It's been over 45 years since I've visited the campus save an event that my friend invited me to attend 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. read more

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As a San Francisco native who has lived in this city my entire life, I have watched St. Ignatius's culture 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. read more

We just attended the open house for accepted students. Staff kept coming over to congratulate me. I was like... I haven't accepted yet. Isn't it my decision? Then they asked if I was lost. Uh... you opened two gyms for orientation. How lost could I possibly be? I casually said, "Wow, that's cool," when I saw the band playing at the entrance. The teacher jumped in proudly, "Oh, our students are very talented!" In my head, I was thinking, "Want me to sing? I'm talented too. Chill with the bragging." But Seriously ... As parents ... If you're looking for a high school that *doesn't* prepare you for college but excels at producing overconfident teens flaunting designer accessories, look no further! Prestige Academy prides itself on providing minimal academic rigor, 1 to 75 students ratio college counseling, and an environment where clout matters more than character. Orientation felt less like a welcome event and more like a luxury fashion show--VCA and Tiffany bracelets, Hermès necklaces, the latest Apple Watches, and AirPods stuffed in both ears. Forget school supplies--these kids were accessorized for Coachella, not calculus. Meanwhile, the parking in the front looked like a luxury car dealership--Porsches and Range Rovers as far as the eye could see. Teachers? Checked out. Counselors? Probably lost somewhere between overpriced sneakers and vague promises. I asked about college prep in senior year--too late, right? The counselor waved it off with a casual "Oh yeah, yeah... we'll get them ready." Sure. Let's be real--1 counselor for 75 students, each with 4 essays for UC applications. That's 300 essays to read in just a few months! And that's not even counting revisions. Impossible. Then I asked if students could take external resources like online math classes to stay ahead. The answer? A hard NO. "We want our students to stay on our path." But shouldn't a path create opportunities, not limit them? This school doesn't prepare you for success--it teaches you how to flex without substance. If your dream is to major in looking rich and minor in avoiding real effort, congratulations--you've found your Ivy League. Otherwise? Run. Fast. By the way... parents... you're all focused on the 95% college acceptance rate over 4 years. But aren't you the least bit curious where that other 5% of high-tuition-paying students ended up? THINK BEFORE YOU SAY YES! read more

ABSOLUTELY! There was a post from Rene which expressed disappointment and several not truly accurate comments, I.e., Irish girls faces are not seen (not true), only 'elite' doctors and lawyers sons/dghtrs attend (not true), don't honor or recognize those who have attended before, I.e., fathers, grandfathers, uncles, etc. (not true), students of lesser financial means cannot attend (not true) consider Fr Saur Academy...there is more. Yes, one has to aim to go to SI as well as the other Catholic High Schools. What is of utmost value is the sense of community and doing for others, in the spirit of the Jesuits read more

The school was not a great fit for our family. Not recommended if you have a child who needs learning accommodations. The public school system would have been a better route. read more

In addition to the lengthy discussion regarding the selection of food available at their five star cafeteria , much time was wasted at the open house by school administrators discussing their plans on bringing an ex convict to speak c the students, okay that is fine but can we also consider bringing first responders such as fireman, police, nurses, paramedics you get the picture here? Also bring in the veterans who have served our country . Let us be real here when an emergency happens and you call 911 who is showing up? Who will be intervening in emergency situations. Well every parent should know cases involving child abuse get covered up and rewarded c retirement dinners and pensions. read more

My son is loving SI. He was wait listed as a freshman and transferred in as a sophomore. There is something for every student. SI is competitive and not a school where just participating gets you a prize. Students are prepared for the real world and to be prepared for college. SI doesn't want robots for students, but well rounded students. Lowell exists for that. N.F. sounds as if they may be racist and belong in a school that would be run by Ron Desantis in FL. read more

