My son attended Holy Name from 1st-8th grade and it was the best experience for both our son and as parents! 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! read more

See all

Holy Name School did an outstanding job preparing my son for high school. He's now thriving in high school - 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. read more

We joined Holy Name last year after spending three years at another private school in San Francisco, and the difference has been amazing. I'd definitely recommend Holy Name to any family looking for a strong, supportive school community. The students here are so much more congenial and supportive of one another--it's a really positive environment. The teachers are excellent: they're well-prepared, provide the right amount of structure, and really know how to get the kids ready for the challenges of middle school and beyond. The aides, afterschool program, and administration are also fantastic--everything feels organized, thoughtful, and student-focused. What really stands out, though, is the community. From day one, we've felt welcomed with open arms. Even as a non-traditional, non-Christian family, we've been included and embraced, which says a lot about how open and inclusive this school is. We couldn't be happier with the move to Holy Name--it's exceeded our expectations in every way. read more

Playing secular music during recess and mornings in the yard for all the kids to listen to while they're innocently playing is not my idea of a Christian School. Including blasting it so loud you can hear it from a block away is not appreciated by residents of this quiet neighborhood. There is also someone that uses a bullhorn early in the morning to speak to the students that is so obnoxiously loud it's disrupting residents from blocks away. My guess is it's the same inconsiderate individual blasting the non-Christian music in the yard. Something tells me the music is not for the kids enjoyment but selfishly their own enjoyment. read more

Holy Name school in SF has a great community of parents, students and faculty. Everyone is so welcoming and my son is getting the best education. He has been at HN since preschool. My daughter and I are HN alumni too. It's so great to see a lot of the same people over the years read more

Holy Name School - Nolan - Elementary Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I feel incredibly grateful that my child attended Holy Name School. After K-5 in public school, I wish we'd enrolled sooner--the academic rigor and life skills taught here have been invaluable. The teachers truly care about the kids, and we've experienced a level of individualized attention that's rare these days. They emphasize organization, challenge each child to reach their full potential, and help prepare them for high school. As a religiously agnostic family, we appreciate that the Catholic component is flexible: Catholic students can delve deeper, while families like ours can engage at a level that's comfortable and still learn a lot. I'm not usually one to volunteer at schools, but the supportive community inspired me to help with events and projects. We've also made great friends through the school. Of course, each class has its own mix of students and parents, and we were lucky to have an awesome group. I'm so grateful my child attended middle school here--those years can be tough, and having a school that helps kids become the best version of themselves within such a supportive community is more than any parent could ask for. read more

Holy Name not only has an outstanding academic and spiritual environment, but amazing sports programs. Both of my children participate in sports all school year from volleyball and basketball, to flag football and soccer. Keep up the great work! read more

Holy Name is a great school. The principal, staff, teachers and parents are all dedicated to help students do well in their academics. I'm really thankful for the Holy Name School community. read more

Our daughter transferred to Holy Name for kindergarten from a great preschool in Santa Rosa. The school year just started and I'm happy to say that the experience has been wonderful. Mr. Miller is a great and involved principal and our daughter's teacher, Ms. Baula, is kind, understanding, and readily available to any questions. As our daughter is coming into a class where half the class knows each other from preschool, I'm glad Ms. Baula put a process in place so that our daughter can easily meet and integrate with the other students. Overall, I'm impressed with the focus on academics, personal responsibility, and being a good upstanding person. My family and I look forward to the rest of the academic year. read more

After a wonderful experience at Holy Name Preschool, our big guy is enjoying Kindergarten at Holy Name. It's been a seamless transition to K and the school has been incredibly supportive. We're still newbies but so far the parent community is welcoming, the teachers seem happy, and the principal goes the extra mile. A great start to "big school"! Thanks Holy Name! read more

My older kid has attended this school for two years now and it has been great! We transitioned from a smaller school and really love this school for the wealth of enrichment programs they have as well as extracurricular activities they offer. The school continues to challenge my kid in academics and I really appreciate the teachers for caring and getting to know my child so well. This year my youngest started K and it has been a much harder transition for her. All the teachers have really supported her so she feels safe and comfortable in her new school. read more

Holy Name has been great for our two children, who switched from SFUSD three years ago, and are currently in 5th and 7th grade. It is the perfect combination of challenging and engaging, teaching the students responsibility and pride in all that they do, while also offering fun and warmth in this family-like community. I feel no doubt that my children will leave HN prepared to tackle the challenges of high school, and I also appreciate the social emotional component provided by two extremely capable school counselors who, between the two of them, are onsite five days a week. The school offers sports teams to grades 3 and up, and intramural teams for grades K-2, and this year they are opening up a new theater arts component, with an auditioned spring musical for grades 6-8. Their theater lighting and tech is topnotch. Check out Holy Name, you won't be disappointed. read more

We love Holy Name! The teachers are excellent. They provide each student what they need to excel. They do a good job fostering community among the students and with the families. read more

Apparently I started this review last year and never finished...It started like this: This is only our first year but we are very impressed and thankful for all that the teachers, staff, and principal (Mr. Miller) have done. We started the year in distance learning and continued that for a few more months, even after the school returned to in-person. The school was so organized and the teachers worked so hard having to teach the in-person and distance learners at the same time. My child struggled a bit distance learning, but despite all this, my child is making progress in math and ELA. The teachers worked with us to help address any issues he's been having. Now that we're in-person, he loves going to school everyday. We're still adjusting to a new routine, but we love it. Now we're in our second year and I still love the school. Now that school has somewhat returned to normal, I am more impressed than before, excited for various activities and functions that we missed last year due to the pandemic. My kid is still learning so much academically and socially. We're very happy we chose Holy Name! read more

Being an alumni and having my daughter come to Holy Name this year warms my heart. Mr. Miller along with Linda Cheetham made the enrollment process quick and efficient. Am very excited to see what the next 3 years will bring to Jojo (6th grade). I'm even more excited to see her walk through the same hallways I did once. I highly recommend Holy Name. They are very welcoming, organized and efficient. read more

Holy Name School - Johanna Cestoni (6th grade) with her sister Jazmine. First day of school at Holy Name. - Elementary Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

Folks, we are on our third elementary school (SFUSD did not work out for us, and our independent school lost its lease last year and closed). We were concerned about another transition for our two kids, especially during the pandemic. But Holy Name is an incredible place: strong leadership from principal Mr. Miller, dedicated and friendly teachers who clearly love kids, and a parent community that is welcoming and diverse. Last fall, Holy Name was one of the first schools to reopen (5 days/week!) because they were so organized. The teachers and administration are very responsive to questions, and the academics are independent-school-level top notch (but for a quarter of the price). Strong community, strong leadership and strong academics- there is a wait list for a reason! read more

Brought both of our boys here to preschool. Very down to earth environment and great curriculum. The teachers and other parents are friendly and very patient with kids. The indoor space is large enough for the groups and the outdoor space is huge compared to other schools. Their tuition fee is one of the lowest in the neighborhood what makes this school a great value and good place for our little ones to spend their days. read more

Worse mistake I ever did was for my daughter not to start at Holyname in kindergarten. Instead, we chose a school near home. But now, she is at Holyname and she is super happy and so are we!! I am not new to Holy Name school. My brother went here, I volunteered in the school for many many years, got married, and my daughter got baptized. I can honestly say Holy Name is challenging my daughter Academically which she needed. But the most important thing that I see in my daughter is that she is extremely happy going to school. The families are very welcoming. The kids are very sweet and respectful. Mr. Miller and the office are very informative and welcoming. Overall, Holy Name so far has exceeded my expectations. Thank you. read more

The school is great and the faculty is very friendly. My son always wants to be in class. When I see him excited to go to school,this just shows how much knowledge he is gaining. Ray Chao read more

