San Francisco Marin North Bay Private School Guide 2022

GUIDE TO

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

BOARDING • DAY SCHOOLS 2022

INSIDE:

• Read about the types of private schools and how to start you search

• Use our timeline to plan, month by month, your search and execution of getting accepted at your school of choice

• Learn what exams are needed, how to nail the school interview and tips for writing a remarkable entrance essay.

• Explore tuition assistance opportunities

Families have a choice when it comes to finding the RIGHT school, and choices have grown over the last 20 years. As you make these important choices, know that there is a school for every child. We hope and know that you will find this resource a tremendous help as you explore the regions amazing private school options.

And, discover the private schools and preschools who are inviting you to consider them as the right program for your child and your family.

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Alameda, CA

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Why Consider Private School?

Manyparents feel that their children will thrive better in what they believe is a smaller, safer environment with more room for personal attention. And while public schools must follow a curriculum heavily influenced by state standards, private schools have more freedom to customize lessons to students’ individual ways of learning.

Private schools can also point to low studentteacher ratios, freedom from state standards and testing, and lots of extras like music, foreign languages, and art that are underfunded or nonexistent in public schools. Rest assured, promise school experts, there is a school out there to suit every child.

There are two primary sorts of private schools— independent schools and parochial schools.

Independent schools are defined as nonprofit private schools with their own governing board of trustees. While most people commonly refer to independent schools as private, lumping them in with parochial

Private schools can also point to low student-teacher ratios, freedom from state standards and testing, and lots of extras like music, foreign languages, and art that are underfunded or nonexistent in public schools.

and for profit schools, they are distinct because they are nonprofit and self-governing.

Parochial schools, where tuition is typically one-third that of independent schools, offer traditional instruc tion and have solid reputations. Families who are “in-parish,” that is, who live within the schools’ official parish boundaries or volunteer and participate regularly in the parish, get first priority. Otherwise, the application procedures are similar to independent schools.

one-to-one school like no

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Fusion is a revolutionary private middle and high school providing one-to-one education for kids from grades 6-12. But we’re so much more than that. We’re a community of learning dedicated to creating a supportive campus environment where every kid can flourish – emotionally, socially and academically.

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Why Consider Private School? cont’d.

When considering private school education, think about these benefits as outlined by the Independent Schools of the San Francisco Bay Area (www.issfba.org):

High academic standards

Independent schools nurture intellectual curiosity, stimulate personal growth, and encourage critical thinking. A larger percentage of students at independent schools are enrolled in advanced courses than in public schools.

Small classes and individual attention

Independent schools have low student-teacher ratios that encourage close connections with students. The median ratio in schools that are members of the National Association of Independent Schools in 2021–2022 was 8.4 students to 1 teacher.

Excellent teachers

Educators usually teach in their areas of expertise and are passionate about what they do. With more autonomy within the classroom, teachers are able to develop a full understanding of how each student learns and what motivates and inspires each individually.

Greater likelihood of a student completing a bachelor’s or graduate degree education.

Independent schools nurture not just students’ intellectual ability and curiosity but also their personal and social growth and civic conscience. Opportunities extend well beyond the classroom to athletic competitions, artistic pursuits, and school leadership experiences.

Inclusiveness

Schools maintain diverse and vibrant student communities and welcome and respect each family. In 2021–22, students of color were 32 percent of total independent school enrollment nationally.

A community of parents who actively participate in their children’s education

Independent schools promote regular communica tion among students, parents, and teachers to ensure everyone is working toward the same goals for the student.

The opportunity to choose a school with a mission

You can select a school whose philosophy, values, and teaching approach is right for your child. 

The Private School Search: Where to Start?

With every private school brochure flashing photos of smiling students thriving in science labs and onstage, it can be hard to tell schools apart. Though on closer look, each school has its own personality, spanning a wider range of educational styles and often offering smaller classes than public schools.

Some schools follow distinct educational philosophies like Waldorf or Montessori. Others focus on music, offer a girlsonly student body, a year-round schedule, or teach their curriculum exclusively in French. There are schools with impressive art, sports, drama, and science programs. Some are K–5 or K–8, others only grades 6–8, and still others are K–12. All of these schools have the luxury of complete freedom in designing curriculum to fit the school’s philosophy because they are not subject to the state testing

standards imposed on public schools.

A simple way to begin thinking about which private school may be right for your child is to look at how the school is structured. For example, some schools do not assign homework and others group different grades together in one classroom. By doing this step, it is easy to rule out schools that are not of interest.

It’s time to start thinking about fall of 2023 if your child is about to begin her last year of preschool or is in fifth or eighth grade. Starting a year before you actually need to can help relieve anxiety as well as give you time to do your research.

The timeline for what can be a rigorous search for private schools begins with open house events and tours starting in September; applications in December and January; and acceptance or rejection letters in early March. The sooner you can start checking out schools that interest you, the better, whether those schools are independent or parochial.

An easy, simple way to begin thinking about which private school may be right for your child is to look at how the school is structured.

A complete Montessori education for independenceat school and beyond From 4 years to 12th grade Two locations in San Francisco

Guidepost Montessori empowers children to understand the world and choose their place within it. For children 4 years to 12 years.

The Academy of Thought and Industry is a Montessoriinspired middle and high school delivering a powerful education to develop curious, independent, and selfmotivated adolescents who thrive in school and in life.

Book a tour today!

Guidepost Montessori and ATI at Fort Mason

Programs offered:

Children's House (4 years to 6 years)

Elementary (6 years to 12 years)

Middle School (12 years to 14 years)

In Fort Mason: 3741 Buchanan St. San Francisco, CA 94123 US

415-429-2008

Academy of Thought and Industry at San Francisco

Program offered:

High School (grades 9 -12)

In Pacific Heights: 2690 Jackson St. San Francisco, CA 94115

415-683-5459

The Private School Search: Where to Start? cont’d.

Parents who have been through the process before recommend the following combination of first steps:

• Look hard at your finances to see what kind of tuition your household is willing to handle. Find out if there are extra costs for books, computers, or after-school care, and if the school offers financial aid.

• Weed out schools that won’t work because of things like location or early start times.

• Learn basic facts like the number of students enrolled and student-teacher ratio.

• Consider your child’s particular learning style by consulting with current teachers (from preschool or day care, for example).

• Think about your family’s educational philosophy. Ask how students are tested, and how teachers convey expectations, teach classes and administer grades.

• Make a list of what matters most to you and your child. Perhaps it’s that the school is diverse, emphasizes the arts, has a grassy play area or a dance studio. It could also be that your child needs before-school care, elementary grades only, or an alternative learning environment.

• Talk to families whose children already attend those schools. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions. Ask

other families what unique programs their children have benefitted from.

• If your child is entering kindergarten and has a fall birthday, research schools’ age cutoffs. Private schools usually prefer that children turn five before entering kindergarten. Some use cutoff dates as early as June 1st.

• Once you’ve got a list of schools to check out, create a list of admission event dates, application and financial assistance registration deadlines.

As parents move through this lengthy process, they should reflect on the desires, needs, and learning styles of their child. This process is different depending on the child’s age. There are things that are clear about a fifth-grader (like how they handle homework and social conflict, whether they favor sports or the arts) that aren’t evident yet with a preschooler. Parents of eighthgraders have the easiest and the hardest time with this. While it’s easier for the parents of a middle-schooler to pinpoint the social tendencies and learning style of their 13-year-old, that teenager often has thoughts of her own about which school to attend.

The school search process can be a stressful one. However, with some advance preparation and clear goals, it doesn’t have to be onerous. You might even gain some new insight into yourself and your child along the way.

A month-by-month guide to the application process.

Basic Timeline

Although not every school follows the exact schedule, many follow similar timetables for admission. The following is a timeline to help you in the admissions process. Many schools are now offering both virtual and in-person admissions events.

AUGUST

the year before you want your child to attend)

Define your ideal school.

Find schools that match your child’s needs.

Research and ask questions of schools on your preliminary list.

SEPTEMBER

Browse schools’ websites, look books to learn more about their programs and philosophies.

Request admissions and financial aid material by phone or online.

Create a calendar of pertinent admission and financial assistance deadlines for the schools to which you are considering applying.

Ask elementary schools about their test schedules and make appointments.

Register for any standardized tests required for admission.

Review the test websites to learn about procedures and test dates, see sample questions, and purchase testpreparation books.

Call schools to schedule individual tours, class visits, interviews, and “shadow days”.

OCTOBER

Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests.

Visit schools, virtually if necessary, during open houses, information sessions, and tours.

Finalize the list of schools to which you will apply.

Take required standardized admission tests.

NOVEMBER

Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests.

Continue to watch for admission events you may want to attend.

Request teacher recommendations from your child’s current school.

Start working on applications, financial assistance forms, student questionnaires, and essays.

for Applying to a Private School

DECEMBER

Continue to watch for any admission or school events of interest.

Request transcripts at the end of your child’s first semester.

Complete any remaining applications, questionnaires, etc. Some application materials are due as early as December.

JANUARY

Pay attention to deadlines: Most schools’ applications are due in January or February, along with tests scores, references, transcripts, and financial assistance forms.

Financial assistance applications are normally due in January or February.

FEBRUARY

For schools with February admissions deadline turn in applications.

MARCH

Watch for school decisions starting in mid-March.

Watch for financial assistance decisions about this same time.

If your student is accepted by multiple schools, decide which school your child will attend.

APRIL

Sign and return enrollment contracts and deposits.

MAY TO SEPTEMBER

Attend events and activities for new parents and students during spring and summer.

Get to know other families in the school.

Sign up for fall sports and clubs.

