I had a nun tell me in 2nd grade to go fly a kite--that's as authentic as one can get no? They also had me doing long division by the time I was in 2nd grade vs my younger sister who went to public school in 2nd grade (she was starting single digit multiplication). She switched over to private school for grades 6-8th. read more

My husband graduated from this school and now our son attends it. We love it. It's a small school and very community based. The principle and teacher's are wonderful. read more

My daughter has been enrolled at SSPP since Kindergarten and is now in the 5th grade. We've been incredibly happy with our choice to send her to SSPP. We've loved all of her teachers, the supporting staff and the SSPP community. Located in the heart of North Beach, in one of the most beautiful churches in the city, we feel lucky to be able to give our child a culturally diverse atmosphere and enjoy the close knit community ties we've developed through the school. Offering programs such as Art in Action, Robotics, Coding, Italian (as well as Spanish & Mandarin) in addition to the regular curriculum, I feel my daughter is being offered the opportunity to have a well rounded education preparing kids for a love of learning. We see most kids leaving SSPP more than prepared for High School with the majority of students graduating and moving on to some of the best High Schools in the city. SSPP also has the BEST fundraising events that parents actually want to be apart of and attend. Most notably, the annual Columbus Day Bazaar which has been a SF tradition for almost 100 years celebrating the North Beach culture and food while watching the Blue Angels flying overhead. Most importantly, my daughter loves going to school every day, which is a great feeling as a parent. read more

My son is now in 7th grade at Sts. Peter & Paul. I also have a 1st grader and in a couple of years, our youngest will be entering pre-k. Sts. Peter & Paul was referred to me by a dear family friend. We were moving to San Francisco from across the bay and without much knowledge of schools in the area, he referred us to Sts. Peter & Paul. It was a recommendation I will always celebrate. During our past 8 years at this school, I continue to be marveled by the participation of the community. The school centers itself on several core principles of inclusion, community, responsibility, compassion and awareness. I not only see this message continually reinforced in the morning assembly, but it truly comes to life in the actions and behaviors of the students, faculty, parents and families. It is for this reason, I am always thrilled with our community. We are serious about a quality education; this definitely shows itself in the course offerings. The leadership strives for innovation and trying out new techniques in development and education. The staff are highly skilled and as equally important, they are truly invested in the children. I see countless hours of volunteering and continuing to work toward making an impact in the children's lives. It is evident in the behaviors of the children and the way they watch after one another. I suppose the biggest testament to the greatness of this school can best be illustrated through my own account - when we began attending, I saw children move through their school years. Some are now entering into high school, others into college. What I've found in all of them is they exude confidence, however, only in the sense that they are sure of themselves and are on solid footing. They have great personalities and have developed into fine young adults. I believe this is due to the community of Sts. Peter & Paul. I am so proud to be a member of this community. To see everyone grow together is one of the most magical things I can imagine. I suppose the only thing above this is seeing the great people my children are today and what they are 'becoming' for tomorrow. Our decision to attend Sts. Peter & Paul is one of the best choices we've made in our lives. I would recommend this school to anyone seeking a community of inclusion, participation, love and accomplishment! read more

This school was recommended by friends we trusted and we are very happy with our choice. It offered a very welcoming environment for transitioning in grade 7 coming from an international school abroad. We love all the teachers but especially the Math one because he really made our daughter fall in love with the subject and reach amazing results. The Catholic grading system is stricter compared to public schools and other schools our daughter attended (a 91% is a B+) so every A she got was even more rewarding. If you want a sound education in a very familiar environment come to SSPP! read more

We are so thankful to have found such a nurturing and supporting environment for our daughter at Saints Peter and Paul School. She has been enrolled at SSPP since Pre-K and is now a 3rd grader. We couldn't be happier with the academic curriculum they offer as well as the Art, Foreign Language and STEM programs available to the students. The staff is supportive and responsive and they genuinely care about the students. And the location! Right in the heart of North Beach and so close to the financial district. And I need to add that the community at SSPP is welcoming and inclusive and we feel very much welcomed by both staff and parents. What's important to me as a parent is that my daughter is thriving and is happy to be at SSPP and I know she will be prepared when she moves onto high school. I highly recommend it! read more

Absolutely love this school. Our experience there has gone way beyond my expectations. My son looks forward to each day here. Amazing staff, teachers, faculty and community. Historical landmark and ideal location. read more