2021: My daughter graduated from SI in 2016 and from undergrad last year. While still at SI, my daughter's college counselor was Anna Maria Vaccaro. Our family is so grateful to Ms. Vaccaro. When my daughter was going through the college application process, she mentioned casually that "Case has a good nursing program." At the time, Case Western Reserve University was a no fee app and no supplemental essay choice on the Common App. All it took was one click. My daughter ended up applying to half a dozen Jesuit schools, two UCs, SFSU, and one Ivy. She was accepted to 60% of her choices and was offered $15k-$20k per year from the Jesuit schools. Case's application was early since it was for the school of nursing. While she was waiting, my daughter had more time to research the school. It is a top 50 university with 27% selectivity. It is primarily known for its engineering department. The most exciting thing about its nursing school is that it starts clinical the first day - at local hospitals such as the Cleveland Clinic, VA, and it's own University Hospital. Right before my daughter heard from Case, she had heard from 5 schools that she had been admitted to. She really thought Case would be her first rejection. We were very surprised to receive her admittance with $45k in merit and grants. Had we not had Ms. Vaccaro's input - Case would not have been on our radar. My daughter graduated last year with dual degrees; BS in Nursing and BA in Dance - the first graduate in Case's history. I only mention this because my daughter's love for dance was not only nurtured, but encouraged by Ted Curry, Meredith Galvin, and Emily Schick. I mentioned that my daughter was not one of the "happy, shiny people at SI." As time has passed she has been more open about the things she endured. Never has she said she regretted her decision to attend SI or if she had to do it over again she would chose another school. Primarily , the issues she had were social. I want to address the claim that SI forces "Marxist Dogma" on its students. I don't want to down play someone else's experiences, but I also am not the type of person who takes attendance at church. If "Marxist Dogma" = "liberation theology," then yes, SI teaches about the works of Fr. Oscar Romero SJ, Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ, Fr. Louis Vitale (who my daughter was able to interview for an assignment at SI), and many others. These people teach and preach about the poor, and what it truly means to be a Christian. Matthew 25:36-40 is a passage when I think of when I am reminded of Sr. Sharon Brannon drumming for immigrants' rights. I will be honest and say my family was not overly religious, but I feel like we benefitted a lot from what was taught at SI. I would also like to thank Mr. Chad Evans, Mr. Patrick Lynch, Fr. Andrew Laguna, and Fr. Alex Llanera who taught my daughter to be an active participant, an engaged Catholic. SI taught my daughter how to learn from failure. She knew she had a slim chance for acceptance to the UCs she applied to. Yet, she still applied. For UCLA, it was because their nursing clinical is on skid row and a chance to work with Fr. Greg Boyle. Even applying to an Ivy was not a deterrent if meant being able to volunteer at the Romero Center. My daughter learned from every teacher at SI. Their teaching and care enabled her to attend a top notch university and to keep on striving. A heartfelt hug to Mr. Chris Delaney who listened to my daughter during her darkest times and was a constant source of support. SI is what you make of it. Let your child be open minded not be rigid to your beliefs. read more

Oh High school, the memories. Nice mix of the usual "catholic" suspects, people to teach you to drink, smoke, and no one who even has a clue how to dance. Secret facts: the palace bathroom is always loaded and the prices are reasonable. there is a limitless supply of liquor in the Jesuit Residence (and they have satellite and a pool table.....too bad about the abstinence thing) the smokers still think the back stairwell is the place to smoke (even though that's right above the exact place the faculty smokes) If you want a secret list of the faculty who ended up dating students after they graduated, just ask, it's not surprising. That place down Taraval is still not carding for cigarettes and liquor, everyone knows it and no one cares (damn them for charging us such high prices, thank you BevMo) oh the list goes on. Nothing changes, I still love that place. Brother Draper...you're still the man....and you haunt my dreams and my nightmares. Well played. Additional note re: Erica's Polo problem: We solved that when they went from t-shirts and slacks to polos and anything (you know SI, us kids who DIDN'T get a BMW for our 16th b-day can't really afford to revamp our entire wardrobe every year)... ...SOLUTION: Take an old polo, black, blue, whatever, cut out the collar and about four inches down the shoulders+back+front. Then keep it in your pocket. When they come by checking for dress code violations, just tuck your new polo-collar-to-go into your existing shirt, jacket, whatever, and like magic, you've got a polo without having to look like a tool 24-7. PS: why is Tool only a west coast phrase? No body in DC knows what I'm talking about (ironic, considering my audience) read more

I blame them for the fact that 3/4's of my wardrobe is collared shirts. I could do this hate rant about how I felt like I never belonged and how superficial everyone was but I think that was covered below until one moment... Down to the nitty gritty: The academics is great. The teachers are fabulous and the campus is gorgeous. First about me: I'm not Irish or Italian. I'm not even white. I didn't come from the City of from Marin or from Hillsbourough. My father, grandfather, and great grandfather didn't go to S.I. like some of my classmates. My parents came straight out of the boat. When my mom took jobs in America she always noticed that in her boss' office was littered with S.I. paraphenalia. It was that moment I was doomed. See my mom isn't from America where people still value that public school education. She's from a country where the society is dictated by a super rich elite. They all attend the same parties, live in the same neighborhoods, and went to the same schools. From prep school I was groomed to go here. I wasn't athletic, charismatic or even artistic. I was the classic textureless number cruncher. When I got in to S.I., my mom cried. My dad (who was estranged at that time) stole my acceptance letter and showed it off to his friends. I never did see what happend to it. I know what you're thinking: Save it for your blog Dennis, I didn't come here to read your freaking Bio. Sorry, it's all set up for this one scene: It's a couple of months before graduation. I have survivied 3.5 years at the Prep. Spirit rallys, snobby people, self-segregated lunchrom, My mom pushed me through S.I. single-handedly. She isn't a rich woman. She just works as a temp. secretary from job to job. Suffice it to say, I didn't have enough money to pay off the last of my tuition. And it wasn't chump change. I was scared and nervous. I thought I'd have to finish out somewhere else. I met with the President at that time. Like most of the staff, he was of the Jesuit Order. I was a little nervous meeting this formidable gentlemen. We voiced our concerns about our sitution. He listened intently and then gently smiled and said "Don't worry about it". I asked if he was sure. He replied wryly that of course he was sure, but he intimitated that when I established myself that I would remember this moment and that if I ever make a name for myself I would do well to honor my alma mater. I said I would. I've never forgotten it. It was at that moment that I first realized that I belonged. S.I. is family. It's more than family it's the mafia. They take care of each other. We take care of each other. It's elitist. You can buy your way in, you can get in by your lineage, or you can get in by grit. The latter route isn't easy, but you can get in. And if you don't think that's fair look at the ivy leage institution (which I have no doubt is how they modeled the school. They call it "Legacy Admits" or "Developmental Admits". But it's an experience that no matter how much I try I can't shake it out of me. And thanks to S.I. a textureless number cruncher like myself got into the school of my dreams. I only talk to about 2 or 3 people from my class. The rest are a bunch of wankers, but they're still family. For better or for worse that place is a part of me whether I like it or not. read more

Buyer Beware Our daughter is an SI student and while SI has some good academic and extracurricular features, we did not realize going in just how aggressive her teachers would be in promoting Marxist dogma. This is not even hyperbole: her good friend's religion class this spring included assignments like "Mom and Dad I'm Gay" and "Mom and Dad I'm Trans", requiring her to interview us via video as she "came out" to her parents, hypothetically. Hey why stop with indoctrinating the kids when we can check in on Mom and Dad to see if they are sufficiently woke, too! We are regular churchgoers and expected at least some of that Jesuit theology and philosophy training that was promoted in the literature and on the website, but the focus has drifted way, way afield of that. Like onto another planet. "White privilege" and more critical race and gender theory now seem to be the religious focus, sometimes masquerading as "social justice" and, of more recently, "Black Lives Matter." The murder of George Floyd took the intensity of all this to a whole new level, it seems, and the Zoom "struggle sessions" over the summer, segregated by race of the participant, seemed designed to make our daughter feel ever more guilty about the heritage of her parents. If a Catholic high school education is what you seek for your daughter or son, you won't find it here. This school is Catholic In Name Only and most students and their families do not, I am reliably told, attend mass anywhere on a regular basis. Our daughter's religion teacher last year, I am also told, was not Catholic but rather from a Protestant denomination. The Jesuits were founded during the counter-reformation and were among Catholicism's greatest treasures, but recent decades have seen the order slide into decadence and today's high school education at SI serves as a caricature of what the order has become. Saint Ignatius Loyola would ask that his name be stricken from this school if he were alive today. I can't get into specifics but dissent from the critical race theorists is not welcome and a student that disagrees with this will be admonished and sometimes punished. This is not an education that reflects classic Jesuit or even Enlightenment values, this is Marxist dogma hiding being a Catholic shield. Positives? Course offerings in math and foreign languages are good. Lots of extracurricular options and sports. Many fine young girls and boys attend. Anything else? Science is weak. They are trying to level up their STEM efforts but it's a slow process. Final note: Father Reese has a reputation as a kind of autocrat and shocked the SI community ~2 ago by, with no consultation with his board or staff, announcing the formation of the Father Sauer Academy for underprivileged youth, a grade school program meant to accompany SI. Tuition at SI jumped nearly $10,000 per student to accommodate Father Reese's plan and the controversy has been intense. A fine principal left SI as a result and his replacement seems more of a supplicant for Father Tom and, yes, a critical race and gender theorist. SI is as a result overpriced by at least $10,000 per year, probably more now with the coronavirus. If you decide to apply here, read the fine print and do your homework. This school is riding on a reputation it earned decades ago but has unfortunately squandered. read more

St. Ignatius prepared me for the rigorous, competitive nature of UC Berkeley as well as for the complexities of adult life. Note that I went here a little while ago (I won't give away HOW long ago), so things may have changed, but here's how I remember it. On my last few visits it seems that things haven't changed all THAT much. Yes, it is preppy. We had to wear polo shirts and were forbidden from wearing jeans. Now this was when polo shirts were NOT in style for women, so we all had to wear men's shirts and roll them up and tie them at the back. Hairties were the best implement for that. I had all sorts of ill-fitting khakis and cords (also not in style at that time). I'm sure everyone is much more trendy at SI today. Yes, it is academically difficult. In some ways, more difficult than UC Berkeley. I know that sounds strange, but we had a major workload that challenged us to work very efficiently and keep our lives organized. Yes, it keeps you well-rounded. Practically everyone I knew did at least two other activities other than academics. Athletes also did community service, orchestra members headed the rally committee, math olympians did musical theater. I had such a great experience because we were encouraged to branch out and lead a balanced life. Yes, the greatest demographic is probably still rich and Catholic. But the student body never made me feel alienated for not being rich and not a hardcore Catholic. Everyone had to attend liturgy, but no one was forced to participate. Many simply observed. Yes, it is a Catholic school. But it is a Jesuit school. What's the difference? Most Christian schools' religion classes consist of covering passages from the Bible and taking those teachings to heart as God's words. However at SI, we were asked to analyze the meaning of the stories that were originally told verbally and how they may have changed when recorded in text. Also we examined why analogies may have been used and what the actual history might have been. A very challenging and exciting approach to studying a powerful topic. Yes, it is community-oriented. Some of the best SI experiences I had were the annual retreats. Each year you are there, the retreat becomes longer and more involved. The senior retreat (Kairos) was amazing. I never felt closer to my fellow classmates, and for the first time began to realize how many people supported and cared about me, even if I didn't know it. Cookies were involved! You know as well as I do that anything involving cookies is gonna rock. Yes, it was awesome. Highly recommended for a first-rate high school education that MORE than prepares you for college. read more

As a school: Five stars! Some great teachers and definitely a lot of top notch resources for students. As a social environment: Ugh. The ten year reunion is coming up and I get the shakes thinking about it... No thanks. read more

Thank you, SI, for teaching me how to write. This is why I'm getting A papers in college without trying too hard. read more

A Yelp page for a high school? Where anybody can post? Really? How can you review a high school that you did not attend? So this page will have "reviews" from the following classes of people: 1) Adults who went to SI and generally liked it. 2) Immature adults who did not go to SI, and yet feel the need to still bash it. Ahem . . . . . SH students. and/or graduates. 3) Bitter parents whose kids could not get into SI and had to go SH. So, there you have it. GO CATS! read more

SI! This school was great. Yes, it has its share of bad teachers, but overall it was a great school. I loved almost all of my teachers I had here. I'm really glad I went here. I'll probably send my kids here for high school. This school isn't as diverse as they say. Over half the school is caucasian. Almost everyone here is involved in a sport. The fine arts program could be a hell of a lot better though. It prepared me for college well, especially the english classes. They taught me how to write. The school is a stressful and busy place. Don't come here if you just want to take the easy way out. Be prepared to stay up late and be one of the busiest high school students on the planet. read more

I didn't recover from my 4 years here until I graduated from college and spent 3 years working at the gayest theater in San Francisco. Oh, I discovered. THESE are my people. If gay theater were a high school, I shoulda gone there. But it's not and I wanted to make my Class of '65 dad happy. I entered bright-eyed and blazer clad. I left bitter, withdrawn and with a tattoo. And I'm a legacy kid from Marin. Go figure. Blame the preppy, elitist vibe. Or blame a rough adolescence. One star for Mr. Devine. One star for Ms. Wolf. One star for Dixon T. It sucked. But I was 16 and pissy. It was going to suck no matter where I was. Occasionally I will run into a fellow Ignatian. And occasionally it freaks me out. But it's JUST a high school. Granted a well-regarded, helps you get into great colleges, fabulous campus, fantastic teachers high school. But it's JUST a high school. And until I need to relive ages 14-18 for my memoirs, in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't that big of a deal... read more