Re-visit schools applied to again or have your child participate in a student shadow day if you haven’t already. Reprinted with permission from the National Association of Independent Schools, www.nais.org.

What to Expect When Applying

Your first step is to research and visit schools, ideally starting the search at least a year before you plan to submit the application for your child. It takes time to determine which school is the best fit for your child. Navigating the application process can be overwhelming, but it can also be exciting. Here are tips on how to get your child into the right school.

• After creating your short list of schools, call or email the school’s admissions office to find out about open house events, school tours, private visits, or other events that will allow you to get to know the school as best as possible.

The school’s admissions office will also tell you about application requirements, including deadlines and costs.

While each school has its own criteria for admitting students, the typical application package involves:

• A completed application form, usually available from the school’s website, and application fee.

• Parent or guardian statements.

•

A transcript of your child’s grades from her current school.

• Results from standardized tests or a schooladministered test. For middle school grades and above, the most common tests are: The Independent School Entrance Examination, or the ISEE; the Secondary School Aptitude Test, or the SSAT; the High School Placement Test, or HSPT, for Catholic schools.

Depending on the grade to which you are applying, some schools might also ask for:

• Student writing samples.

• Student portfolios.

• A formal interview, though for elementary school students, the interview more often consists of a teacher observation or individual or group-administered diagnostic tests.

School admissions officers are there to help you complete your applications in a timely manner. They also want to make sure that the process is a positive

YOU BALANCE LEARNING WITH INQUIRY

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What to Expect When Applying cont’d.

experience for you and your child and that there is a good match between your child and the school.

Try to avoid:

• While admissions officers want to be helpful, don’t call too often, overload them with additional information about your child, or try to impress them with your business or social contacts.

• Don’t jump on the bandwagon of applying to a school just because your child’s peers are applying. Similarly, don’t just apply to a school because it is one of the “top” schools in the area and boasts of its graduates who go to the Ivies. Be realistic about your child’s strengths, interests, and personality.

Apply to schools which are a good fit for your child.

• Don’t shy away from disclosing vital information about your child or family—notably about any special academic needs your child has or about your family’s financial need for tuition help. While most private schools cannot afford to meet the academic and financial needs of all students they would like to admit, you won’t increase your child’s chances of acceptance by failing to be upfront about certain information. And, if the school turns your child down for any special issues, it’s likely the school was not a good fit.

• Don’t miss application deadlines. But if you do, some schools have rolling admissions and admit students throughout the school year. 

Applying After the Deadline

Don’t give up on a school if you’ve missed the admissions deadline.

“Finding a school that will accept your child after the normal admissions deadline has passed is not easy. But it can be done,” says Private School Review, an online site, www.privateschoolreview. com, that profiles private schools. “ You suddenly decide in late winter or early spring that you want to get your child into a private school for fall. Or a job transfer makes finding a private school in a hurry an absolute necessity. So, are you indeed too late? It depends.”

First, contact the school’s admissions office, state your case, and see how school officials respond. Some schools have flexible or rolling admissions and accept students as long as the school enrollment roster has room, and some schools create waitlists when full. There is a chance that an accepted student may withdraw or cancel, creating an available spot at the last minute.

The bottom line? “Ask anyway. You never know, and it never hurts to ask,” Private School Review advises. 

Shadow Days

After all the open house events, information nights, school tours, and interviews, the best way for kids to evaluate a school is to spend a day on campus. This year schools are being creative to allow for safe shadow experiences. Prospective students are matched up with a current student for an individual tour. If school is in session, they go to classes, share time during breaks and lunch, and get an insider’s tour of the campus, experiencing firsthand what it feels like to be a student at that school.

Things to know:

• Typically, shadow days can be scheduled anytime from October to May.

• Visitors are often required to respect the school dress code.

• Visiting students are usually allowed to shadow a current student they already know, as long as the request is made in advance.

• If prospective students do not know any current students, the school will assign one based on interests in academics, extracurricular activities, etc.

• Shadow days are just for students; no parents allowed.

Make the Most of Your Campus Visit

looked at the websites, glanced through the glossy brochures, and even heard friends talk glowingly—or not—about the private schools on your short list. Now it’s time to actually set foot on campus. More than anything else, visiting the school— seeing the classrooms, walking around the grounds, and talking to faculty and students—will give you and your child the best sense of whether this is the best environment for your child to learn and thrive.

You’ve

Because the visit is so crucial to deciding on your child’s school, you should make the most of the oppor tunity. Private school experts offer these suggestions for what to ask about, look for, and consider before, during, and after the visit.

• Do some pre-visit research. Read up on the school’s history, educational philosophy, and accomplish ments. Ask for information about student-teacher ratios, teacher experience, arts classes, sports, and other extracurricular activities, special programs for students needing academic support, and expecta tions for parental involvement. Decide ahead of time if there are specific classrooms, facilities, or departments that you or your child want to visit.

• If possible, visit on a regular school day, arrange to observe a classroom, and stay to sample a school lunch.

• General impressions count, but so do the details. Take note of what the grounds and classrooms are like, but also pay attention to specifics: are the bathrooms clean; do staff seemed organized and ready for your visit; what library, science, and technology resources does the school offer?

• In the classrooms or on the playground, notice if the students look engaged and well-behaved, including when they transition from one activity or classroom to another. How do students interact with their teachers? Do the teachers seem cheerful and knowledgeable? How do the teachers manage the classrooms or handle discipline?

• Talk to as many teachers and students as possible. Find out about homework policies and workloads, the social environment, and opportunities to do arts, sports, and other nonacademic activities.

• If the school offers shadow-a-student day for interested students, your child has the opportunity to ask questions of potential schoolmates more freely than if you’re around.

• After you and your child finish the visit, jot down your general impressions before leaving. Try to imagine your child in one of the classrooms, or walking the halls. How does that idea look and feel? Remember gut feelings can be important, too. 

Entrance Exam 101

Mostprivate schools require students entering middle and high school to take an entrance exam to gain admission to their institutions.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, the most commonly accepted standardized tests are the Independent School Entrance Examination, or the ISEE, and the High School Placement Test, or HSPT, for Catholic schools. Another often recognized and accepted test is the Secondary School Aptitude Test, or the SSAT.

The ISEE and SSAT tests are to middle and high school what the SAT or ACT is to college. They are administered independently at a set time at a specific location with results sent to designated schools. Often schools schedule these tests on their own campuses, and individual entrance requirements usually specify which test to take. The HSPT, however, does not coordinate national testing days, and test administration is the responsibility of individual schools or dioceses, which determine when to offer the HSPT. Now, all three tests offer at home options. These organizations provide students a secure computerbased testing option to be taken at home when group testing isn’t available.

On these exams, students can expect multiplechoice questions that test verbal, math, and reading comprehension skills and a portion that assesses writing ability (though not part of the HSPT). Policies vary according by test on taking practice tests and repeated test attempts. The test results often determine course placement, so more schools have begun to offer preparation test programs to better equip entering students for the real thing. Schools may have

additional or different requirements for international students.

ISEE

Source: www.iseetest.org

LOWER LEVEL

FOR Candidates for grades five and six.

MIDDLE AND UPPER LEVEL

FOR Candidates for grades seven and eight (Middle); candidates for grades nine through 12 (Upper).

HSPT

Source: www.ststesting.com

FOR Students in grade eight for placement in ninth grade.

SSAT

Source: www.ssat.org

The SSAT is a multiple-choice test designed for students in grades three through 11 and is administered on three levels: elementary, middle, and upper.

ELEMENTARY LEVEL SSAT

FOR Students in grades three and four.

MIDDLE AND UPPER LEVEL SSAT

Standard Test (group administered on eight Saturdays), Flex Test (group or individual administered on a different date), Regional Flex Test or Open Flex Test (regional consortia administered).

FOR Students in grades 5–7 (Middle) and grades 8–11 (Upper).

Educating Global Citizens

The East Bay German International School (EBGIS) is a dual-language immersion school offering preschool through high school programs. Our integrated curriculum combines bilingual German and English instruction with project-based learning and a cross-cultural experience. We offer exceptional academics, a diverse international perspective, and a vibrant community of students, parents and teachers. No prior knowledge of German is needed to join our Preschool and Kindergarten programs. Students need not be fluent in German to join our Elementary and Middle Schools. Talk to us about individualized language support.

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Tips for a Great Essay

Application essays provide ways for private school admissions officers to get to know students beyond their grades, test scores, and basic biographical information. They provide insight into a student’s personality and interests—to help determine if the school is the right fit for your child and vice versa.

Aside from the interview, writing the essay can be one of the most stress-producing steps in the application process. These suggestions from private school organizations can break the task of writing the essay into manageable steps that guide your child to crafting a work that makes him stand out to admissions officers.

READ THE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY

Don’t write a two-sentence essay if the school asks for one page, but don’t write more than one page. And, don’t turn in a typed essay if the school wants it handwritten.

TELL THE SCHOOL WHAT IT WANTS TO KNOW

Schools often provide an essay prompt, so you need to respond to it. That said, the prompts—such as “recount some activity or event that challenged you in a positive way”—usually allow the applicant lots of leeway to write about a range of topics.

START EARLY

Do not wait until the night before the application is due to begin writing. Brainstorm and work out ideas with teachers, parents, or others early and give yourself time for revisions.

TELL A STORY

While the essay should have correct spelling and grammar and be legible, it doesn’t have to follow the academic essay formula. A good strategy is to tell a story—even filled with dialogue or vivid description— to get your point across.

BE REAL

Don’t write what you think an admissions officer wants to hear—because you really have no idea. Write about what you know and what excites you.

GET CREATIVE

If you are an aspiring writer, for example, ask the school if you can write in verse, instead of the usual narrative.

