2020 Best Public Schools in San FranciscoAbout this List

Lowell High School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 933 reviews

Junior: Lowell is a very competitive school known for being academically rigorous, having many high expectations and a reputation for being challenging. The students are very smart and teachers don't have to worry about discipline in the classroom, as most are on task and always working hard. Consequently, some teachers get away with not teaching because the students have the ability to study and self teach themselves to still get an A. Additionally, the competitive environment creates stress with everyone trying to maintain good grades and keep up with the high expectations. Although students are always studying hard and getting good grades, students still find time for sports. Lowell has one of the best sports programs in San Francisco, achieving playoff and championship spots in almost every sport each year. This reveals the true ability of all the Lowell students as they are able to balance a super hard academic life with a successful and highly committed sports experience as well.
Read 933 Reviews

• A+

• 2,720 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 140 reviews

Alum: SOTA is definitely a great place for students who like to progress in their artistic careers and their academic ones simultaneously. The school has an organized schedule that balances the time spent on academic classes and the arts during each school day.
There is a good range of academic classes, the teachers prepare the students well in the subjects they teach, and they are all very friendly in helping the students to achieve the best that they can. Furthermore, the academic teachers are all very supportive regarding the students' artistic skills and their performances, and some are actually artists themselves.
SOTA encourages diversity and creativity, and the students and faculty are supportive. There are performances for each department and a few interdisciplinary events where the different departments collaborate
While the facilities are quite good, improvements in the heating and air-conditioning systems and the maintenance of the cafeteria and the theater are necessary.
Read 140 Reviews

• A

• 664 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Abraham Lincoln High

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 333 reviews

Alum: When I first started high school here, I was a shy kid that would never talk to anyone and just go home after school. Throughout my schooldays before going to Abraham Lincoln high school, I would have to say my day to day life was pretty boring. Before my high school days even started, I was greeted with the warmest welcomes during the jump start day. Throughout high school I jumped from club to club, and I eventually landed onto a sport, track and field. There is nothing to say about the coaches except for how great they are! They always pushed everyone to try their best. We would always be so dead after our first run, then we would all somehow manage to pull out 5 more. I became great friends with all my teammates, even the ones that barely speak! Track and field is what shaped me to become the person that I am today. High school would not have been the same if I did not stumble upon track and field.
Read 333 Reviews

• A

• 2,072 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Claire Lilienthal Elementary

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-8
• 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

• A

• 680 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Sunset Elementary School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 403 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Chinese Immersion School At Deavila

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 400 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

George Peabody Elementary

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5
• 2 reviews

Parent: My 2 kids are in Peabody. Teachers and all staffs are very friendly, knowledgeable. Especially we are thankful to Ms. Krey and Ms. Holway they are amazing, very helpful.
Read 2 Reviews

• A

• 276 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Clarendon Alternative Elementary School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 541 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Alice Fong Yu Elementary

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-8
• 4 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 4 Reviews

• A

• 589 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Ulloa Elementary School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 522 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Argonne Elementary School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 433 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Sherman Elementary School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5
• 2 reviews

Middle School Student: I is the best there I wish I can go back to every memory I had there. They have the best teachers and every thing.
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• A

• 379 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Lafayette Elementary School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 548 Students
• 27:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Alamo Elementary School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 533 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Presidio Middle School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 9 reviews

Parent: Parent here with two kids - one who went to Presidio, one who is there now. The teachers are excellent overall and so are the administrators. The new schoolyard looks fantastic!
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• A

• 1,134 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Lawton Alternative Elementary School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-8

• A

• 594 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

A. P. Giannini Middle

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 13 reviews

Parent: My son has enjoyed his time at APG. He's in 8th grade and especially appreciates his wonderful teachers who have challenged even while entertaining him (because at this age, don't the two go together sometimes)?
Read 13 Reviews

• A

• 1,196 Students
• 27:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

George Washington High

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 372 reviews

Senior: George Washington High offers a variety of different clubs, sports, and volunteering work to high school students . These extra curricular activities allowed me to find my passion in psychology and to uplift awareness on mental health. Although Washington High has many different activities, they could offer more academic classes on finances, American system, and resumes.
Read 372 Reviews

• A

• 2,010 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Commodore Sloat Elementary

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 394 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Miraloma Elementary School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 389 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Jefferson Elementary School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A-

• 512 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Jose Ortega Elementary

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A-

• 408 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Francis Scott Key Elementary

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A-

• 555 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Roosevelt Middle School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 4 reviews

Alum: Roosevelt was a great place to spend middle school. It had great teachers and a fun atmosphere. Nowadays, Roosevelt is known for it's outstanding use of technology and bringing the students into the 21st century.
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• A-

• 699 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Grattan Elementary School

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A-

• 397 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio