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Parent Testimonials
Click on school names to go to their descriptions
If your school is not here - send us your paragraph!
Alamo - Jim Sutton
Alamo has the curriculum and community of an "old-fashioned" school, focusing on the three Rs, respect and manners, high expectations, etc. Because it has such a long history of excellence and such a healthy Foundation, students have art, music, PE, drama, field trips, supplies, plenty of volunteers, etc. Perhaps the most salient feature of the school is the amount of parent involvement in the classrooms, on field trips, for fundraisers, on the playground, etc. The new principal is a true leader, who has re-done the library, cajoled the District to re-wire the school and improve e-mail and computer coverage in the classrooms, and cleaned up the facilities. For more information about the school and its extensive parent involvement, please go to http://www.friendsofalamo.org/aboutus.htm .
Alice Fong Yu Alternative
School - Deborah Kwan
I couldn't be more thrilled with the education my kindergartener is getting at Alice Fong Yu. She's learning Cantonese (Mandarin instruction starts in 6th grade), loves her teachers, is engaged by her coursework, and is making friends both in class and in the after school program. The school itself is safe, clean and well maintained. In addition to a rigorous academic curriculum there's a teaching garden and enrichment encompassing arts, music, ceramics, poetry, etc. My daughter's teacher is energetic, dedicated, nurturing and accessible by phone or email after school hours. AFY's dynamic principal Liana Szeto keeps the school humming -- she knows all the kids by name and parents by sight. The school community is tight knit and active. There's a lot of homework, both Chinese and English, and parents/caregivers are expected to be actively involved in their child's education.
Argonne - Cynthia Francis
has been a very good fit for my family (my 3 daughters are currently students). It is the only year-round school in the district, meaning there are 5 additional weeks of instruction during the summer. There is tremendous diversity in the teaching staff, families and children. The teachers are encouraged to use their own strengths and to teach in a way that honors the unique gifts and talents of each kid. There is a very active parent/family community and we actively recruit families that want to be part of their kid’s academic experience. It is a small school (less than 400 kids), K-5, and has decent test scores. Overall, Argonne is a great school.
Alvarado - Josie Iseline
I LOVE ALVARADO...I have been a parent there for 11 years! I cannot think of a better place for my children to have spent their elementary school years. Whether it is the excellent, caring teaching staff, the large sunny yard with plenty of space for soccer games, free play or PE, the incredible diversity that allows my child to grow in a healthy diverse community, the amazing arts programming that is incorporated into the curriculum or the back bone of very well thought out California State standards....I could go on.
My eldest daughter, who is now at Lowell, went through the General Ed program and my next two have been through the Spanish Immersion program. Both are excellent. My son, now in fifth grade, has many friends in each program, all of whom are thriving. The cooperation and sharing between teachers makes the two programs feel very intertwined and not as separate as years ago. This is very positive. My older children have been incredibly well prepared for Middle School and on to High School, exceeding their private school 6th grade classmates in preparedness.
Buena Vista Alternative Elementary--Jeanne Darrah
I have two children at the school and they are becoming bilingual and bicultural. The arts program includes capoera, trips to the symphony, music lessons, etc. We participate in Day of the Dead & Carnival. Mostly, I love the families. The community is diverse, opinionated and involved.
Commodore Sloat - Christine
Leishman
The teachers are experienced,
dedicated, and forward thinking. Kathy Wong ( the principal)is a strong
supporter of her staff and enabler of her parents. The dialogue is open
and the respect is high. The kids are NICE kids and their respect and
care for each other is visible and remarkable. We can't raise a ton
of money so we talk and think very carefully about what is important
for our kids and our community and choose accordingly.We are a neighborhood
school so ,when you go to the grocery store or library, you see families
you know from school. and on the weekend the kids can get together without
driving across town.
Grattan ES
Excellent teachers and principal, amazing diversity, quality parent
participation, technology lab,
library, dance, science, and Spanish enrichment, and all wrapped up
in an attractive, small, nurturing, accepting A+ of a school. I would
not switch to a private school even if they were free.
