As a San Francisco native who has lived in this city my entire life, I have watched St. Ignatius's…read moreculture since I was a teenager. It is heartbreaking to see that after all these decades, nothing has changed. In fact, it's gotten worse. They almost won me over with their presentation, but it's all fake. Throughout the admissions process, they do this aggressive sales pitch to get the kids excited. They send out "pick us" emails and even have applicants start picking out freshman activities and clubs as if they are already part of the community. While other schools do a bit of this, SI is on another level of aggression. It is dangerous and honestly sick to manipulate young, impressionable kids into imagining their whole future there, just to turn around and reject or waitlist them because they don't have the "right" last name. My kid is a First Honors student and a dedicated student-athlete. My kid did everything right and proved they belong in any top-tier classroom in this city. It is insulting to see kids in the exact same class with extremely poor grades get accepted while a First Honors student is sidelined. I understand that legacy can help maintain a school's culture, but you cannot put unqualified kids in that environment at the expense of students who have actually earned their spot. It proves SI is prioritizing family trees over academic standards. It's a "who-you-know" club masquerading as a meritocracy. If you are a hard-working SF family without a legacy connection, don't let them waste your time or your child's heart. . As a native, I'm done with the SI "tradition" of prioritizing connections. Parents deserve to know the truth before they pay that application fee.

It's been over 45 years since I've visited the campus save an event that my friend invited me to…read moreattend about 13 years ago at the girls' gymnasium. With that being a sit-down Father's Club event, I didn't tour the campus nor interact with many people other than those at our table. My thoughtful and generous friend and fellow alumni (7 years my junior... yes, I'm ancient) invited me to the 2025 Red & Blue Celebration (the school colors in case you wonder) (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=5s3hwZL7O__cD3sB352W0A) (thanks for giving me this sense of appreciation). The school changed, dare I say, actually evolved since I was a student there. It's co-ed now, unlike the boys only policy when I roamed the halls. There are tennis courts, a training room, a swimming pool, and a women's gymnasium, besides a spacious library and new theater here. Since my 2012 visit, they've torn down the Carlin Commons and the Orradre Chapel to build a student center and expand the campus. There are piazzas and viewing decks (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=oOKX0YeUCx8PkpynlKc-PQ), an improvement from our view of the sand dunes and the Pacific Ocean back in the '70's. The view (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=FGD9kf2tLvU3ivSZPNSCpA) is still there but the sand dunes are gone. You know you're old when buildings or halls are named after staff who you personally met as they taught at the school. The event was festive and a great way to reconnect with fellow alumni and possibly classmates. I met one and was surprised that he remembered me and, yes, I remembered him at the mere mention of his name as one of the participating food donors to the event (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=dcKbKC0yJ_bdKMg4I8dBnA). I met another acquaintance in the local restaurant industry and got to catch up with him (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=4wgzMRh0KVTIvEjhaWklYw). It was nostalgic yet at the same time exhilarating, seeing the passion of the alumni who participated in this event, whether contributing or attending. The night ended with a heartwarming encounter with a recent graduate who returned for this event. After getting her degree from an Ivy League university, she was taking photos of the campus like I did and was preparing to take a selfie. My gracious host took the photo for her and we struck a conversation. What we learned was that she just graduated and just moved back to the Bay Area to start her career. My deeper reading is that the loyalty, devotion, and gratitude from former students to the school for providing them the necessary tools to realize their dreams and goals. To me, that is invaluable. Bear in mind, my perspective is from an alumnus, not a student.

As a student of this school the teachers are nice and the the place is clean the place is just over…read moreall really great. There is also barely any bully and actively there is no bullying. However the lower level boys bathroom is dirty due to kids peeing but missing the toilet or urinal

I pick up my niece here once in a while when needed. Love that they have the conveniency of a…read more'drive-thru' to pick up your child. lol. Since there aren't enough parking to park and run in and pick up your kid.

My son attended Holy Name from 1st-8th grade and it was the best experience for both our son and as…read moreparents! Transferring from private, non-religious school in Sacramento, I toured a few selected private schools. Holy Name wasn't the closest to us, however it was 1000% worth the drive. Holy Name instantly felt like home and this welcoming environment is what I wanted for my shy 6 year old. Not only did they help him learn and grow, but he led the 8th grade musical as the lead male role!! Holy Name truly cares about each and every one of their student body and it shows. Holy Name is an amazing community that immensely cares for its students and families and I am greatly honored to know my son is apart of its family!

Holy Name School did an outstanding job preparing my son for high school. He's now thriving in high…read moreschool - keeping up with his coursework while participating in multiple extracurriculars. What really stands out is how well HN sets academic expectations compared to other schools. My son transitioned smoothly into high school thanks to the strong foundation Holy Name provided. The school principal and the entire staff are wonderful. The work they do pays off in a big way for the families fortunate enough to attend. Highly recommend this school to any family looking for excellent academics and genuine preparation for high school success.

Joined a group of my alumni classmates for a tour of our high school after ## years. The school…read morelooks great and what used to be the typewriter classroom is replaced with Apple computers. The back track field is no longer a dirt track but is made of synthetic material and they even have a batting cage too. The names of swimmers who had a high school record used to be on a large blanket hanging on the wall in the Boy's Locker room is long gone but the names are still written on a board. The controversial murals are still up and look great. What used to be the shops in the basement is now an auto class and the only high school in San Francisco that has an auto shop.

School lunch is so bad multiple times there's been mold in them and I'm really close to just eating…read moreit so I can get a lawsuit.

Class of 86. I came from SF public schools, a minority, into sports (soccer). I could have…read morebenefited from affirmative action, but didn't need it. As it was a feeder school at the time (not sure now), many students coming in were top of their class (I was) and later (shockingly) found themselves middle of the pack at Lowell. It didn't affect me, but I realize that for many, that can be rough. If you can't handle that pressure or simply don't want the competition, maybe its not for you. I wasn't a studyaholic like many others at Lowell were (you don't have to be), I wasn't a study nerd. I wasn't in the back lawn crowd either (which were the more popular kids) ... I was very into sports and led a very healthy high-school life, with numerous friends and social activity. I did my fair share of late night cramming, though, I had to in order to keep up the grades. I was very responsible with homework, always on time (or ahead of time) and in good form. I was never the smartest kid in the class, but hard work kept me near the top, which is where I wanted to be. That was a life lesson that would serve me well, throughout my career and to this day. I never needed a tutor nor help from parents, I just assumed my responsibility and did my work. In the end, I had good grades going in and got good grades going out. Top 5% of my class. Looking back, I have nothing to complain about. Competitive ... yes, but so is life. My memories of Lowell are summed by, great school, hard, but manageable if you are bright, hard working and responsible. If I had to do it again, I would.

afraid and scary! i do not want to go to lowell because it's to scary! lowell cardinal mascot looks…read morelike a goku!

My son has one year left at Presidio so I'm apprehensive about writing this review. At the risk of…read moreretribution, I will candidly write my thoughts for parents of prospective students. Starting with first impressions, phoning the school for anything was culture shock! At Argonne, the secretary had known me and pretty much every parent. At Presidio, I felt whoever answered my calls was always abrupt and eager to pass me on to someone else without really listening. They have a folder system where information is supposed to get to parents. That system often fails and I'm sure I've missed out on important information. Luckily there's School Loop. Transitioning was hard for my son as I'm sure it is for many middle schoolers. In 6th, there were a couple of times he did not tell the truth about assignments but his language arts/history teacher handled it well. He was not lenient but he was understanding in that students can make mistakes. This teacher, let's call him Mr. R, made himself available at every step of the way. As time went on, I began to feel like my son, and family, was not just a number. This is a great thing about Presidio--doubling up subjects so students can have less teachers, helps new students feel less like strangers. A big thanks to Mr. R for caring not only about academics, but also honesty and second chances. More recently (7th), my son had trouble with math which was surprising to me. He got through the year because we communicated with his math teacher. This teacher had a different style--not a bad style, but a different style. I noticed that my son would come home with worksheets and never used his math book. This teacher was teaching with more of a college style where the homework wasn't really collected and checked. It was a teaching moment when we sat our son down and explained that he had to take personal responsibility to prepare before tests. It was a costly lesson because my son ended the year with all A's except that one C in math. He will be going to a private summer tutoring program where I have no doubt he'll regain his edge. But back to this teacher: in spite of the low grade, I believe he is excellent in expecting students to take charge of their own learning. Let's call him Mr. H; he provided us extra material to work with at home and the meetings we had were not just talk--real strategies came out them! After that we began to use the textbook as a home reference. I'll add that this teacher has a strange sense of humor that my son thoroughly enjoys. I'm on the fence about that but what matters is his teaching. He is strict and obviously expects students to give their full attention--I like that. Again in 7th, my son has reinforced his love for science. He had always been interested in the subject but kids change their minds. Today, he is more certain than ever about going into this field (and continuing with music). Let's call the science teacher Ms. T. First, I would email her often and felt dissed when she didn't respond after a couple of days. I also was disappointed when I couldn't get a parent/teacher conference unless my son was doing poorly. Finally, I got to meet her and all pre-conceived notions about her went away. I came to realize just how many students she is dealing with. After sharing information about my son and how he learns it was evident she was actually interested, I could not hope for a better science teacher for my son. She's a no nonsense teacher and is very strict about deadlines. But because my son was challenged to work hard, bcs he was made to keep deadlines and he still loves science more than ever, this is one of our favorite teachers! The music teacher brings intense thoughts pro and con. In 6th, I wanted to meet her right away bcs band is an important to my son. The meeting did not go well and I walked out of there in tears from her treatment. My son was also upset. It was heart breaking when he asked me to pull him out of the school. I tried to get him out of band thinking that he couldn't possibly continue with such a temperamental person. There really wasn't a choice. I had another meeting with the counselor, the band teacher, and my son. I felt the counselor was NOT impartial, interrupting me when he felt things were irrelevant but I felt they were important. However, the better person turned out to be the band teacher. She profusely apologized and admitted she had handled our first meeting very badly. I walked out hopeful (a bit miffed at the counselor, but hopeful). It had seemed to me that this teacher had my son pegged as troublesome. Again, the root of the problem, as with other teachers, was not knowing my son. All future interactions were genuinely warm and productive. I was sad to see her go at the end of this year and hope she returns. To new parents: no school is perfect. Adjust to the red tape, give teachers a chance, and make yourself known in a firm but pleasant manner. You know your child best!

Great school! I use to go that school and graduated in 2002 if I remember haha and now my son turns…read moreto go to presidio, he's in 6th grade right and he loves it!

My son went to school here. It's an amazing school. The Principal, teachers and PTA are all…read moreoutstanding. When my son was there, Principal Rosina Tong was very caring and knew all of the students in the specials needs classrooms. She was very active in all of the events, classes, IEP meetings etc. She really cares about the students and the school is so blessed to have her. I went to middle school right next door at Giannini and Sunset used to be John O'Connell when I was in school. They've since relocated somewhere else and I'm so glad that Sunset is now in it's place because it's such a great school. The school is small but it is a very special school. I was hoping my little girl would be able to attend this school but we moved up north during covid. We have returned back to the city and are now at a different elementary school with SFUSD due to the lottery. I'm hoping we can get in next school year. I definitely recommend this school. We loved our time there.

Okay I went here and things changed a LOT…read more This place is wonderfully blessed with tons of caring teachers and staff. Makes me wish I was a kid again!

As a first-time mom, finding a preschool amid the legendary waitlist stories was daunting. We…read morehappened to learn about the Tiny Knights Preschool grand opening, and I can't even begin to express how wonderful the school and teachers are. The actual space is smaller than many other schools we visited, but it was by far the most inviting and gave us the best vibe. It's bright, airy, clean and open. The program is well-rounded and we were attracted to the various schedule options available. They also take kids who are not yet potty trained (extra plus for us!). All that aside, what has made our experience outstanding is the excellent leadership and teacher staff. Prior to attending school, our son had only been left with my husband, myself or his grandparents so the transition was particularly difficult for him (and us!). But through it all, from my first-time mommy anxiety to my son's drop off hysterics, the Preschool Director Ms. Kelly was patient, kind and understanding. She listened to my concerns and offered solutions specific to how my son was adjusting. She and the teachers were very attentive and communicated with me daily on his progress. Any questions I had were addressed quickly and honestly. Best of all, our son now LOVES going to school and is picking up so many more social skills. The teachers here genuinely care for the kids and I'm so grateful to have found a preschool that we have complete trust and have confidence in!

Watched a game of St. Gabriel vs St. Thomas More. Dirty player from St. Gabriel sticking her foot…read moreout more to trip another player from the opposing team. Is this the kind of Catholic example the school sets for the kids???

Here's my honest review of Waldorf High School as an ex-student who was there for their first 2…read moreyears of high school. Starting off with IEPs and students with neurodiversity: when I, along with other neurodivergent students, would bring up how teachers seemed to ignore our accommodations, we were completely ignored by administration. Additionally, I have ADHD, which leads to needing to take occasional breaks from class due to overstimulation--made worse by the often intensive curriculum. When I would take a break and just walk around to clear my mind and noticed a facilities or safety/health issue, I brought it straight to teachers, administration, or the front desk. That's not my business, but I thought reporting it would be seen as taking initiative. Then I would go back to class when I refocused myself. These breaks were at a maximum of 15 minutes. Administration then proceeded to contact my legal guardians, claiming that I was "disruptive," when there were kids in class talking all the time and talking about very messed up and frankly inappropriate topics (which--you guessed it--was also ignored by administration). I will not be discussing those topics as I do not want to damage the reputation of this school that is great for some. I only want to inform and show you some flaws of the school. Anyway, back to the review. Staff had issues with each other and would openly criticize students' dress choices and neurodivergent people in front of other students. I still remember being criticized constantly by students, and teachers doing close to nothing--no follow-ups with parents for disruptive behavior. Maybe that was so "student morale" wouldn't be damaged. I was in art class and tried to make a cow out of clay. The copper teacher then proceeded to take the "cow," smash it back on the clay tray, and explain to me how it didn't look like a cow. He didn't even leave a picture up for visual learners--he just kept it up for a few minutes and told us to "remember how a cow looks." After I left this school my transcript was completely ruined and is extremely confusing for admissions counselors, every class is a .3 etc so it just makes everything confusing when adding credits up. My counselor at my current highschool took about 2 hours trying to "decode" my transcript Also, if you do decide to send your child here, make sure you're not afraid to go to the state if teachers ignore IEPs or accommodations. You will need the help. Also, Waldorf--retaliation based on this complaint will result in escalation to the state.

I don't know if the word negro is a joke within books being produced out loudly. If this is about a…read morebook, teaching or not, the word negro shouldn't be replaced with anything else or misused. This truly misguides student who are not Black and encourages them even more to think that word is okay while being used in school books and teaching context.

UHS has stellar teachers and offers a supportive environment for high school students. The school…read morepushes students hard on the college-prep route. Advanced Placement courses and tough courses all-around. They get you in to college and make sure you do well there. Top notch school. Very greatful for having gone there. They recently added a new building at 3220 Sacramento Street which houses Ceramic and Art Studios, a film lab, offices, and much more. They are in the process of renovating their lower campus on Washington Street and have already completed a new library on Jackson. A new theater was added in 2001.

I was spoiled by my four years here and received an education that is on par with (if not superior…read moreto) that of many universities. Make no mistake the coursework here pushes students hard, but the opportunities here are endless and display an incredible diversity of passions and talents. During my time at UHS, I played on the varsity tennis and badminton teams, played intramural sports, performed in the spring musical, wrote for the school newspaper, founded a club, sang in the chorus, took a photo class...oh and I took a few academic classes in between. The kinds of classes I took included AP US History, Mandarin Chinese, Literature of the Vietnam War, Western Civilization, Calculus, and the list goes on. My only regret? Not studying harder and pushing myself to try more new things. You can be an artist or a businessman. You can explore the sciences or delve into the literature of your favorite foreign language. It really is as much as you want to make of it. The faculty is top notch, with credentials from outstanding academic institutions and more importantly, a great ability to encourage the students to WANT to learn. And let me save the best for last. The students. The people. Ambitious, talented, and bound to do amazing things. Yes, I sound like a propaganda tool. But I cannot say enough about this school. Alumni events connect me to a wide array of grads in locations and industries far and wide. If you are considering sending your child here, you are doing them a great service. Don't let the finances deter you - the education is first rate and financial aid is available to those who qualify.