Just wanted to update my ignorant review. I'm much older now and recently went back here to attend…read moremass. It's crazy how things just seemed much bigger when you are a child. Going back here as an adult after attending school here up to 4th grade makes everything look so small. They didn't have the big gym back then and it made for the playground to look much bigger. I was surprised to see Sunday mass was not that crowded. Obviously the neighborhood has changed. Back then there were plenty of families with kids in the are. I believe enrollment is way down but that seems to be the trend with all Private Catholic schools. Those of us who grew up going and are now adults just dont see the value with the cost. And with everything so expensive we are just trying to survive in this world. I grew up in this neighborhood as a kid and this was my norm. Only until I was adult I got informed that the Excelsior district was never seen as a "good" area. All I know is the friends and the time I spent in and around Epiphany made it good for me. I hope they can continue as long as they can.

Based on my years being there(1st-3rd) grade it wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst experience…read more I remember in my first grade class, we had cards, red, green, and yellow under our names. If we were misbehaving during class we. Like have to switch it from green to yellow or sometimes even green to red. For some reason that scared me growing up, especially the popsicle sticks. I remember for "tech class" it was up like 3-4 cases of stairs and there were broken windows, a creepy baby doll staring at you, and to top that all of, we didn't even have a tech teacher. Our teacher would just supervise us and make sure we were on the right website, they never corrected anything that we did wrong. It took me a good 3 years to learn how to type properly as they never taught us. When I transferred to a new school in 4th grade, I was a little bit behind, causing me to not understand the stuff they were learning in 4th grade. I was put in a resource group to help to help me comprehend stuff the other students were learning but I couldn't grasp on since I was behind. To this day, I suck at grammar and English. The rest of my grades are A's & B's. I remember at epiphany, in the 2nd grade we were learning about how to tell time on a clock, and we never looked back on that in 3rd grade. The other day, I was helping my younger brother(1st grade who attends the same school as me) with his homework and it was about how to tell time on clocks. I was genuinely surprised as I thought you learn about clocks when ur in 2nd -3rd grade as that was the environment I grew up in. After I had left, a good amount of people left. 3 other people of epiphany went to the current school we attend now.( which I am not naming due to privacy) Now I'm graduation 8th grade, class of 2024 and I'm still confused on stuff i was behind on due to not having enough knowledge from epiphany. Overall, it wasn't the worst experience but it certainly wasn't the best.

We started at St. Paul's as a transfer family from SFUSD several years ago, and I can confidently…read moresay that it was an excellent decision that I wish we'd made sooner. My kids are thriving at the school thanks to the excellent teachers, high level of academics, and warm community environment. My kids especially love all the extracurriculars during school hours - Spanish, library, music, technology and PE class, as well as the extended care program where they can finish homework, play outside, and socialize (screen-free) with their friends. My kids have also taken advantage of the fun rotating specialized after school enrichment class options (like chess, Lego STEM, sewing, sandcastle building, tennis, etc), as well as the CYO sports teams. With respect to academics, teachers tailor instruction for kids individually as needed, so students can work to their highest ability, whether they're ahead of the curve or need a little extra help to catch up in a subject. There is also a learning support specialist to assist students. The community of families and staff feel like the village everyone talks about - people are kind and truly care about one another. We've always felt very safe at the school, both on the physical property and neighborhood, and from things like bullying. Teachers are very responsive to our questions and concerns, and the principal, Ms. Jacqueline Curran, is amazing. She has deep family ties to St. Paul's and truly has a heart for the school and community. We highly recommend St. Paul's for any family looking for a K-8th grade school in San Francisco!

I cannot with clear conscience recommend St. Paul's Elementary. On several occasions my wife and I…read morecomplained of bullying and a threat of gun violence and NOTHING was done. This issue spanned across the tenures of 3 different principles. The only reason we stayed was because we were assured that the problem would be rectified, which it was not. Your kids are better off elsewhere.

