I had a nun tell me in 2nd grade to go fly a kite--that's as authentic as one can get no?…read more They also had me doing long division by the time I was in 2nd grade vs my younger sister who went to public school in 2nd grade (she was starting single digit multiplication). She switched over to private school for grades 6-8th.

My husband graduated from this school and now our son attends it. We love it. It's a small school…read moreand very community based. The principle and teacher's are wonderful.

Update- kinder and 1st graders are combined classes due to small size of kinders this year. Also…read moresome of the 1st graders are with 2nd graders. Despite of the combos, we do not see any problems with it. I have a kinder and a 2nd grader. My kids love their school, their teachers and peers.

We love Garfield - our son is part of the first TK group to start this year and he's thriving. I…read morelove that the class sizes are small and he'll be in the community through 5th grade. The teachers + support staff are wonderful, they really give time and attention to the full student experience. Our kiddo had trouble transitioning to school-made lunch, so we worked with the teachers and staff to develop a food plan. We've also been invited to a number of school activities for kids + parents (and a few parent-only) and I love the community we're building. Garfield was recently fully renovated from the ground up, so even though it's proudly one of the oldest schools in SFUSD, it's also one of the schools with the newest infrastructure. Also? My kiddo tells everyone he basically goes to school at Coit Tower (and he's not wrong). For anyone worried about the hill: there's a VERY easy drop off and pick up process and the staff keeps it going, so much easier than the other two schools where we had to deal with odd parking/drop off and pick up situations!

I am a Cantonese speaker, so learning to read and write Chinese was my goal. I thought the school…read morewas very effective. There's really only one way to learn new characters, which is by mindless drilling. It's not a phonetic language. For Chinese as a second language, maybe full immersion is not the best way in the U.S.. the kids mostly communicate in English during recess, so they're not practicing the language outside of class. They probably don't understand enough Chinese to really understand the lesson in the book since the teachers teach in Chinese. I wish they had a Cumberland Chinese School in the South Bay. There aren't that many options for Cantonese speakers.

Despite knowing very limited Cantonese and struggling through 6 years of Mandarin classes taught in…read moreexclusively Cantonese, I still feel like I learned a lot from my experience at Cumberland. Maybe not Chinese itself, as I can barely read, write, or speak, but I learned life-long skills and values that have influenced who I am today: things like independence, hard work, cultural appreciation, and creativity (I redrew a lot of good textbook art, and I think it inspired me to pursue art as I got older). Maybe I wish my mom let me quit after about 4 or 5 years, but I don't really see my time here as a total waste. The teachers, especially in K-4, were strict but meant well. They encouraged me to work hard, and even when I didn't understand the languages in the classroom, I remember I got an award one year because I worked so hard to memorize a passage phonetically and almost ace my final. Granted, it was in second grade, but I still have fond memories of going here. Also, my Chinese writing skills are quite nice. I took Japanese in high school, so I had some of the best kanji characters out of the whole class. I used to tell my mom that Cumberland was absolute torture and a waste of money, but I guess I've somewhat changed my mind.

Francisco Middle School has long been part of the fabric of North Beach, and living just three…read moreblocks away at Powell and Francisco Streets, I pass by it almost every day. It serves families from North Beach and Chinatown, and it's always uplifting to see students from so many different backgrounds learning and growing together. On my morning walks to work or to grab coffee, hearing the energy of the schoolyard, the laughter, the conversations, and the buzz of activity always makes me smile. It feels like a true neighborhood school in the best sense of the word. Opened in 1925, the school has served generations of local families and reflects the evolving story of this part of San Francisco. Over the years, it has supported many newcomer and multilingual students, helping them adjust and succeed academically. The historic building has been maintained and updated over time, balancing its classic character with modern educational needs. As the surrounding neighborhoods continue to change, Francisco Middle School remains a steady and important community presence.

This is a complete joke of off school if I can give zero Stars I would they don't teach you well my…read moreson will be graduating this year with use torn gowns no graduation pictures only one to two tickets per student for graduation for graduation I do not recommend this school kids be having sex in the bathroom and also drugs plenty of fights this school is a complete joke I regret sending my son there

Like others who've shared their experience, I agree this school offers the best overall education…read more The community of parents and staff is very engaged. We're happy that our child has been able to learn French and take piano lessons from Kindergarten to middle school and have the opportunity to participate in the school's sports teams.

the middle school is more like military camp. the rules are too insane and I wish I would have…read morepulled my child out. THe school is not child centered.... it is a dogma and not enough french is taught! Not enough french culture is provided.