Jose Ortega
When my daughter started kindergarten at Jose Ortega I wasn't so sure how we would like the school even though my nieces and nephew have gone to the same school. Now that my daughter is in second grade I cannot imaging transfering her to a different school. Jose Ortega is a small school located on top of a hill near the Ingleside neighborhood. On a sunny day from the school's yard you can see from Lake Merced to the Farallon Islands. Right next to the school is Brooks park which has a community garden where the children go to grow vegetables. The school serves the chinese community with their bilingual program. There is a great cultural diversity which gives our child the opportunity to learn from other cultures. My husband and I are so grateful to the dedicated staff who have always being there to help us and are so understanding of our daughter's individual needs. We really feel lucky to be at this school where so far our expierences with the teachers have always being the best. I am proud to say our daughter is the fifth member of our family to go to Jose Ortega. My husband's 14 year old brother and our 11 year old niece graduated from Jose Ortega and are currently doing great at Aptos Middle school. We also have our 8 year old nephew and our 7 year old niece performing at the top of their class at Jose Ortega.
Lakeshore - Rebecca
Kennedy
It's no wonder that Lakeshore attracts so many co-op families. We
have great opportunities for continued involvement in so many different
areas, as well as enjoying the community-building events that happen
regularly. The PTA hosts the Multicultural Potluck, Math Night, Literacy
Night, Welcome to Kindergarten, the School Picnic, and many other events. Fundraising
provides enrichments such as Dance Class, Architecture, Cooking, and
Theatre. The library has well over 11,000 books (many donated by students
on their birthdays). Involvement in the Motor Perception, Gardening,
and Poetry programs are enrichments the children really look forward
to. My kindergarten boy wakes up on Wednesdays saying, "it's motor perception
day!" Being right across the street from Lake Merced offers a wonderful
resource for nearby field trips. Having a separate play yard for kindergarteners
and one for first graders helps ease the transition to going to "big
kids' school".
Leonard R. Flynn - Vali Govier, Spanish Immersion parent
Flynn is a wonderful place to be for many reasons: We have a very dedicated Principal, Mr. Addcox, and also committed teachers who strongly believe in a great education for all. Each classroom has one library lesson and one P.E. lesson a week. There is a library media center staffed by a full-time technology expert. We also have dance, drumming and music. We received a $125K grant to greenify the school. There are two strands at Flynn - the two-way Spanish Immersion (now in its third year) and also the English Program. I am very impressed with the caring community at Flynn with all its involved parents. Come and see our great school - you may want to be one of those parents, too!
Lafayette ES - Helen Yee
Boy! Did we luck out in being assigned to Lafayette Elementary! As with
many parents, we did not know of Lafayette in the outer Richmond area.
The top-notch group of teachers, PTA, and parent volunteers really provide
a wonderful atmosphere for our children to learn. Even though we have
moved to the Sunset area, we would never think of transferring to another
school. Lafayette is the best!
Longfellow ES - Chris Lau
Longfellow is a wonderful school and I really appreciate the cultural
diversity and variety of programs, both academic and artistic, which address
the needs of the whole child.
Marshall Elementary - Amy Risch
Our family feels lucky to be
part of the Marshall community - Marshall is a
small neighborhood school with a growing Spanish Immersion program. The
facility is warm, bright and inviting. There is strong family involvement
at
the school and dedicated teachers who know all the kids by name and
interest. Our arts program includes capoeira for all grades, woodworking,
music and enrichment from the SF Symphony and Ballet. The school community
celebrates Day of the Dead and Carnival along with many Family nights
devoted to science, math, literacy and health.
McKinley ES - Lisa Schiff
McKinley Elementary School is
a wonderful, diverse, small school.
We have a fantastic group of talented teachers and staff, and
an inspiring, committed principal. All of the children at
McKinley are known by all of the staff, and are taught in a
nurturing, educationally stimulating environment. Our school is a
place where children from all backgrounds are thriving. The
parent community is involved and welcoming of new families and
new ideas. McKinley Elementary School invites you to check out our new website: www.mckinleyschool.org
Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy - Kathy Henry
We looked at many schools last fall and fell in love with this one the
moment we
walked through the gates. The warm, welcoming atmosphere, the wonderful
"morning circle", the fantastic principal and staff, all add
up to a great school. HMCRA truly reflects the diversity of the Bay Area
in both the staff and student body. With only around 250 students,
K-5, the principal knew the names of most of the new students by the second
day of school. Test scores went through the roof last year (the most improvement
of any school in the district), but the principal and teachers understand
that our children benefit as much from things that are not tested, like
art and physical education. And that personal responsibility, integrity,
and tolerance are also worthy subjects in which our children need to excel.
Come take a look at this gem of a school!
Miraloma
Miraloma Elementary is a welcoming community of students, parents, teachers and staff. The collaboration and support between the families and the staff is amazing! Parents are welcome and invited into the classrooms and to help in the office. Miraloma's active community supports outstanding enrichment opportunities in the arts - a weekly sing-a-long, music instruction, movement, performing arts, an on-site kiln and ceramics instructor and poetry. The teachers are bringing a focus on science and math with partnerships with the Lawrence Hall of Science and ongoing teacher development with the UC Berkeley Math Department. We have an on-site gardener to lead the gardening program, as well as a full-time coach who provides activities and exercise at all recess and PE time as well as afterschool. In addition to an afterschool enrichment program for K-5 children who need aftercare, Miraloma offers chess club, Mandarin and Spanish instruction, and tutoring for all children afterschool. Please call 469-4734 to schedule a tour. Tours are on Thursday mornings from 8:30-9:30 beginning October 18, 2007. Our website is miralomasf.com.
Monroe - Sue Weaver, parent of Spanish Immersion student
Monroe, located in the heart of the Excelsior, a safe and quiet neighborhood easily accessible by public transit. We have a wonderful tri-cultural atmosphere. In addition to the General Ed English strand, there is Spanish Immersion and Chinese Bi-lingual/Bi-cultural. Monroe is blessed with a very active PTA that fundraises and obtains grants for the Sports 4 Kids program, dance teachers and arts enrichment, books for the library, and many other special services & programs. We have a wonderful garden, too! Monroe offers two on-site afterschool programs, plus a walking group to the afterschool program at the nearby Excelsior Boys & Girls Club. Our test scores have been rising steadily with the multiple support programs that are in place.
Moscone - Madeline Robins:
Moscone is a little gem of a school. From the first bell, when kids not only say the Pledge of Allegiance but a pledge to be "the best that I can, for myself, for my family and for my community," to the end
of the day, when families, kids and teachers mingle in the courtyard, the children at Moscone are challenged, encouraged, and loved. The staff is top-notch--creative, experienced teachers, dedicated support staff,
and an energetic, enthusiastic principal who knows every child by name.
Rather than bewailing standardized testing Moscone's teachers use the tests as a framework for the curriculum, and it pays off: last year's API was 821, even with a population of students who come from non-English-speaking homes. Despite budget cuts, the Moscone community has managed to keep its dance and art program going; the school has its own garden, and class time is enriched with field trips and parent visits. The building is new and beautifully kept up, and even the kids are proud of their school. Last year Moscone was cited by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and won a Title I Academic Achievement Award; the real payoff is in the bright, enthusiastic learners in every classroom.
New Traditions
New Traditions, one of the smallest schools in the district (less than 200 students) began 25 years ago as a elementary school that valued the role of visual and performing arts in elementary school academic education. The staff is very dedicated--my 3rd grader's teacher, Ms. Akiyama, has been teaching 3rd grade here for 22 years (her own son attended, as did the children of our previous 5th grade teacher, principal, visual arts teacher, and music teachers). While it's a challenge to both fund-raise and push for a curriculum that goes beyond teaching to the test, it has paid off in a strong community spirit. Our students appreciate and learn from the commitment of their families and the staff.
George Peabody Elementary:
I love telling people that my child is in public school and that he loves his teacher, knows his principal, because he visits his and all the classes everyday, and that he wakes up in the morning, without my having to tell him, because he can't wait to go and see his many co-ed friends and learn new things. Daily, he surprises me with something he has made or tests me on something he has learned. George Peabody is located in San Francisco's Richmond District close to Mountain Lake Park and the multi-cultural Clement Street. Every day you can see and hear children laughing, playing and engaged in active learning with their teachers, the staff, and parents and guardians who are involved in volunteer efforts. This little school's dedicated and motivated staff, along with parents and guardians who volunteer, are the core to the positive and productive atmosphere that makes this school a gem.