BE CONCRETE

Stay away from generalizations, such as “singing by myself in front of my school was challenging.” Instead, provide details or an example of how and why you were scared before that solo singing performance and felt triumphant afterwards.

PARENTS, THIS MUST BE YOUR CHILD’S WORK

While, as parents, you can provide feedback and help with editing, let your child do all the writing. If you can’t help but get overly involved, consider asking a neutral third party—a teacher, another relative, or a professional consultant—to help your child edit her essay.

Interview Preparation

When students are old enough to be the key subject of interviews, they should be prepared to answer typical questions, such as:

• Tell me about yourself: Help your child come up with an answer that doesn’t recite biographical facts but describes his interests and strengths in certain academic areas or extracurricular activities and allows him to talk up his accomplishments.

• Why do you want to come to this school? The school wants to find out if the child understands what makes the school unique and whether he sees it as a match for his own personality, academic strengths, interests, and aspirations. So, hopefully, during visits, or in talking to students and faculty, your child has encountered programs or a learning environment that excites him.

The idea of your child having to interview to gain admission to a private school sounds downright terrifying. But private school experts say you shouldn’t think of the interview as a high-stakes interrogation. Rather, think of the interview as a two-way conversation that helps everyone involved— school staff, parents, and child—determine if the school is the right fit for your child.

The structure of the interview also depends on the school and your child’s age. Typically, the applicant and her family come to the school to look around and talk with an admissions officer or other school staff. The staff might focus on talking with the parents, but with older children and high school students, an admissions officer might speak privately with the child in a formal or more casual situation.

Given that the interview is an important part of the application process, and in determining if this school is the best place to educate your child, here are some things you and your child should prepare for so the interview will go well, according to the National Association of Independent Schools and other private school organizations.

With younger kids, the school staff will mostly talk to the parents, asking them to describe their child and what they hope their child will gain by attending this school.

• Talk about subjects or teachers you like: Help your child figure out certain coursework that has recently engaged him, such as a certain book in English class or a social studies field trip to see Egyptian mummies at a museum.

Given that the interview is also a chance for you and your child to learn more about the school, help your child prepare to ask questions. Look at the school’s website or think back to visits and help him come up with a list of questions that reflects how the school might nurture his interests. “Will I be able to do dissections in sixth-grade biology?”“Can I audition for school plays in ninth grade?”“What about your study trips overseas?”“What are different ways I can fulfill my community service requirements?” The admissions officers will likely see your child’s curiosity as evidence of his interest in coming to the school.

Parents and students should always be honest, experts say. But that doesn’t mean you should accentuate your child’s weaknesses, provide too much information about family challenges, or bad-mouth your child’s current school, even if this current school environment is mostly negative and the reason he’s trying to change schools.

Instead, accentuate the positive: A child’s weakness or a family’s challenges are things he is working to overcome; or his current school simply isn’t the right fit for his unique needs and interests. 

Why Consider a Boarding School?

B oarding schools are a perfect option for many families, providing a home away from home that allows children to focus on their education as well as extracurricular activities such as sports or arts. Education may not be the main reason parents choose to send their kids to boarding school. Some want their children to have a religious base to their education. Others find sports academies which allow their child the ability to train and develop athletic skills while providing a strong college prep education. Some parents favor a specific educational philosophy that can only be found in a boarding school setting. Plus, as was experienced with how education has been affected by situations such as Covid-19, boarding schools can create a stability for students and parents.

HIGH-QUALITY AND UNIQUE EDUCATION POSSIBILITIES

• With class sizes at most boarding schools averaging around 10-12 students, there is an opportunity to explore more subjects and attend classes not normally offered in conventional schools. Boarding schools may offer exciting travel opportunities to study ecology, history, political science, or art to give students the advantage of seeing and living their studies. Boarding school have high standards when it comes to selecting teachers. Teachers are expected to create a classroom environment to stimulate discussion and promote student interest.

STRONG CONNECTIONS

• Boarding Schools create a strong community of students, staff and teachers. With children socializing with a limited number of children their own age, around the clock, a strong sense of community

is developed as well as lifelong friends. Peers encourage each other to try new sports, art, music and awaken interests not available at home. Students build strong connections to their roommates and teachers which builds learning behavior and students’ motivation. These connections often lead to a strong network of motivated people for the rest of their lives.

BUILD INDEPENDENCE, DISCIPLINE AND MATURITY

•

Boarding schools teach children to take care of themselves which turns them into an independent individual for life. Students at boarding schools learn to be self-reliant and responsible at an earlier age than conventional students. These students learn to follow and maintain a schedule, how to follow school rules and take responsibility for their actions, as well as, learn to make decisions and be better prepared for making difficult choices as they grow into adults.

INNOVATIVE TEACHING TECHNIQUES

•

Boarding schools are also known to be quite innovative and to provide students with the latest technologies in order to improve the learning experience. This may translate into boarders’ higher acceptance by leading universities and better job opportunities later on.

WEEKENDS AT HOME

• If not seeing your child for weeks at a time sounds a bit daunting look for boarding schools which offer a five day a week program to allow for students to spend weekends with their families. 

Financial Assistance: Basics You Need to Know

Every private school has its own policies about who receives financial assistance, what types of assistance are awarded, and how much assistance a particular family will receive. In most cases, the financial aid office cannot tell you if your family will qualify for financial aid until you submit an application that allows the school to evaluate your unique situation.

HOW SCHOOLS DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AID

To determine your eligibility for financial aid, you must submit an application form and financial statements. There is no income limit that automatically makes your family ineligible for financial aid. Financial aid officers take into account your income, assets, and expenses, including educational costs for other children.

Bottom line: If you feel your family cannot afford to pay the full cost, regardless of your income, it’s worth the effort to submit a financial aid application.

WHEN TO APPLY

Every school has its own financial aid schedule, and the deadlines are different for schools with rolling admissions. In general, most financial aid applications are due in January or February. Check with your school of choice for the deadline. You will receive a financial aid decision shortly after your child is admitted to a particular school.

TYPES OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

• Grants are the most common type of financial aid offered by private schools. They are awarded annually to students who demonstrate financial need, and students must re-apply each year. Grant money comes from the school’s budget and does not have to be paid back.

• Merit scholarships awarded by the school are rare and are usually reserved for students who have a special talent that the school is seeking, such as art, music, or academics. Generally, scholarships are based on financial need. They may be awarded once, annually, or as long as the student meets the scholarship criteria.

• Scholarships from outside organizations are also rare, and often awarded by local chapters of national groups like the Rotary Club. Ask the school for a list of organizations that have provided scholarships to their students in the past, and check the list on parents.nais.org. Each scholarship program will have its own eligibility rules, application, and deadlines.

• Tuition loans are personal loans provided by a private lender. You must apply directly to the lender, and your loan amount and interest rate will depend on the lender’s credit requirements. Some use loans to pay for expenses not covered by a grant.

• Tuition Payment Plans allow you to make monthly payments rather than writing one or two large checks each year. Schools offer payment plans through a third-party financial services company, which charges a relatively small fee.

• Sibling discounts are designed to help families with more than one child enrolled in the same school. Many schools are shrinking these discounts, or phasing them out altogether. Even so, it’s worth asking if this situation applies to you.

Most families pay for tuition through a combination of these options. The school’s financial aid officer can help you create a financing plan that fits your family’s needs. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and explore all the options available to you.

Reprinted with permission from the National Association of Independent Schools, www.nais.org.

Myths About Financial Assistance

MYTH: An independent school education is out of reach for all but wealthy families.

REALITY: Tuition can be expensive. But hundreds of private schools offer financial assistance to make sure that the students they’ve admitted have a realistic chance to enroll, no matter what their families’ financial status.

MYTH: All schools our child applies to will offer our family the same financial aid package.

REALITY: How much assistance you receive may vary a lot from school to school. The amount a school can offer depends on factors such as the size of its endowment, its tuition costs, and its philosophy about providing aid. If your decision to send your child to an independent school depends on getting some financial help, it pays to apply for aid at more than one school.

MYTH: The deadlines for admission and financial aid are the same.

REALITY: Often the deadlines are not the same. Check with each school (the deadlines are usually on the school’s website), and be sure to keep track of what you must do when. Do not wait to begin the financial aid process until after you receive an admission decision. It pays to complete both admission and financial aid applications at the same time, even if they’re due on different dates; plus many schools require that they be done at the same time.

MYTH: The financial aid application process is complicated.

REALITY: There’s some truth to this one, but schools’ financial aid offices are working hard to make the process as clear and convenient as possible. More than 2,100 schools use SSS, School and Student Services by NAIS, to help them make financial aid decisions. This means you may only have to fill out one form to apply for financial aid at several schools. The form and instructions are avail able online. In addition, many schools offer financial aid workshops, and staffers welcome your calls any time you have questions.

MYTH: If we tell the school our family needs financial aid, this might hurt our child’s chances of being admitted.

REALITY: The typical school will not reject a qualified student’s admission application because the child is applying for financial aid. That said: Admission is not a guarantee that the student’s family will receive financial aid. The amount of aid depends on the family’s eligibility and the funds the school has available.

MYTH: It’s too intimidating to talk to the school about our private financial matters.

REALITY: The school is your very best source of realistic information about the procedures and timelines for getting aid and of advice about the types of financial assistance available. The members of the financial aid staff want you to turn to them for help. Really. 

Reprinted with permission from the National As sociation of Independent Schools, www.nais.org.

The Acceptance and Decision

The application is completed, interviews and shadow days all done—all that’s left is waiting for the acceptance letter (or email) and then the big decision. Usually, acceptance (or rejection or waitlist) notifications go out on a Friday in mid-March, and families then have seven days to decide where their child will attend. So how to make the decision?