My daughter started pre-K at Lara Vacuna (part of Saints Peter & Paul Salesian school). Now in the 5th grade, she couldn't be happier. Yes, I volunteer my time and $$ to keep programs running, but parents experience this at most schools. Here, I always look forward to helping out as the parents and staff our awesome. My daughter receives a solid, well rounded education, and plays sports. As she continues, the staff will work very hard to ensure she is well prepared to enter, and thrive in a top tier HS. Personally, it's great seeing the parents each morning dropping off the kids, and participating in morning prayer with the students. It's a tight-knight group of folks who share the same mission; let's do everything we can to ensure our kids get the best education and have an awesome experience. The local community is also an extension of the school. Local businesses often donate to the school. That's says a lot about the staff at Saints Peter & Paul. Lastly, there are 2nd and 3rd generations attending and working at the school. This goes to show you how special this place is. read more

My daughter transferred to Saints Peter and Paul in 7th grade after six years in a wonderful public elementary school and one year in a somewhat mediocre middle school. Transferring her was one of the best decisions we have made for her education. The school has an incredibly strong community that was so welcoming to my daughter and to our entire family. The students helped her adjust, and the parents/families made us all feel included. Everyone looks out for all the kids and because of this the kids know they can't get away with BS, and there are few discipline problems. Families are invested in the school, the kids, and the community. We have also really appreciated the rigorous education. At her prior middle school, my daughter got straight A's without really trying. At SSPP she is challenged and is learning at a completely different level. We know that she will be fully prepared for high school, both in terms of knowing the necessary content, as well as knowing how to organize herself and study (we have seen friends' kids struggle with this). Although SSPP is a Catholic school, my non-Catholic daughter never felt out of place or pressured into participating in ways that were not comfortable to her. There is some prayer and religious education, but the focus is more around values than dogma. The location next to the Salesian Boys and Girls Club is really convenient for families of younger children. Kids can go directly to Club after school, and parents can know that they are safe, engaged, and happy. There is also homework club, where kids can get help and be done with homework before heading home. We have really loved SSPP and would highly recommend it. We will be sad to leave when my daughter goes to high school next year. read more

Ii believe I've reviewed SSPP before, but with two kids still attending, it bears repeating: The community is one-of-a-kind. How often can you find an elementary school so perfectly woven into an iconic, tourist-filled neighborhood, yet still retain its cultural and historical charm. This school excels at making everyone feel welcome and appreciated - from the alumni who now have their children enrolled to the transplants in North Beach, getting their bearings in bustling San Francisco. But, better yet - it feels like a small-town school, where everyone knows each other, and the teachers and faculty care about your children like family. For most of us in North Beach, we are not native and this school gives us and our kids not only a great educational experience, but a foundation for life in San Francisco. read more

Amazing staff and faculty who truly cares about the kids. One of the best decisions ove ever made for my son.

Saints Peter and Paul Salesian School has been an incredible experience for myself and my daughter. We've been attending fpor four years and have found the teachers and staff truly dedicated and committed. The Salesian community is tight knit and supportive and the service learning component is invaluable. Dr. Lisa Harris is an inclusive and generous principal who sets the tone for the rest of the community. The parents are involved and support teachers and staff. I recommend Saints Peter and Paul Salesian School to anyone looking for a close knit, academically accountable K-8 experience. read more

Great community, terrific teachers and I just love the vibe. My son is in 7th grade and I'm already weepy that we only have one year left after this. I know 20 years from now my son will still have friends from grade school. I know he has made life long friendships here. The teachers are compassionate, care and they found my son's learning challenges by the end of 1st grade and worked with me and my son every year so I know my son will be ready for high school thanks to SSPP. Love them!!!!! read more

Been here a few more years and the quality of education and overall experience has continued. We're so glad to be part of this wonderful community. Our daughter is thriving here and we're so happy we won't need to move her for middle school since the school goes from PreK to 8th. read more

What a gem this school is! From the street, many don't realize there is a school attached to the church. Not just a school but a fabulous one with a great education, fun parent community and a principal that nationally won "Distinguised Principal of the Year" last year. Both of my boys have excelled here. My husband and I both work downtown and love that it's only 10 minutes from our office. It's an easy walk to pop over and volunteer in the classroom or their art class. I'm really glad that we found this school when we committed to staying in the city. read more

I have two daughters, one of which graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul and the other is currently in the 6th grade. I wish I could explain the experience of being in this school family. We are truly a family here and welcome everyone with open arms. My eldest daughter graduated 4 years ago and because of the excellent education and training she received at Sts. Peter & Paul she was able to have the confidence to apply and have her choice of high schools in San Francisco whether Catholic, private or otherwise. She ended up applying and being chosen to attend the Marin School of the Arts, a very unique and exclusive school which catered to her creative writing talent which was fostered and nurtured here at Sts. Peter & Paul. I thoroughly believe she would not have been able to attend or have the ability or confidence to have applied to (she did it on her own) to this art school without the encouragement and support she received at Sts. Peter & Paul and for that I will forever be grateful. She is now a senior and having applied to some of the top universities with excellent creative writing programs she is confident to be able to get into one of them. For now she has been accepted for an internship at the California Film Academy where she hopes to continue to learn and grow her knowledge of her chosen career, screen writing. As for my youngest, who is still here at Sts. Peter & Paul, she is thoroughly enjoying her experience here at Sts. Peter & Paul, she has made lifelong, wonderful friends as I have too!! I love our school family! If we are lucky enough to have you join us, we welcome you, with open arms! read more

My daughter graduated 2 years ago from SSPP. She was a student from pre-K to 8th grade. She had a great education here. She applied to 4 top performing high schools: UHS, SI, Urban, and Lowell. She was accepted to all 4. SSPP prepares its students very well for high school. She is currently at UHS, and she has not struggled with managing her time. Her Catholic school upbringing has kept her sweet and respectful. We love the community. I have met so many wonderful families at this school. We are still in each other's lives, although our children have gone to separate high schools. I would completely endorse this school for prospective families. read more

We have been at Saints Peter and Paul for 9 years so far and couldn't be happier. Our oldest is graduating this year and our younger child is in third grade. Both have thrived at the school. The teachers and principal are fantastic and the community is like a big family. Whenever there is a question or concern about anything at all, Dr. Harris, the principal is ALWAYS available to talk and find a solution. We feel lucky that our kids will have a great foundation when they move on to high school. read more

When we moved to the city from the Midwest and had two kids, we researched several school options and went on more than a dozen tours. We couldn't be more happy with the community we found at Saints Peter and Paul school. The teachers, staff, other children and parents are the central reason we'll continue to send both our kids through the program. We love it: our daughter is in Mrs. Simons' classroom in the pre-K Laura Vicuña program and our son just started kindergarten. We appreciate reviewing the materials the teachers send home each week which we go over with our children. We also love the community events and fundraisers where parents and families come together to get to know one another better and celebrate and have fun. read more

When we moved to San Francisco I was astonished at the number of choices AND the difficulty of getting your kids into private school in SF. We looked at several schools and finally settled on Saints Peter and Paul. The number one reason was the school community and by that I mean teachers, parents and kids alike. Everyone was so welcoming to my girls, who had just gone through their second school change, and this transition was so much easier than their last one despite their age (5th grade.) The school is small which means that the class sizes are as well and SSPP further breaks kids up into even smaller groups once they reach middle school age so that their math and English classes have about twelve kids. I feel like my girls are well prepared to enter high school and will be competitive with their peers there. I have enjoyed all of the parent events AND the volunteer work we do at the Columbus Day Bazaar every year. I'm guessing we will be coming even after my girls graduate because I will miss our community! read more

I have often said, "it's been one of the best decisions we have made as parents" by sending our son to SSPP. The education, the sense of community, the staff and faculty, have all exceeded our expectations. From the very start with the Laura Vicuna Pre-K, we were welcomed and included in a community that truly has the children's best interests at heart. We enjoy the families, the events and activities, and all that has been a part of our day to day lives with this Pre-K through 8th grade school. An excellent education and experience! read more

I really feel like this school is such a hidden gem tucked away among the hustle and bustle of North Beach. Although there are many traditional elements of this school, it strikes a nice balance with enriching and progressive programs, including coding, robotics, multiple language instruction, art, music and more. The school is small, which makes for a very strong and close-knit school community. I like that they have strong academics in a very nurturing environment - the students are very close with teachers and school staff making for a very familial environment. There is no tolerance for bullying - the students are very supportive of one another across all grades. My son started at Laura Vicuna Pre-K program, which is wonderful, and is now in 1st grade. He is very happy and is thriving academically. I highly recommend Sts Peter & Paul for Pre-K, Elementary or Junior High. read more

We came to Saints Peter and Paul school when my daughter was in first grade. We transferred from a different school that had huge class sizes. We were so impressed with Dr. Harris and her openness and deep understanding of her kids and staff. And we love the smaller class size. We then moved my son to the Pre-K/Laura Vicuña which is an amazing program that also mimics the school schedule-which is amazingly convenient for parents. I think this school is a hidden gem. It has a very tight-knit community that makes the school seem like a little village. The ciriculum is great, especially the art program and coding. The school has continued to innovate and add programs as the world changes, which is sometimes a hurdle for traditional catholic schools. They teach Spanish and Italian, have introduced Junior Achievement, have coding and robotics, integrate technology such as blogs and social media, have a fun and fabulous dance program and the most amazing art program which follows the history ciriculum of the school. We have been continually impressed with the teachers and faculty. The middle school program and our students high school acceptance rate is extremely impressive. We are so very happy we came to Saints Peter and Paul School. read more

I love this School. It's so embedded in the community and feels authentic to the neighborhood. The staff really cares about the students and parents. The teachers are experienced, focused and many are super connected to the school. The school offers a structured, organized environment with a lot of great programs such as Art in Action, Computer Learning etc and extra curriculars that you can opt into such as Chess and Dance. And, a big plus - it's K-8 (no Middle School Stress). If you want a real North Beach experience with an 'old-school' vibe and awesome, unpretentious environment you should check out SSPP. This school is a true gem and offers something that, in a lot of San Francisco, feels like it's slipping away....community. read more

Saints Peter & Paul School was a great school...10 YEARS AGO. The main problem with this school is the junior high, which includes grades 6th, 7th, and 8th. Throughout junior high, they gave us WAY too much homework, very complicated science tests (that everyone failed more than 99% of the time), and since we were "not allowed" to put locks on our lockers, people would mess with my personal belongings constantly. Now for the dress code this included a school uniform that included grey pants, a SSPP logo polo, a vest, skirts (for the girls) and if you're in 8th grade, you would get an 8th grade hoodie. Simple enough, right? That's where you are straight up WRONG. I would usually, probably once or twice a week, would get called out for wearing black shoes if they had little, tiny bit of yellow or blue on it. Absolutely dumb. And while the girls were prancing around in skirts that were too short, wearing a non-SSPP jacket (which is not part of the dress code), and were wearing these wack ass colored shoes and socks that were not even noticed by any of the teachers or even the principal herself. The teachers almost seemed like they wanted the guys to look like the rule breakers even though in reality the girls broke the rules just as much as the guys did. And as for the lunch, it was complete garbage. Personally, I brought my own lunch because I've been doing that ever since the Machi's stopped making lunches (I loved the Machi's lunches as it was good tasting and left me satisfied) As I forgot to mention, the new "lunch" (as if it's you can actually call it lunch let alone edible) was called "Choice lunch." Choice lunch was brought from Danville and was delivered at around 6:30 AM, meaning that the lunches were not fresh, considering Danville is about 30-ish miles away. Even multiple friends of mine found that they had mold on it as well as bugs in it (probably once a week this would happen to my friends) Even the one time I did get choice lunch (because my friend let me have his and I was desperate and starving) they pulled this bullshit ass excuse of "You cannot have the cookies because they are for the younger kids." Bitch I'm hungry as hell, I mean for God's sake it's called "Choice" lunch and I can't even have my own choice of what I want to get? Even the children in Africa would probably refuse to eat Choice lunch. And to boot, it cost $5 plus for a tiny ass burger that had a grey color, some stale Cheetos, a little bit of fruit, and water. No other drinks such as Coca-Cola was offered (Wtf? People are paying $5 plus for this and you offer only water? I can go straight to the water fountain down the hall for free) I hope Choice lunch will get their ass beaten for ripping off kids and parents for terrible food and high prices. Also, when I would be taking a test, my 8th grade teacher and her assistant would constantly be in the background looking at Facebook, and laughing at videos of random things as well. I even heard them talking behind a student's back in a bad way. Very unprofessional, considering that you're a teacher. Also, many teachers had a tendency of choosing favorites, which were usually most of the girls and maybe 1 guy. Really unfair if you ask me, as everybody should be treated the same. And lastly, the fundraising is a total scam. These fundraisers drain the money of many parents and put it toward the most pointless things such as a "new gym" when it was already fine, and Art in Action, which the last time I remember, art class should not be funded like crazy. Even when I see the children's artwork, I think "This is utter trash and is a waste of the school's fundraiser money." Spend the money on something USEFUL such as upgrading the bathrooms. Believe me, those bathrooms are very old and are disgusting. So overall, Saints Peter & Paul School is not what it used to be as they are making very poor decisions with their time & money. Back in 2004-2009 I had some of the greatest memories at SSPP, but 2010-2014 were some of the worst years EVER for me and a lot of my other classmates as well. So anyway, if you go to SSPP currently, you'll probably agree most most of my list. (P.S: Mr. Riley and Sr. Celine were AWESOME & great teachers) Later. read more