Paul Revere - Lisa Mariano
My son attends Paul Revere Elementary School. I appreciate his teacher, Mithril Cox, a great deal. We've been blessed to have her two years in a row. The Resource Specialist there, Mr. Wilson, is also a blessing!
Rosa Parks-JBBP -- Esther Honda
The JBBP program provides strong academics, Japanese language and cultural enrichment,
community involvement, and a host of extras (music, art, P.E., movement,
and more) in an inclusive, small school setting. Families are highly involved
in all aspects of their children's education. Native speaking Sensei teach Japanese to the students each day, while the core curriculum
is taught in English. If you are looking for a warm and committed community
of educators and families, check out Rosa Parks Elementary School, look for us at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown
(we're the huge, happy contingent in the red happi coats!),
or visit www.jbbpwest.org.
S.F. Community K-8 School - Rachel Lederman
My 2nd and 5th grade sons are not only learning all the academics they need, but developing into great human beings at SF Community. They have thrived with the individual attention, love, and gentle guidance they receive at this small school. SFC is a staff run school with no principal, and my kids have had unusually dedicated and talented teachers. They have enjoyed project based learning, and what they'd probably tell you they like most are the camping trips and the large outdoor space for recess, which includes a big garden and a sand and water play area. As working parents, we feel very lucky to have a free on site after school program and adjacent Boys and Girls Club. For more info, check out the parent created web site: www.my-sfcs.org.
Sherman ES - Tom Weverka
Sherman Elementary School has a cheerful student body,
low staff turnover, high test scores, a great principal, a loud orchestra,
a renovated library, dance classes, a special P.E. instructor -- all
under one art deco roof in the Marina! See our website at www.shermanschool.org.
Starr King - Mary Jue, parent and staff person
I love Starr King! I got everything I wanted at Starr King: small classrooms, music, art and physical "enrichment," and a free and convenient afterschool program. I feel welcome and comfortable being at the school and being involved. Having 4 program strands (general education, Mandarin Immersion, Spanish Bilingual and special education) means my child has an opportunity to learn and play with lots of kids with lots of other strengths and abilities. Feel free to contact me with questions: Mary Jue, parent and staff person, 823-3942.
Starr King - parent from Mandarin program
My daughter is in the new Mandarin immersion program. I now can't imagine her attending any other school, public or private. Her teacher is exceptional. The class is small (12 kids). Her classmates are bright, well behaved and personable. And the other parents are involved and interesting. The principal, Chris Rosenberg, is highly regarded throughout the Bay Area and has been able to attract and retain some of the best teachers available. He has also raised considerable academic and enrichment resources. It's no wonder that parents from all over the city spend the effort to have their kids attend.
Sunnyside - Eric Westby
The Sun is Rising at Sunnyside!
We have seen a huge influx of involved parents in the past few years and
our new principal, Nancy Schlenke, is passionately
committed to working with us to keep the positive
changes coming. My son is now in 2nd grade and loves
to see his parents volunteering at the school.
Sunnyside teachers and parents have worked together to completely renovate the library, from carpet to computers. We worked together to find funding for playground equipment, and a beautiful NEW Play Structure was built at Sunnyside this summer. We've found a second grant for even more playground improvements, and another new grant will provide a full P.E. program to all Sunnyside students for at least the next 3 years. All that PLUS continually improving test scores. It looks like the secret is out ---- if you want your child in a small, neighborhood school where parents are warmly welcomed to take part in the educational and social life of the school, then Sunnyside is the school for you.
Sunset - Craig Berger
Sunset has many great qualities, the most obvious of which is its warm and inviting school environment. The children interact with each other and adults with respect and joy. They clearly like being at school. The teachers are professional, friendly and accessible. The Principal, Ms. Sophie Lee, is enthusiastic, experienced, and fun to be around. Sunset has a good mix of high academic achievement, good test scores and varied Arts programs. The spacious school grounds have been transformed into a series of theme gardens which are the basis for the Outdoor Science Program. The library has been recently renovated with new books and a laptop computer lab. As both a teacher and parent, I couldn't be more pleased to have my daughter at Sunset.
Sutro - Leslie Wong
Sutro Elementary is a small school in the Richmond District-not exactly Inner and not exactly Outer, as it is right at 12th Avenue. Everyone seems to know my son's name and I feel he is really looked after and that his individual needs (and maybe idiosyncrasies?) are recognized and addressed. He loves school!
So far, I have continued to be pleasantly surprised and impressed by how caring, involved, and wonderful the staff is at this school. There are so many ways kids learn and develop and I truly feel that the staff works hard at providing many opportunities for the kids to do so.
There is a core group of retirees and even a past mom who continue to come back to Sutro to help out with the events, making for a steady volunteer pool. If it were't for the sense of community at Sutro, I believe these volunteers would not otherwise continue coming back to lend a hand. This contibutes to the adult-child ratio at the school-more supervision, and the ability for the children to get more from their learning environment.
Sutro Elementary is a special school with a strong sense of community and caring. Our PTA site is: www.sutropta.org.
We also have a Kindergarten and 5th Grade blog:
sutroroom5kinder.blogspot.com
sutrofifthgrade.blogspot.com
Ulloa - Cindy Yee
I have a 3rd grade son at Ulloa and a son who graduated from Ulloa Elementary last year. In my opinion, the role that afterschool programs play in character building of children is just as important as their academics. My observation is that the children who have enrolled in quality childcare or afterschool program at their formative years tend to come out being flexible, resilient and know how to negotiate among peers and adults for what they want.
At Ulloa, we have a Ulloa Childcare Center as well as a free afterschool program funded through grants. Both Ulloa Childcare and Afterschool program offer a safe and challenging learning environment and complement each other well. There is a time for supervised homework, arts and crafts and music, literacy and outdoor sports. Ulloa Childcare is ran by Rebecca Cherny who has also run a very successful interactive summer learning program for past twenty years. Mrs. Cherny truly has a remarkable eye for spotting educators at heart. Afterschool Program is run by Beacon and staffed by Ulloa teachers as well as young adults who are working on their teaching credentials. These programs contribute to the Ulloa students' core academic strength. For a school like Ulloa in which over 60% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch program, a statewide API ranking of 9 is not bad.
Under the leadership of our principal, Carol Fong, for the last four years, Ulloa has completely turned around and has emerged as a true gem of Sunset. I can answer your specific questions on e-mail or phone at 664-2933.
In conclusion, as a parent who has experimented around with all types of enrichment and academic programs that San Francisco has to offer, it dawned on me to finally realized that I had it all at Ulloa. I am truly proud of this school and can recommend to anybody who is seeking the best educational foundation for their children. Come on board and be part of our PTA.
West Portal:
Having to go through 4 principals in the last 5 years should've been enough to shake things up a bit
here. But if you were to tour West Portal, you would never know it. I know my child, now in third grade, loves school (though has a different opinion about homework). And I know that my involvement is welcome and
needed.
Yick Wo Alternative Elementary School - Rebecca Taggart
Yick Wo is a small, unknown gem of a school, the best of public education with amenities of private school. My third grader has had outstanding, enthusiastic, nurturing teachers every step of the way. Yick Wo boasts high test scores, although teachers do not "teach to the tests." Our PTO raises money for a superb YMCA P.E. program, art and Orff music classes. The poetry program through Poets in the Schools, and movement classes
by SF Ballet are exceptional.
Creative Arts Charter School (K-8)
- Becky, David & Nicholas DesRoches
Creative Arts Charter school is a wonderful exciting place to be. Our
kindergartner wakes up humming and excited to go to school. Teachers
and families are dedicated. All 20 kindergartners returned to the
first grade this year which speaks to a level of satisfaction even
though it moved across town. The kids there are interested about
learning because they have fabulous teachers. The project based
constructivist learning approach keeps activities very hands on and
keeps kids focused. Children attend art, music, and dance every week.
The after school program is diverse including puppet, chess, and
theater clubs, as well as various sports. Since it is a K-8 school,
we get to see what the “big kids” are up to. The sixth graders
did a fundraiser for the victims of Katrina. There is a nice sense of community
and many ways to get involved. We couldn't be more thrilled with our
new community.
KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy, Chandre Alexandre
At KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy, we provide students with the skills required to attend top-quality high schools and colleges, and ensure that they are prepared for the competitive world beyond our doors. KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy is an academically intensive, free public charter middle school located in the heart of the Western Addition neighborhood of San Francisco. We opened our school to community in September, 2003, first accepting 5th grade students. Since then, we have grown to 257 students enrolled in grades 5 through 8.
Our excellent academic track record, backed by national test results, speaks to the no-shortcuts, no-excuses approach we take to education and our commitment to the children we serve. Our goal at KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy is to provide our students with the knowledge, skills and character traits they will need to succeed in top-quality college preparatory high schools, colleges and in the competitive world beyond . We take our mission very seriously, and our students are among the hardest working in the state.
The KIPP acronym stands for Knowledge Is Power Program. This is a nationwide program whose effectiveness is due in part to the strong leaders the organization trains in its Fellows program and then puts into carefully-structured schools. We do not select or deny students on the basis of their prior academic or behavioral record, race, creed, class, physical abilities, or any other factor.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS:
Aptos Middle School - Caroline Grannan
At Aptos, my son is thriving in the honors program. There is an exceptional
amount of personal attention due to smaller classes and he loves the band
and all the clubs! Check out the Aptos school website to learn more about what's happening at the school!
Francisco Middle School
- Rebecca Taggart
Francisco Middle School, located in North Beach, is the undiscovered gem of SF public middle schools. Francisco is a vibrant, exciting school with excellent teachers. A small middle school, with 675 students in 2007-8 and under 200 students in 6th grade, there are only three regular and one honors class for 6th grade, which means all teachers know all the kids. The remaining 6th grade students are enrolled in the Chinese-specific newcomer program, which serves newly-arrived English Language Learners (ELL) with separate teachers and classes. The school achieved very high test scores in math on the STAR test for 2006-7 (a 94!). This result is remarkable considering the test score includes the foreign-speaking newcomer students, who had to take the test in English. The school's English scores are low because the large number of newcomer student scores are also factored in (these are new arrivals to the USA).
Since 2006 the school boasts a new Principal, Ms. Giampaoli, who used to run the District's GATE program, and a new Vice-Principal, Mr. Lee, who came from Presidio MS. These two have responded enthusiastically to teachers' needs, and have completely turned around former discipline issues at the school. Come take a look at Francisco! You'll like what you see!
Hoover Middle School
- Linda Renteria
Hoover is a huge middle school
with about 1300 kids! Because of the size there are so many clubs and
activities. My child is a 6th grader in the Chinese Immersion Program
and really enjoys school. We've had a very good experience with the
teachers, staff and other parent volunteers.
James Lick - Sandra Halladey
We toured many middle schools and felt that James Lick was a good fit for us. We like the fact that it is a very small school - the whole school is the size of the 6th grade at many other middle schools! All the staff know all the children and there is a low student - counselor ratio. An increasing number of Lick students are accepted to Lowell and SOTA. I encourage families to go and visit this school to see the vibrant and successful community in action. We have an excellent leadership team and the teachers are great! The GATE students are challenged yet the school is not segregated by ability throughout - students break out into study sessions - so if your child is GATE in Math but not in English - they get what they need! Two years ago we only had one visual arts program, now we have visual arts, dance, drama, rock guitar, music appreciation and peer resources as part of our newly revamped unified arts program. Last year we celebrated our 75th Anniversary with a visit from a famous Alum - Santana - and we have a beautiful Peace Garden at the front of the school that students and the community worked together on. Both my children attend James Lick and we would strongly recomend it to all. http://jameslickptsa.org/
HIGH SCHOOLS:
Balboa High School - Dana Woldow
Balboa is the only school in the city to have been designated a San Francisco Historical Landmark. Set in a quiet family-oriented neighborhood just east of City College, Balboa offers a college prep curriculum in a warm, caring small-school environment. Honors, regular ed, and special ed classes are provided for students, as well as afterschool clubs and a full range of sports. The campus is safe, and students who come from as far away as the Richmond and Sunset districts may ride free yellow school buses provided by the district. Parents/guardians and students may tour the school at any time; call 469-4090 to make an appointment.
Galileo Academy of
Science and Technology
Galileo Academy of Science
and Technology is an outstanding academic high school in San
Francisco’s lovely Marina neighborhood near Aquatic Park. It is housed
in an architecturally distinguished building with a staff of over 100,
serving over 2000 diverse students.
Galileo has programs in biological, environmental, computer, space science, and creative media fields, offering a Health Science Pathway, an Academy of Information Technology, Biotech Pathway, and a host of Honors and Advanced Placement courses.