OLPH has been such a blessing to our family. This is our first full year at OLPH and we could not…read morebe happier. We transferred from SFUSD. After touring other private schools, we took notice to the smaller class sizes, affordable tuition and super friendly staff. Local restaurants also deliver lunch to school. Both our children shadowed in Feb 2017 and they both loved it. We transferred our son the very next week. Shout out to Mrs. Castillo who made the immediate transition seamless. Now our kids have yet to miss a day of school. They love it! Academically, both kids continue to be challenged. My son has gained more interest in learning and motivation in doing well. He needed the structure and organization that OLPH offers. My daughter loves school. OLPH is one of the few schools that offer TK. Not only is it cheaper than preschool, the program allows for advanced learning with TK and K combined. All the teachers are committed to safety, enrichment and community. There is also never a question of how your child is doing. You can monitor their progress via School Speaks. It is an app that tracks their academic progress, notifies you of future events and current announcements. It is super helpful. Socially, children and families are very friendly. The overall vibe is very family oriented. Parents are dedicated to making sure kids have memorable experiences while at OLPH. The principal is also very accessible and approachable. She is really committed to strengthening our school in all aspects. I can go on and on about OLPH. Come see for yourself how much of a hidden gem it really is. Go Saints!

If I could leave 0 stars I would! Terrible school! Especially the staff is so rude and unkind to…read moreeveryone not just parents but students as well! Moved my child out of there and she has been thriving loving their new school do much better, been on the honor roll every semester since joining the new school. (Which happens to be my alma mater)

I keep getting mail at my house for a student I tried calling a few times 2 months ago and get a…read morevoicemail which is full! I then sent an email and never received a response. The first letter that came was in a manilla envelope after calling and emailing the school I unclasped the prongs to open it to see if there was an address or phone number for this student, inside was a report card a very good student with great grades, I'm sure the guardians would like to see this but none reported. after many attempts to get ahold of anyone to help ( message box still full!) I sent it back return to sender wrong address, today I received another letter this time its in a sealed envelope so I did not open it, I tried searching for student via web search but to no avail, I also tried Facebook but nothing. What should I do.

Both my children have favorable memories of CAT. They felt safe; physical confrontations &…read morerivalries at other public schools seem non-existent at CAT. Talented teachers have a passion for their work. The administration staff is professional & approachable. Day One for Freshmen is closed to other returning students, a considerate way to help these kids transition to high school. In 2008, when my older son first attended, the school had an 'alternative' vibe, emphasizing project collaboration & individual presentation skills. Now in college, my son, compared to students from other schools, has a more developed ability to present ideas to a group of people. He attributes it to CAT nurturing and exercising those skills. Internships give junior & senior classes work experience in retail, government & non-profits. Students are responsible for locating & accessing these opportunities. My children took pride in their accomplishments as interns. Being treated as peers in an adult world contributed to their growth as young adults. My younger son feels that the school's cutting edge diminished over time, as CAT became more like a traditional high school. For eight years, I was happy with the school. Our last day, my younger son's graduation day, was a disappointment because of one teacher who had been fired. The reason behind his dismissal was the bizarre behavior exhibited in his classroom. According to one student who provided evidence: -In class he advocated separation of races, teaching that interracial marriage was wrong. -He taught that gays hire African American males in order to emasculate them. -In a Facebook post, he endorsed violence against women, claiming that Ray Rice "did nothing wrong" in beating his girlfriend, an incident captured on video. -He used class time to present positive views of violence against children as a teaching method, recounting, in class, an incident in which he physically struck his own son because his son sang a song that the teacher considered "too white". The school, to their credit, got rid of him immediately after discovering the situation. Members of CAT's 2016 graduating class, however, when challenged by this seduction of racism, misogyny, & homophobia, failed that challenge. Students embraced the intolerance. Two students gave speeches at the graduation ceremony. Both those students paid tribute to this teacher, accompanied by the approving applause of their classmates. The school did go to great lengths, in curriculum, to expose the historical damage done by racism, misogyny & homophobia. I don't fault the school for students' failure to absorb the importance & complexity of the lessons. Does fault lie at the feet of their parents? With the students themselves? I'm torn. The students are good kids. Why would they honor a man who spewed hatred & bragged about cruelly beating his own son because that child did not share the teacher's hatred of other races? His obsessive vilification recalls the Iranian religious clerics' crackdown on Pharrell's song 'Happy' in 2014. I wonder how many of these students will go on to emulate their chosen role model, and beat their own children while feeling justified in doing so, despite the documented psychological damage those beatings cause in children. Years ago, a news report on Egypt included 6-year olds at an anti-Mubarek demonstration. The children shouted and waved signs, wholeheartedly chanting "Mubarak must go". But realistically, the children were too young to understand the meaning behind their actions. Obviously, adults had fed opinions to the children, who exhibited heartfelt enthusiasm geared more toward pleasing the adults who prepped them, rather than any intellectual objection those 6-year olds had with Mubarak's policies. Does it take more than 18 years for children to begin to think critically, rather than parroting the opinions of manipulative adults? Recently, observing an interracial couple on the street, I couldn't help but notice the loving manner in which they regarded each other. I thought about the arrogance of CAT's teacher, a man who had burned through two failed marriages, yet considered himself fit to judge the marriages of interracial couples as wrong, and taught this nonsense in class. I thought about students in his class who happened to be children of interracial marriages, and the message the teacher thoughtlessly delivered to them, that their lives were the result of disparaged unions. Yet members of CAT's class of 2016 held the teacher in great regard, spoke highly of him at graduation and referred to him as a role model. They gave little, if any, thought to fellow students who were children of interracial parents. I'm reminded of what Philip Zimbardo said in 1971: "We all want to believe in our inner power, our sense of personal agency to resist powerful situational forces. For many, that belief is little more than a reassuring illusion of invulnerability."

Not very organized. My daughter has been attending the school for many years and it seems there are…read morea lot of days off along with half days as the years pass. Because it is a private school, we find ourselves donating money that is "mandatory" for many events along with very few non-mandatory monthly school socials. On a positive note, the Church itself is Beautiful.

This has been my church for 17 years now so of course I'll be biased with my 5 stars. I celebrate…read moreMass every Sunday and on special occasions like Easter, Christmas, etc. This isn't the most amazing church, nor is it the biggest or wealthiest, but the congregation is a small tight knit community who always greet each other with a smile and a hello. After 17 years, I couldn't imagine being a patron at any other church. I walk in and I feel cozy, right at home. I see the same people every week and being an alum of school I still know many of the teachers who come to celebrate student masses once a month. I've even volunteered to be a catechism teacher here. In summary I LOVE ST. FINN BARR.

everyone here is really mean and gaslights you. the teachers do nothing to help you learn and just…read moreyell at you or give u lunch detention if you just don't understand. they don't spend time going through the lesson again to thoroughly teach you to make sure you understand the concept, instead they yell at you or ask u why u didn't pay attention in the first place. this is also really harsh because there could be students who have trouble learning who didn't pay attention the first time and need to listen to it for the second time. the bathrooms are really dirty as people pee on the floor and don't flush their unfinished business. they place their pads on the school walls and always make the floor so wet that its so easy to slip in. i would not recommend this school.

My son has gone to this school since kindergarten and it has been the best place for him. They go…read morefrom K-8 and all the kids are close so are the parents. There is help for people that need help with tuition.

Both our children are current students at SFCS and we are so impressed by their staff. The…read moreenvironment is very warm and welcoming for our whole family. We love how our children are getting a quality education and learning to grow up to be responsible and kind adults. The tuition is very affordable for what they are offering. Our kids look forward to school in the morning and they have fun learning.

My daughter just started high school and I moved my 4th grader here as well. The teachers are…read moreloving and the class sizes are small, so both kids are getting the attention and care resulting in an easy and smooth transition. The staff is wonderful and friendly to provide such a safe and collaborative environment. It has exceeded our family's expectation by far!!!

Sending my kids to St Finnbarr is a decision I have not regretted. Peace of mind know that your…read morekids are in a school where they thrive, enjoy going and enjoy learning. Mrs Mortonson is a super principal. She's extremely dedicated, approachable and sincere. This will be our 5th year and I'm great-full to say my kids love the school, as do we. All the teachers are amazing too. The Spanish program is getting bigger and better every year. We've got 8 more years to go!! Homework club has really helped our daughters homework habits. Our son enjoys chess club and tennis. There is also a many after school enrichment programs to choose from. I really feel like we hit the Jackpot when we found St. Finnbarr. And it seems most other parents feel the same way.

