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.

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.

West Portal Lutheran School is truly an amazing school! My son has been attending WPLS for a couple…read moreyears now, and without a doubt, I feel that it's an exceptional place where students thrive academically and socially, and where families are welcomed as part of a very caring community! Not too long ago, like most parents looking for a school for their rising kindergartener, my wife and I hoped to find a school with the "right fit." Certainly, we wished for a place where our son would grow academically. But very importantly, we sought a place where he would feel comfortable, welcomed, and supported. We felt that while a school could certainly be gauged by its academic strength, its intangibles also really mattered - something that was much harder to get a sense of. For example, the right school, we believed, also depended on how they treated parents. During our family's WPLS tour, it was immediately apparent that there was an immense amount of care for both students and parents. We knew the school was known for academic distinction, but we wanted to know how they approached social growth. Principal Lee, who is wonderfully kind and knowledgeable, spent time talking with us about social emotional learning, which is part of the school's curriculum focused on a student's social development, i.e., valuing and understanding one another - and yes, WPLS students consistently show great character! As time went on, we saw, clearly, that WPLS was more than an educational institution, but a caring school community. For example, it amazed me that Principal Lee genuinely cared about knowing every student's AND parent's name on just the second day of school! We experienced that student events allowed parents to come together in a comfortable way. Teachers were accessible, responsive, and patient. The school looked for and welcomed parent feedback, and allowed other ways for parents to have greater input. We feel extremely lucky that our son is a WPLS student. Every day, he tells us that he had a good day. His teacher is one of his favorite people in the world. His classmates are kind, smart and caring. Their parents are friendly and thoughtful. I can't picture our son anywhere else.

Looking in on the different grades. Everything is modern and teachers are teaching in action which…read morewe can see that morning.

Middle school students poorly behaved and the head of the school has a hair trigger and very…read morespiteful individual.

I was a student here from 1995-2001,…read more This is a very unique alternative school, With an extremely unique culture. The quality of the teaching staff was very hit or miss & when they missed they missed very hard.

We're a Stratford family with an 8th grader, and our experience has been extremely…read morepositive--especially in high school preparation and the overall school culture. The academics are strong and thoughtfully designed, and the teachers genuinely care about student growth. We've seen our child become more confident, independent, and ready for the increased expectations of high school. The support during the high school application process really stood out. The Principal and staff were engaged, responsive, and incredibly supportive throughout the process. Their experience and guidance helped reduce a lot of stress, and it's clear that Stratford students are well prepared and competitive when applying to some of the best high schools in San Francisco. We also truly value the diversity at Stratford. The school community includes students from many different backgrounds, which creates an inclusive and respectful environment. Our child has benefited from learning alongside peers with different perspectives, and it adds real depth to the overall experience. Communication has always been clear, and the school feels well-run and supportive. Looking back at our child's middle school years, we feel Stratford provided an excellent foundation for both academic success and personal growth.

Our daughter is an 8th grader at Stratford Middle School in SF, and we are grateful for the…read moreincredible role the school played in preparing her for high school. What stood out most was the strong academic foundation, strong teachers/staff, and like-minded students who wanted to excel in academics and activities. Stratford helped our daughter build strong study habits, discipline, independence, and the ability to manage a demanding workload. The teachers pushed her academically, but also supported her and helped her grow in communication, writing, public speaking, leadership, and overall confidence. The principal was also a major strength. He set high expectations around discipline, character, and behavior, which we believe are especially important in middle school. During the high school admissions process, his guidance was incredibly valuable, from parent presentations to interview prep, school prioritization, and being available to families. His relationships with high school admissions offices across San Francisco also came in handy. Overall, we are grateful for Stratford and would highly recommend it to families.

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 had an incredibly enriching work experience here as an employee for ICA Cristo Rey. Their CWS…read morecommunity partners share the most inspiring stories about the impact their partnership has on their students. I wish I had an opportunity like this in high school!

Blood alone moves the wheels of history! Have you ever asked yourselves in an hour of meditation,…read morewhich everyone finds during the day. How long we have been striving for our SATs? [bangs fist] Not only the years we've been at war, the war of work, the war of study, but from the moment as a child when we realized that the world could be determined by one test. It has been a lifetime's struggle [waves arms]. A never-ending fight. I say to you [hits podium] and you'll understand that it is a privilege to fight! WE ARE WARRIORS! We will never cede control of taking our SATS! OUR MOTHERLAND! in all seriousness, why was the SAT canceled without any prior notice

SFFS is such a wonderful school. I'm so grateful my kids get to attend - they're receiving a…read morestellar academic education, rooted in Quaker values. I've heard our faculty refer to the fact that "reflection is our super power", and I can see how valuable that is for my children as they develop and grow. And I love the parent community, it's a joy to be part of this inclusive and welcoming environment.

The SFFS faculty is amazing! The academic program they have created offers students an opportunity…read moreto grow as creative, collaborative, and competent problem solvers. One of my favorite things about SFFS is its emphasis on experiential learning and the focus on student-interest-driven projects, field studies, and community collaboration. All SFFS students are encouraged to explore multiple perspectives, ask meaningful questions, and contribute their unique voices. It has been such a joy to watch my children learn and grow in such a wonderful community.