Graduating class of 2007!!!…read more I love this school and I still think about the wonderful memories I have here. I met my best friend here in the 4th grade and we are still best friends! I am currently 22 going on 23 and I still talk about the wonderful memories I had here. I remember this school for their amazingly fun activities. I don't know if they still do it but if there ever comes a chance where I can come and assist in bringing back these fun events I would be here in a heart beat! Some fun events from my memories: Oceans Week Multi-Cultural Day Crazy Hat Day Pajama Day Chinese New Celebrations w/ Lion dancers Talent Shows Music program- Violin, Chior etc. Walk-a-thon Ice Cream Day Activity Day- Carnival games THE COTTON CANDY!!! Halloween Student of the week TEACHERS/ STAFF DUNK TANK!!! Friendship/ TLC group Nacho Sale Book Sale Ballroom Dancing Beacon- After School Program Can Food Drive Last Day of 5th grade- Bowling field trip Teachers I had: K- Ms. Ng 1- Ms. Easter 2- Ms. Low (left after my 3rd grade) 3- Ms. Fry 4- Mr. Nishimura 5- Ms. Scher Principal- Ms. Carol Fong I don't know if the school still does these amazing events or have the same staff there. I'm just sharing my 2007 experience. If you would like to know about my Middle School experience head over to A.P. Giannini's yelp and so on for high school and college. I write this for new parents who want to see where their children will end up if they follow the chain of school's i've attended.

They placed me in an ESL - Cantonese kindergarten class in kindergarten, and shit, I don't even…read morespeak Chinese. After a few weeks, someone finally decides it would be a good idea to reach out to my family. They then transferred me into an English speaking class after a few weeks, and surprise! I speak! But seriously, I loved going to this little public school. It's a diverse little gem of the Sunset, with faculty that put their all into their teaching.

My son went to school here. It's an amazing school. The Principal, teachers and PTA are all…read moreoutstanding. When my son was there, Principal Rosina Tong was very caring and knew all of the students in the specials needs classrooms. She was very active in all of the events, classes, IEP meetings etc. She really cares about the students and the school is so blessed to have her. I went to middle school right next door at Giannini and Sunset used to be John O'Connell when I was in school. They've since relocated somewhere else and I'm so glad that Sunset is now in it's place because it's such a great school. The school is small but it is a very special school. I was hoping my little girl would be able to attend this school but we moved up north during covid. We have returned back to the city and are now at a different elementary school with SFUSD due to the lottery. I'm hoping we can get in next school year. I definitely recommend this school. We loved our time there.

Okay I went here and things changed a LOT…read more This place is wonderfully blessed with tons of caring teachers and staff. Makes me wish I was a kid again!

I have three kids currently attending Robert Louis Stevenson and I'm thankful that they are…read moreenrolled here. Our family has always felt welcomed and safe at RLS. The faculty, PTA, and students all value and demonstrate high academic standards, emotional intelligence, and positive community building. Additionally, we have never had any issues with bullying or having our questions/concerns ignored. I still remember our principal, Dr. Diane Lau-Yee, emailing us personally on our inconsolable eldest daughter's first day of Transitional Kindergarten over three years ago, reassuring us that she was able to calm down and have fun the rest of the day. It showed us that leadership at RLS is truly invested in the students' wellbeing and growth. We are amazed at how Dr. Lau-Yee and the rest of the RLS staff can remember the names and personalities of all the many students in attendance. The affordable afterschool programs (KEEP, ExCEL) we have utilized at RLS allow for convenient flexibility for us as working parents. And the after school staff are equally attentive and kind with the students. Peace-of-mind knowing all three of our children are picked up from school healthy and happy is invaluable. RLS is falls into the Sunset District schools that start earlier, at 7:50AM, and dismisses earlier as well (in comparison to other schools in the neighborhood that start later in the morning at 9:30M). This works out well for our family and I'd imagine for other working parents with early morning meetings and onsite start times as students may be dropped off early, between 7:30-7:35AM, for breakfast. RLS is an exceptional school with respectful, genuinely caring, and positive staff, parents, and student body. Your child(ren) will be well cared for here.