We feel lucky to be a part of the Holy Name family. We came in last year when SFUSD failed us. While we expected to return to public school this school year, the community, the academic program and other families had us coming back for more! The aftercare is almost as good as the classroom activity. I'm at peace knowing my daughter is being educated and cared for in the best way possible. read more

When I think about the eight long years I spent at (in?) this joint, the movie Mean Girls comes to mind, and I also realized at a very young age that this conservative school was NOT up my alley. From what I remember, there was a lot of institutional racism, sexism, and it just felt very *closed* in general. I graduated in 1993, so perhaps the school's culture has changed. I *will* give Holy Name credit for preparing me for high school (they had us reading stock quotes in 7th or 8th grade). I had exposure to a more advanced curriculum that kids at neighboring public middle schools didn't have access to, and for that I am thankful. If I had kids, I doubt I would send them here, unless I was conservative (and I'm not) and/or wanted them prayin' at school (and I don't). read more

Holy Name School - Elementary Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

We couldn't have made a better decision. Holy Name School Administration and teachers continue to impress us by their professionalisms as educators and counsellors. Our son is a transfer student from a Christian school in the Bay Area to Jesuit Catholic School, starting 6th grade, right after Covid year. The teachers, especially Mr Ryan & Mrs Mak, continued to help our son with the difficult adjustment, making new friends and keeping up with rigorous curriculum at HNS. We see so much improvement both academic and personal growth in our son. And, this, I must say is all thanks to the teachers at Holy Name. The school besides the Religion class (Me Ryan teaches Religion but it's not what public assumption is when they think of religion; the teachings are to be a good human being to be respectful, to be polite, and the class itself is like a history theology course, it's very interesting) Holy Name also has a course w/ Mrs Nolan called Family Life (they teach kids good morals). Behaviour is huge at Holy Name. You might think, teenagers misbehave and it's just a stage. I can tell you that if no one points out to a child their actions, that behaviour will continue. They teach kids to be respectful towards each other and teachers. And, this is the difference from public schools especially. And, some schools who do favouritism, rules only applied to certain kids. At Holy Name everyone follows same rules. No excuses who is your mom or dad or grandparent. They inform us of issues right away. Education: English subject is divided into 3 course hours; which is very impressive. Vocabulary/spelling , reading / literature, English / (essay writing ) Mr Contreras teaches this class and his instructions are detailed with examples. Yes, at first it was difficult for our son but now in 7th grade he has drastically improved compared to his previous school in writing skills. History class : Mr. Nolan woke the passion in my son to love everything about history. All he does now is read historic events or watch YouTube documentary about historic events like WWI & WWII then constantly talk about things that we as parents did not even know (walking encyclopaedia). Ms B Science teacher: our Son is now excited to work on his own science fair project bs Mom & Dad doing it for him. She broke down the project into lessons. The kids now understand what it takes to come up with hypothesis, how to do the research, and what they must do to actually perform an experiment. I think I am missing so many individuals at holy Name. One person I must say , she is like the Grandmother of 800 kids. She knows everyone by their names , plus the parents. Mrs Cheetham. From day 1 she has been so kind with her communication with us. Small things to big things, very polite and compassionate person. Also, Me Miller, he is always on the school grounds in the mornings and after school, helping parents pick up their children or drop children off. He is very welcoming to conversation. Responds to emails quickly. We really appreciate our new school community. Go Panthers !!! read more

My son attends and really likes the school. There are some really good teachers and staff and the athletic program is good for those who are so inclined. The school excels at allowing participation as an active parent to improve the school or assist with activities, but you don't have to be over the top on where you can volunteer. You can quietly support the school without having to be a leader. Being non-catholic and having my son attend a catholic is not an issue for anyone attending. I figure catholic school is like a subsidized private school, costing less but still having elements of a private school. read more

