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.

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.

Terrible service. They were out of Big Macs. I haven't talked to my mom in five yearsread more

It has been some time since I attended Zion, and the staff have completely turned over. My…read moregeneration of students are now the teachers. However, now I know more about psychology and child development, and I think the institution is incorrigible. Of course there are some better and some worse teachers. I'm very happy that the Muellers are gone. I've come to realize that the school was complicit in the complex trauma that has left me a bit of a wreck. They wanted to be supportive, and my family had obvious health crises that the school supported us through, but even when my family was working well it was a psychologically damaging family. The LCMS church doctrine is that being psychologically damaging is actually a correct use of the Bible, so the teachers wrote me off as "weird" and left me to suffer. The staff have turned over, and the new staff I'm sure are better than the Boomers who taught me, but the whole draw of the institution is the segregationist education. I can see it in the product. The academic material continues to be more rigorous than what the public schools use. However, the children grow into monsters. (Not every child, but more often than public school, controlling for income.) They don't respect consent (the LCMS church doctrine is that there is no consent--look it up), they don't care about others' safety, and they don't necessarily learn the rigorous academic material. Also, they still require those stupid uniforms that Carolyn Grundt instituted in the wake of the Columbine school shooting. I hate those uniforms.

Not a school for every child. The school: -Caters to one…read moretype of child/student--the quiet, reserved personality type and learner. -Lacks ethnic diversity; therefore, doesn't seem to know how to empower students who are non-Asian/non-white (in fact, their interactions did just the opposite). -Has a low tolerance for differences that do not conform with their ideal; rigid. -Is not the inclusive environment that it promotes itself to be--unless your child fits a desired profile. Just wanted to provide additional insight from a different experience.

My daughter transferring to Holy Names School was one of the best decisions she has made, and I…read morecouldn't agree more! She transferred this year as a 7th grader, and we have been so impressed with how organized and welcoming the school has been. From the very beginning, the school made a real effort to welcome new students and families and help us feel supported. One thing I really appreciate is the variety of academic classes offered, especially in Math and ELA. Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Math or Advanced ELA, which is a wonderful option for students who are ready for an additional academic challenge. The school is doing an outstanding job preparing students for this important year and, most importantly, for the transition to high school. BTS Night was amazing and incredibly informative. It was filled with valuable information about academics, high school preparation, and what students can expect in the years ahead. So much of what was presented aligned with what I believe is important for my daughter's education and future. What makes me especially happy is that this was my daughter's decision. Holy Names is not the closest school to us, and the commute takes an average of 30-45 minutes each way. But honestly, it is worth every minute of the drive. When my daughter first visited the school and shadowed for the day, she immediately fell in love with Holy Names and the environment. She was the one who made the decision to leave her old school, and as a parent, seeing her feel excited, comfortable, and confident about where she goes to school is priceless. We came from a small Catholic school where, unfortunately, we often felt that parents' concerns were not heard or given much attention. Our experience at Holy Names has been completely different. We feel welcomed, listened to, and supported. We are so happy with our decision and grateful that our daughter found a school where she feels happy, challenged, and prepared for her future. The commute may not be the easiest, but Holy Names has truly been worth every bit of it! #gopanthers

Great school with awesome teachers! My daughter transitioned here for middle school after attending…read morea public elementary school. She made new friends right away, and the kids are all very nice. I also love their policy of collecting phones during the school day so the kids stay focused. Academically, they offer two levels for Math and English (regular and advanced), which is fantastic. Above all, the teachers are truly caring and passionate about the subjects they teach. Highly recommend!

This is a great private school. My kids love it here. The teachers are wonderful and the academics…read moreprogram is great. I believe that children are truly happy here. God bless this school

St Monica's is a Catholic School but you do not have to be Catholic to attend. I say this because…read morethere are many families that enroll their children there and although there is an occasional mass and religious event it certainly isn't like when I was a student in K- 12. There is faith formation but there also is respect for other faiths and the bottom line is that the administration respects each student and their religious preference. I have a special place in my heart for St Monica's not only bc I am a coach there but I truly appreciate the Community. Every parent goes above and beyond to have a positive impact for their child during the school year. There are also a few local businesses that promote special events for the St. Monica's community. There are many open houses to attend along with special events that one is welcome to enjoy. Please feel free to contact me for more information. We do have an Octoberfest Event next month. Please let me know if you want more information!!!

We started at St. Paul's as a transfer family from SFUSD several years ago, and I can confidently…read moresay that it was an excellent decision that I wish we'd made sooner. My kids are thriving at the school thanks to the excellent teachers, high level of academics, and warm community environment. My kids especially love all the extracurriculars during school hours - Spanish, library, music, technology and PE class, as well as the extended care program where they can finish homework, play outside, and socialize (screen-free) with their friends. My kids have also taken advantage of the fun rotating specialized after school enrichment class options (like chess, Lego STEM, sewing, sandcastle building, tennis, etc), as well as the CYO sports teams. With respect to academics, teachers tailor instruction for kids individually as needed, so students can work to their highest ability, whether they're ahead of the curve or need a little extra help to catch up in a subject. There is also a learning support specialist to assist students. The community of families and staff feel like the village everyone talks about - people are kind and truly care about one another. We've always felt very safe at the school, both on the physical property and neighborhood, and from things like bullying. Teachers are very responsive to our questions and concerns, and the principal, Ms. Jacqueline Curran, is amazing. She has deep family ties to St. Paul's and truly has a heart for the school and community. We highly recommend St. Paul's for any family looking for a K-8th grade school in San Francisco!

I cannot with clear conscience recommend St. Paul's Elementary. On several occasions my wife and I…read morecomplained of bullying and a threat of gun violence and NOTHING was done. This issue spanned across the tenures of 3 different principles. The only reason we stayed was because we were assured that the problem would be rectified, which it was not. Your kids are better off elsewhere.

This review is our sincere appreciation for the San Francisco Islamic School (SFIS) and will…read morehopefully benefit other parents who are looking for a great school for their kids. In 2014, we were desperately looking for a good school for our eldest daughter. As parents, we used to spend a significant amount of time to search the internet for schools with good ratings and reviews. We got a know-how of SFIS. Since our daughter was born after September, we had a year to experiment around. We got her admitted into SFIS, with the thought that she will get used to the school environment, and then we will move her to another good school. We both are scientists by profession, so academic excellence with social development of our child was our top priority. We were amazed by the hardworking staff at SFIS. Within weeks we saw how our shy little girl was advancing in academics, social behavior, and above all in Islamic education MashaAllah. She was reciting short surahs and reminding us about saying the dua of eating before and after we eat. It was a delight SubhanAllah. From Kindergarten(KG), she has been doing science projects, competing in science fairs, and spelling bee competitions with other CAVA-K12 students in the district. She has been taking part in environmental and social issues such as protest climate change and giving her point of view about the closure of Juvenile Hall in City Hall. All these opportunities have been provided by SFIS. Principal Kashif, along with all the teachers work hard to develop these kiddos into noble citizens and future Muslim leaders. Now our second daughter is also in 2nd grade at SFIS while the elder one is in middle school Allhamdulilah. To sum up, we feel blessed to have SFIS. If you want your kids to achieve academic excellence without compromising Islamic values, then SFIS is for you. We always prayed for our kids to have hasanah (goodness) in Duniya and goodness in Akhirah, and Allah SWT accepted our dua and gave us SFIS. We pray to Allah SWT to bless SFIS and the staff with everlasting success Ameen thuma Ameen. JazakaAllah Khair Principal Kashif and all the teachers at San Francisco Islamic School.

From the owner: San Francisco Islamic School has been serving SF, Bay Area residents since 2005. SFIS offers…read morefull-time school, Sunday school, after-school programs, and continuing education classes.

Grateful to be part of the St. Finn Barr community -- a school that blends warmth, curiosity, and…read morecharacter in everything it does. The teachers go above and beyond, the families show up, and the kids grow into confident, kind learners. It's a place that truly brings out the best in everyone who walks through its doors.

The community is supportive and they have an excellent resource program. All the programs are…read morestrong and well organized. The staff is great with communication and making families feel included. Our kids are enjoying their time here and we would recommend it.

This is no ordinary school. The intentionality in more than just the education shows in my…read moredaughter's life. I really appreciate that this school aims to be different in a way that is family centered and aims to foster each child's unique gifts to name a few things . The financial investment is worth it!

This school has been instrumental in our families education journey for both our 7th grader and 2nd…read moregrader. Donum Dei staff truly care about their students, the academics are top notch, the enrichment activities are so great! Being here feels like being a part of a huge joyful family!