Saint Cecilia (SC) is a great school. It has two classes per grade, which separate it from other…read moreparochial schools in San Francisco with only one class per grade. SC also has a new Transitional Kindergarten. It has been a staple of Parkside, West Portal, Sunset for over 85 years. It is considered one of the main feeder schools for elite Catholic High Schools in San Francisco. There is a new administration led by a young, energetic Principal (2019), and also a new Pastor and Deacon (2018/2019). Lastly, while SC has been a relatively large catholic grade school, strong in traditional academic and athletics, there is now a big capital campaign push to remodel a new five story STEAM building in the old convent at the school (goal 2021/2022) There are well-attended clubs and activities like music, Mandarin, Scouts at the school. The large volunteer parent involvement makes the SC community stong. ~The Finest, the Greatest, the Best.

I'm writing this review as an update to my previous one which was written in 2018. I am a former…read morestudent of Saint Cecilia school. Looking back at my experience as a student here from the early 1990s, I would like to revisit the past, but more importantly, look at the present school. First off, my experiences were from over 30 years ago now, and all of the teachers and school administration from my era there are long gone. Although my experience had its bad moments, which my previous review laid out, I did have many positive ones. And as the years have gone by, and I've gotten older and had children of my own that are now about the age that I was at the time I was at Saint Cecilia's, I've realized I do need to revisit the past. When I look back at my time at Saint Cecilia's, I have to say that I really loved my fellow classmates (as well as the 8th grade buddy system we kindergartners had once a week). I also believe that part of the problem was that I was in the afternoon kindergarten class, if I had been in the morning class I would've had a different teacher, Mrs. Watters, who was always very nice to me and loved by her students. Even at the time, I remember wishing I had her as my teacher. The afternoon kindergarten class, which I was a part of with Mrs. Lindemann as my teacher, changed the following year after I went into first grade because Mrs. Lindemann left teaching altogether, I think that says something. I think it's important to not hold grudges, and even though I did have some bad experiences, there were many good ones. I believe in forgiveness and that at some point you have to let the past go, and I think that ability often times comes with the wisdom that life gives as you get older. My memories are that essentially everyone else in the teaching staff that I remember at the school (except Mrs. Lindemann and Mrs. McNamara) were nice to me, and as I said, I really had great friends there with my former classmates (I'm actually facebook friends to this day with one of them and his mom). Most of the kids that were in my kindergarten class did not return to Saint Cecilia's for first grade the following year, I always suspected based on things I heard that it was because of Mrs. Lindemann and the experience us boys in particular had with her the previous year, she did not seem to like boys and that was palpable. But as an adult, who now has kids that age, I have to say that it does look like Saint Cecilia's is a very different place in 2026 than it was in the early 1990s. And given the changes I have seen, I would definitely give the school a shot with my own children today if I still lived in San Francisco. I do have many fond memories of Saint Cecilia and I don't want to allow a few "rotten apples" to spoil the whole barrel. There were good times in those days at the school, and I just want to put that out there in hindsight. Shortly after kindergarten ended, my family moved out of San Francisco, which is where I had been born and raised, and I will say that I really did miss Saint Cecilia's a lot when I started at my new Catholic school in a completely different city. I'm taking off one star on this new review just because those bad events in the early 1990s did happen and they were very difficult for me to deal with at the time as a small child. But that was another time and another era, and the school has changed and I've changed, and I do very much like what I have heard and seen of how the school is today. As I said, if I still lived in the city, I would definitely give Saint Cecilia's a shot at my kids going there today. I wish Saint Cecilia school all the best, it was my first school as a young child and I will never forget those days, the West Portal neighborhood, or the school.

Dear Jay D., I am so sorry for the unhappy school…read moreexperience, that is a Principal's worst nightmare for our kids. I took over in 2016-17 and I hope we have moved towards an academic and social emotional experience that is full of love, handling bullying, and helping parents to speak with each other regarding difficult friendships and respect amongst all. May God grant you a change in the positive direction for your future academic experiences. Current Principal 2022

Don't confuse the old, respected St. Brendan's School with what occupies the space today. The…read morebiggest bullies are the teachers and the principal and their toxicity has spread throughout the student body. The first grade teacher is wonderful and really stands out among the amateurs. The rest of the current staff is incapable of appreciating the individual talents of the children and the school has been dinged-repeatedly-on their accreditation report for not dealing with bullying and for not supporting critical thinking. SB used to be a "brand name"; now it's just an embarrassment. There are many good schools in SF where teachers work closely with families to provide an outstanding school/learning experience. Sadly St. Brendan's is not one of them. Unfortunately "no stars" is not an option.

My son and daughter went here for elementary! This place is a pretty good elementary school. The…read moreteachers care, are inclusive and supportive! One of the best elementary schools in the SFUSD school district. This school feeds into Aptos though, Aptos is the worst middle school you can send your kids to. Try to apply them to AP. Giannini or another public middle school.

To this day this place is great I love this place a lot but I really don't like the lunches hehehe…read more this place is good for lots of stuff I highly recommend starting with a teacher Ms. Walsh she is nice and well forward. I'm now pretty old and I would definitely recommend you to take your kids to aptos because it's close by! Most teachers there are great but some people say they aren't Hope this helps!

