2023 Best Public Schools in Cole Valley

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  1,070 reviews

Senior: I'm from the graduating class of 2023 and I would say my overall experience at Lowell has been good! There's lots of different extracurriculars and clubs for me to join! As for academics, the homework load and amount of stress from it really depends on your classes and teacher. The community is really nice and there's many resources available for students. The bathrooms in the science building and world language building is really nice too!... Read 1,070 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,786

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• San Francisco, CA•

• Public School•

• K-7

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: Amazing curriculum, teachers, parent involvement, communication, and culture. I haven’t seen anything like it at other schools, public or private.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 391

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  161 reviews

Senior: I loved the structure of the school's non-traditional classrooms and hyper-focus on the arts. The school has lots of strong support programs from mental health counseling to academic support. As a student with an IEP, SOTA was very helpful in making sure I had the support I needed through teachers that would fight for me and made me feel very welcome and supported. However, the school environment had a severe lack of structure, and most of the administration and many teachers were new and didn't have the proper experience to support the student body as a whole.... Read 161 reviews

• grade A

• Students 776

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• San Francisco, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Middle School Student: I'm a current student in Mission Preparatory and it's great. Since it's a new school, I think it should have more clubs and sports, but academics are great. Teachers and staff are very supportive and encouraging.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 439

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  371 reviews

Senior: My experience at Abraham Lincoln High School was unfortunately cut short because of COVID-19 but it was fun while it lasted. The staff here at Lincoln were really helpful when I need help such as support for my schedule and mental health. I was going through depression and the wellness center was understanding that sometimes I just needed someone to talk to. When I was having cramps, the wellness center had everything you need from heating pads, water, pads, and snacks if you were hungry. The teachers here at Abraham Lincoln High School are also very helpful with your grades. If you were failing, the teacher would try to make sure everything is okay to help you get back on track.... Read 371 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,991

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: We have three children at Claire Lilienthal. We count our blessings every day - the school is amazing. Our kids have very different personalities and learning styles, and two are African American and one is White, and all have found tremendous academic enrichment, fabulous arts and sports programs and truly excellent academics. I have come to appreciate that teachers have “feet” and chose to work in schools where they have ample family and administrative support. Our teachers have been hands- down phenomenal. To top it off, the school has terrific community and many very involved families. I am proud to have my kids be in such a diverse and academically and socially successful school. We can do this, America! Urban public schools can be amazing places of academic achievement and cultural and racial integration. Thank you Claire Lilienthal.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 692

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  518 reviews

Alum: The mathematics teachers were really good overall. They taught their students well to the point that the students do well in the class they take the next year. Besides mathematics though, the science department was really lacking the tools necessary to keep the class interesting as we barely had any equipment that was professional to even call a lab. The history classes were a mix of both and bad. I wasn't really engaged in all three years of taking history but that could just be me as a student. Overall, pretty good school with a lot of passionate students and teachers, the administration didn't care for what we wanted and need to be better overall.... Read 518 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,846

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  7 reviews

Middle School Student: During my time at Roosevelt Middle School, I have been allowed to express myself, learn new things, make new connections, and find a family in sports. the amazing staff, teachers, curriculum, activities, clubs, technology, and all the materials that we have to access are what made this school exactly what I was looking for. Taking a tour of the school if you plan on going here can also be beneficial because the campus is amazing as well. The teachers have so much heart and care for their students and go above and beyond for us so we can have the best middle school experience. Even with the wide range of clubs, if you don't see one that would fit you, you can also always go to a teacher and create a club of your own! This school helped me succeed and excel throughout the year, with support always there for me. I'm very lucky to have been able to attend here and I hope that future kids going into middle school will consider Roosevelt Middle School when applying!... Read 7 reviews

• grade A

• Students 698

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  421 reviews

Senior: George Washington High School is a well-rounded educational institution located in the Richmond District of San Francisco. It offers a comprehensive academic program that prepares students for college and future career pursuits, including Advanced Placement courses and specialized areas like Biotechnology and Multimedia. The school's athletic program is strong, with a wide range of sports available, and its extracurricular activities are diverse, with clubs for music, drama, debate, robotics, and more. The school's supportive learning environment is facilitated by highly qualified and dedicated teachers who use a variety of teaching methods to ensure all students succeed. George Washington High School provides students with opportunities to develop their physical fitness, teamwork, leadership skills, showcase their talents, and make lasting connections with their peers.... Read 421 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,069

