visiting an art studio, exploring a Nature Science Lab, outdoor play, music and movement, story time, natural and sensory play, soccer, and on-site field trips. Children take part in Circle Time and Conscious Discipline rituals, which can include saying good morning to their friends, high fiving, and giving a hug to their neighbor, along with specialized instruction and hands-on activities that include exploration of art and science.
• Ages: 1–6 years old
• Schedule: Open Monday–Friday, 7:00AM to 5:30PM
Carmel Mountain Preschool is a local family-owned and operated private preschool and Summer Camp Program that includes a play-based preschool, an outstanding Summer Camp Program for preschool students in San Diego, a Spanish Immersion Pre-K class for ages 3–5 in a mixed-age environment, and a My Child and Me class for children 12 to 36 months. The campus features three separate age-appropriate playgrounds, an Art Studio, a Science Lab, an Outdoor Garden Classroom, a Messy Art area, a Soccer Field, new outdoor classroom certified playgrounds added in 2023, an organic farm added in 2023, a grass slide added in 2023, and the CMP enchanted forest added in 2023, with a virtual tour and campus interactive map available.
Carmel Mountain Preschool was founded in 1983, added the upstairs building in 1991, added classrooms 12AB and the upper parking lot in 1994, added classrooms 13 and 14 in 2021, and completed an overhaul of the campus in 2023. The leadership team includes Donna Taconi as Director, Arianne Condrick Bettazzi as Executive Director, and Dan and Pauline Condrick as owners and founders referenced in the school’s story. Pauline has an AA degree in child development, and Dan earned his bachelor’s degree at SDSU in social welfare. Dan and Pauline have been leaders in the Rancho Penasquitos community and support many non-profits that protect and benefit children.
The school’s mission statement describes Carmel Mountain Preschool as a warm, caring and fun atmosphere where children can develop a lifetime love of learning, with a well-rounded curriculum that exceeds state standards and balances superior academics and extraordinary fun. The curriculum is described as designed to enhance vocabulary, awareness of patterns and sounds in language, letter recognition, social intelligence, knowledge of printed materials, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, outdoor play, and exploration of art and science, helping children attain higher academic achievement and encouraging social and emotional growth. Carmel Mountain Preschool operates under License Number: #372005101.
Parent testimonials describe that no two days are alike, with children sometimes visiting the art studio to create art and other days visiting the Nature Science Lab to learn about nature and spend time with school reptiles, and note that the preschool is play-based with significant time spent outdoors on playgrounds and other outdoor areas. Another testimonial states that the preschool experience at Carmel Mountain Preschool was full of love and laughs, embraced a passion for bettering children, and that the family feels lucky to be part of the CMP family.
Last updated March 14, 2026.
• Ages: 1–6 years old
• Schedule: Open Monday–Friday, 7:00AM to 5:30PM
Carmel Mountain Preschool is a local family-owned and operated private preschool and Summer Camp Program that includes a play-based preschool, an outstanding Summer Camp Program for preschool students in San Diego, a Spanish Immersion Pre-K class for ages 3–5 in a mixed-age environment, and a My Child and Me class for children 12 to 36 months. The campus features three separate age-appropriate playgrounds, an Art Studio, a Science Lab, an Outdoor Garden Classroom, a Messy Art area, a Soccer Field, new outdoor classroom certified playgrounds added in 2023, an organic farm added in 2023, a grass slide added in 2023, and the CMP enchanted forest added in 2023, with a virtual tour and campus interactive map available.
Carmel Mountain Preschool was founded in 1983, added the upstairs building in 1991, added classrooms 12AB and the upper parking lot in 1994, added classrooms 13 and 14 in 2021, and completed an overhaul of the campus in 2023. The leadership team includes Donna Taconi as Director, Arianne Condrick Bettazzi as Executive Director, and Dan and Pauline Condrick as owners and founders referenced in the school’s story. Pauline has an AA degree in child development, and Dan earned his bachelor’s degree at SDSU in social welfare. Dan and Pauline have been leaders in the Rancho Penasquitos community and support many non-profits that protect and benefit children.
The school’s mission statement describes Carmel Mountain Preschool as a warm, caring and fun atmosphere where children can develop a lifetime love of learning, with a well-rounded curriculum that exceeds state standards and balances superior academics and extraordinary fun. The curriculum is described as designed to enhance vocabulary, awareness of patterns and sounds in language, letter recognition, social intelligence, knowledge of printed materials, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, outdoor play, and exploration of art and science, helping children attain higher academic achievement and encouraging social and emotional growth. Carmel Mountain Preschool operates under License Number: #372005101.
Parent testimonials describe that no two days are alike, with children sometimes visiting the art studio to create art and other days visiting the Nature Science Lab to learn about nature and spend time with school reptiles, and note that the preschool is play-based with significant time spent outdoors on playgrounds and other outdoor areas. Another testimonial states that the preschool experience at Carmel Mountain Preschool was full of love and laughs, embraced a passion for bettering children, and that the family feels lucky to be part of the CMP family.
Last updated March 14, 2026.
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