I have a daughter just ending her Sophomore year at SHCP. She came from a smaller, more elite "all…read moregirls" school in SF. The transition to a much larger and co-ed environment has been seamless. SHC has all the benefits of a much larger school, but with the sense of community of a smaller school. The dePaul program has provided a smaller cohort within the school to be a member of, that allows you to feel like you belong from day one. Each kid seems to find their own, or a few groups to be part of from guitar club, to cross country, and from debate to the major sports teams. She has loved helping the tennis team have the most success the team has ever had in the school's history - yes, even beating SI! The friendly rivalry between SI & SHC is great, but I believe SHC now has the edge in most respects! The benefits of SHC include the size and scale to have a big high school experience, supporting school teams, finding the right level of challenge in just about every class; the only truly racially diverse school in the city, surprisingly open-minded attitude to embracing all religions and atheists; a great campus with lots of space outdoors for the kids to hang out at lunchtime and the walk between two campus's to catch up with friends between classes; the most fantastic school library in the city - in every respect; a fantastic theater and great arts/music program, and so much more. I had never even considered the school until I dropped in on the Open House on a whim and I was sooooo happy when my daughter chose SHC over the 5 independent school places she was also offered. Two years in we have no regrets! It's a school that encourages every individual kid to thrive and be the best version of themselves that they can be - allowing huge levels of independence whilst offering support and an invisible safety net should they start to need it. I'd strongly recommend including it on your list of potential high schools to consider.

This school is a waste of your money, and I agreed with a prior comment, they do not care about…read moretheir students they only care about your money. How is it that their mission is to serve and help the world, but when their own students begin showing signs in disorders like autism or ADHD there is nothing they can do? They do not have teachers in special education? With all the money that you spend, the response is ultimately sorry we can't help you, even if your kid is a 4.0 student.

I am writing this review as a parent of two Lowell kids, so if you are a parent wondering whether…read moreyou should put Lowell as your first high school choice, read on... As far as academics is concerned, it is an EXCELLENT school. You learn, all right. There is plenty of homework. Teachers don't just drill the information; they make sure that the students learn. The down side of this is that it is not easy getting As, so when college application time comes around, the Bs and Cs won't cut it for elite schools. Of course, on the other hand, if your student got the As, then the doors are wide open for Ivy League and every top university available. Many Lowell alumni have gone that way. Reflecting on this, regardless of where your child goes to college, this quality of education can't be bought. After going through Lowell, your student will be ready for any college, period - Ivy League or CCSF. As far as extracurriculars, there is plenty, from sports, to arts, to robotics...EVERYTHING. My son is doing archery this semester. Cool, huh? As far as parent involvement, this is top notch. The reason Lowell continues to do well despite massive budget cuts is the PTSA. God bless them! There are resources of all kinds, from college help, to mental and physical health (A nurse is available much of the time, people...where else can you have one in SFUSD?) Some people complain that the school is overrated and the environment is competitive. To them, I say that if your kid is an underachiever, then don't force the issue. To succeed in Lowell, your student must want to be a winner. The teachers are super nice and super helpful. I can go as far as confirming it because I was a former student of one of the teachers there. They are the best. Final word: It is the best free education available in San Francisco if you really want it.

it's a great school, but I feel the woman I spoke to in the office this morning was not very…read morefriendly. I have no idea what the problem was when I was just calling about my daughter since I was worried she was not responding to any of my messages, which she normally does. so many kids going missing these days it's hard not to worry, especially if your kid is not informing you when they get to school which they normally do. This is not the first time this woman has had this behavior with me. I've let it go a few times, but it definitely should be corrected. it's not necessary.

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

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

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

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

Herbert Hoover Middle School is one of the best middle schools I've attended. Some of the…read morecounselors, teachers and students were very nice. I had the confidence and support I need to help me succeed in my classes. Can't believe it has already been 9 years since I've graduated from Hoover. Mrs. Thomas and Mr. Lauderback were one of the best teachers I've known. They gave students assignments in a way that made learning an easy and interesting experience. Mr. Koppes is the best music teacher I've had, he really knows his stuff when it came to music. Mr. Austin taught a science class and a computer class, I was in his 7th period computer class in the 6th grade. Mr. Kujawa and Ms. Mannion were one of the best history teachers. I was in Mr. Kujawa's social studies class for summer session 2000 and 2001. Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Lee were also one of the best teachers. To most students, they thought of Mr. Cunningham as a strict teacher. He is strict in a sense that he wants to make it possible for his students to do well in their science classes in high school. Thank you Mr. Cunningham for the motivation that helped me learn and understand science. I really learned a lot while I was at Hoover even though my grades never averaged a 4.00. My hardworking efforts in working hard pass every class and be listed on the "B" Honor Roll really paid off! Mr. Stannard and Mr. Domer are no longer there. I wonder if Mr. Koppes, Mr. Austin, Mr. Kujawa, Ms. Mannion, Ms. Kelley, Mr. Lee, Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Lauderback, Mr. Comito, Ms. Lee and Mr. Jue are still there. Even as an alumni of Herbert Hoover Middle School (Hawks), one thing I'll always have with me are the good times I've had while attending middle school at Hoover. This is certainly one of the best 3 years of my life. Walking down Taraval St was practically an after school ritual everyday. I walk down Taraval St to catch L line or to 19th Ave to catch the 28! I am thankful to be able to attend Hoover because it's also a very good school here in San Francisco.

I'm a student in college, and I went to this middle school around 2013. Unfortunately I'm writing…read morethis review because I still have ptsd from my experiences with this school (i wish i was joking). There was one teacher who scarred me for life due to how he teaches. I was terrible at mathematics and I'd constantly get yelled at. I remember getting to the point where I'd try faking being sick so I wouldn't have to go to school to face this teacher, not only that, but I'd try GETTING sick just so i don't have to deal with that teacher. I cried to my parents about this incident yet the staff did not let me transfer out to a different class. My anxiety had gotten so bad that the rest of that year with him was absolutely terrible and I'd go in for counseling. Unfortunately they did nothing (shocker, isn't it?). A 7th grader should not have to deal with TRAUMA from any adult! I also recall a bullying incident that happened in 8th grade where a kid hit another kid with a baseball bat and there was little to no consequence. Not sure how things are now, but seeing the recent reviews.. it seems its just gotten worse. I highly advise you to not take your child here for education, unless you want their anxiety to skyrocket, get PTSD, and have them solely focus on ways to ditch school rather than look forward to going to school. SFUSD needs to do better.

Lincoln has a good reputation for being chill with a school body of high-achieving kids. It's a…read morelarge high school with over 2,200 students. We were lucky to have principal Shari Balisi Manalang who won Principal of the Year in 2024 and kept the ship steady. I'll miss her a lot. My son had a few incredible and dedicated teachers including Ms. Yu (Chinese); Mr. Yip (English and an alumnus of Lincoln); Mr. Glasser (American History); Mr. Goncalves (CompSci) and Mr. Ruelas (World History & Econ). We were fortunate to be assigned counselors Devin Walker and Ian Enriquez who make sure you have the A-G requirements to apply to UC and CSU schools and resolve issues as they come. While we had a couple of serious speed bumps during my son's tenure, they got resolved. My advice is to strongly advocate for your child. Overall, if you're proactive and involved, administration is appreciative and most teachers are enthusiastic when you ask, "What can my son be doing better and how can I help?" There's always a lot going on at Lincoln with lots of clubs and sports ("Go Mustangs!") as well as theater arts and dance. I know we'll miss this school. It's a jewel of the SFUSD. Fun fact: Harvard Constitutional Law Scholar Lawrence Tribe, BD Wong ("Law & Order SVU"); Barbara Eden ("I Dream of Jeannie") and sculptor Richard Serra are among notable alumni. If you're looking at high schools and want your child to have a well-rounded education and not just grind, put ALHS at the top of your list.

To update my recent review, I recently toured Lincoln for our younger child. The new principal and…read moreher new staff seem excellent -- very sharp, professional, experienced, and motivated. She told us they're attracting lots of interest in teaching positions and have no teacher vacancies. It was an inspiring tour. Good luck with your decisions! Other great schools we're considering are Lowell and Gateway High.

My daughter graduated in 1999. Twelve Years on, and we still miss being Lick parents, and our…read moredaughter, through her Stanford and Harvard years, still hangs out with her Lick pals... The place has the highest median SAT scores in the state, but not the highest average, because they keep about 25% of the slots for students with "different talents". The mottos tell it all: "Head, Heart and Hands" and "A Private School with a Public Purpose"... EVERY student takes a shop class every semester, and that only makes them better students, and humans.

Being a brother of a current student and having applied here back when I was considering high…read moreschools, I must admit that Lick Wilmerding is a fine institution to send your child, sibling, or other loved one. When I applied in 1996, the school was dark, dank and was not a warm place where you would want your kids to go. But since then they've renovated the physical building, maintained a commitment to diversity, athletics, and the arts, and really created a great balance in the student body. According to my sister, the teaching is first rate and graduates go on to great universities. When it comes to private high schools in the city, you really can't go wrong with many of the schools (University, Urban, Lick, etc.). The only school I would consider a strong alternative is Lowell, widely considered one of the finest public schools in America. But that being said, LWHS is a great place to spend four years.

One of the biggest problems with this school is that some teachers seem to think they can treat…read morestudents however they want and then hide behind the excuse of "being strict." There is a huge difference between being strict and making students feel embarrassed, singled out, or disrespected. What makes it even worse is that when students try to speak up about how they are being treated, their concerns are often brushed off. Instead of listening and trying to understand why a student feels uncomfortable, people immediately defend the teacher and say they're just doing their job. This sends the message that teachers can say or do whatever they want without being held accountable. A school should be a place where students feel safe, respected, and supported. Unfortunately, it often feels like student concerns are ignored while teachers are automatically believed, no matter what happened. Respect goes both ways, and if schools expect students to treat teachers with respect, then teachers should be held to the same standard. Overall, this school needs to do a better job of listening to students and taking their concerns seriously instead of dismissing them as complaints about "strict" teachers.

My experience with Marina Middle has been disappointing. Many students feel unsupported, and some…read moreteachers come across as harsh or unkind instead of encouraging. There's a sense that student concerns aren't always taken seriously, which affects the school environment and makes learning stressful. The administration could do much more to ensure that teachers treat students with respect and create a safer, more positive atmosphere.

I sub here from time to time and the staff is very friendly!…read more I've also worked with some of the students and they are all so sweet and welcoming! Of course, I am not always here so, I can not say too much about the academics. But I've interacted with a few of the teachers and they seem to be passionate about what they do. Which is crucial for their careers.

Theres this teacher named Mr.Kuo and he is the worst teacher. He touched my friend inappropriately…read morewhen looking for some she "stole". And when I took a test, I got a B even though when I compared it with my friend, we got the same answer but she got an A. Hes really disrespectful too. Whenever we ask about our grading, he yells at us and doesn't give us a reason. I wish he got fired.

Mr jang (Joaquin Jang) is an awful counselor. he does not deserve to be working with children. Rude…read moreand dismissive, disrespectful to students, an absolute pathetic excuse for an "educational and mental health authority". Parents BEWARE!

Don't. Just don't…read more This school has been an incredibly disappointing experience, largely because of its staff and counseling department. The counselors offer little to no support and often seem unprepared or unwilling to help students who genuinely and obviously need guidance. Instead of providing clear advice or solutions, they dismiss concerns or pass students around without actually addressing the problem or even probably asking to help. The staff overall come across as unprofessional and disconnected, making students feel unheard and unsupported. A school should be a place where students feel guided and encouraged, but this one fails badly in that responsibility. Serious changes are needed in how staff and counselors do their jobs if the school expects to truly support its students. Bullying gets absolutely dismissed, horrible disrespectful teachers with no passion in educating students. Genuinely disappointing considering it is so called a great school. I often find myself wondering if staff here are even licensed or suitable, makes me question if they were in desperate need of staffing and just hired anyone on the spot. If anything i'd give this school an outstanding award for knowing how to completely fail their students.