I have been continually amazed by the quality of education and the truly inclusive environment at…read moreRLS during the five years our family has been part of this community. I had heard plenty of concerns about the lottery system and staffing challenges within SFUSD, but this school is truly a gem. We feel incredibly lucky to be here. At the heart of RLS is our exceptional principal, who somehow remembers every student, parent, sibling, and even grandparent by name. She knows my second grader likes to sneak up and say "boo!" to people and that my fourth grader has invented her own bird language. She is fair, thoughtful, deeply knowledgeable, and an outstanding leader. She has also been a careful and transparent steward of the school's budget, ensuring resources are used thoughtfully to support students. Every teacher we've had has taken the time to truly know and understand my kids as individuals. I've been especially impressed with the emphasis on social-emotional learning and the way teachers create a safe, supportive classroom culture. From thoughtfully pairing my quieter child with potential playmates to proactively addressing bullying and conflict, the staff are helping us raise kind, resilient humans--not just strong students. My kids feel comfortable speaking up, asking questions, and being themselves. Academically, I've been equally impressed by how teachers meet students where they are and help them grow. One of my children is advanced in math and reading, yet she says she never feels bored. Her teachers consistently find ways to deepen and extend her learning while also fostering humility and collaboration. When my other child struggled with reading, her teacher went above and beyond--creating a short instructional video and practical tip sheets for parents on how to support active reading at home. It made me feel empowered and equipped to help. Parent-teacher conferences are always thoughtful, specific, and collaborative; we leave with clear goals and a shared plan. I also don't think people talk enough about how affordable and well-run the aftercare options are at RLS. The programs offer a variety of enriching activities while making a genuine effort to accommodate working families' schedules and needs. Beyond academics, we appreciate the community we're building. We've built meaningful friendships with families at classroom gatherings and school-wide events. My older child thinks the RLS robotics club is the most amazing activity ever--and it's run by dedicated parent and staff volunteers who give their time to create these opportunities. RLS has exceeded our expectations in every way. It's a place where students are known, challenged, supported, and celebrated. We are deeply grateful to be part of this community.

During each morning drop off, my husband and I think to ourselves..."Thank our lucky stars....our…read morekids have Starlight...". My older son, who is a graduate of Starlight Two on the Sunset side, was extremely prepared for the rigors of the elementary school ciriculum. My younger son is currently in his last year here and I have no doubt he will do well in kindergarten. Very importantly, both of my children learned so much more than just academics - they strive for honesty, kindness and empathy. They have confidence in themselves and exhibit strong leadership. I almost feel like I hit the preschool lotto and won the 'whole package'! My older son says "It's a great school!" My younger son says "It's (Starlight Two) good for your brain!" I love the staff, who are very kind and nurturing. What is very trademark about Starlight is that they take every opportunity for a 'teaching moment' with the kids - whether it was because of a disagreement, where feelings were hurt or where kids are just being kids. There are other alumni parents who have said that they wanted to go back to Starlight after their kids started elementary...because they missed it so much. In a nutshell: Great preschool - enroll early.

Our daughter's development has been amazing thanks to Starlight's wonderful teachers. Her Christian…read morefaith has been fostered through bible stories, prayer, praise, and celebrations. She has learned her letters and numbers, is learning to read, and continues to improve her Cantonese and Mandarin. She enjoys drawing, coloring, painting, singing, dancing, and performing and develops public-speaking skills through weekly show-and-tell. She loves her teachers, who teach her discipline, respect, patience, safety, and sharing. She savors the meals and snacks, cleans up after herself, and practices good hygiene. We appreciate the parent workshops and teacher feedback. An incredible experience!