This review is for the application/admission process only. My son currently goes to AP Gianini and we live 5 blocks away. He sees SI daily and have been asking if he can go there. I told him that I will do everything I can to help him but he needs to do the bulk of the work to improve grades, volunteer, sports and arts. He did all that. I also told him that we may be marginalized due to our ethnicity, which I have heard from other parents. First we get an email letting us that he wasn't chosen but if still interested register in the waitlist. The letter sounded hopeful and still my son was devastated. I told him the letter didn't sound like it's a final rejection but I know it felt like that for him. Second letter can a few days later and said that there may be some openings and that they wanted to see if we are still interested in staying in the waitlist and that if we do get accepted that we have to deposit a non-refundable $1000. Of course I jumped at it and immediately responded YES!! And I could see hope in my son's eyes. Third letter came 24 hours later and said that they are over enrolled and that they would like to keep us on the waitlist because they know that my son really wants to go to this school and that they will let us know by next Tuesday. What do you guys think? It's torture for my son, I feel like it's asking me to donate money up front if we want to get in. They keep sending you a letter that starts with a bad news and then gives you hope by stringing you along. Do they not understand that this makes a child emotionally depressed and anxious? It's either you say yes or no. It is just fishy how you get so many emails with the same message. It's like rejecting you 3 times. SI- there must be a better way to do this. Yes, I can pull strings too or donate if you ask me to, just say it. Is it our color? is it our income? And if it is my son's performance during the test then just say it. Mom read more

To the rejected students of S.I. (or the parents of these children) that have provided negative reviews about S.I. on yelp: I have one question - are you a bitter? I sense that you may be, just a tad. After all, who wouldn't be if they (or their children) were not accepted into one of the best high schools west of the Mississippi River?? I am a proud alum of the school (class of '97). I may not have been the most popular, but I made an effort to get involved by joining clubs, playing sports, etc. This actually works! Effort pays off people!!! My efforts, as well as the encouragement of my supportive professors, helped me to pave a nice path and prepare myself for college. The environment of S.I. was/is nice. They use their donation to make the school a better place for their students and faculty. Improving classrooms, staying ahead with technology, providing better athletic facilities for their sporting programs. Donations go back to the students! read more

Can you be allowed to review this school if you didn't even go there?!?!??? I attended SI in the 00s and am one of few people who can say they loved their HS experience. I will do everything I can to send my own children there - maybe that can echo some people's legacy sentiments I don't care. The community here is unreal and there a niche for almost any student. Prep and resources for college are excellent. Sports programs are great across the board (I was an athlete so that was my personal experience). My sister is still very close with her learning disabilities counselor. Spiritual element and fostering is something I am still extremely thankful for today. I am still involved in volunteering at this school and keep in touch with coaches and teachers. It makes me very disappointed to see negative reviews here largely because a parent's child wasn't accepted - the school is selective because it is excellent and some people will be unlucky, such is life. Also if they take a lot of $$$ students who may be a little below the average, that allows for talented students with financial needs to attend. AMDG! read more

I am not quite sure how to review something that I have not been a part of for 34 years. That's right 34 years(class of '77) it is not a typo. I guess the most important thing I got out of four years at SI was being challenged to formulate my own ideals and beliefs as well as a good education. It made my four subsequent years at USF a cake walk. The only thing I can say to those who did not find what they needed is you get what you put in. What prompted this late review? My mother calling me saying she found my SI jacket in a trunk in the basement. I guess I will have to go pick it up this weekend! Ahhhh to be young again with a full head of hair and a 30" waist! read more

SI worked for me: I got out in four years, I never got arrested, I went to college, and I'll admit I even had some fun. The place is expensive as hell, so Pops had good reason to bitch when I pulled shitty grades. The campus is amazing for sports, the new pool is amazing. There are TWO basketball courts. I mean full size, hardwood, indoor courts. How many schools have water polo and a crew team? I was on both. My best memory has to be my friday schedule from senior year: I used to smoke weed with my sister and my best friend in the big-pimpin' minivan on the way to school, then my first class, starting at 9:15, was beginner/intermediate aquatics followed by "fiction to film" which was supposedly an english class but we mostly watched movies. Then we took a 20 minute break. Then I had back to back religion classes (the touchy-feely, talk about your feelings kind) then done for the day at 1:10. So down to the beach with a 40. Good times. read more

Great school. Taught me values and hard work. The faculty had an enormous amount of compassion, and they stand by you during hard times too. Fr. Sauer is the best! read more

[Unfortunately, I've deleted this turn of phrase for employment purposes. Hello, HR!] And due to the dress code and my determination all four years to dress like a walking J. Crew catalog, I still reach for argyle without thinking. Thanks, SI. Update December 2007: I still dress like a walking J. Crew catalog. Caveat emptor: cattiness fades, preppy lasts forever. read more

This is a top notch college prep in the Jesuit tradition with an amazing reputation. The school's efforts to distance itself from it's long standing reputation of being a school only afforded to the wealthy and established SF families is commendable, and while happening slowly, diversity is increasing. I am not a legacy, but I got great grades in junior high and scored well on the entrance exam. After being accepted (my parents were thrilled) I qualified for financial aid. I graduated two years ago and I am now breezing through my classes at UCSB. Thank you, SI, for teaching me the value of hard work, service, and social justice. I suppose that I should also thank you for exposing me to and teaching me how to deal with privileged and entitled jerks at a young age. We all know you have your fair share of them. Go Wildcats! read more

I own a whole crap load of polo shirts. Would do you well to be a preppy, white, athletic suburbanite, but of course, not necessary. (Normally here I would insert a flirtatiously winking emoticon, but that's neither here nor there.) Minus one star for the irrevocable damage to my wardrobe. Otherwise, it was pretty good time--good education, good faculty, good friends. read more

What a disappointment. We were heavily sold in the literature, campus visits and presentations from the Admissions team that SI was an elite school with high standards and high expectations. And yet, the top performing kids in many of our local parochial schools were denied, while a parade of legacy kids with mediocre grades and ambivalent attitudes--several even with behavioral issues--all got waved in. They market themselves as a merit-based elite prep academy. In truth, it's an old boys network. You can ~literally~ have a child with straight As, top test scores, captain of the team, president of the class, alter server, accomplished musician, whatever, and still get passed over for a legacy C student. I watched it happen, and it was disheartening for everyone involved. SI: You get questions about this in your presentation. Please be honest about it and don't lead people on. You're sending a horrible message to kids who believe that hard work matters. read more

No longer the school it used to be. Teachers are still great, but the administration has taken a big dump. The school is no longer about families, but is now run like a corporation. If you have mega money, connections and can make things happen for certain key administrative people, then your kid is in. If you want your child to experience family and unconditional support, Sacred Heart Cathedral is your best best. I'd stay away from this place like the plague. read more

Our family is neither rich nor Catholic. Our child went to public schools before being admitted to SI. He also was admitted to SHC and to Lowell. I think either SI or SHC would have been a fine choice. We were looking for a school that offered more than what SF Public Schools could provide with their dwindling budgets, and a school where the opportunity to develop an interest in a subject would not be thwarted by poor teachers or insufficient resources. We were not interested in the high-end private schools in part because we could not afford them, and in part because of the social strata issues. Our son entered SI liking math but hating the humanities and not particularly liking sciences. For the years at SI, he came home talking about history, considering majoring in English, being fascinated with physics, raising questions about ethics and social justice, and now, as a senior, is talking about human physiology and medicine. His grades are good, not great, but he's been accepted to the colleges of his choice. His closest friends are a rainbow of colors. SI is what I remember high school to be when California public schools had actual money to work with. High school is never perfect for any student, but I believe that has at least something to do with being a teenager. When your teenage child talks about his or her classes at the dinner table, and does so with some animation and growing convictions, I believe the school is doing something right. SI does a lot of things right. I'm glad my son had the chance to go there, and I know that parents of children at SHC feel similarly. I wish the San Francisco public high schools could return to their former relative funding levels before Proposition 13, but in the present circumstances, I believe Saint Ignatius is an excellent school, period. read more

This school is lame as hell guys. Go to sacred heart. It has better values and the grovers are way more chill. SI sucks #beatSI

SI, SI, SI. Oh how I love you and hate you at the same time. Social life wise, this school was amazing. The kids here know what to do with their free time --- but they still find the time to be very skilled in academics and athletics. What more can you ask? Academic-wise, the teachers here are the best. They actually care (except for a very, very select few, who usually get taken off because of students' input during the surveys) and they make themselves available, even outside of normal school hours. They want the kids that attend SI to succeed in life. No wonder they pump out kids that end up being very set for life. The curriculum here is challenging. Really, it's challenging, you have to take it seriously (except for religion, with the exception of Junior year religion...). There are so many AP and honors classes here at SI so it definitely lives up to "college prep" The athletic program here mirrors the academic aspect of the school. Rigorous practices that train students to become athletes possibly for college level sports. Coaches care and understand the balance between sports and studies, so that's why SI kids still have straight A's and maintains the status as the football star. Well rounded education. The catholic education here is top notch. It's a very open-minded. Anyone is really accepted. The only real big thing is that SI, like every high school, has cliques. But what's wrong with that --- teens will be teens! NOT. Social cliques don't really exist much at SI; its really ethnic/racial cliques that form. You'll see certain races start grouping together and will have the "token" ethnic kid in their group. Very diverse *sarcasm*. Honestly, if you're not white, you'll be seen as socially awkward unless you try. I guess you just have to try and forget about it. SI doesn't really address the issue, so it's really up to the kids. I can't say for myself because I was the token kid in my group. But that's cuz I like to socialize. And for the the nay-sayers, like parents whose kids did not get in or kids who are just hating: We look preppy because our school requires us to dress classy. Yeah (I need to buy more t-shirts though. more than half of my tops are polos). Okay, we do drink and party a lot and go all out... but have you seen our grades? We go all out on that too, and damn it if we deserve to party hard. And the Jesuits, they're real people who help others get closer to God than any other Catholic order I've been associated with. Finally, we (at least, 95% of us) didn't get in because of our grandfathers, dads, cousins, or a ton of good old Uncle Benjamin Franklins. We all actually work hard and SI can see that in applications and that's why certain people make the cut; trust me, if SI took anyone in and brought on the same intensity it does, you'd break in half. SI knows what its doing and its doing it pretty damn well. But really, SI is a GREAT, GREAT, GREAT school. As I write this review, I find myself still wearing my Bruce T-shirts and comfy SI sweats. Oh, and if you go to SI (especially if you play a sport), you've got your work out clothes set for you for about a good 4 years after you graduate... you find yourself with SO much SI apparel to work out in. oh man. read more

I have two kids that attend/ed. One is in college now and the other a sophomore. Both are thriving. They are not athletes and not the most popular. It took time but both found an excellent group of friends that ARE diverse in many ways. I think a student must be a self advocate and have resilience to have a positive experience at SI. If they don't, it will be very difficult. If they hang in there, they will develop these important life skills. This school has faced complicated and messy challenges with grace and transparency. I am very grateful for this very special place. read more

Hands down the best private high school in San Francisco. Teachers and staff really care about you getting into college. Thanks mom and dad for working your asses off. I'm paying them back with the full ride scholarship at USF. read more

Having attended my 10th, 20th and 25th reunions, I am happy to say that the classmates I have encountered since graduation are thoughtful and productive members of society. Even though I was never a fan of sports or other activities that were a dominant part of the school's culture when I was a student, I was generally well treated by my classmates and teachers. As a student, I always had the sense that the school's administration supported a caste system, where legacy students received preferential treatment over all the rest. Such a system is almost inevitable in institutions where the teachers themselves (and their fathers and grandfathers) are members of the alumni. A special event I attended several years ago confirmed my perception that the same and somewhat provincial "old boy" network is very much alive and well. One may argue that a city where so much of the population passes through for a few years before moving elsewhere, institutions with a deep sense of continuity, established through multi-generational connections, are increasingly rare and therefore should be treasured. I think SI has all the elements needed for students to receive a decent education and develop above average moral compasses to guide them through their lives, and I have no problem recommending the school as an option for people looking at high schools to attend in San Francisco. Overall, I am generally impressed with the recent SI graduate I have met. read more

First of all, a big 10-4 on the f*ck you to all the haters and naysayers of the prep. To those of you who were privileged enough to attend the best school This Side of the Nile know it in all its splendor and glory. Yes, we do wear preppy clothes, but that's just our swag. Best Teacher: Mr. Devine (known to all insiders as P-Diddy) Best Commons Food: Bread Bowl Best Day of the Week: Friday (the schedule doesn't even qualify as school) Best Chance to Mingle with Marin and Peninsula Kids in San Francisco: Everyday Make sure that when you pass by Quintara and Sunset while speeding along in your motor vehicle, you take the time to lift your hand to your forehead and "Salute the Prep" read more

This is a review of the Natatorium and Masters Swim which take place here. One of the best pools in the city. (yes, USF Koret has an Olympic size, but mold growing on the ceiling of the women's locker room is a big minus). The coaches are awesome and have 3 different sets depending on speed/ability. The sets are usually very well thought out and give you a great work out. They observe you and if you picked a lane that might be too slow for you, they will kindly recommend moving up. The 5:30am swims are a bit tough to wake up for. Although, Sundays at 7:30 works well. You'll be out of there by 9am, just in time to join friends and family for early brunch. read more

S.I. was a very different school when I attended -- no girls, except those attending physics; a dress code that was more lax (but still no jeans, tshirts, or sneakers; many more Jesuits than today. Back then, the school was what the student made of it. One could stay in his athletic group, or his drama group, or forum, etc. But he could also cross lines and have friends in all different groups at the school; I know I did. What was most important, to me, at least, was the interest that the teachers took in the students. I know lots of guys who grew close to this teacher or that one, and many of those teachers helped students through difficult times at home. It's odd: I live on the east coast now, and hear the same cracks about the top private schools here: "Everyone there drives a new BMW." "It is totally clique-y." "The dress code is a drag." You know the drill. Still, anyone graduating from S.I. in the late 1970s/early 1980s came out knowing how to write, how to think (not WHAT to think), and how to speak.. And he came out knowing that he counted, had a real worth as a person. The teachers instilled that. The retreats instilled that. The extracurriculars instilled that. There was a sense of elitism, perhaps, but it was presented at requiring a sense of service to others, along the lines of the old line, "To those whom much is given, much is expected." We were not taught that we were better than anyone else, just perhaps better educated, and that this created an obligation to serve. I regret that my son and daughter are unable to attend, living as we do in the Boston area. read more

As a dorky minority city kid with no legacy who did happen to get in on merit, I will say that the admission practices seem fair compared to any private school. I had a lot of friends there on scholarship and it is a plus for the school that there is a lot of tuition help to be had. Good thing because it's quite expensive, though also less so than other city private schools As to the churning out of yuppie "duh" preps, I think as with all experiences, if you seek something you will find it. I was looking for social activism in high school and S.I. made it readily available and I was able to take part in organizing many protests through the school, amnesty campaigns etc. They have a lot of resources and a lot of great activities available for any interest. The social scene...what can I say, high school is rough for anyone who isn't the head cheerleader and I wouldn't want to repeat it, but I did leave with some quality friends who are genuinely good people and who are still a big part of my life today. After college in the real world, the legacy aspect that people hate so much actually helped me to make some great business connections and get referrals just based on being an SI alumnus. Last but not least, the education, which is what these reviews should really be about. Second to none, I went to college leaps and bounds ahead of most of my peers and my time there was a breeze thanks to S.I. The teachers are stupendous and very committed to the students and the school, I still communicate with a number of them though I'm almost 10 years out (ugh, Dixon T don't worry about the reunion, you'll have plenty of fellow wallflowers to commiserate with.) So, if you really are a parent or junior higher deciding which schools to apply to, know that regardless of all these other factors, you will leave SI with a great education. read more

this school is nice. teachers are super chill especially mr white that's my dawg. water polo program is great for sending people off to college but the team environment is kind of toxic. it's next to the beach which is super nice cause everyday after school id skateboard next to the beach and get food. speaking of food the food here is actually not that bad. not really worth the $8 per lunch but still good. at first i expected the people here to be spoiled rich kids but they're actually pretty chill. a lot of annoying people tho. at the same time however, everyone here was nice to me and welcomed me. i felt so accepted by everyone and made friends faster than i've made friends at any other school. it costs a lot to go here though and the classes are very hard. also you're required to take a religion class which i wasn't looking forward to but actually ended up enjoying more than i thought i would. read more

The feedback given by user "ScrubbD" below is spot on. The shadowing, presentations, open-house and the inspirational speeches of this school's administrators are nothing but sales pitches. These people brought Wall Street to the Sunset District of SF. Sad that they supposedly represent the Catholic faith only to use it as a front and recruiting tool for hypocrisy and double talk. At the end of the day and after seeing which students from my child's parochial school were admitted, the bottom line of the admission criteria is not the Almighty but the almighty dollar, influence and connections. My child was put on waiting list and yet 2 kids that my child tutored in math and science breezed through. Another observation is that, single parent families have next to none chance for acceptance. Not a single parent family from my child's 8th grade batch were given acceptance,obviously, because of the concern for being a one income family thus, unable to afford tuition and likelihood of asking for tuition assistance that cuts through the profitability. Exceptional grades, hard work, honesty do not mean squat in SI admission, only money and influence. In a way, it is a blessing in disguise that we were not admitted in this school. I wouldn't want my child's formative years in faith and education to have anything to do with a group of administrators that are hypocrites and double-talkers in the guise of the Catholic faith. They are precisely the reason why many once Catholics have turned away from the faith. It is an absolute shame that they teach kids the teachings of Christianity and then turn around and do the exact opposite in the quest for the almighty dollar. If you are a single parent, can't prove that you have a six figure income and can't donate a huge chunk of hard earned money, save yourself the grief, time and the non-refundable application fee and buy yourself and your child a nice dinner with it or the SI administrator's will gladly do it for you. Over $80,000 from hopeful parents plunked their monies only to be told to "take a hike". Over $80,000 of non-refundable app fees now on the wait for administrators first class vacations, retreats, and first class summer cruises fund. Now, tell me if that's not Wall Street in the Sunset District of San Francisco? read more