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.

Class of 86. I came from SF public schools, a minority, into sports (soccer). I could have…read morebenefited from affirmative action, but didn't need it. As it was a feeder school at the time (not sure now), many students coming in were top of their class (I was) and later (shockingly) found themselves middle of the pack at Lowell. It didn't affect me, but I realize that for many, that can be rough. If you can't handle that pressure or simply don't want the competition, maybe its not for you. I wasn't a studyaholic like many others at Lowell were (you don't have to be), I wasn't a study nerd. I wasn't in the back lawn crowd either (which were the more popular kids) ... I was very into sports and led a very healthy high-school life, with numerous friends and social activity. I did my fair share of late night cramming, though, I had to in order to keep up the grades. I was very responsible with homework, always on time (or ahead of time) and in good form. I was never the smartest kid in the class, but hard work kept me near the top, which is where I wanted to be. That was a life lesson that would serve me well, throughout my career and to this day. I never needed a tutor nor help from parents, I just assumed my responsibility and did my work. In the end, I had good grades going in and got good grades going out. Top 5% of my class. Looking back, I have nothing to complain about. Competitive ... yes, but so is life. My memories of Lowell are summed by, great school, hard, but manageable if you are bright, hard working and responsible. If I had to do it again, I would.

afraid and scary! i do not want to go to lowell because it's to scary! lowell cardinal mascot looks…read morelike a goku!

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.

Aptos is great you just got to be respectful some teachers are very calm and they try to solve a…read moreproblem in the calmest ways the most GOATED teachers must be the social studies teachers and the science teachers. But rn I hateee Spanish it's ass like we learning Japanese like wtf I was here for Spanish not Japanese. Another downside is they mix you up in different grade classes like in 6th grade I mixed up into advisory Spanish for seventh grade. Everything else is great and way much better lunches. If you have a younger kid take them to commodore sloat

Omg this middle school is so good I had ms.clay she is the best. But in the locker rooms, no…read moreprivacy for showering? Bruh. But everything else was good

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.

So..I'm currently an 8th grader right now,and I got to say is not that bad.6th and 7th grade we…read morehave a lot of trouble makers.But then suddenly in 8th grade they became more mature. Now your middle school experience depends on 3 factor -the teacher you going to have -friend -the kind of student in your class The staff is nice and all I guess,to be honest I don't really talk to them.If you came to this school for education then Hahahaha pls go to another school m8te.Depend on what teacher you will get,you either will learn something or don't learn at all.8th grade is the best year since more people have become more mature and not a**hole. BEST TEACHER? Mr.tom and mr.lamborn is the two class I been to and feel a community in the classroom.basically they are the cool and good teacher that try to understand The situation and listen to the student have what to say.Mr.kornow and mr.Doyle are good teacher too. Electives(some may change) -journalism(exclusive to 8th grader) -art -computer -drama (exclusive to 7th grader) -mandarin -Spanish -music(band and orchestra) And other class I may forgot Since I'm in journalism class base on what I recorded, most people like computer class. COOL THING WE DO IN PE -biking -wave board (kind of like skate board) -judo for Doyle class only -circus trick? -kick boxing I thought this some pretty cool stuff we get to do. So how is marina school? Meh,is not as bad as you think.

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.

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 don't recommend this school, I learned nothing from it due to low quality teachers who taught…read morezero skills, all those were just flashbacks, nothing new

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.

Here's my honest review of Waldorf High School as an ex-student who was there for their first 2…read moreyears of high school. Starting off with IEPs and students with neurodiversity: when I, along with other neurodivergent students, would bring up how teachers seemed to ignore our accommodations, we were completely ignored by administration. Additionally, I have ADHD, which leads to needing to take occasional breaks from class due to overstimulation--made worse by the often intensive curriculum. When I would take a break and just walk around to clear my mind and noticed a facilities or safety/health issue, I brought it straight to teachers, administration, or the front desk. That's not my business, but I thought reporting it would be seen as taking initiative. Then I would go back to class when I refocused myself. These breaks were at a maximum of 15 minutes. Administration then proceeded to contact my legal guardians, claiming that I was "disruptive," when there were kids in class talking all the time and talking about very messed up and frankly inappropriate topics (which--you guessed it--was also ignored by administration). I will not be discussing those topics as I do not want to damage the reputation of this school that is great for some. I only want to inform and show you some flaws of the school. Anyway, back to the review. Staff had issues with each other and would openly criticize students' dress choices and neurodivergent people in front of other students. I still remember being criticized constantly by students, and teachers doing close to nothing--no follow-ups with parents for disruptive behavior. Maybe that was so "student morale" wouldn't be damaged. I was in art class and tried to make a cow out of clay. The copper teacher then proceeded to take the "cow," smash it back on the clay tray, and explain to me how it didn't look like a cow. He didn't even leave a picture up for visual learners--he just kept it up for a few minutes and told us to "remember how a cow looks." After I left this school my transcript was completely ruined and is extremely confusing for admissions counselors, every class is a .3 etc so it just makes everything confusing when adding credits up. My counselor at my current highschool took about 2 hours trying to "decode" my transcript Also, if you do decide to send your child here, make sure you're not afraid to go to the state if teachers ignore IEPs or accommodations. You will need the help. Also, Waldorf--retaliation based on this complaint will result in escalation to the state.

I don't know if the word negro is a joke within books being produced out loudly. If this is about a…read morebook, teaching or not, the word negro shouldn't be replaced with anything else or misused. This truly misguides student who are not Black and encourages them even more to think that word is okay while being used in school books and teaching context.

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.

I highly do not recommend going to this school because the coaches of the sports teams are very…read morebiased and and they discriminate students, this school is very unorganized. My son tried out for the basketball team and got cut because of this, now my son is starting to not feel safe around here because of the discrimination and biases that are going on, and now my son has the audacity to transfer to presidio, the basketball team's rivals. I'm warning you, do not go to this school.