The school is recorded in many graphic novels. It looks not bad etc etc. I like it!!!!!!read more

Thank you so much Excel program is the Before and After program which help parents when they can't…read morestay with their child until 9:30 am or until 6:30 pm. The team of Excel this year and last year is extremely nice and helpful and great. Before the new Excel team came in, my kid was lock outside and and can't get in Excel because he/she was playing with friends and came in Excel late....... appreciate for all your hard work of the team, we love you all. Please continue to have Excel program to help parents who can't pick up the child early. Thank you so much for the hard work and education and the knowledge that all teachers at Lakeshore school gave to the children. My child loves the school and the teachers. Especially thanks to Ms Fusscas , you are amazing teacher , you prepare for the kids to have foundation before they move on to middle, you find the sources to help the kids to have chances to move on and continue to move to great middle and high schools. As a parent, I am very admire your way of teaching and lead the kids to learn. You are patience and good heart. My kid said :' Ms Fusscas is very strict but I love her so much because she really into teaching and caring for us, she supports and encourages us when we need help.' Thank you Mr principal for always being there and late for all the kids and help us to get all the paperworks done when other schools ask. The only sad is Ms office assistant who is in Mr Principal office and help with paperwork and pick up phone. For many times, other schools asking for my kid reports they never get it. I went in many times , sit there , asked , called , almost begged her if I can open the file and do it myself. She is just a bit rude and doesn't send the works as requested from other schools when students transfer, but besides those, all is ok.

My Godson, had THE MOST HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE at this school. I have heard from one other mother in…read moreprior years(approx. 12 years ago or so, they were wonderful) but within the last 2-3 years with changes in staff this school has become VERY disorganized and asking all parents to donate EXCESSIVELY EVERY WEEK if not EVERY MONTH for extra gifts for staff/supplies and events, etc. My Godson got LOST - YES - L.O.S.T. on the first day of school and had a hard time navigating where to go for Kindergarten. Staff did not try to help and seemed very overwhelmed with whatever is happening in the school! There were staff CALLING OUT SICK and THEY WERE SHORT ON COVERAGE. My Godson GOT BULLIED and staff did not try to CONSOLE and PREVENT THE BULLYING FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, AGAIN and AGAIN!!! This is absolutely not a school you want your child WHO YOU LOVE DEARLY TO GO TO.

This place absolutely sucks. The librarian which is a Chromebook worker as well, he took my…read moredaughter's computer for no reason. So glad we moved her to Sloat.

My son attended Holy Name from 1st-8th grade and it was the best experience for both our son and as…read moreparents! Transferring from private, non-religious school in Sacramento, I toured a few selected private schools. Holy Name wasn't the closest to us, however it was 1000% worth the drive. Holy Name instantly felt like home and this welcoming environment is what I wanted for my shy 6 year old. Not only did they help him learn and grow, but he led the 8th grade musical as the lead male role!! Holy Name truly cares about each and every one of their student body and it shows. Holy Name is an amazing community that immensely cares for its students and families and I am greatly honored to know my son is apart of its family!

Holy Name School did an outstanding job preparing my son for high school. He's now thriving in high…read moreschool - keeping up with his coursework while participating in multiple extracurriculars. What really stands out is how well HN sets academic expectations compared to other schools. My son transitioned smoothly into high school thanks to the strong foundation Holy Name provided. The school principal and the entire staff are wonderful. The work they do pays off in a big way for the families fortunate enough to attend. Highly recommend this school to any family looking for excellent academics and genuine preparation for high school success.