When you learn about your child’s acceptance, you will also learn about financial assistance awards. If the grant you receive does not meet your needs, or if you are not awarded any financial assistance, contact the school’s financial assistance officer to learn about other options.

The following are tips on choosing a school from the National Association of Independent Schools.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE ACCEPTED

• If you’re certain about the school, say yes—but feel free to take the full seven days to sit with the decision to make sure it feels right.

DECIDING ON A SCHOOL

• Discuss the options as a family.

• Make a pro and con list for each possible school.

• Revisit your notes from tours and open houses. Follow your heart. Revisit your wish list to make sure you’ve fulfilled your priorities. Be sure that your child will thrive in the school community you choose.

IF YOU ARE NOT SURE

• Consider a second visit to the school; have your child do a shadow day if she hasn’t already.

• Ask to talk to some teachers.

• Talk to graduates or current families of the school—especially any who have come from your child’s current school.

• Encourage your child to talk to other students.

ONCE YOU DECIDE

• Be sure to contact the school you choose by the reply deadline.

• Let all schools where you were admitted know of your final decision so they can contact other families on their wait list.

• Return your signed enrollment contract and tuition deposit.

IF YOU’RE WAITLISTED

• Call the school right away and let admissions officials know that you are very interested. Stay in touch with them throughout the summer. Some times children can be accepted off the waitlist just days before school begins.

IF YOU’RE REJECTED

• Consider other schools.

• Ask the school for feedback about what factors made the difference. Try to approach the issue in a nonjudgmental way; tell the admissions staff you want to get information that can help your child do better in the future. 

Fearless, We

out more

We Pursue

How to Find the

Your 7 Step Approach

1. Start Early. It takes time to research different styles of preschools and become familiar with common terms used in preschools. Many parents start this process a year ahead of time, some parents even start while pregnant! Children usually attend preschool for two to three years between the ages of 2.5 and 5 years.

2. Determine what criteria is most important for your child and family. Is it location, faith, type of program offered, language immersion, specialneeds options, year-round program, extended hours, cost? What are the most important factors and options? Rate these so you have a clear picture of where and what programs to focus on and what is the best fit for your child.

3. Utilize local parenting resources. Local parenting magazines and websites, like Parents’ Press, offer lots of preschool information and open house announcements. These will help you to become familiar with what preschools are available in your area and the program options being offered to help with your selection process. Visit preschool websites that look interesting to find out admissions information. More information can also be found at www.ParentsPress.com

4. Ask around. Talk to other parents in your area to see what programs they were part of, and if they would recommend them. Find out what they liked most and least about the school. How long did their child attend? Did they experience any teacher turnover? What was the culture like? How did they handle sick days, potty training and behavioral issues? How involved were the parents in the school? Are the parents and children still in contact with others from the preschool?

5. Tour top choices. Arrange to take a tour or go to an open house to learn about the school philosophy and the admissions process. Most schools prefer for you to pre-register for these. Have your list of questions ready (see page 20 for Questions to Ask) and observe. Look for signs that the preschool is well run. Also, this is a time that the preschool uses to determine which families will be a good fit for their program.

6. Contact the preschool.

Before you apply, find out the preschool’s admissions schedule and how many openings they will have and how many spots will be reserved for siblings of families already enrolled. If you are concerned that your top choice or choices have way more applicants than spots it would be a wise idea to apply to more than one preschool even though there may be an application fee.

7. Apply to your top choice. You have done your research, established your criteria and taken the tour, now is time to apply to your top choice. Some preschools have ongoing enrollment but most follow the school year format. Acceptance letters go out in the spring for the following fall. Find out from the preschool when you can expect to hear from them, one way or another. It is okay to be persistent and let them know you and your family are interested, but don’t be a pest. If your child is waitlisted get specifics from the preschool. What number on the wait list is your child and does the preschool have a commitment from all returning families? If the school is accepting a total of 15 new children and you are way down on the wait list, it is time to consider another option. 

Perfect Preschool

1. First Impressions. Is the preschool clean, organized and does it have a good feeling about it? Is the staff friendly, and are the teachers in control of the classroom? Inside, are there play areas?

Are toys and books in good shape and organized? Outside is there enough room? Are there play areas and toys for all of the kids? Does the preschool feel safe inside and out? Are safety protocols being followed?

Does the preschool feel like a place your child can thrive in?

2. The Basics. What are the start and

end times for the core program? If extended care is available, who manages this, and where is it held?

What is the daily schedule and is there a different holiday schedule? Are lunch and snacks provided? If not, is refrigeration available? Is the bathroom safe and centrally located with toddler sized facilities? What are the sick policies? Is the facility up to code? What are the emergency protocols? Have the teachers been trained in CPR, first aid and infection control?

4. Learning Environment.

Are the children doing the same project or do the children work independently? Are there a variety of learning materials in which children can explore their interests and learn new skills? Is there a focus on reading? How do children decide what to do, when to do it and with whom? What support do teachers provide when a child gets stuck on a project? How are children motivated to participate? How are holidays integrated into the learning experience?