My son was here for one year. Did not like principal. She was not very nice and seemed to run school without any heart and care for the kids. It seemed like it was all about the money. My son was very quiet and shy. He was asked to leave because he was not participating too much. They did not give him a chance because he was quiet. In our new school ( catholic) he is a straight A student. still shy but excels academically. I would suggest you visit other schools. The principal sets the tone. And this was not good. I see she has been replaced. Hope the school is better now read more

My son is now a student at Holy Name :). I've been very impressed with the organization of the administration, their warm welcoming attitudes, and adaptability during these times. Everyone I've encountered has been wonderful and supportive, and their interest is what's best for the students 100%. Reading the other review below, I'd like to state there's another principal now so unsure how long ago her experience was. read more

The teachers and staff are extremely dedicated to the well-being and the education of the students. I have not seen my kids' teachers, principal, janitor, after school staff took one day off (even during the pandemic.) It's absolutely amazing! Their enthusiasm and diligence are truly admirable. I'm an educator myself and I have never seen anything like this in my life. Go Panthers!! read more

After visiting so many schools, I'm so glad we selected Holy Name. The quality of education is excellent. When my daughter was in K and 1st grade, her knowledge of reading and writing was not comparable to students of other schools. They have a strong technology education too and a strong diverse community. Highly recommend. read more

Our children came from SFUSD. Although we loved our elementary school, we got tired of SF trying to put us to school that is far from our neighborhood and not one of our choices. Since we have friends who attends Holy Name and read the reviews we decided to apply. Our kids love the school and has many great school programs. The teacher and principal are very organized in which they ensure the parents are involved and aware of your child's progress. We are very happy! read more

This review is a bit overdue, but I would really like to get it out there that my experience with this school was not a good one. The teachers here (mainly the upper-grades, aka 6th, 7th, and 8th) have a very negative attitude. I'm not saying that all the staff members here are mean, because throughout my years at Holy Name of Jesus I also met a couple of very nice teachers, but the majority of teachers just did not seem like they wanted to help me succeed. There is very little diversity at the school and a lot of bullying. The staff here address the bullying situation wrong, by stalking students' social media sites and giving them little to no privacy. It would've been nice to have someone like a counselor to talk to, or maybe when a student's grades went down teachers took notice and tried to see if there was a personal reason for it instead of blaming the student and yelling at him/her.... A few kids I knew missed a lot of school here because they just had no ambition to go, or they were really unhappy at the school. The education is okay, but looking back on my years here, it was really not worth all the pain and suffering. read more

Most days, our middle-school student comes home from Holy Name happy and excited about her school day. She tells stories about funny interactions with teachers and classmates. The teaching styles run the gamut--from relaxed to rigid--but most teachers appear to lean toward relaxed and fun. While religion is a part of the school experience, it does not appear or feel too dogmatic for this atheist parent. The school's annual tuition is a good value. The school requests "service" or volunteer hours from parents and students. The school handled remote learning and the transition back to in-person learning well. The indoor facilities are mostly modern and clean. The campus has a gym but not much outdoor space for play and exercise and sun. read more

Our son transferred to Holy Name in the 6th grade and has since graduated 3 years ago. It has prepared him very well into Lowell HS. We were happy with then principal (Mrs. Cosmo), the jr high teachers (Galvin, Rivieccio, Nolan, Contreas, Dea...., after school care (Mrs. Alcira), the music teacher Mr T, Vince, office administrator Mrs Cheetham, and all the parents involved that we've decided to transfer in our daughter in the 6th grade as well. She is now in her last year here. We couldn't be more happier. The new principal (Ms Cirigliano)is a superwoman, taking the school to a even higher level in every way. This is one of the best decisions we made for our children. read more

I graduated from Holy Name in the early 90s. I was well prepared for high school, but to this day have a negative view of the place. I went to a training at Apple Computers in Cupertino last year. One of the trainers went to Holy Name, and we shared some stories. It turned out that we both had negative experiences with the same upper grades teacher. Despite this teacher's discouraging attitude, we both ended up going to college and starting successful careers. That teacher serves as a model for how not to perform my job. read more

My daughter has attended Holy Name since preschool and every year the staff and teacher surpass my expectations. The teachers take great amount of time teaching and caring for each student. My daughter enjoys going to school each and every day. High recommend Holy Name as a parent and as an alumni!! read more

My daughter loves the school! Definitely a good option when looking to start/transfer your child into a school!

My son is currently enrolled at the school. The principal Ms. Cirigliano has incorporated technology into the school since she joined Holy Name family. I love the way school teaches/ disciplines my child. Teachers and principal always keep parents in the loop. As parents we get updates through e-mails and newsletters. Like one other reviewer mentioned, the extended care program is awesome, all the personnels (teaching aids and coaches) memorized/remembered the kids names almost the first week of school. I love this school because it's a mixture of old and young ( very experienced teachers/aids, young energetic teachers/ coaches). My husband visited the school last year and had toured with senior students at school. He was very impressed about how the two students ( one girl and one boy) walked and interacted with visitors around school. If anyone is interested to send their kid to private school, I will highly recommend that they set up a tour with Holy Name. read more

After going through the hassle and frustration with the SFUSD, my husband and I decided to look into private schools. We lined up tours at our neighborhood schools. A couple of the schools were not the right fit for us. One in particular did not feel welcoming at all. When we finally toured Holy Name, I immediately felt "at home". I know it sounds clichéd but that's truly how I felt. The office secretary, Mrs. Cheetham, was (and is) very warm and welcoming. While we waited for our tour guide, we had a chance to look around and see the art work and other student projects that were all over the walls and in the hall. I was very much impressed with the maturity of the 2 students (8th graders!) who took us around the school. They spoke very highly of the staff/teachers and seemed very proud of their school. I will be honest and say that I tried to get some "dirt" from them to see if they were just repeating a script. I got nothing from them and to be honest, I believed that they really were being honest with me. We were able to take a peek into the class rooms and see the teachers in action. I liked that part. But what (or is it who?) I REALLY liked was the Principal, Mrs. Cosmos. My goodness, what a wonderful lady. She gave us more information about the school academics, sports, after school activities and the many opportunities for parents to get involved. She totally sealed the deal for me. I knew that Holy Name would be the right school for my son. While Holy Name is a Catholic school, and religion is obviously taught, you don't have to be Catholic to attend. I have never felt any pressure or pushy-ness (is that even a word?) when it comes to the religious aspect. My son is now is 2nd grade and I still feel the same way I did when I first toured it, I love it. The teachers and staff are great with the kids and genuinely love what they do. Communication with the teachers is wonderful. You can email, call or just talk to them in person without feeling like you are bothering them. While Holy Name School is a hidden gem in the Sunset, I hope this review helps parents with incoming Kindergarten, or transferring students. read more

Holy Name school and church are very family oriented. The new principal has really taken charge and is updating and modernizing the school's policies and direction. The teachers and staff are also amazing. They are very dedicated to the students educational, spiritual, and emotional needs. The school offers numerous extra curricular activities including aftercare programs. They teach and promote high morals to members of the community regardless of their religious beliefs. read more

Holy Name school is family oriented. The new principal has really taken charge and is updating and modernizing the school's policies and direction. The teachers and staff are kind and caring. The after school extra curricular activities are numerous. Both of kids are happily going to school everyday. read more

We transferred our son from St. Anne to Holy Name school two years ago. Wow what a transition he has made here! With a great joy, we witness our son strives spiritually, academically in the school's happy and nurturing environment. Many new enhancement taking place in the school right now are very exciting. The communication between the teachers and parents are open and genuine. The teachers' caring and devotion for the children are most impressive and greatly appreciated. read more

We are at preschool level but this school is great. The teachers are wonderful and the classroom and play space is huge and cute.