You'll wish you could be a kid again and go here!…read more This school is incredible - the teachers, staff, and students alike! The ethos of the school focuses on children as changemakers, the idea that each student has the ability to change the world. Within this framework, they center the child, and focus on "knowing the child well" and the child "knowing themselves well". The kids learn from a young age what makes them thrive (what environment, what tools, what topics interest them, what their growth areas are), giving them self-reflection and self-understanding skills which they will take with them for their whole lives. The school also focuses on instilling a growth mindset with the power of "yet", the idea that anyone can learn to do something new at any age. My absolute favorite school saying by far is "mistakes are magic"... Can you imagine growing up thinking that mistakes are just a part of learning and nothing to be ashamed or feel guilty about? I wish I could go back in time and attend this school!

We're in our second year as parents at Live Oak School, and we've been very pleased with the…read moreexperience. Our daughter loves going to school and really has enjoyed the teachers and staff, the lunch program, and the the experience to date. Things We Really Liked: * Weekly Field Trips in Kindergarten, which helps the students get to know the community / city and get comfortable with public transportation and exploring. Several also involve parents driving, which is a great opportunity to meet a lot of kids and other parents. * AnjiPlay, which helps promote exploration and team work, while also introducing a hint of "risky play". * Camp Live Oak, every year the entire school community goes to camp in May for 3 days, two nights. It's a wonderful and unique community building experience. * School lunch (included with tuition) program is great * Facilities are great - fairly light-filled former Hillsbro building in Potrero Hill, most classrooms have great natural light, Jackson Park is across the street. One of the few schools with a climbing wall (and will now have climbing as a middle school class). Small gym on sight, with UCSF nearby to support sports. * Very thoughtful and intelligent curriculum that they continue to respond to feedback on. They are expanding the Spanish program (currently starts in 4th) to encompass K-8. They are trying a new 8th grade capstone trip this year (traditionally DC) to be Civil Rights movement focused -- Memphis - Alabama - Atlanta. Things to Consider / Areas Could improve * The school doesn't come out of the gate hard in academics in kindergarten, ie they stay pretty light on reading, writing, and math the first year. This ramps up - for some kids very quickly - in first grade. This is probably ok, but parents should be prepared / aligned with it. Know that Live Oak 8th Graders place very well at the more academic high schools in San Francisco. They know themselves well, and they are prepared academically. * Extended Day Program. There are great hours of coverage (730 - 6pm, and holiday care on many of the days there is school off) available for working families. The enrichment programs leave a bit to be desired -- particularly the sign-up process. they seen to have way too few slots and getting a slot is like getting a Yosemite campsite. Soccer program is good. Be prepared to augment this outside of school if you have strong desires.

SF Schoolhouse has been an amazing find for our family…read more Last Spring my daughter's public charter was struggling with pandemic-related academic and behavioral problems. We switched to SFSH and everything changed 180 degrees. My daughter went from being afraid and withdrawn to being engaged and excited about school. She now has a set of friends she can connect with. Thus we have been psyched to find an affordable, excellent family-participatory school that we can walk to. #DreamComeTrue. Also, SFSH is one of the few independent schools with a San Francisco vibe. When leaving the SFUSD I was afraid we would have to be in a community with wealthy Families who had no awareness of their privilege. Instead, we are in a community of engaged parents who are each willing to put in several hours a month to help make the school work for everyone. SFSH is progressive, inclusive, personal education, small classes, with a focus on creativity and social equity. Also, the school is inclusive and queer-friendly for both students and families.

We have been so grateful to have found this unique school and to have made it our community for our…read moreson's middle school experience. Schoolhouse is a small school by design and hence classes are quite small and often organized by ability, not grade level. It is also a progressive school and led by a conscientious and thoughtful team. Most importantly to our family is that they were not daunted by neuro-divergent learners. They always aim to support and make accommodations when there is a need.

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.

Our family has been a part of the Children's Day School community for 5 years and counting…read more... As a parent, you can feel the joy that the kids are experiencing day to day. The community of parents is a strong and down to earth crew. The teachers are intentional with their teaching and overall, we have been thrilled year to year with the teaching teams. We feel very fortunate to be a part of such a diverse and vibrant community in the heart of the Mission District.... The farm and garden is a bonus to an already beautiful campus. But, most importantly, the absolute excitement that both my kids feel to get to school everyday is number one!

Amazing community based on inclusion and diversity. I feel…read morewelcomed since day one as a Latin background family and a safe place for my children to be .

Red Bridge is a unique school, with a super interesting pedagogical model. We're very grateful to…read morebe part of the community there. Our kid started Autonomy Level 1 (K/1st-ish) in September and is learning so much. The teachers are super kind and supportive to the students. On the way to school today our kid was wondering what they were going to do next in robotics class on Friday. Kids have lots of opportunities to learn from peers, in various mixed-age scenarios. If you're looking for an elementary school in the Dogpatch, I'd highly recommend you dig into their website, and go for a visit. Thanks Red Bridge for all that you're doing for our kid and his classmates.

We were looking for a school where our daughter would learn to be a learner, and Red Bridge…read moredelivered. Oftentimes kids are prompted to ascend the grade level regardless of their ability to learn and their skillset. At Red Bridge, we experience a different approach - here, the kids learn the most important skill - the skill to love learning as a process and to approach learning in a methodical way, without the fear of the unknown. Our daughter is thriving in this environment. She's also gaining the confidence to know that she CAN learn, that she can advocate for herself, and that she can decide - on her own - when she is ready to move to the next level. The students learn to treat teachers as trusted resources in their learning journey, as opposed to figures of authoirty that must be at best - obeyed and at worst -feared. The teacher-to-student ratio is phenomenal. As parents, we are extremely grateful for the in-house afterschool care till 6 pm. We can see the love that shines through each teacher's eyes towards all of the kids at this unique institution.