I'm writing this review as an update to my previous one which was written in 2018. I am a former…read morestudent of Saint Cecilia school. Looking back at my experience as a student here from the early 1990s, I would like to revisit the past, but more importantly, look at the present school. First off, my experiences were from over 30 years ago now, and all of the teachers and school administration from my era there are long gone. Although my experience had its bad moments, which my previous review laid out, I did have many positive ones. And as the years have gone by, and I've gotten older and had children of my own that are now about the age that I was at the time I was at Saint Cecilia's, I've realized I do need to revisit the past. When I look back at my time at Saint Cecilia's, I have to say that I really loved my fellow classmates (as well as the 8th grade buddy system we kindergartners had once a week). I also believe that part of the problem was that I was in the afternoon kindergarten class, if I had been in the morning class I would've had a different teacher, Mrs. Watters, who was always very nice to me and loved by her students. Even at the time, I remember wishing I had her as my teacher. The afternoon kindergarten class, which I was a part of with Mrs. Lindemann as my teacher, changed the following year after I went into first grade because Mrs. Lindemann left teaching altogether, I think that says something. I think it's important to not hold grudges, and even though I did have some bad experiences, there were many good ones. I believe in forgiveness and that at some point you have to let the past go, and I think that ability often times comes with the wisdom that life gives as you get older. My memories are that essentially everyone else in the teaching staff that I remember at the school (except Mrs. Lindemann and Mrs. McNamara) were nice to me, and as I said, I really had great friends there with my former classmates (I'm actually facebook friends to this day with one of them and his mom). Most of the kids that were in my kindergarten class did not return to Saint Cecilia's for first grade the following year, I always suspected based on things I heard that it was because of Mrs. Lindemann and the experience us boys in particular had with her the previous year, she did not seem to like boys and that was palpable. But as an adult, who now has kids that age, I have to say that it does look like Saint Cecilia's is a very different place in 2026 than it was in the early 1990s. And given the changes I have seen, I would definitely give the school a shot with my own children today if I still lived in San Francisco. I do have many fond memories of Saint Cecilia and I don't want to allow a few "rotten apples" to spoil the whole barrel. There were good times in those days at the school, and I just want to put that out there in hindsight. Shortly after kindergarten ended, my family moved out of San Francisco, which is where I had been born and raised, and I will say that I really did miss Saint Cecilia's a lot when I started at my new Catholic school in a completely different city. I'm taking off one star on this new review just because those bad events in the early 1990s did happen and they were very difficult for me to deal with at the time as a small child. But that was another time and another era, and the school has changed and I've changed, and I do very much like what I have heard and seen of how the school is today. As I said, if I still lived in the city, I would definitely give Saint Cecilia's a shot at my kids going there today. I wish Saint Cecilia school all the best, it was my first school as a young child and I will never forget those days, the West Portal neighborhood, or the school.

As a parent of four children who have attended Saint Cecilia School, I can speak to the lasting…read moreimpact this school has on families and students. Two of my children are now in college, one is in high school, and my youngest continues as a current student here. What impresses me most is the exceptional foundational academic preparation my children received. The skills and knowledge they gained at Saint Cecilia continue to serve them well in their educational journeys and beyond. Actually, my oldest college son said to me recently that if he lived in San Francisco and had children, he would send them to Saint Cecilia, wow. Beyond academics, Saint Cecilia creates a community where families belong. From cheering at CYO games to participating in beloved traditions like the annual crab feed, there's always something that brings everyone together. The school doesn't just educate your children; it invites your entire family to become part of the SC family.

My boyfriend's daughter attended FSK, I know many of the teachers there, and I have observed in…read moreclassrooms there. I also have known the assistant principal for years and used to work with her. I would send my child there in a heartbeat. The assistant principal is upfront, honest and student centered. People were in tears when she left my school to go to FSK. Today, she stopped in to visit, and my room filled with the sounds of cheering students from the yard outside. They rushed over like she was a rock star! I don't think I've ever seen them that excited, and these were 4th and 5th graders! FSK has a long history of incusivity. I believe it was one of the first schools to really start seriously including kids from the special day classes in the general education classes. Last year, when the current assistant principal was at my school, she made changes to the busing so that the students in the special day classes would be able to attend the morning assemblies with the rest of the school. She is dearly missed, and I am sure she has brought this spirit of inclusivity to FSK. I would highly recommend that you visit the school and meet the administrators. They are both wonderful people.

I came here for summer school when I was really little, but my teacher wasn't even a teacher who…read moretaught regularly at FSK. So no review for that. REVIEW IS FOR THE PLAY STRUCTURE THAT I GO TO ON THE WEEKENDS WHEN THERE ARE NO SMALL CHILDREN! Oh man. I love the little play structure. It's a bit small...obviously. :P Hehe. I don't know, I'm still a little kid!! I can't ever resist a playground or play structure. I'm glad that there's this one so close to home. It's not dirty or grimey like the ones at places with a sandbox. I really don't like those because I get sand in my shoes.. then I have to empty out my shoes..then theres always those few pieces of sand that don't leave and I take them home with me and when I'm walking around barefoot, I get pieces of sand stuck on my feet. THIS PLACE HAS NO SAND. YAY! :)

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.