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 383

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.32 out of 5  244 reviews

Senior: Raoul Wallenberg Traditional High School is a public high school located in San Francisco, California. The school has a diverse student body and is known for its rigorous academic program. The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports teams, clubs, and community service programs. Overall, Raoul Wallenberg Traditional High School has a good reputation for providing a high-quality education to its students. However, as an AI language model, I cannot rate the school's overall experience since I do not have personal experiences to draw from. It is best to consult with students, teachers, and parents who have had firsthand experiences with the school for a more accurate evaluation.... Read 244 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 659

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• San Francisco, CA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  120 reviews

Senior: I have been at Gateway for all 4 years. What I like about the school is the smaller size of students compared to the other public high schools in the city. It is easy to know most of the teachers and have great relationships with them. The teachers there are great because they offer office hours after lunch where all students can work with teachers or independently. Another good thing about the school are the clubs. There are many clubs with students willing to share what they're interested in. The school makes sure that all students are safe by reminding COVID protocals, but there have been difficulties arising at the school. Overall, it is a good school to do well academically with teachers supporting students when they're behind.... Read 120 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 519

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• K-8

• grade A minus

• Students 602

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• San Francisco, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 2.25 out of 5  4 reviews

Alum: CACS has a robust but manageable workload that prepares students for the curriculum ahead in high school. It offers a sense of community and diversity that simply isn't present at most other schools.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 422

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  17 reviews

Middle School Student: APG is incredible. I learned so much, and haven’t even gone here for more than a few months. All of the teachers are dedicated and committed. They actually care about us. AP is a great school. Bullying is really just name calling, your kid might learn a few new words, but other than that, it’s great. Perfect balance of academics, independence, and fun. Highly recommended.... Read 17 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,194

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3.18 out of 5  11 reviews

Alum: I think this school is much safer than it has been in the past, and the teachers I had were okay. Electives and clubs are sort of lacking but diversity definitely isn't Food, academics, safety, sports, resources are all decent... Read 11 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,074

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 2.4 out of 5  5 reviews

Parent: As a Chinese Immersion school, AFY is not for every family. My kids thrived in the small school environment but for others, having the same classmates for 9 years can be stifling and awkward. The majority of teachers are great - caring yet having high expectations and able to get the best out of their students. Unfortunately, parent involvement has declined over the years.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 587

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  254 reviews

Sophomore: Balboa High School is a very good school for average students. This school is very balanced out. Meaning that it isn't too hard or too easy. The school has a very diverse community and has a lot of great and supportive people. Teachers will willingly help you and will listen to your ideas and opinions. With the diverse community you learn about new people and make good friends. Over all this school is on average a great school!... Read 254 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,229

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  170 reviews

Senior: My community is great, but there definitely could be some improvements. I love getting involved with my friends at school!... Read 170 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,174

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 165

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 1.67 out of 5  3 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 939

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  103 reviews

Senior: The Academy is actually an amazing school overall it gets a bad reputation and is thrown under but in reality there is alot of excellent teachers and staff that encourage education and help each student to succeed. Its a small school so most likely you will at least know just about everyone in your grade but the amount of classes you have access to are alit shorter than a standard school due to us sharing the building with Ruth Asawa School of the Arts... Read 103 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 359

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  7 reviews

Alum: My experience was great. Free iPads for the year were amazing, not sure if they still have them. I liked all of my teachers, except for a few old grumpy dudes. Rest were knowledgeable and/or memorable. Easy to approach for help or for conversation. Clubs were good, super smash bros especially. Events were okay. Other students were cool. Never felt peer pressure.... Read 7 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 976

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  5 reviews

Parent: Rooftop Elementary is one of the best schools in San Francisco, CA. The teachers and staff members are very supportive of the parents' concerns, and the children's safety and education. My daughter’s first year at Rooftop was amazing and she loves how each morning the whole school has circle time and a school song which they sing together.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 583

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Middle School Student: It was really an incredible school. A great focus on academics, but with a good balance of fun! I highly recommend Grattan!... Read 1 review

• grade B+

• Students 384

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1