This is my daughter's 4th year at The San Francisco School (we started in preschool 3), and we have…read morebeen very happy here so far! The teachers and staff are warm and nurturing, and the community is very down to earth and kind. We especially love the strong SEL program and excellent music program. We also very much appreciate the school's Extended Day (aftercare and summer camp offerings) as a family with two parents who work full-time. SFS rocks!

We have two kids at The San Francisco School (SFS) and couldn't be happier. Incredible teachers, a…read morewelcoming community, and a well run organization that includes great extended day and summer offerings. Would recommend to anyone looking for a great place for their preschooler to middle schooler!

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.

Doesn't prepare students for the real world. Poor teachers. In my experience there, most of the…read moreteachers didn't care for their students.

Our preschooler really flourished at PKS. The teachers are wonderful and warm. They really do…read morecare about the kids, and it shows! The student-teacher ratio is fabulous so there's always an adult there when needed, or simply just to do a project with. The teachers really follow the Reggio-Emilia approach, which is really very different than traditional Chinese/Taiwanese methods of teaching. However they do it quite well, in Mandarin, I may add, which I attribute to their dedication as well as the time the school also puts into teacher development. It really is a treasure of a school because I don't know any other place that could pull that off. The teachers work really hard putting together a presentation for the families at the end of the year, highlighting the kids work. There are many late nights preparing this, as we have seen. They really view each child as special and give them the attention that they need. The teachers put a lot of thought into the parent-teacher conferences, and give good detailed feedback. The English level of the teachers is good, so you shouldn't have a problem communicating with them. The preschool director and the head of school are also quite excellent and professional. The most wonderful thing about the school is the parent community. The parents are very involved in many aspects of the school. The administration embraces this very warmly. The board of the school is mainly parents also. Parents are active in the school, but this doesn't necessarily mean a huge time commitment, unless that is something you are interested in. It's really a warm and wonderful place, and I highly recommend this school.

We were involved in a hit and run accident in front of the school this morning. The person who hit…read moreus also hit another car as he fled the scene. We called the school to ask for the tapes and they refused. Their policy is not to release the tapes to anyone including the police. Do not rely on them to protect any of us.

Academically single sex but socially coed - the best of both worlds. Convent (girls school) and…read moreStuart Hall (boys school) have separate classrooms but share the campus and resources. Really amazing administration and leadership - very active in building connections and on going projects between the boys and girls. They all know each other. My children have so many resources - reading specialists, math specialists, etc - that allow for differentiated learning within the classroom. For example, it is common for children in the same class to be learning at different math levels. While we are not religious, my favorite thing about the school is their global approach. The children are very educated about current events, world religions, world languages (Spanish, French, Mandarin, Latin), art, and music (Music Conservatory program). While academics and teachers are top notch, the global approach and emphasis on school community is very impressive. We love the school and all our kids are thriving! Also, great sports program!

I volunteered at the Stuart Hall for boys, a Catholic School of the Sacred Heart, as part of Bay…read moreArea Scientists in Schools in 2017. Two of my fellow graduate students from the Earth and Planetary Science department at UC Berkeley and I prepared and gave an interactive lesson and experiment on earthquakes and geological faults to a class of boys. Students interacted with the handout we prepared electronically via tablet technology and we broke the students into three groups, one with each of us volunteers. The students in my group were well behaved, contributed to group discussion, and not afraid to partake in the hands-on experiment. On the whole I had a good experience. One of the other volunteers was male, the other female, and I am female. I had no issues getting the male students to pay attention, nor did the other male volunteer, though we were both geophysicists and earthquakes fell in our realm of graduate studies. The other female volunteer, a geochemist, said she had a little difficulty with the students in her group, but not bad. Our conclusion was maybe it was related to our knowledge background and area of study in graduate school and how that translated into our teaching style, though there were lingering concerns it might have been related to her being female.

With 9 years of time at the school, I have noticed a decline in quality. As a student, I felt…read morereally connected and loved the school, but it has been going down, catering for parents over kids, and sometimes neglecting what is really needed. There were also many incidents where the school didn't take the proper actions and steps or punishments for inappropriate actions that happened at the school. (Multiple times) Overall though it is still a pretty good school, just not one I would necessarily pick again.

I transfered to SFDS after spending four years at another all boys, independent school in San…read moreFrancisco. The academics, particularly the technology curriculum, were top notch; I learned how to build websites as a 6th grader in the mid-90's! Compared to other private schools in the city, students at SFDS seemed much less pressured to succeed academically, but at the same time we all were accepted into excellent high schools and were in many cases much better prepared for the workload than students from surrounding elementary schools. As with any school, some teachers will always be better than others, and it's impossible to have an entire staff of all-stars. That being said, the great majority of the teachers and staff of the school during my five years there were excellent educators who made great efforts to teach to all levels of comprehension and speed. Socially, moving from an all-boys school to a co-ed institution was an adjust for me, but a welcome one. Compared to other independent schools in San Francisco, I felt my class was extremely diverse both culturally and socio-economically, and there certainly was never any preferable treatment for those on financial aid. Overall, SFDS is an excellent institution and one that I would not hesitate to recommend to any parent considering private schools in San Francisco.

Applied for Kindergarten and after evaluation were advised that child is not fit for school yet and…read moreneeds to stay in preschool. At the same time we passed evaluation at highly academic Stratford school ( we were at 1st grade math level and reading). We also got accepted to other parochial schools at the same time. St Anne didn't like my child extroverted side and came up with completely bogus excuse. When I confronted them they just kept saying she wasn't academically ready. I wish they were honest. They do not like kids who stand out or have any sort of leadership skills. So stay away if you have a child like that.

All my adult life, I thought I would send my kids to publics schools. Then I put my first child in…read moreSF USD and saw first hand the utter incompetence in the school district, on the school board, and in our assigned school. After speaking to a few parents who had children originally attend SF USD who then moved to Saint Anne, we decided to give it a shot, and it's been the BEST DECISION we've made. The school day is from 8-3pm and does a good job balancing academic rigor, homework, and extra curriculars. We take advantage of the Chinese School there as well as the chess club and aftercare program ... all of which our kids love. The school has one class per grade, which I was initially concerned about, but over time have grown to love because of how it creates a tight knit community of kids ACROSS the grade levels. Not to mention all the activities that you don't readily think about that a school puts on, which are run great (field trips, bake sales, holiday events in the yard, volunteering, and fund raising events ...some of which are a blast, etc.). Most importantly, the school has been extremely supportive of our children's needs. Two of my children struggle in a classroom setting because of their ADHD and across the board (the principal, teachers, and aides) have been engaged and extremely helpful and accommodating. We've had multiple meeting with Mr. White and our childrens' teachers and resources aide. Each time they have come prepared and we've sat down discussing how my children doing, where they are successful, where they struggling, and how we can help them meet their full potential. With all this, it's not surprising to me that Saint Anne is one of the top performing schools in the Archdiocese of SF (I wish they would broadcast this more widely). The school and the community of parents are the primary reason we will remain in SF until all of my children graduate and are off to high school.

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.

Kittredge is a small, established school located in a corner three-story house in a scenic…read moreneighborhood nearby Rochambeau Park. The tuition is comparatively attainable for an independent school with impressive academic outcomes (high school acceptances). The school has a strong athletic component with daily P.E. and students can participate in traditional school sports (cross country, volleyball, futsal, etc.) or after-school electives (theater, science club, fencing, etc.). A year ago, my child joined Kittredge in 6th grade from SFUSD. We were looking for an environment where students are interested in learning and support each other. Going in, my main concerns were how my kid would adjust to a much smaller school with rigorous academic expectations in math, science, and composition, and whether my child would fit in quickly with others who have been at Kittredge for years. It took my child about one quarter to adjust to the high academic standards, and the transition was a lot easier due to the nurturing environment. At the start of school, students were thoughtfully provided with calendar planners and shown how to schedule due dates. The students have group projects such as a bridge construction challenge and presentations as well as individual assignments like making an everyday invention and writing a history thesis. In 7th grade, students will be matched to multiple levels of math classes. My child made friends with classmates in the same year and across different grades. His cohort is an even mix of kids who joined from SFUSD and other private schools over the years or who attended the school since kinder. Kittridge is not only about academics. The school holds an annual talent show, school dance, and field day. The students attend field trips and hike to the beach and Land's End, and 7th/8th graders attend camp in Yosemite. The dedicated parent association also enlivens the environment with parties, picnics, lion dances, Diwali celebrations, etc.

We could not be happier with Kittredge, a truly special home away from home. It has been amazing to…read moresee our son thrive after transitioning from a larger school to a small family-like atmosphere. Individualized approach - Kittredge is designed as a small community to meet each child's specific needs and empower each child to flourish. Whether a student is struggling or wants to be challenged in a particular area, not only does Kittredge differentiate learning for varying skills levels, teachers customize their approach to support each individual. This applies not only for academics, but also social emotional issues. I was impressed that our teacher was open to incorporating behavior strategies that work well at home. Small knit community - The faculty often wear multiple hats and get to know the students well from different contexts. For example, the reading teacher assistant can also be the extended care teacher. By interacting with the students in different settings, they gain various perspectives and find approaches that resonate. It is valuable that students of all ages have the chance to interact closely and learn from each other. In his mixed age class, the teacher told me that my son acts as big brother, proudly explaining math concepts to the younger kids. After hearing the 8th grade student council election speeches, voting, and discussing school issues, my young son is now inspired to run for student council president one day. Personal attention -The extended care teachers are not merely babysitters ensuring his safety. I am impressed that they are loving and actively engaged whether it's playing hangman, chess, or board games. It is no wonder he does not want to leave even after a long day! When my child transferred to Kittredge, I was quite nervous for him in his new environment. On his first day of school, the principal arrived at school on a hectic morning and from a distance I saw that she made the effort to stop, and kneel down to his eye level to give him a warm welcome. These small gestures of kindness make a big impact. I appreciate that Kittredge focuses on the development of the whole person - academically, socially, and emotionally. Their curriculum includes teaching "Habits of Mind", cognitive skills which foster personal success. Every month, the theme is integrated through stories, discussions, and projects. I was filled with pride when my young son taught me "When you fail, you just try again". Once a child has a healthy mindset, and feels seen and heard, I believe he or she is set up for academic success. It is not a surprise that Kittredge graduates get accepted into San Francisco's top high schools. I met a lady who has worked in pediatrics in San Francisco for many years. When I mentioned that my son attends Kittredge, her eyes widened with excitement, "Ooooh that is a good school! All the kids I've met there are well rounded!" We feel extremely fortunate to have found a gem at Kittredge - a well balanced, warm and nurturing environment with solid academics.

We love AVS! This gem of a school has been amazing for my two boys. The teachers are top notch -…read morethey are incredibly skilled at providing customized, differentiated instruction that engages students. From the music department to math, our kids have been provided with enriching learning experiences. Teachers meet their students where they're at - my boys have each received some extra guidance in areas where they required practice (spelling! writing) and have also had the opportunity to advance beyond the traditional grade level curriculum in areas where they excelled (e.g., math). We've been super impressed with the school's response to COVID - administration has juggled the priorities and needs of families who wanted their children to return to in-person instruction, and re-opened the campus as soon as the city permitted it - as well as the needs of families who have chosen to keep their kids in virtual instruction.

I love this school so much! I have a 3rd grader and a 7th grader. What amazes me about the school…read moreis the way that each child is treated with respect and concern for their social emotional development. Every student is seen as an individual and given the support they need to thrive. The teachers are awesome. My kids are so happy here!

I am posting this at the request of my daughter as our family's experience was the opposite from…read moresome of the recent concerning posts. We found our way to St. John's after leaving other schools due to bullying, and it was a turning point for us. Our journey to St. John's began after a difficult time at a small private school where the teaching environment was harsh -- too much yelling, derogatory remarks, and constant anxiety. We tried to tough it out because on paper it was a great school, but our child became withdrawn and her grades dropped -- completely out of character for her. We tried a larger public school next, but on the very first day, she was physically threatened by another student. We lasted only two days! We were lost. I cried for three days straight. My husband and I felt terrible for putting our child in such tough situations. Then came Ms. I. at St. John's. She welcomed our family with open arms and helped us navigate the paperwork so our daughter could attend orientation before the first day of school. From the moment our child walked into St. John's, we saw a visible change -- relief, joy, and confidence. That first week felt like a dream. After school, students hung out together at the village, grabbing ice cream and boba, and quickly settled into routines with sports, leadership meetings, and more. I cried again -- this time from relief. Our happy child was back. And she only grew from there. Yes, of course our child made mistakes, but the disciplinary process was fair and supportive. Ms. I, Coach Z, and several teachers stood by her, creating a village that truly supported our family. She applied to all the top high schools -- the ones everyone hopes to get into -- and was accepted into every one, including their honors programs. I credit St. John's teaching philosophy for this. Students are encouraged to ask questions, engage in discussions, and be themselves. It's not rigid or confining -- individuality is celebrated. Throughout our time there, families, teachers, administration, and especially Ms. I were always kind and welcoming. Whenever I had concerns, I felt safe voicing them. Meetings were arranged quickly, and even when we disagreed on outcomes, I always felt heard and respected. For 10+ years I have been actively involved with my children's schools, serving in various leadership roles such as Room Parent, Head Room Parent, Faculty Liaison and PTA. During this time, I consistently experienced respect, collaboration, and a strong sense of community from the administration. Though we were only there for two years -- 7th and 8th grade -- we consider ourselves Eagles for life. Our only regret is not finding St. John's sooner. With gratitude, Nenette & Family

Please consider other schools. I'm writing this with sincere care for families who want not only a…read morestrong education, but a truly supportive learning community. Whether you are currently enrolled or considering enrollment, I strongly encourage you to do thorough research and ask hard questions before making your decision. We recently withdrew our student and feel it's important to share the key factors that shaped our choice. Areas to carefully evaluate: 1. Curriculum Look closely at how current the curriculum is--when it was published, what reading materials are available to students, and how subjects like history, math, reading/writing, and science are taught. In some classes, science exposure is minimal, and math is taught using only one method, which can limit depth of understanding for different learning styles. 2. Teaching Staff There are kind and well-intentioned staff members at this school. However, families should consider whether teachers are consistently supported, credentialed, and actively developing their skills to teach in ways that foster critical thinking, collaboration, and engagement for diverse learners. Teaching is about learning and growing and there are ways of teaching and projects that have been in-cycle for 15+yrs that could use revisiting. 3. Leadership While some leaders genuinely care, there appear to be challenges with execution, follow-through, transparency, and communication. Caring is one part of leadership, but there's also the importance of making sharp decisions that shape the future long term. Leadership maturity and consistency matter greatly--especially during times of widespread educator burnout. I recommend asking detailed questions about both short- and long-term plans for the school and how leadership supports teachers and students, along with how your tuition funds are being used. Be sure to ask about the role of the priest and main/VP principals. St. John has a strong family community, but in our experience, the academic rigor, social-emotional learning support, and overall quality of curriculum fall well below what we believe children need to thrive now and in the future. ----- Concerns we encountered: - Use of television or YouTube on rainy days or to fill time - Outdated curriculum materials - Surface-level teaching, lacking depth and promotion or critical thinking - Rigid classroom management approaches, including frequent yelling and "don't do that" guidance for young children - Inconsistent staffing and hiring practices, including teachers leaving mid-year - Inconsistent Spanish and art programming - Limited experience supporting different learning styles, particularly hands-on learners - Environments that did not feel consistently clean or well-maintained - Integration of ICA (high school students) who have promoted immature behavior on school grounds ----- Things we appreciated and found difficult to leave: - A warm, engaged family community - Caring students who truly deserve the best - An on-site cooking/lunch program - The school's location and accessibility Every family will make the decision that's right for them. I'm sharing this because online reviews can only go so far. I encourage you to be proactive--ask direct questions, speak with current and former families, and look closely at day-to-day classroom experiences. Note: Over the past year, approximately 20 students have left the school. Many families we've spoken with are now working to help their children catch up on key learning milestones. This points to broader operational and leadership challenges that deserve attention at a higher level. Families who remain may continue to feel the effects of limited leadership initiative and accountability. I hope this helps you make the most informed decision possible for your child.