Jean Parker oh how you have changed. I went to this school from kindergarten to the 2nd grade. The…read moreconvenient thing about this school was that I lived behind it so all I had to do was climb over a six foot wooden fence and then a 15 foot metal fence. Two stars based on Yelp says, "I've had better", well based upon my sister's research, there are far more better schools. Good luck trying to get in the other schools. Sorry to say, but Jean Parker seems to be the other school. Fund raising is low compared to other schools. They may need to look into this. The school at least looks somewhat newer compared to others. There was a fire and they updated the facility. Would I send my kids there??? A school is what you make it. So just try to make the best of it.

As an education consultant and parent, I've done my research as well and found Jean Parker to be an…read moreAMAZING school. Teachers work collaboratively to support student learning through project-based learning, and technology. This year they are implementing a new reading program where ALL classes have new libraries of independent reading books to encourage a love of reading at all levels. As a parent I couldn't be happier! This fall the school will be celebrating it's 100th year of service to the community and will recognize partnerships with several private businesses and non-profit organizations that have partnered with the school to provide enrichment programs at the school. Students participate in P.E., music, dance, gymnastics and art. Do not overlook this GEM of a school in the Russian Hill/North Beach area.

With me, during the early 1960s, whilst I was living with my parents in San Francisco, I kind of…read moreenjoyed attending Chung Wah Chinese school sessions after my regular American school. I had a lot of fun during recess playing tag games with the boys. Occasionally, we have had some squabbles with fellow classmates just like anything else in general. Despite that, I achieved good grades in learning the Chinese-Cantonese language dialect. I remembered the good old days!

Ha oh wow... didn't expect to find a listing for my chinese school…read more aaahhh the good ol' chinese school days when i used to ditch class during break time, walk over to downtown and kill a couple hours shopping for lip gloss. those days are long gone and i'm so thankful for that. the kids at the school are rowdy and are all probably forced into chinese school. the teachers are stressed because of the kids. everyone cheats. chinese school is a joke to most kids. i'm glad i took it seriously (on the days i actually stayed) because i'm thankful to know a second language. u get paid more and it's a good skill to have. before the renovation, this school was a hell hole. like a literal hell hole. the building was soo old and gross, the bathroom was disgusting -- a hole in the ground was probably better. haven't been here in yeeeears so iono how it looks inside.

Sterne is a great school for kids who have learning difference! The teachers are very supportive…read moreand understanding.

Our daughter is an eighth grader at Sterne, and we are glad we made this choice for her education…read more As a teacher, I am impressed with lessons I hear about. From teaching students about marine life with the Marine Mammal Center, learning about the Innocence Project and reading about a child's experience with her father's incarceration, to reading about a migrant family and their experience in the U.S., Sterne's teachers are amazing, not shying away from challenging work and topics, despite student's academic struggles. They encourage critical thinking and empathy for all people. With dyslexia and dysgraphia, she has consistent support from her teachers, making big gains in reading. Formerly a reluctant reader, she goes to the library most weeks. The teachers and staff know my daughter as a unique individual, with strengths and talents. The school's motto is "start with strengths" and I have seen this enacted many times. She explores her interests in music, digital arts, theater and studio art with dedicated teachers creating wonderful performance opportunities: playing in a rock band, participating in a unique fairytales play, or building a carefully crafted art show. We look forward to these events each year, and there is a newfound confidence in our daughter, who was shy in the past. Additionally, the administration handled a difficult situation between our child and another student, with kindness, compassion and respect, with nearly immediate contact with me. The staff made her feel safe and empowered to speak up for herself, and I am grateful for that. We also appreciate the kind and attentive staff at the front desk and office, who always help her out. Working in public education myself, I do not take for granted the opportunities the students at Sterne have for field trips, interest-based lunch clubs, and experiential weeks. These opportunities take an incredible amount of planning. I am impressed at what they do for students who could easily become disenchanted with school. The students are lucky at Sterne. We look forward to her continued growth, and eagerly applied for the high school this past year. We are grateful to be part of the Sterne family.

I attended Hamlin's l. The regimen was quite rigorous which prepared me for high levels of academic…read morecompetition.

My niece goes here. The school is doing a very good job at dealing with this corona virus. Thank…read moreyou for helping to keep her safe and her studies.

I personally think John yehall chin is great. The teachers are smart and give a reasonable amount…read moreof homework. The principal provides the school with fun and learning experiences throughout the school year. I assure you all the teachers are very nice but they when necessary strict. So if you want your child to have a free and great education send them to John yehall chin. The API is now 987! It is the best school in San Francisco. I have gone there since kindergarten and loved all my teachers from K-5.