Last year Principal Mrs. Margaret Chiu was selected Principal of the Year and Galileo's API rose 58 points. In 2004-2005 Galileo’s API rose 69 points. In 2005 Galileo Academy received the California Distinguished School Award; the Exemplary Career Technical Program Award (1 of 12 in the state); and was nominated by Jack O'Connell, State Superintendent of Schools, as one of ten California and one of 100 U.S. high schools to participate in the High School Reinvention Symposium supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Washington, D.C.
Galileo Academy is the only Bay Area School with its own observatory; and Galileo is California’s first blogging school. See www.galileosf.net and www.galileoweb.org.
Leadership High School - Marge Fujikawa:
Here's my story as a parent
with two boys in LHS as a junior and a freshman. We came from a large
(1,200) student public middle school (Hoover) with both of my guys in
Honors classes, taking Japanese and advance music classes (cello and trumpet).
After looking into various public and private schools, we decided on Leadership
even though my boys were accepted into some private schools and Lowell.
Our decision was based on the fact there was an excellent support system at LHS when my boys needed it, in case they have to miss school due to their chronic health condition. In addition, the small school atmosphere translated into a "private" school environment, encouraging teachers and challenging curriculum. The small class sizes enable the students to get to know the teachers better.
My junior is doing very well in his classes, participating in student government, and developing into a leader in his peer group. My freshman is adjusting to his freedom in high school, learning to manage his study time, and enjoying his community service. They switched to Spanish for their foreign language, continuing on their own for music, using initiative for PE credits and experiencing a school with a wide diversity of ethnic and life styles. All in all a good choice and fit for my guys.
Thurgood Marshall Academic
High School - Bayard Fong
Thurgood Marshall Academic High School is an up-and-coming school in the district. Just two blocks off of Bayshore, near Silver Avenue. Over the past three years I have come to know the "Good Students, Good Teachers, and dedicated Staff". Our PTSA has grown to 40 members; we hope to make 150 this year. My daughter is a junior now, Thurgood offers wonderful opportunity to learn and work with kids of all ethnicities, opportunities to participate in clubs, sports, and leadership development. We are a small campus of about 800. Classes/hallways are not crowded. For the past 2 and 1/2 we have been working to "Lift the Phoenix" to raise Thurgood Back to a top school in the city. This year we are excited that Paul Cheng, principal of Lowell High School has volunteered to come to Thurgood to help with the "Lift". Paul has also brought together 18 new group of staff and teachers to help bring all the Students at Thurgood to the next level. Coupled with the Prop A renovations, Thurgood is getting a "make over" inside and out.
Come to our school for a tour, please contact Paul Cheng at 695-5612, 45 Conkling St. near Silver (this is very close to the 44, and 9 Muni Bus lines). Come by and visit Thurgood Marshall Academic High School - you will be pleasantly surprised.
Mission HS - Nancy Cramer
Mission has an outstanding principal with staff and teachers who are very
devoted. They go out of their way to help their students! In the Fall
of 2006 Mission started their Spanish Immersion program.
School of Arts (SOTA)
- Caroline Grannan
My 9th-grade son says SOTA is
everything he wanted high school to be. He
plays trumpet and was well-trained enough to pass the demanding audition,
but his horizons are being broadened daily by the various components of
the
music program. He likes all his academic classes as well, and after
graduating from Aptos Middle School's rigorous honors program finds SOTA's
academic classes interesting and challenging. He races out the door
enthusiastically every morning, which is the best testimonial of all!
HIGHLIGHTS
From Parent Survey 2007
"As a parent of an incoming kindergartner, PPS has been an invaluable and highly dependable tool. Were it not for PPS, I would surely not have visited many of the 'hidden gems' within the district."
Testimonial Update
Add or update your school's testimonial - email web@ppssf.org
Why I love my public school
Writer, public school parent and PPS-SF Member Amy Graff is sharing essays from parents about their San Francisco public school on the San Francisco Chronicle's (sfgate.com) Mommy Files blog
Are you interested in writing an essay about why you love your child's San Francisco public school? Please send 400 words to sfgatemoms@gmail.com.
Where parents are applying themselves; Diana Knapp; San Francisco Magazine