Child number 2 has successfully graduated from the amazing AFY…read more Much has changed over the past 10 years. The implementation of the garden program. The morning "drop off " zone and the amazing parent volunteers, remodeled play area and structures, a PA system and the beautiful Great Wall design and California Blue Ribbon crest! Of course, there is so much more, for instance the excellent addition in our schools administration. And the multitude of new scholastic programs that highly benefit our children to keep them #1 in SF. Yes, I said "our" children as many of us feel we are truely an AFY family. And those parents are the core and tower blocks of our school. Thank you to "you-know-who-you-are". Yes, we all know who you are. And, thank you to our teachers and administrators. For me, 10 years in and 5 more to go. I love AFY! See you around campus! Michael

I feel like this school could 100% use improvement. I'm still a student here, and, one person is…read morestealing stuff. Rather than trying to find the student, the teachers only threaten us and say that if we don't confess, we will get yelled at, leaving us- the students to figure out who it is. And, their math isn't well taught. We are learning it in Cantonese, and, unless the rest of the world speaks it, then there's no use for the math words that we learn. Also, the school is so focused on teaching Chinese that we never started learning science until 5th grade, when we were supposed to start in 2nd grade.

This is the most nurturing Montessori program in all of San Francisco. Tara, the owner is highly…read morecredentialed and incredible in creating a positive and supportive environment that empowers children to thrive and develop a love for learning, preparing them to excel once they enter elementary school . My daughters who are older now still love visiting Ms. Tara.

We just graduated the preschool. We spent two years with ms Tara in MMGG and we LOVED it. From the…read moretime we had the tour we knew this was the right place for us. Ms Tara is nice but also has authority and kids need that. Within couple of days our daughter was in love with the school and the teachers. She would ask when she is going back during the holidays (or camps). She grew up so much and learned so much in this school. You can see all the kids were thriving. I am attaching a picture from the graduation party in the park when Ms Tara showed up and all the kids run towards her and hugged her. If that's not proof of love I don't know what is. We will dearly miss all the friends we made there and the sweet teachers. Ms Jessica and Ms Tiffany have mad hair braiding skills. I will send my kid with half loose hair and she will come home with princess hair! Anyway, I cannot recommend enough this school. Your kid will be taken care of and thought some serious writing, reading and math skills. My daughter can add to 20! She is not even 5! We will be sending our second when the time comes as we know this will be the best place to her too!

Nice school…read more very good school the teachers are nice.

Here for the neighborhood playground kickoff event…read more Very clean school yard with new, clean equipment. Various summer camp and youth programs are here promoting their services. Free tacos to enjoy with the music.

Great school with caring teachers and staff. With three kids going to the school we feel lucky!read more

Great school great community so much to love. Located near Twin Peaks. The teachers and staff at…read morethe school are amazing.

The school is recorded in many graphic novels. It looks not bad etc etc. I like it!!!!!!read more

Thank you so much Excel program is the Before and After program which help parents when they can't…read morestay with their child until 9:30 am or until 6:30 pm. The team of Excel this year and last year is extremely nice and helpful and great. Before the new Excel team came in, my kid was lock outside and and can't get in Excel because he/she was playing with friends and came in Excel late....... appreciate for all your hard work of the team, we love you all. Please continue to have Excel program to help parents who can't pick up the child early. Thank you so much for the hard work and education and the knowledge that all teachers at Lakeshore school gave to the children. My child loves the school and the teachers. Especially thanks to Ms Fusscas , you are amazing teacher , you prepare for the kids to have foundation before they move on to middle, you find the sources to help the kids to have chances to move on and continue to move to great middle and high schools. As a parent, I am very admire your way of teaching and lead the kids to learn. You are patience and good heart. My kid said :' Ms Fusscas is very strict but I love her so much because she really into teaching and caring for us, she supports and encourages us when we need help.' Thank you Mr principal for always being there and late for all the kids and help us to get all the paperworks done when other schools ask. The only sad is Ms office assistant who is in Mr Principal office and help with paperwork and pick up phone. For many times, other schools asking for my kid reports they never get it. I went in many times , sit there , asked , called , almost begged her if I can open the file and do it myself. She is just a bit rude and doesn't send the works as requested from other schools when students transfer, but besides those, all is ok.

Yet another reason that this is the best CYO gym. Besides the great court, ample fan seating,…read moreavailable schoolyard and street parking, clean bathrooms, and nice family volunteer staff, holding an 8th grade night is awesome. Equivalent to a senior in high school senior night with life size photo banners on the gym wall, pregame announcement of players with their families, player sashes and flowers, photo boards of players in the stands, and even opponent candy leis, it made for a very festive and memorable night for these kids. Kudos STM. I wish all parishes did this.

We decided to stay. We saw how the staff lovingly handled distance learning during Covid with such…read moreheart and grace. It was obvious how much our child's teacher deeply cared about our child and the rest of her students. It showed through their interactions which we were able to witness on zoom and seesaw, and in their learning. She is an absolutely amazing teacher and we are truly blessed to have had her teach our child. We were so touched and wowed by our child's academic success and happiness that we had a change of heart.

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