2020 Best Private Schools in San FranciscoAbout this List

San Francisco University High School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 55 reviews

Alum: The school is rigorous, me well as an alum, but negatively while I was a student. I felt well prepared for my first year because of how intense my last four years were. Although during my high school years, because the school is a pressure cooker, my mental and emotional health constantly took a backseat to my academics. There are a lot of intelligent and supportive faculty and staff at University, and I found people that I could rely on as a student. I still maintain those relationships outside as an alumni. There are a lot of extracurricular activities, which provides students with the opportunity to have a holistic educational experience. The disparity between the marketed diversity at UHS and the reality is gross. For students of color is it often a very taxing and draining school to attend, even though the academic and extracurricular benefits are well funded and resourced. It’s imperative to have a network of people you can turn to when needed.
Read 55 Reviews

• A+

• 410 Students
• 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

The Urban School of San Francisco

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 50 reviews

Senior: The Urban School is the most wonderful, constructive, supportive environment I've ever found. The community is open-minded and the students work hard, diving into academics as well as clubs, sports, and art. There are so many opportunities for growth. I love it here, I'm so grateful for my time at Urban!
Read 50 Reviews

• A+

• 420 Students
• 4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Lick-Wilmerding High School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 91 reviews

Sophomore: The campus at Lick is amazing, and the main building was recently renovated. The academics are very good, but the tech and maker's shops on top of everything else are what make Lick unique. There is a classroom, or shop, dedicated to each of the following: tech, woodworking, metalworking, and electronics/jewelry making. There is also a big library, as well as multiple labs and art classrooms. The teachers won't hesitate to make time meeting with students to help them, and the students are very self-driven and motivated, in school and outside with extracurricular activities. Lick is very progressive and conscious, and this is fostered by the guest talks and assemblies outside of the classroom. The sports, dance, and music programs are good. This is the most diverse school in the Bay Area, racially and economically. Lick is also very conscious of how to make sure you are feeling accepted in the community. The upperclassmen to a great job of welcoming in the newer students.
Read 91 Reviews

• A+

• 490 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

St. Ignatius College Preparatory School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 319 reviews

Alum: Saint Ignatius is a very good school, and the teachers are the best part of it. They are supportive, encouraging, and caring. However, the school does need to work on their clique problem and mental health issues because many of the students have severe depression and anxiety from the pressure to "fit in" and perform well academically. There are many creative and enjoyable clubs to join as well that are sources of community and belonging for many students. The theatre and fine arts department is absolutely amazing, and have exceptional performances. The sports and athletic teams are generally positive and compete at a high level. The school is in a safe area of San Francisco and accessible by Muni which is very convenient for the "city kids", but it isn't too much of a hassle to commute from Marin or the Peninsula either.
Read 319 Reviews

• A+

• 1,476 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

French American International School and International High School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• PK, K-12
• 89 reviews

Senior: International High School (IHS) is a wonderful school that prepares students for university through the rigorous International Baccalaureate/French Baccalaureate curriculum. The teachers and faculty are very supportive and always try to help the students in any way they can. Although some of the facilities are not state of the art, the school makes it up with their challenging yet rewarding curriculum. Additionally, the college counselors at the school really help students find the right schools that fit for them and they are also very helpful throughout the college application process in general. In addition to that, International High School has an amazing global travel program where students can choose to go to places such as Burma, China/Tibet, Galapagos, etc. International High School of San Francisco is the perfect school for any student who is wants to push themselves academically, has a passion for theatre or sports, and have a strong desire to travel.
Read 89 Reviews

• A+

• 1,092 Students
• 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Convent & Stuart Hall

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• K-12
• 68 reviews

Parent: My sons attend Stuart Hall and it's been wonderful. If you want your children to avoid the pressure-cooker situation of other independent high schools in the city and to feel supported and loved by schoolmates and teachers alike, this is the place!
Read 68 Reviews

• A+

• 1,100 Students
• 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

The Bay School of San Francisco

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 72 reviews

Parent: This school really makes an effort to do what is best for the students. It is focused on inclusion and real-world inspired academics. Athletics are getting better each year but the reason to attend Bay is to mature into a whole person who is curious, compassionate and independent. Immersive programs allow students to go deep on topics by spending weeks in real situations, addressing real challenges.
Read 72 Reviews

• A+

• 374 Students
• 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Lycée Français de San Francisco - San Francisco Campuses

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• PK, K-12
• 29 reviews

Parent: Our two children have been at the Lycee since nursery school (Ashbury campus) and are now in middle school and high school (Ortega campus). We selected the Lycee for the following reasons: it's the "French" French school, the teachers are top notch, the curriculum is rigorous, the college acceptance list is impressive, it's affordable as compared to other private schools, the class trips are amazing (e.g., Morocco, Mexico City...), there are a huge variety of programs (e.g., technovation for girls), the campuses are homey and safe, classroom sizes are small, the administration is efficient and caring, and the community is open and vibrant. Our children are perfectly bilingual (and becoming trilingual), have close friends, and are on the path to being multicultural global citizens.
Read 29 Reviews

• A+

• 773 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Jewish Community High School of the Bay