Grateful to be part of the St. Finn Barr community -- a school that blends warmth, curiosity, and…read morecharacter in everything it does. The teachers go above and beyond, the families show up, and the kids grow into confident, kind learners. It's a place that truly brings out the best in everyone who walks through its doors.

Our oldest son started at PP Glen Park and then transitioned to the Noe Valley campus when it…read moreopened in September 2023. We love the teachers, the community, and the location. My son is so happy to go to school and will often incorporate the concepts he's learned in school in his play at home. His favorite unit, so far, has been on the ocean and sea creatures. His teacher, Maestra Olga, is always bringing in new toys that complement the monthly theme and help to bring to life the ideas of what they're learning. The parent community is wonderful and very supportive. The school is on a slow street so most days there's a crew of parents and kids hanging out after school scootering and biking. Our son was able to develop his initial biking skills on the blacktop at school and then hone and expand them with his friends after school.

Primeros Pasos has been an absolutely wonderful preschool experience for our family! Our daughter…read morehas been at PP, both at Silver Park and Noe, for 2.5 years and will complete preK there prior to starting kindergarten in the fall.  The teachers are incredibly nurturing, patient, and dedicated. They have made such a strong impression on my daughter and have shaped her learning not only through unique projects, but also by helping her develop socially and emotionally. They take the time to understand each child's unique personality, helping them grow with confidence and curiosity. The bond that my daughter has developed with all of her teachers - as well as the broader set of teachers that form the PP community - has been amazing to see. I've been most impressed by the Spanish curriculum at Primeros Pasos. The teachers have helped my daughter truly learn Spanish and prepare her well for a spanish immersion kindergarten program. My daughter is constantly engaged  - whether it's through art, storytelling, music, yoga, or play and this has really sparked her creativity and thinking. Beyond the classroom, the sense of community among parents is something truly special. At both the campuses, there is a strong culture of families looking out for each other, being inclusive, and really being involved in the school community. My daughter knows her classmates and many of their family members and we've made some amazing friends through the community as well.  Lastly, I'll highlight that the school's administration and operations have been extremely reliable. There are no surprise days off and there is strong teacher retention. We've come to rely on PP as a really solid and safe environment for our daughter.  We're so grateful to be part of the Primeros Pasos family and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a preschool that truly nurtures the whole child!

I cannot say enough great things about this gem of an independent and unpretentious educational…read moreinstitution! We stumbled upon this school after years of navigating private school options in San Francisco that we could never see ourselves fitting into. They did an incredible effort during Covid to keep the community safe without skipping a beat. We joined in 3rd grade and love the administration, the teachers, and curriculum and social emotional learning is a priority.

Hilldale is an absolute gem. We've been part of the community for nearly nine years and currently…read morehave children in 8th, 6th, and 4th grade. We're deeply grateful for how the school has supported, nurtured, and challenged each of them. The head of school is outstanding, and the teachers and staff are exceptional. We came for the academics and stayed for the school's commitment to developing thoughtful, self-aware, and engaged citizens. Hilldale's core habits of leadership, respect, and independent lifelong learning are woven into every aspect of the experience. The curriculum is well balanced, with strong emphasis not only on STEM, but also on humanities, arts, music, ethics, and global citizenship. Some of our favorite traditions include the Young Authors Project, the Harvest Feast, the Winter Music Concert, and the International Fair, which celebrates cultures from around the world. We've also appreciated how thoughtfully the school meets each child's individual needs. One of our children received early support and accommodations for a learning difference, even before a formal diagnosis, and is now thriving alongside his peers. Another was moved ahead in a subject to ensure he was adequately challenged. Throughout, communication with us as parents has been clear and collaborative. Our oldest is sad to say goodbye after starting in kindergarten, but she leaves well prepared for the transition to high school. We can't thank the Hilldale team enough for their dedication to our children's growth over the years.