A student’s high school is one of the single largest predictors of where they will attend college. Of course, this does not mean that attending a particular high school will make getting into Harvard inevitable; the days of feeder schools are over. Nor will attending another school make getting into the Ivy League impossible. Instead, different schools have different levels of resources, and perform at different levels at preparing students to apply to and succeed in college. This makes finding the right high school to support a student of paramount importance. After all, each student is different, and what they need in terms of support and resources differs too. In this article then, we’re going to explore the best high schools in San Francisco (and the rest of the Bay Area while we’re at it), both public and private.
We’ll look at what they offer, and what it takes to get into each of them. Our goal is to give the information you need to make an informed decision about which high school is best for you, and your own circumstances. Let’s get started!
A Note on San Francisco High School Admissions
San Francisco has had a long history of reworking how their high school admissions work, and then getting sued over it. Under the current system, almost all high schools in the city are city-wide; that is to say that there are no zoned high schools, and you may apply to any schools you wish, ranking them in order of preference. Note that you are not guaranteed access to any of these schools.
The application forms may be found online here. The main round deadline to submit these applications is at the end of January, we advise getting all paperwork in early if possible, just to be safe. None of these high schools have academic requirements for admission.
There are two exceptions to this general process: Lowell High School and Ruth Asawa San Francisco High School of the Arts. We discuss both of these schools later in the article.
Note also that this only applies to students living in San Francisco proper, students living elsewhere in the Bay Area will have to follow the organization of their local school district. We will include any application requirements public schools have, if applicable.
The Best Private High Schools in San Francisco
We’re going to start by looking at the best private high schools, both those in San Francisco itself, and throughout the Bay Area. This is not a full list of these schools, but is meant to give a sampling of some good options.
The College Preparatory School
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This is a private, coed, day school located in Oakland, serving students in grades 9-12. It hosts approximately 370 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 8:1. It is regularly ranked among the top private high schools in the US. The school offers an advanced curriculum, which focuses on preparing students for college (as the name suggests). All classes are offered at the honors level, so the school does not differentiate between honors and standard courses.
CPS only offers a few actual AP courses, preferring their own curriculum. That said, a good number of their courses parallel those offered as APs, and students often choose to take AP tests. They offer a significant number of advanced math courses beyond calculus, and science electives. This includes a research internship program where students pursue original research under the guidance of a mentor. The average SAT score at CPS is 1500, and the average ACT score is 34.
Tuition at CPS is $60,050 annually, with no difference by grade level. They do have some need-based financial aid available. As with most private schools, they solicit donations from parents beyond the cost of attendance. You must apply to CPS online, they use Ravenna to manage their applications. Applications require the online form, three teacher recommendations, 7th and 8th grade transcripts, an interview, short answer responses for both students and parents, and ISEE or SSAT scores.
The Nueva School
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This is a coed, secular, day school serving students in grades pre-K through 12. It enrolls approximately 930 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 6.5:1. Their school has two campuses, one for the lower and middle school in Hillsborough, and the one for the upper school in San Mateo, both in the Bay Area, though outside of San Francisco proper.
The school offers an advanced, college preparatory curriculum. Their stated goal is to offer an education geared to gifted students, and does this through a very open curriculum, with significant elective offerings. They do not offer AP coursework, preferring their own curriculum. Most of their courses focus on project based learning, and students have the opportunity to pursue internships through the school. All students are required to pursue a quest each year during their time in the upper school. The average SAT score at Nueva is 1500, and the average ACT score is 34.
Tuition at Nueva is $59,720 annually, though this varies by grade level. There is some need-based aid available; all aid is based on family income. Applications to Nueva are submitted online through Ravenna. Applications require the online form, a timed writing sample administered by Test Innovators, a parent questionnaire, an activity session held on-campus, letters of recommendation (English teacher, math teacher, and principal), and transcripts.
The Quarry Lane School
Located in Dublin, CA, this is a private, secular, coed, day school, serving students in grades pre-K through 12. It enrolls approximately 950 students, and has a student:teacher ratio of 8:1. The school is most notable for being the only private school in the East Bay Area to offer an International Baccalaureate program. It also offers a full suite of other advanced coursework, including AP courses, with the goal of making sure all graduates are well prepared for college. Quarry Lane also offers a significant number of engineering options for students. The average SAT score at the school is 1460, and the average ACT score is 32.
Tuition at Quarry Lane is $49,889 annually, though this varies by grade level. There is a limited amount of need-based financial aid available. Applications to Quarry Lane must be done online; they use Ravenna to handle applications. Note that they have two admissions deadlines; if the school is your first choice, you are encouraged to apply by the early deadline in December, otherwise applications are due at the start of February. Applications require an online form, an interview, an essay, a parent interview, two letters of recommendation (from math and English teachers), and report cards. Application exams are not required, but ISEE scores are accepted.
Crystal Springs Uplands School
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Located in Hillsborough, Crystal is a private, secular, coed, day school which serves students in grades 6-12. It enrolls approximately 540 students, 320 of whom are in the high school, with a student:teacher ratio of 9:1. Crystal offers an advanced, college prep curriculum, though they do not offer any AP courses. Some of their courses do cover similar material, however, and they allow students to take AP exams at the school. Their curriculum has a number of required courses in lower grades, but allows upperclassmen much broader latitude to choose electives. The average SAT score at Crystal is 1490, and the average ACT score is 33.
Tuition at Crystal is $66,450 annually; this does not vary by grade level. There is some need-based financial aid available. Applications to Crystal must be submitted online, they use Ravenna to handle their applications. Applications require an online form, transcripts, letters of recommendation (math teacher, English teacher, and principal or counselor), a proctored writing sample, and student and parent interviews. Applications are due in January.
The Best Public High Schools in the San Francisco Area
Now we’re going to look at the best public schools, both those in San Francisco, and those in some of the surrounding towns in the Bay Area. We will include any admissions or application requirements for selective enrollment high schools.
Gunn High School
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This is a public high school in Palo Alto, one of two in their school district. It is not selective for enrollment, it simply requires you to live in the district. The school enrolls approximately 1,700 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 17:1. The school was known for having a mental health crisis in the 2010s, but the school has since taken significant and deliberate steps to improve the mental health of students. It is still a very challenging school, but they have attempted to lessen the pressure and competition students feel.
Gunn offers a broad range of advanced academic coursework. This includes 29 AP courses; most Gunn students take AP courses, and more than 90% of those that do score a 3 or higher on the exam. They also offer a number of advanced courses which go beyond AP courses as electives to upper classmen, across a broad range of topics. They do not specialize in any one field, but are seen as strong academically across the board. The average ACT score at Gunn is 29, and the average SAT score is 1392.
Palo Alto High School
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Located in (unsurprisingly) Palo Alto, this is the second of two high schools in the Palo Alto Unified School District, and is a rival to Gunn High School. It enrolls approximately 1,930 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 17:1. Palo Alto’s campus is directly adjacent to Stanford University; while some consider the school to be a feeder for Stanford, this is not the case. The school does a very good job of preparing students for college however, and a significant number of its students end up attending top universities.
Palo Alto offers an advanced, college preparatory curriculum. They do not have any singular academic focus, but provide students with advanced options across the board. As with all high schools in California, their graduation requirements closely align with the A-G requirements for acceptance to the state’s public schools. They offer 27 AP courses; the school recommends students take no more than two of these per year, but have no official limits. They also offer dual enrollment courses in partnership with Foothill Community College. The average SAT score at Palo Alto is 1,383, and the average ACT score is 29.
Lowell High School
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Generally accepted as the best public school in San Francisco proper, and one of the best public schools in California, Lowell is also the only school in the district which requires additional academic application components from students (the Arts high school requires a portfolio or audition, as is standard for arts-focused high schools). Information on this application can be found here, on the district’s website. Applications open in October, and are due in December. These require submitting an application. In addition, the school looks at your test scores from district administered standardized tests, and your grades. 70% of students are admitted based on this alone; 15% of students are admitted based on those factors while also considering extracurricular achievements, and 15% are admitted based on those factors while also considering underrepresented status. Admissions for Lowell are decided before those of other high schools in the district. There is no waiting list for the school, and having a sibling at Lowell does not increase your chances of acceptance.
Lowell enrolls approximately 2,540 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 20:1. Lowell offers an advanced academic curriculum. This includes 30 AP courses, along with other non-AP honors coursework. More than 85% of Lowell students who take the AP exam score a 3 or higher. Lowell does not have a particular area of academic focus, but instead offers all subjects at a high level. The average SAT score at Lowell is a 1370, and the average ACT score is a 30.
Saratoga High School
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Located in Saratoga (as the name implies), this is a public high school, one of two in its district. It has no enrollment requirements besides living in the zoned school district. It enrolls approximately 1,200 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 19:1. It is generally recognized as one of the top public high schools in the region. Athletics is important at the school, with more than 60% of students participating. The theater and band at the school are also well regarded for their prowess.
Saratoga is very strong academically. They offer 24 AP courses, alongside a range of other honors level coursework to supplement that. They also have partnerships with local community colleges to provide dual enrollment options. For special programs, they offer both career training, and an engineering program designed to prepare students to study and pursue careers in engineering. The school does have a STEM focus, but also offers advanced coursework in other disciplines. The average SAT score is 1406, and the average ACT score is 31.
Los Altos High School
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Located in Los Altos (because where else would it be?), this is a public high school which enrolls approximately 2,140 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 20:1. LAHS is quite competitive athletically, and a significant portion of the student body takes part in athletics. The school’s marching band and vocal ensemble are also both well regarded, having won significant awards in the past.
LAHS offers a full suite of advanced coursework, including 23 AP courses, along with a number of additional honors coursework options. The school’s graduation requirements closely match California’s A-G requirements, as is the case at all California public schools. LAHS has a partnership with several local community colleges, which allows students to enroll in courses at those schools. They do not have a singular area of academic focus, but are generally seen as strong across the board. The average SAT score at LAHS is 1,383, and the average ACT score is 29.8.
Final Thoughts
There are a great number of excellent high schools in the Bay Area, both public and private. What these high schools offer differs slightly, but they all have a remarkable range of academic and extracurricular offerings, and all strive to prepare their students for top colleges. Of course, all high schools do strive for this, but some are better at it than others.
We hope this article has given you a sense of what your options are for high schools in the Bay Area, and which might best serve your needs. Of course, a great high school is just one of the components to preparing a student for college. If you are looking for personalized advice on your own high school transition, or want any other advice on preparing to apply to colleges, then schedule a free consultation with us today. We have a long experience working with students to help them get into excellent colleges, and are always happy to talk with you.
