U.S. Post Office and Courthouse · Photo: James Knox Taylor · Public domainSan Francisco’s public schools outscore 74% of California districts
Math proficiency in San Francisco’s districts is 45%, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the public school district serving San Francisco, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.
From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 92% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
San Francisco’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 358 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of San Francisco’s, its schools beat 62%, lower than their 74% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 54% and math 45% in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $25,173 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
76 elementary schools, then 21 middle and ten high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
KIPP Bayview Elementary, KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy, Gateway Middle, KIPP San Francisco College Preparatory, Five Keys Charter, Thomas Edison Charter Academy, City Arts & Leadership Academy, Five Keys Independence HS, Creative Arts Charter, KIPP Bayview Academy, Mission Preparatory, Gateway High, The New School of San Francisco, Life Learning Academy Charter, St. Ignatius College Preparatory (private), Convent & Stuart Hall Schools of the Sacred Heart (private), Archbishop Riordan High School (private), St. Gabriel Elementary School (private), St. Cecilia School (private), Chinese American International School (private), San Francisco University High School (private), Children's Day School (private), The Bay School of San Francisco (private), Holy Name Elementary School (private), Town School for Boys (private), French American Intnl School Preschool (private), Live Oak School (private), La Scuola International School (private), La Scuola International School-Mission Campus (private), Katherine Delmar Burke School (private), Presidio Knolls School (private), San Francisco Waldorf School (private), Cornerstone Academy (private), The Brandeis School of San Francisco (private), West Portal Lutheran School (private), Alta Vista School (private), San Francisco School (private), San Francisco Christian School (private), St. Brendan School (private), Ecole Notre Dame Des Victoires School (private), Ica Cristo Rey Academy (private), St. Stephen School (private), Cathedral School for Boys (private), St. Anne Elementary School (private), St. Finn Barr Catholic School (private), Our Lady of the Visitacion School (private), Presidio Hill School (private), St. Philip School (private), St. Vincent de Paul School (private), Synergy School (private), Cornerstone Academy-Cambridge Campus (private), Sterne School (private), Jewish Community High School of the Bay (private), St. Peter's School (private), Mission Dolores Academy (private), Sts. Peter & Paul School (private), St. Pauls (private), St. Anthony - Immaculate Conception School (private), School of the Epiphany (private), St. John the Evangelist School (private), Zion Lutheran School (private), Adda Clevenger School (private), Mission Montessori (private), Golden Bridges School (private), KZV Armenian School (private), Chinese American Intl Middle School (private), Brightworks (private), Stratford School San Francisco (private), San Francisco Schoolhouse (private), Proof School (private), St. James Catholic School (private), Stratford School (private), De Marillac Academy (private), Millennium School of San Francisco (private), San Francisco City Academy (private), St. Brigid School (private), Rise University Preparatory (private), San Francisco Islamic School (private), Donum Dei Classical Academy (private), Casa Dei Bambini School (private), Kittredge School (private), Bais Menachem Yeshiva Day School (private), San Francisco Pacific Academy (private), San Francisco High School of the Arts (private), Red Bridge (private), Dahlia School, the (private), St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy (private), Fusion Academy San Francisco (private), Montessori House of Children (private), Katherine Michiels School (private), Hillwood Academic Day School (private), Academy of Thought and Industry (private), Cielito Lindo Montessori School (private), Edgewood Center for Children & Families (private), Arise Educational Center (private), Eureka Learning Center (private), Nativity HS (private), San Francisco Adventist School (private), Kahlon Family Services School (private), Wen Jian Ying (private) and The Discovery Center School (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind San Francisco’s grade
B+: better than 74% of California school districts, #202 of 847 California towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the California average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve San Francisco, with each school’s own grade.
San Francisco’s public schools are run by San Francisco Unified School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
San Francisco vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share San Francisco’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | B+ | San Francisco Unified |
| Daly City | B | Jefferson Elementary K–8 · Jefferson Union High 9–12 |
| Brisbane | B+ | Brisbane Elementary K–8 · Bayshore Elementary K–8 · Jefferson Union High 9–12 |
| Alameda | A | Alameda City Unified |
| Tiburon | A+ | Reed Union Elementary K–8 · Tamalpais Union High 9–12 |
| Richmond | C+ | West Contra Costa Unified K–12 · Acalanes Union High 9–12 |
| Berkeley | A | Berkeley Unified |
| Albany | A | Albany City Unified |
Every school in San Francisco
210 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 9 public programs with fewer than 25 students (San Francisco County ROP, Weill (Raphael) Children Center, Mahler (Theresa S.) Children Center, Las Americas Children Center, Cooper (Sarah B.) Children Center, Presidio Early Ed., San Miguel Children Center, Havard (Leola M.) Early Education and S.F. County Court Woodside Learning Ctr). 2 duplicate private-school records merged.
Questions about San Francisco’s schools
Are San Francisco’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools San Francisco children attend outscore 74% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #202 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 62%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is San Francisco in?
San Francisco Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 48,706 students in 106 schools (2024–25).
Where do San Francisco kids go to high school?
One of 10 high schools, depending on your address: Lowell High, Lincoln (Abraham) High, Washington (George) High, Galileo High, Balboa High, Burton (Phillip and Sala) Academic High, Mission High, Wallenberg (Raoul) Traditional High, Marshall (Thurgood) High and O'Connell (John) High.
What is San Francisco’s graduation rate?
88% of the class of 2023 in San Francisco Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does San Francisco spend per student?
$25,173 in San Francisco Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in San Francisco?
Yes: St. Ignatius College Preparatory (Catholic, grades 6–12, 1,585 students), Convent & Stuart Hall Schools of the Sacred Heart (Catholic, grades K–12, 1,198 students), Archbishop Riordan High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 1,143 students), St. Gabriel Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 541 students), St. Cecilia School (Catholic, grades K–8, 503 students), Chinese American International School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 503 students), San Francisco University High School (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 480 students), Children's Day School (religious, grades PK–8, 460 students), The Bay School of San Francisco (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 447 students), Holy Name Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 436 students), Town School for Boys (nonsectarian · all-boys, grades K–8, 416 students), French American Intnl School Preschool (nonsectarian, grades PK–3, 416 students), Live Oak School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 415 students), La Scuola International School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 403 students), La Scuola International School-Mission Campus (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 403 students), Katherine Delmar Burke School (nonsectarian · all-girls, grades K–8, 401 students), Presidio Knolls School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 394 students), San Francisco Waldorf School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 384 students), Cornerstone Academy (religious, grades K–8, 363 students), The Brandeis School of San Francisco (religious, grades K–8, 360 students), West Portal Lutheran School (religious, grades K–8, 330 students), Alta Vista School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 323 students), San Francisco School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 280 students), San Francisco Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 277 students), St. Brendan School (Catholic, grades K–8, 277 students), Ecole Notre Dame Des Victoires School (Catholic, grades K–8, 271 students), Ica Cristo Rey Academy (catholic · all-girls, grades 9–12, 270 students), St. Stephen School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 269 students), Cathedral School for Boys (religious · all-boys, grades K–8, 256 students), St. Anne Elementary School (Catholic, grades K–8, 241 students), St. Finn Barr Catholic School (Catholic, grades K–8, 224 students), Our Lady of the Visitacion School (Catholic, grades K–8, 216 students), Presidio Hill School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 210 students), St. Philip School (Catholic, grades K–8, 207 students), St. Vincent de Paul School (Catholic, grades K–8, 202 students), Synergy School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 195 students), Cornerstone Academy-Cambridge Campus (religious, grades 4–8, 184 students), Sterne School (special education, grades 4–12, 181 students), Jewish Community High School of the Bay (religious, grades 9–12, 179 students), St. Peter's School (Catholic, grades K–8, 178 students), Mission Dolores Academy (Catholic, grades K–8, 173 students), Sts. Peter & Paul School (Catholic, grades K–8, 168 students), St. Pauls (Catholic, grades K–8, 165 students), St. Anthony - Immaculate Conception School (Catholic, grades K–8, 164 students), School of the Epiphany (Catholic, grades K–8, 158 students), St. John the Evangelist School (Catholic, grades K–8, 152 students), Zion Lutheran School (religious, grades K–8, 152 students), Adda Clevenger School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 143 students), Mission Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 134 students), Golden Bridges School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 126 students), KZV Armenian School (religious, grades PK–8, 125 students), Chinese American Intl Middle School (nonsectarian, grades 6–8, 122 students), Brightworks (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 116 students), Stratford School San Francisco (nonsectarian, grades 6–8, 115 students), San Francisco Schoolhouse (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 115 students), Proof School (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 113 students), St. James Catholic School (Catholic, grades K–8, 111 students), Stratford School (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 109 students), De Marillac Academy (Catholic, grades 4–8, 106 students), Millennium School of San Francisco (nonsectarian, grades 6–8, 104 students), San Francisco City Academy (religious, grades K–8, 86 students), St. Brigid School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 76 students), Rise University Preparatory (religious, grades 9–12, 72 students), San Francisco Islamic School (religious, grades K–8, 72 students), Donum Dei Classical Academy (religious, grades K–8, 66 students), Casa Dei Bambini School (nonsectarian, grades PK–1, 65 students), Kittredge School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 60 students), Bais Menachem Yeshiva Day School (religious, grades K–8, 57 students), San Francisco Pacific Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 56 students), San Francisco High School of the Arts (nonsectarian, grades 5–12, 48 students), Red Bridge (nonsectarian, grades K–5, 40 students), Dahlia School, the (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 40 students), St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy (religious, grades K–12, 37 students), Fusion Academy San Francisco (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 33 students), Montessori House of Children (nonsectarian, grades K, 30 students), Katherine Michiels School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 28 students), Hillwood Academic Day School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 26 students), Academy of Thought and Industry (nonsectarian, grades 7–12, 24 students), Cielito Lindo Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 24 students), Edgewood Center for Children & Families (special education, grades 9–12, 22 students), Arise Educational Center (special education, grades 5–12, 21 students), Eureka Learning Center (nonsectarian, grades K, 18 students), Nativity HS (Catholic, grades 9, 15 students), San Francisco Adventist School (religious, grades K–8, 10 students), Kahlon Family Services School (nonsectarian, grades K–4, 10 students), Wen Jian Ying (religious, grades 10–12, 6 students) and The Discovery Center School (nonsectarian, grades 3–10, 6 students). San Francisco also has 14 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What San Francisco families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near San Francisco → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.