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 21 reviews

Alum: Overall I had a very good high school experience at JCHS, which I don’t think many people get to say. I made some wonderful friends, took great classes, had some great teachers, and got involved with some fantastic extracurriculars. At what other school can a student get involved with theatre, the basketball team, the school tv show while also taking a dual curriculum. JCHS is incredibly unique in how it allows students be involved with as many things as they would like. Teachers there are almost always very supportive and willing to support students in any way they can. My only gripe might be that there may have been a little too much handholding for students over the four years and that students may not be fully prepared for college life.
Read 21 Reviews

• A+

• 176 Students
• 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Drew School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 61 reviews

Parent: Our daughter graduated from Drew six months ago and her college transition confirms that Drew was an excellent choice. Drew nailed an important (but often overlooked) “college prep” function: social/emotional development. The school’s supportive environment allowed our daughter to build deep friendships, experience her first relationship, and really understand how to relate to people. These social skills were important for navigating adult life on a college campus, three thousand miles away from home. With the perspective of time (and another high school), I’d highly recommend giving Drew a good look – it is a unique gem!
Read 61 Reviews

• A+

• 280 Students
• 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

San Francisco Waldorf High School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 24 reviews

Parent: I love the curriculum tailored to the development of the adolescent. This high school offers a nurturing environment with challenging academics that will prepare the students beyond high school and college. It offers a healthy balance of academics and arts/music throughout the day. All the teachers and staff care deeply for the students. Most of them are highly educated and they want to be there. Beautiful campus and a new gym/multipurpuse room coming up!!! The admissions team is working hard to bring a more diverse pool of applicants.
I would love for the school to have more community events during the year that aren't fundraisers.
Read 24 Reviews

• A+

• 160 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 148 reviews

Senior: There were numerous teachers that were new to the school, they did not seem like they were well trained by the current staff. Many teachers seemed to be pre occupied with their own personal problems during classroom sessions. With that said, many of the teachers were willing to help when students reached out. There were not enough girl bathrooms and the plumbing needs to be updated, there were many clog/flooded toilets. I thought the diversity of the school was good. I think changing the dress code mid year was unnecessary, since everyone already bought their required clothing before the school year started. I also bought many books that stated that it was required before the school year started, but did not use many of the expensive books and often left them at home, barely used. In addition, the next year students could not use them because the required books change yearly. The book buy back program did not come close to what the original amount paid.
Read 148 Reviews

• A+

• 1,325 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Archbishop Riordan High School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 110 reviews

Parent: We love Riordan! The adminstration is thoughtful and proactive, the teachers are excellent and my son has made many new friends here. Overall, an excellent school!
Read 110 Reviews

• A

• 680 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Woodside International School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 5 reviews

• A

• 60 Students
• 4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

San Francisco Christian School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• PK, K-12
• 15 reviews

Parent: Great staff!
My children attended SFCS for 11 consecutive years. I really appreciate their dedication to each student individually. Definitely a Great school!
Read 15 Reviews

• A

• 240 Students
• 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Mercy High School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 146 reviews

Senior: I really love this school! Coming from a small school of about 26 students, I felt like I would get lost in high school. Going to Mercy made me feel better about my transition into high school. I'm really grateful for this tight-knit community! The teachers really care about you and will almost always make time for you whether it's about an assignment or life in general. Mercy has not only helped me grow as a person in not only finding out what interests me, but also has made me more assertive in my participation in the classroom. Overall, I really love this community and the support I get from my peers and teachers!
Read 146 Reviews

• A-

• 223 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

ICA Cristo Rey Academy

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 9-12
• 255 reviews

Niche User: Great high school if you want to feel involved at all times! Teachers are great and will make time to help you any time. It would be good to see more language classes instead of just Spanish for three years. The Work Study Program will help students prepare for the future by learning new skills but do not expect to be placed somewhere you want all the time, however it is possible to be placed in a industry you may be thinking about working at in the future.
Read 255 Reviews

• B+

• 324 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Xian Yun Academy of the Arts California

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 6-12
• 16 reviews

Parent: Our 12-year-old has danced and schooled at Xian Yun the last two years. She is happy in this bully-free environment after a few educational false starts in the Bay Area. She dances daily, is learning Mandarin (really learning it!) and has a terrific, quite traditional academic program. The academics and dancing please our daughter, and the kindness and community please her parents!
Read 16 Reviews

• A+

• 30 Students
• 1:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• K-12

• A-

• 49 Students
• 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Fusion Academy San Francisco

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 6-12

• A-

• 37 Students
• 3:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Lisa Kampner Hebrew Academy

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 2-12
• 2 reviews

• B

• 37 Students
• 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Sterne School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• 5-12
• 2 reviews

Senior: I have loved my SHS experience! They always make sure you have what you need and if you don't they figure out a way to get it for you.
Read 2 Reviews

• B

• 144 Students
• 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Cornerstone Academy

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• PK, K-5
• 10 reviews

High School Senior: I felt that the school sheltered me from the outside world. Most of the students at school were of the same ethnicity, so I never really learned about other people's difference in cultures.
Read 10 Reviews

• NG

• 698 Students
• 35:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

St. Cecilia School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• K-8

• NG

• 593 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Chinese American International School

• Private School
• San Francisco, CA
• PK, K-8
• 1 review

• NG

• 520 Students
• 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio