Adda is really such a special school. The teachers are lovely and really seem to care about each student, the curriculum is thoughtful, the class sizes are small, and the arts program is phenomenal. I hadn't thought that arts portion would matter so much to me, but let me tell you, 3 year olds singing Paul McCartney at the winter concert is really a sight to behold. Memorizing material and getting on stage to perform at such a young age is really a wonderful gift to give to kids. I'm also continually impressed with the art teacher and what my kids bring home. The community is also a really nice group of families. There's no big fundraising campaigns which is so refreshing in a private school environment. So glad we found this school. read more

We have had an amazing experience at Adda Clevenger. Our daughter is entering her third year here. We were coming from the public school system, which had served our daughter exceptionally well in elementary school. However, when she started middle school she was missing several teachers due to staffing issues and we made the decision to explore private options. Adda Clevenger was able to offer our daughter a spot in their 6th grade class several weeks in to the school year and has served our family exceptionally well ever since. Our daughter has very full days filled with instruction in the core curriculum which includes math, science and English as well as dance, theater and visual arts. The classroom size is small and allows her to really bond with her classmates in an environment that fosters creativity and freedom of expression. The kids have very full days but all to the good-- our daughter always come home tired but also excited about what's been happening in school. The community has been welcoming and offers many events over the course of the year in the form of dance, choir and theater performances that exhibit the progress the kids are making and provides us the opportunity to connect with other parents. This is a much more engaging and enriching middle school experience than I ever had as a child. The school is vibrant. Music binds the entire operation together. Truly a beautiful, well-oiled education institution. Our family is very grateful to have found Adda Clevenger. read more

My children completed their first year here after leaving a Montessori school. Hands down the best school experience I've had. I didn't want to have my children in SF public schools because of the politics played in various aspects of placement, curriculum, etc.. I wanted a school that my children would feel community around and be focused on learning. Adda checks all the boxes that I wanted as a parent. Adda also has a focus on performance and visual arts. Both of my children have found their footing here in that aspect and have demonstrated talent you won't get in public schools. If you want to send your kid(s) to a private school to avoid the SF public school fiasco, this is the one to attend. read more

Great school, teachers are amazing. Wonderful community. They focus a lot on the arts and building character. A unique treasure in San Francisco read more

I currently have 2 kids at Adda Clevenger School, in 3rd and 6th grade. Both of my daughters have been there since TK. This school is a gem. Our family is incredibly happy with the balance of the arts with academic rigor. Not only are we consistently impressed with their voice, confidence on stage, and creativity, but the math, science, literature, and history seems to be instructed in a way that fits each child. But, what we truly cherish the most is the community of children, parents, and teachers and the friends we have made, both from the neighborhood and across San Francisco. We are confident our daughters will look back on their experience at Adda with their hearts full and feel prepared to take on high school! read more

Adda Clevenger School is an excellent PK-8 school. From the moment our daughter joined the community in the 2nd semester of grade 1 from public school, we were struck by the school's unique approach to education--one that values not only academic rigor but also the confidence building through performing arts. If you're looking for a school that will inspire your child to think critically, express themselves creatively, and strive for excellence, Adda Clevenger is a great choice. read more

Our daughter has been attending Adda since she was 3 years old and this school has had a positive impact on her overall development. In my experience the parents who can appreciate what this school offers consider themselves lucky to have found it. The infusion of performance arts throughout the day fosters a community of joy, lightness, collaboration and, creativity. While some kids are particularly talented, what stands out to me is that every child participates in all of the arts/performance regardless of their particular gifts. every kid has something to add and they boldly contribute. There is no negotiating away the rigor in the sciences, math, grammar, geography etc. I really have enjoyed watching how articulate and curious our daughter is in the world around her. The parent community is extremely down-to-earth and everyone focuses their energy on making sure the children get the best education possible without pushing any special agendas. Admittedly it is a long day at school (although for two working parents, the 8-5 schedule is very much appreciated) ...we find our daughter still able to take on some extracurricular activities some nights of the week (ex. 2hrs of gymnastics on one week night) and she still stays on top of homework. Last thing I will say is that I really love how all the grades interact with each other freely & with respect. For many SF children who are "only" kids, it's nice to see them have "the big sisters/bros" in the upper grades and also see that same caring energy shown to the kids in TK/K. Overall we feel very good about this school and would heartily recommend! read more

