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.

My son had a horrible time here, specifically Mr. Nathan Villanueva made him feel unwelcome the…read moreentire four years he attended.

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.

it's a great school, but I feel the woman I spoke to in the office this morning was not very…read morefriendly. I have no idea what the problem was when I was just calling about my daughter since I was worried she was not responding to any of my messages, which she normally does. so many kids going missing these days it's hard not to worry, especially if your kid is not informing you when they get to school which they normally do. This is not the first time this woman has had this behavior with me. I've let it go a few times, but it definitely should be corrected. it's not necessary.

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.

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.

UHS has stellar teachers and offers a supportive environment for high school students. The school…read morepushes students hard on the college-prep route. Advanced Placement courses and tough courses all-around. They get you in to college and make sure you do well there. Top notch school. Very greatful for having gone there. They recently added a new building at 3220 Sacramento Street which houses Ceramic and Art Studios, a film lab, offices, and much more. They are in the process of renovating their lower campus on Washington Street and have already completed a new library on Jackson. A new theater was added in 2001.

I was spoiled by my four years here and received an education that is on par with (if not superior…read moreto) that of many universities. Make no mistake the coursework here pushes students hard, but the opportunities here are endless and display an incredible diversity of passions and talents. During my time at UHS, I played on the varsity tennis and badminton teams, played intramural sports, performed in the spring musical, wrote for the school newspaper, founded a club, sang in the chorus, took a photo class...oh and I took a few academic classes in between. The kinds of classes I took included AP US History, Mandarin Chinese, Literature of the Vietnam War, Western Civilization, Calculus, and the list goes on. My only regret? Not studying harder and pushing myself to try more new things. You can be an artist or a businessman. You can explore the sciences or delve into the literature of your favorite foreign language. It really is as much as you want to make of it. The faculty is top notch, with credentials from outstanding academic institutions and more importantly, a great ability to encourage the students to WANT to learn. And let me save the best for last. The students. The people. Ambitious, talented, and bound to do amazing things. Yes, I sound like a propaganda tool. But I cannot say enough about this school. Alumni events connect me to a wide array of grads in locations and industries far and wide. If you are considering sending your child here, you are doing them a great service. Don't let the finances deter you - the education is first rate and financial aid is available to those who qualify.

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

12 years and this is the best place I've ever taught and learned. Solid academics, arts, sports,…read moreand services, this is a place where everybody can grow and thrive. Teachers proudly send their own kids to school here. Lesssgo hawks

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.

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.

One of the biggest problems with this school is that some teachers seem to think they can treat…read morestudents however they want and then hide behind the excuse of "being strict." There is a huge difference between being strict and making students feel embarrassed, singled out, or disrespected. What makes it even worse is that when students try to speak up about how they are being treated, their concerns are often brushed off. Instead of listening and trying to understand why a student feels uncomfortable, people immediately defend the teacher and say they're just doing their job. This sends the message that teachers can say or do whatever they want without being held accountable. A school should be a place where students feel safe, respected, and supported. Unfortunately, it often feels like student concerns are ignored while teachers are automatically believed, no matter what happened. Respect goes both ways, and if schools expect students to treat teachers with respect, then teachers should be held to the same standard. Overall, this school needs to do a better job of listening to students and taking their concerns seriously instead of dismissing them as complaints about "strict" teachers.

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.

Balanced Review: Incredible People, Severely Neglected Campus…read more The Good: Phenomenal Staff and Life-Changing SupportMy time here was defined by incredible people who genuinely care about students. Teachers like Mr. Hass, Ms. Nuval, and Mx. Dickinson were fantastic, helping me build wonderful memories and lifelong friendships. Furthermore, the specialized support I received here truly shaped who I am today. Working with Kris Langley and Dan Pearlstone at Vibe Speech Therapy during 7th and 8th grade--including their Minecraft socialization group--completely broke me out of my shell. While I heavily disliked going to the sessions as a middle schooler, looking back as a young adult, their creative and patient approaches gave me the real-world confidence to later handle a public-facing job out on Alcatraz. The Bad: Systemic Facility Neglect and Safety HazardsUnfortunately, the physical campus suffers from a complete lack of proper maintenance by SFUSD. The interior conditions are deeply concerning: peeling flooring, a dirty cafeteria, severe understaffing, and a lack of security that contributes to frequent student fights. Basic restroom hygiene is a major issue, and the auditorium has been neglected for years with broken seating and broken stage lighting. The Advocacy: Forcing Change The exterior recently suffered from major safety and accessibility hazards, including missing sewer grates, missing pipe covers, a heavily rusted gate separating Aptos Park, and a badly damaged sidewalk. Because the district ignored these issues, I took action and filed formal ADA and Williams complaints. After months of bureaucratic back-and-forth, I finally forced the district to rectify these hazards. I am glad I can now use my voice to keep the exterior safe, accessible, and up to fire code by constantly pushing the district to do its job.

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

Mr jang (Joaquin Jang) is an awful counselor. he does not deserve to be working with children. Rude…read moreand dismissive, disrespectful to students, an absolute pathetic excuse for an "educational and mental health authority". Parents BEWARE!

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.