The combination of high quality education and a great community of parents, teachers and children…read moreis rare, and San Francisco Pacific Academy is that. The curriculum and the after school activities are masterfully put together, but in my opinion, what truly raises the bar is the pedagogical professionalism of the teachers, and I would add - of every single one of them. A truly great teacher understands that their job is not only to be delivering education, but also creating an atmosphere of home outside of home for their students - with compassion, care, and consistent level of attention and support. I have a second child already graduating that school, and despite the relatively big age difference of my daughters, I have seen through the years consistently great level of education and care.

tbh such a great school when i went here and overall great teachers and classmates also an amazing…read moreafterschool program

I have been so impressed with the community that surrounds the school. Wonderful people who all…read morepull in the same direction to give children the best possible circumstances to succeed.

Our child is in grade K at St Philips and they/ we are generally very pleased with the school. My…read morekid is very happy. The school has done a good job of navigating the outside pressures that continue to make running a school difficult: COVID, national teacher shortage, etc. While I would like to get more updates on the day to day happenings in my child's classrooom, the work that comes home every week and parent teacher conference updates at the beginning of the year were enough to be able to support them at home. Pros: - small school - consistent routines and structures in class - after school programming available daily - strong parent community - academic focus - athletic community (for folks that want that) Grows: - Communication of progress Overall we have been pleased with the school and would be happy to recommend it to others.

Brightworks is a truly magical school! It has been a place of complete transformation for my child…read more As a seasoned educator who has taught in public and private schools in both the U.S. and internationally, I can confidently say that the Brightworks ethos and pedagogy embody what children need to thrive and succeed in our ever-changing world. We came to Brightworks when my older daughter was in 4th grade (also known as the Quartz band). She had previously attended another wonderful school--where my younger daughter continues to thrive--but it simply wasn't the right fit for her. By 3rd grade, she was taking three half-hour "bathroom breaks" each day, essentially the equivalent of cutting elementary school. She was being bullied by peers, had grown to hate the process of learning, and was beginning to believe that she was "dumb." She was also nearly two grade levels behind in reading. After exploring many schools, we discovered Brightworks. It wasn't flashy, but it immediately felt like the right place for her. Our first day was challenging. Although she had struggled at her previous school, she also found change difficult and was resistant to starting somewhere new. She refused to enter the classroom and instead ran up a tree in tears. The teacher (collaborator), Shirvan, responded with remarkable patience and warmth, reassuring me that my daughter could join the group whenever she felt ready. The administrators were equally phenomenal, offering compassion and support when they could see how embarrassed and overwhelmed I felt with my "spirited" child. About four hours later, she finally joined the class. Within just a few days, she loved school so much that she was sad when the day ended and disappointed when holidays approached. After each winter, spring, and summer break, she was thrilled to return. Within a year, she progressed from reading at a 2nd-grade level (e.g., Dog Man) to devouring upper elementary and middle school novels such as the Wings of Fire and Warriors series. She came to love school, the process of learning, her teachers, and her peers. She transformed from a wilted flower into a blossoming tree. The ethos of Brightworks is to meet children where they are and to approach learning through real-world contexts that spark their interests. Science and math are taught through hands-on exploration and authentic problem-solving, while reading and writing are developed through both personal interests and guided learning around social justice topics. Students gain genuine critical thinking skills alongside practical experience using shop tools. The multi-age, schoolhouse model allows older students to care for younger ones, fostering responsibility, empathy, and meaningful mentorship. Every collaborator is dedicated to guiding each child to become the best version of themselves. I only wish that all teaching and learning could be approached in the way Brightworks does.

Our son is 8 and in the middle of his 3rd year at Brightworks…read more We couldn't be happier about how the school has supported his learning, both socio-emotional (he is high energy and we were worried he'd be seen as a 'bad' kid at a traditional school) and academic (particularly reading, where he's been a bit slow, but now is right on track and loving reading). Brightworks' approach is project based. Not just doing projects *in* classes--like the science class doing a science project about earthquakes--but doing interdisciplinary projects *instead of* classes, with a greater degree of fluidity and flexibility in time and approach. The school has a strong maker and tinkering culture. We also don't have things that more traditional schools have, such as tests or grades, though we do have parent conferences and documentation of progress in several key areas (like a swim school report card). The kids do NOT sit at individual desks. A lot more time is spent outdoors, and we're in the Presidio, so there's tons of nature to explore. The kids aren't organized into typical grade levels, like K, 1, 2, 3. Instead they're in "bands" of up to a dozen kids each, giving the school more flexibility in placing kids in the group that they'd most benefit from being in each year, with less stigma if a child is "skips" a grade or is held back. The school's approach is naturally well-suited for kids with different needs. E.g. the focus on meeting every kid where they're at, individual learning trajectories, and being able to take the time that the kids need rather than being tied to a fixed daily or weekly schedule with lists of specific learning objectives. We've gotten great and entirely non-judgemental support for our son. That said, as a small school and as a private school, not every need or circumstance can be accommodated and we have seen a couple classmates over the years with, e.g. dyslexia or autism, move on to more specialized schools. (If your kid has special needs, I would ask about it; we do have many neurodiverse and other kids with particular needs that are doing great and seem well supported.) One thing that exemplifies the school is our annual Maker Marketplace where anyone in the community can sell things-like crafts, food items, gifts, or even carnival games or other experiences. It's entrepreneurial and community-forward, and there's a fair amount of open-endedness in what is possible. Maker Marketplace is a bit chaotic and a lot of fun and learning, and to me that really is the Brightworks way.