My son is a rising 3rd grader at Adda Clevenger. He has been there since Kindergarten. The school is known for its performing arts program, which is impressive, but Adda Clevenger is also fantastic at math and science. What I love most about it is the relationships the kids have with each other. The 8th graders are friends with the Kindergartners. Faculty, staff, and students are kind, good people, and Adda is a special community. read more

Our son is currently in 7th grade at Adda Clevenger. We transferred in from one of the top public schools in SF at the beginning of 4th grade. Our son is bright but was bored at his former school. There wasn't enough physical activity or arts to really keep him engaged and he often complained that he wasn't learning anything. Testing at Sylvan Learning Center showed he was at or above grade level for math and he was reading at the 9th grade level but he was behind in his writing skills. He was frequently in trouble and sent to the Principal's office 2 or 3 times a week. From day one at Adda Clevenger he's been held to a higher standard and that seems to be what really motivates him. The kids have lockers and class schedules and have to learn to manage their own schedule. It seemed like a lot at the time but it's been great for him. Our family has two working parents and we wanted our son to have art, music and dance so we were really happy to find out about the full-day schedule. The school does a great job of interspersing dance, PE, speech and drama, music and visual arts between the more academic subjects and that's great for our son. The small class size enables the teachers to have a working relationship with each student. I have joked that at ACS, there's no where to hide but it's true. If your child hasn't done an assignment, their teacher will notice and often may ask them about it that day. That's been really helpful during remote learning! At our previous school, we had some uneven experience with teachers but I can't say we've had a bad teacher yet at Adda. In fact, I would say they've all been good, but more than half of them have been exceptional, particularly in math, history, science, language arts, visual arts, dance, music and speech/drama. Ok, that's mostly all of them. There has been some teacher turnover, but we've really liked the new teachers as well. I think what we like the most about this school is how we've watched our son's love of learning re-ignite, how he's not afraid to take risks with assignments, and how he's not doing the bare minimum to get the grade. We really feel confident that he'll be very well prepared to succeed in any type of high school program and even beyond. read more

From the day our son entered the doors at Adda Clevenger, the message from the school was clear and consistent: we welcome you and will always have your child's best interest in mind. An important distinction at Adda Clevenger is the low student to teacher ratio. We have found that this has allowed the teachers to focus and adapt to the various learning styles of students, and ultimately embrace those differences. It has also resulted in strong communication between teacher and parent, providing us with enhanced visibility and a healthier engagement in our son's development. The teachers are top notch and reflective of the administration's diligence with each hire. During the pandemic, parents had first-hand experience as we listened to teachers patiently lead online classes, navigate disruptions and hold the class's attention. In short - they saved us. Teachers are shown gratitude for their leadership, empathy and good-nature they genuinely express to their students. It is another reflection on the administration that staff is appreciated and valued. The school has a very supportive community of administration, teachers, staff and parents. There is a mutual feeling that everyone is "all-in" when it comes to creating a positive, nurturing, challenging and memorable experience for the children. Before and after school events, it's not uncommon for members of the community to help set up and clean up - it's not required, but such actions speak volumes about the shared sense of ownership. The curriculum sets high expectations, however the differentiating factor is that students actually take the lead in setting these standards through their natural intellectual curiosity and positive attitude towards learning. This is truly unique, and has created a healthy love of learning among the student body. read more

My kids have gone to Adda for years and I can't imagine a better place for them. I could go on and on about everything they've gotten in terms of poise, performance, academics, character and confidence. Adda is not a school designed to churn out dancers-- it's an educational philosophy of how kids can learn by incorporating art into everything. Just go see a dance show to witness the amazing body confidence of junior high girls and the lack of any "I'm too cool for this" eye rolling by anyone. Beyond the stellar academics and performance skills, the kids are friends with kids in other grade leveled from TK-8, giving them the inter-age relationships that are so valuable to kids' development that is sorely lacking in a place like San Francisco where so many people are transplants. But the really remarkable thing is how great Adda is for our entire family. There is no required volunteering and no fundraising and the school is 8 am- 5 pm-- not counting aftercare. No performances or award ceremonies are held during the day. It's a school and a school community that assumes both parents have full lives -- whether they chose to work outside the home or not. I can't count how many times a parent has helped me out in a last minute lurch and how many times I've done the same. There is never any judgement -- only support. read more

Amazing combination of academics and performing arts. Our older daughter has been attending since kindergarten and loves daily dance, chorus, and visual arts, alongside language, math and other academics. Our younger daughter will start soon in TK. All of the teachers have been incredible in lower school, and the overall experiential philosophy of the administration has been a great fit for us. The parent community is also wonderful and welcoming and brings a neighborhood school feel that we are grateful to be a part of. read more

We started Adda when my oldest son was in 4th grade (now in 7th). At the time, we didn't know much about the school but knew that they had space for him because of the smaller class size of each grade which in itself sounded great. We also liked the K-8 option so he would not have to move for middle school. He was struggling in public school for several reasons and needed more support. At the time, he never had a dance class or much exposure to music as he was mostly a very athletic kid who is into sports and gaming. We were willing to give it a try and are so glad we made the move. Because of the small school, all the kids (and teachers and staff) get to know each other well. He immediately felt at home and made friends quickly. He even started to thrive with the dance and music classes. These classes actually inspired him to play more music at home and he went on to teach himself the piano and ukulele. This school has made such a difference for his body and mind by not having to sit all day. He will go from dance to history to music to math... it keeps his body and brain moving which is great for an active growing boy. The academics are very rigorous and the day is long (8a - 4:50). The kids really learn how to be a prepared student and to advocate for themselves along their academic path. Overall we have found this to be good for him because even now, he's not always the most organized. This year, my younger son also joined the 4th grade class at Adda Clevenger. Even though he has only been distance learning so far, he has been able to make friends and has had so much support from his teacher that the move was seamless. He is even finding his voice in music class which has been fun to witness. Overall, Adda has done an amazing job with online learning. The kids are super engaged throughout the day. All the teachers are really inspiring and committed to helping the kids. Adda has grown this past year, in many positive ways, to support a new model of education. They have upgraded all their internal systems to continue to provide excellent education for the kids while doing distance learning. They have set up cameras in the classrooms, which is where the teachers teach from and have arranged the school day to make for an easy transition back into the classroom (when we choose to go back). This new technological feature is also proving to be good for when the air quality is bad - now there is an option to teach kids at home seamlessly. In working with SFDPH they have already been able to get some of the kids back to school by making several adjustments to each classroom and the school day as well as the building itself - all keeping with the protocol for Covid safety. This is very important to us to know they are doing their best to keep our kids (ultimately our family and community) as safe as possible. The parent community at Adda is also welcoming and supportive. We come together for community building around the many musicals and dance programs and other events throughout the year (which we are still adjusting to and trying to figure out how to do because of Covid restrictions). Over all, it's a great community and school if you are looking for a more personal, small school vibe for your kid. read more

My two boys have attended ACS for years and it has been such a remarkable experience for our family. My hyper-intellectual son thrives in the accelerated academic curriculum, which is well balanced by the school's focus on the performing arts. My super-artistic son is also thriving, with so many opportunities for creative expression integrated into his day-to-day schooling. They couldn't be more different, but each has found a place at Adda that I don't believe they could have found anywhere else. read more

Two years later I have to say that ACS was not willing to work with our younger son when he had some behavioral challenges. They have some teachers who understand positive discipline and restorative practices but some of the other teachers and both the relevant administrators (lower school director and school owner) tried to break my son down rather than work with him. They say outwardly they do not accommodate special needs and they really mean it. read more

Adda Clevenger provided a solid, well-rounded education to my two children who both attended K-9. Academically, the school delivered. Both went on to top private high schools and had little trouble earning acceptance. Their SSAT scores were strong and their grip on key subject material matched or exceeded their peers'. As they wrote their high school essays, both kids had solid writing skills and the quality of their instruction was manifest. The performing arts experience was a huge plus. Our eldest chose not to pursue PA in high school, but the stage poise and ability to speak to large groups has been a real benefit. Our youngest will probably sing for life. The kids performed at Carnegie Hall, two prominent British venues, National Cathedral in Washington DC, and Davies. The choir won several national awards. To see these kids, standing on stage in front of hundreds of people, perform a challenging solo at the age of 12 is unbelievable. Some may pursue careers in the arts, but for most, it will be experience, skills, and confidence they will draw upon through life. Finally, we're so focused on evaluating the specifics that we lose site of the stuff you can't measure - social development. Kids here are having fun, they are building lasting relationships, and they really enjoy being at school. The camaraderie they build through the performances shapes them into solid team players who can take the lead when called on. Because they spend 8 hours/day together and must rely on one another in the shows, they learn to work out their issues. They graduate as confident, poised, articulate young men and women. If we had it to do over again, we would have made the same choice. read more

I can't be more happy with Adda Clevenger. My son is a kindergartner who loves this school. There was a time when I treated private school as a pre-cursor to when we might get into a good public school in the city, but Adda has changed that. We've moved closer to Adda thinking that this is a long-term proposition and we've stopped even applying to public schools. At Adda, the curriculum allows my son to find confidence in the things that he does best. Add to that the fact that the parents are some of the most forward-thinking, tech-friendly people in the city, and you have a great, great school. A+. read more

Adda Clevenger was a transformational place for both of my daughters. Their confidence, poise and grace and deep friendships with their peers. Don't be fooled by the humble exterior there is an educational powerhouse here. Also since I'm celebrating the families and other parents are amazing ! read more

Dear Prospective Parents, Future Students, and anyone looking for information about this school. My brother transferred from Discovery School to Adda Clevenger in 1996, I then started at Adda Clevenger at the age of 3. I never felt like I lacked in academics or sports, because where we were missing sports, we were given Theatre and Music. From 1996 to 2007, I had the opportunity to perform in over 40 different productions, both amateur and professional. Now, if your child expresses interest in the performing arts, this is definitely the school for them. It may be pricey, but well worth it. Our teachers ranged from Olympic Athletes to Dancers from the Russian Ballet to Lead Tenors and Conductors. Adda Clevenger prepares its students for high school academics but gives us the competitive edge of being incredibly outgoing and comfortable in front of crowds! read more

Adda Clevenger School is a great place for kids. The dual curriculm is european based for academics (a great deal more rigorous than other schools) and custom made for theater arts. This school teaches kids how to be comfortable with public speaking and they are immersed in music. These kids work hard! and it shows :) read more

My son started at Adda last year and is now in the 2nd grade - I don't think I could have made a better choice of school for my child. My son loves school and I often have trouble dragging him out of there at the end of the day! Adda offers so much that it is hard to summarize here, but I will try: Academics - My son is a bright kid with a love of science and language. The academics at Adda are rigorous and deeply engaging. In the last year his reading has taken off! And his favorite classes are science and creative thinking and design. Adda graduates consistently go to the best high schools in the City because they are challenged - I know he is in good hands academically. The Arts - Adda is absolutely not about raising "stage kids," despite a strong focus on theater and singing. Instead, the goal is to raise kids that take risks, are resilient, and who are poised and confident in front of a group. If you meet Adda kids, they shake your hand, look you in the eye and are comfortable speaking with adults. I already see that my son is emulating the older kids and growing in this way. It is exciting to see! Fitness - Between gymnastics, dance (ballet, hip-hop, tap!) and running around at lunch and recess, Adda kids get a ton of exercise. I have a boy who needs to move a lot during the day and he has countless opportunities to do just that. I know it helps him focus and he never has trouble sleeping! All Day Program - Adda kids go to school from 8am-5pm. For me as a working mom, this is an amazing and rare offering. They have time for all of the academics plus a ton of exercise and creative expression. And when they get home there is rarely homework to do - they get it done in study hall, which means the evenings are family time. Community - Many families live near the school and so there is a real sense of connectedness, despite living in the middle of the City. And it is a tight-knit parent community, full of creative and engaging people who contribute their many talents to better the school. If you are seeking an excellent, well-rounded education for your child in SF, Adda should be at the top of your list. read more

I attended Adda Clevenger from preschool to 3rd grade. I was one of the first 10 students to start the school back in 1980. I absolutely loved this school! I have such fond memories of going here, when Mrs. Harrison was still teaching out of her house in the Sunset. I loved the day trips, going to Santa Cruz or Golden Gate Park. I loved the performances (my parents still have some of those on video tape! yikes!), loved being in the Nutcracker, loved being in that Pat Benetar video! (Man, I was so cool at 7 years old, and I didn't even know it!) I loved the friends I made there. I loved summer school and ballet and gymnastics and music and art... I feel that this school gave me the foundation I truly needed to become a pretty smart and decent human being. I just hope that when I have kids one day, they too, will be able to go here. Actually, I just hope that I will be able to afford the ridiculous tuition! :D read more

This school Rocks! Truly, there is a student rock band for the upper grade students and the kids are really talented. Our kindergarten daughter started last year as a TK student and is now thriving in K, ready to read. Adda Clevenger has a very special program that allows students the necessary academic preparation, while balancing academics with opportunities to run, jump, play, dance and exercise. Math, Science, English, History, etc are all well covered, but in addition to the basics, students get the opportunity to take tap dance, a foreign language, arts and crafts, music, gymnastics, ballet, and Physical Education. Every day students get 2-3 hours of being active and exercising their minds in a physical manner. Our daughter loves the diversity in her day and when we pick her up at 5pm, she says she could go another hour. The Kindergarten curriculum is spearheaded by a passionate and very talented Ms. Reed, whom the kids absolutely adore. As a parent, one of my favorite parts of the Curriculum is the Civility course where K-8 students meet together in small groups and work on community issues, collaboration, treating each other with respect and many other topics. The application process and discovery of the school was at our own pace, with little pressure. We appreciated the low key nature of the process and found it a relief from the rat race at many other schools. Visit and consider, you won't regret it! read more

Before choosing a kindergarten for our son, we toured all the public and private schools in the area. Anyone who has done this knows how much time and organization this takes. Perhaps I can help shorten your research time by writing this review! We chose Adda Clevenger for two reasons: We were very impressed by the kids in 8th grade. They were all going to top high schools, a claim all private schools make, but what was most striking was their kindness and confidence. My husband and I both come from pretty academic backgrounds but when we really thought about what makes as person happy and successful in later life, we realized that confidence and the ability to relate to others is just as important as good grades. Here was a school that not only understood that, but had a unique way of nurturing that in its students. The second reason was that our son spent two days trying out the school and preferred it to any of the others he visited. My eldest son is now going into 3rd grade and my younger son started the TK program last year. Both of them love their teachers, are excelling academically and even after the comparatively long school day, they just don't want to leave! We love how so many activities that some schools would consider "extra-curricular" are built into the everyday program here. This helps both my high energy children get the let out they need before they return to the classroom and makes a big difference to their ability to concentrate. And if you've never seen a group of 5 year olds do a choreographed hip hop routine, you are really missing out! Adda Clevenger is a school for the "whole child" and by incorporating the arts, physical activity and good citizenship into every aspect of their education, it's clear that they produce exceptional graduates and very happy students along the way. read more

Altough we were lucky enough to tour Adda Clevenger in person before the Covid shut down and knew right away the school would be a great fit for our family and our daughter, we ultimately continued the admissions process under Covid restrictions. We happily accepted the school's offer for our daughter to join Adda Clevenger's K class for Fall 2020. The school's full day of 8-5pm of learning (with 5-6 aftercare when not living in a pandemic) is huge plus for our family as both parents are working professionals. This school is truly special in that in addition to its strong academic foundation, the curriculum also includes: art, music, dance, civility and PE everyday! This school definitely churns out children with confident public speaking, performance and collaboration skills. We have been super impressed with the school administration's preparedness and efficiency to re-open in person learning (with the option to remain remote for families that chose to do so). Because of the administration's tenacity during the approval process to safely reopen along with the school's commitment to their students, Adda Clevenger was one of the very first schools to be approved by the county of SF to reopen for in person instruction. As parents, essential workers and working professionals, we are forever grateful that we chose this school for our daughter. She is thriving, learning and most of all having fun with her peers and teachers. read more

As a father of a nine-year-old (4th grade) boy with a European background, I can only whole-heartedly recommend this school. It is small, has very high academic standards, and has this unique focus on the arts. Talking to the school's leadership as well as to the teachers always gives you the feeling of authentic passion for education, a deep-rooted belief in humanism, and a holistic view of what a child needs. Our boy has thrived in this school and is happy. And quite apart from the rigorous academics his emotional as well physical abilities have flourished. read more

We have two children at the school and they love it. And we love it. They get a great academic education and they both are learning so sing, dance and perform in front of groups of people. The self confidence that they have developed and will continue to do so over the next few years is bar none the best education they can receive. Best kept secret in education in SF. read more

It's been a great school the past 2 years. She has excelled academically and truly enjoys going to school

If your child loves the performing arts and you want them to have a great academic education, then Adda is for your family. We transferred our daughter mid-year during 3rd grade. She went from liking school to loving school and being excited about it. She really likes her classmates, which are an amazing group of children who are equally excited to be there. She also likes the rich mix of classes that alternate between arts and academics and the teachers who inject passion into the material they teach, because it's their specialty. The new head of school has been making positive, thoughtful and progressive changes, which some we had previously suggested. read more

My boy girl twins have been at Adda since Jan 2018 for almost a year now. Every aspect of this school has far exceeded my expectations. Being a single working parent, I can't say enough about how valuable this 8-5:15pm program is to me. Even after such a long day, my twins tell me: "Mommy, can you please pick us up late everyday?" They love the school: the teachers, the administrators, and their classmates; they even know most of the upper class kids' names! Coming from a very academic upbringing in China and having gone to MIT undergrad, I really wanted something more creative for my kids. I found everything I was looking for and more. The performance art aspect of the school is a fantastic tool for little ones to acquire early on in their lives. This skill seems almost intuitive to the upper class kids after years of getting on stage. They command the stage with ease and cheer each other on as a team. Wish I had more of this when I was in primary school. I can go on and on but one thing the school is amazing at is putting love and heart in everything they teach. I'm lucky to find a school with truly loving teachers and kids and parents! read more

I graduated from Adda Clevenger several years ago. Throughout my years there, I made many friends to whom I got very close. I always felt that the school lacked much though. For example, I always wanted to play a sport, but this school never allowed me to because of the extremely long school day. I also feel that having 3 major shows a year are unnecessary when we should be having more academics. The academics in this school are incredibly weak. This is because all the school focuses on is the performing arts. Another thing that really distressed me was how the teachers would change constantly. I never was able to bond with any teacher. On the other hand, this school helped me get in to one of the top high schools in the Bay Area. With all the shows and trips, I stood out from many other kids applying to high school. So, in the end it did pay off. I wouldn't recommend this school to any children who want to enjoy activities outside of school because they simply wont have the time. read more

We have 2 boys here. The school brings out the love of learning. My oldest comes home and talks about science, history, and is getting exercise in school! They are learning gymnastics, dance and music, which is providing him another whole depth of his personal growth. We have toured ALL the independent schools in SF. Adda is different. Most schools in SF are alternative, which makes them all the same. Adda encompasses everything from academics to the arts. It is an all day school, which is HUGE! I The main reason we chose Adda was the remarkable difference in the students. We heard students speak at all the popular schools in SF and Adda by FAR had the most articulate, well-adjusted, confident students speak. These children I knew would have a strong start in life. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but don't let shiny objects fool you, this is because this school spends money where the students benefit the most, into the curriculum and the teachers. The curriculum is a Major point of difference that one should look at. We couldn't be happier. The teachers are incredible and you can see that through the students. The admissions director and principal took great care getting to know our boys and us during the process. If you have boys don't get scared off by dance and theater, it will teach your boys to be comfortable with themselves and the confidence they convey already in the 8th grade is mind read more

I transfered to AC in middle school from a public school. Mrs. Harrison wold constantly refer to public schools as "government schools" and would make me feel really horrible about being a lot different than the children she had molded. The 2 years I spent there were torture. The children were always innapropriate with each other and the staff definitely knew about it. We spent more time in some classes talking about our teachers home problems than actually learning. Thank god one of those teachers drifting through had some empathy and spent time tutoring and mentoring me. She was the only good thing about my experience there. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO THIS SCHOOL! read more

My daughter attended Adda Clevenger from 1st through 8th grade. She loved the performing arts, especially the tap and ballroom dancing. We felt that having so many physical activities during the day helped her focus better during the academic time. As working parents, we found having a longer school day and a longer school year helped us too. She got accepted to every high school she applied to and that is a real measure of success. read more

I wish I could have gone to school at Adda Clevenger. This school not only excels in academics, but also in fostering creativity, curiosity and physical health. My son is thriving there. You'll never hear him, or any of his friends, say that school is boring. read more

Our kids have been going to Adda Clevenger since kindergarten, and they love the school, and so do we. The school excels in academics--the curriculum consistently goes beyond grade level. The class sizes are small so that the students get a lot of attention from the teachers who specialize in that particular subject. The school also has an exceptional performaning arts curriculum, with kids learning to read music and perform in front of audience from kindergarten on--skills that will last them the rest of their lives. We highly recommend this school! read more

Our second grader loves Adda. The combination of academics and performing arts seems to be the perfect fit for her. The school philosophy of making kids self-confident through performance arts so they can excel in academics, and life in general, truly works! We are so happy we chose Adda Clevenger for our daughter. read more

I am a current eighth grader at Adda Clevenger, and I have attended this school since pre- kindergarden. I can honestly say I could not have gotten a more spectacular education. I have discovered so many unique skills at Adda that I would never have found elsewhere. Adda Clevenger's faculty, performing arts, and academics all rock, and I am currently getting more than enough help on the application process to high school. I recommend Adda Clevenger to everyone who wants their kid to discover their own amazing qualities. read more

I transferred into Adda in 3rd grade and found it to be incredibly different from my past Catholic School. Smaller classes; music, dance and acting mandatory; get out at 5:30 each day. But I got used to it and later realized that this school is just different from other schools. One negative is the teachers, teachers seem to flow in and out of the school and only a couple have stuck with it for a long time, specifically in the math and english departments. This was a little annoying (especially in english) because of the many different dynamics the new teachers have. If I were to go course by course rating, I would say that the math department is probably the strongest, the last math teacher I had was very good at explaining and prepped me well for High School. Science is very good, although, almost no homework was assigned for it so I was in for a shock when in Crystal Springs I was getting daily biology assignments that COULD NOT be turned in late, but I did learn a good amount there. The arts are the school is for, early on kids learn music theory and good singing form and Mr. Huddleston's Drama class is wonderful, Mr. H has the class cold read 2-3 Shakespearean plays a year, trains us for speech competitions and is a great actor himself. The dance department unfortunately lost it's ballroom teacher, who was phenomenal, and only has ballet now (I believe, you'll have to ask a current kid there.) The English department is not the strongest, it did not prepare me for Freshman High School English, and the teachers were very casual in their grading. The history department is pretty much only American history taught by the principal with modern news (with a republican overlay, i.e. always FOX.) The only other history is from Drama class, where I was lightly introduced to Greek+Roman history and middle age Europe. There is no language, they did do introductory Spanish, but have stopped. All in all, it mostly prepared me for high school and I had a pretty fun time there. read more

Adda Clevenger is completely different from other schools and ideal environment for our high-energy, outgoing kid. The emphasis on theater arts sets the school apart. 45-minute sessions of studio art, drama, dance, choral music and PE/gymnastics are integral parts of the 8-hour school day. The quality of the musical theater productions , in which all students participate, is impressive. Upper school students travel to the eastern US and Europe to perform. Academics are solid too, with most graduates attending Lowell and competitive independent high schools. Even in kindergarten, the kids have subject teachers in different classrooms, just like middle school. Teachers specialize in subjects they like to teach. No child is stuck in a class with a teacher they don't work well with all day, every day, for an entire school year. Classes are small, with a teacher and an aide in each class, so behavior is well-managed and each child gets plenty of attention. Generous lunch and recess breaks afford plenty of free playtime. The student body is diverse for a private San Francisco school, and the parent community is unpretentious and friendly. read more