5. Family Involvement. How involved are the families in the day-to-day operations of the preschool? What opportunities or organized events are available to meet other families during the school year? Are there required volunteer hours or monetary commitments beyond the tuition? Are there fundraising events and what is the money raised used for? Are there opportunities for classroom observation? How do family members participate in celebrations?

3. Teachers and Staff. Is there enough supervision? Does the teacher-child ratio match or exceed standards? Teacher turnover? What experience do the teachers have and how long have they been teaching at this school? How were they trained? Do the teachers seem happy? How is their interaction with the children? How do they balance the different needs of the children? Do they have a specific approach for teaching social-emotional skills? How do they communicate with the family on concerns? How often are parent-teacher conferences held?

6. Visit Final Impression. Do you feel this preschool is a great fit for your child? Did you feel comfortable with what you saw and the people you interacted with? Did your concerns get addressed? Are there any red flags you need to check up on? Were you encouraged to contact the school with any questions? Is there a clear next step in the process?

Every family has specific needs and many preschools can accommodate them. It is important to ask questions now. Don’t be afraid to discuss personal matters, one on one. Chances are the preschool has encountered a similar situation before and is up to the task or may be able to give you direction to an alternative resource. 

The Site Visit Be prepared with this short question checklist before you step foot into the school

Featured Profiles

Headlands Preparatory School

Headlands Preparatory School is an award winning, WASC-accredited, college preparatory school for grades 6 through 12 with a long history of helping students succeed through individualized learning. Headlands’ unique onetoone and small group teaching model allows us to tailor instruction to each student, ensuring that students master the material and achieve success in their courses and increased confidence for future learning.

Founded on the principle that all students can grow as individuals and learners within a supportive environment, Headlands Preparatory School provides an individualized program aimed at empowering students to develop through learning and engagement. From highly gifted students who find a traditional classroom setting too limiting, to students with learning differences who need a specialized teaching approach to shine academically, Headlands Prep meets students where they are to maximize both their learning and their self-confidence. Headlands Prep has established itself as a thriving independent school in the Marin community, offering a quality program responsive to the needs of its students.

The individualized teaching approach utilized in classes allows students numerous opportunities to develop and articulate their own thoughts, interests, and opinions. At Headlands, parents, teachers, and administrators partner together to create a supportive, positive, and respectful environment to set the stage for students to flourish in a nurturing and uplifting learning community. Students engage in a transformative educational experience that helps build academic self-esteem, develop self-awareness, and contribute responsibly to the global community. Students experience both personal and academic growth as both are nurtured and challenged side by side to develop 21st-century individuals prepared for any path they choose upon leaving Headlands Prep.

Building on its four pillars of individualized learning, academic mastery, personal growth, and community engagement, Headlands Prep works with each student to identify their strengths and unique learning needs. Headlands Prep currently offers 152 UC-approved courses, including 34 AP and 26 Honors courses. Most courses are taught 1:1, while some electives are meet in small groups. 1050 Bridgeway | Sausalito | 415-944-2254 www.headlandsprep.com/

FEATURED SCHOOL & PRESCHOOL PROFILES

Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory is a Lasallian Vincentian Catholic, college preparatory high school located in the heart of San Francisco’s cultural center. We are dedicated to the intellectual and academic excellence of our students, and we strive to develop the unique talents and passions of each individual. Our devotion is illustrated in our enthusiastic and highly educated teachers, commitment to service and social justice, innovative curriculum and cutting-edge classroom technology. SHC Alumni are accepted into hundreds of colleges across the country, including all of US News & World Report’s Top 10 National Universities.

At SHC, academic excellence is not only measured in the range and quality of our courses, but in our students’ curiosity, drive and desire to learn. We challenge our students to stretch themselves, to experience and learn as much as they can, to honor their passions and develop their talents, to generously share those talents, to become their best selves.

We believe that academic, intellectual, emotional, personal and creative development invigorates the whole student. Our cocurricular programs are essential, not extra, elements to the student experience at SHC. Our students excel on the field, onstage and as leaders in our community, just as they do in the classroom. Our state-ofthe-art facilities allow students to engage in a collaborative learning experience, and our successful Bring Your Own Device program gives students the autonomy to use the tools most relevant to them in a digitally diverse and everchanging world.

Students and their families choose SHC for the strength of our academics, our diverse array of cocurricular opportunities, and for the warmth of our inclusive and nurturing community.

To schedule a tour, contact Director of Admissions Tim Burke ’70 at tburke@shcp.edu or 415.775.6626 ext. 729.

1055 Ellis St. | San Francisco, CA 94109 | 415.775.6626

The

The Athenian School believes the best way to master academic subjects is to experience their application first hand. In our rigorous academic program, you and other talented students from the East Bay and around the world will immerse yourselves deeply in coursework, inspiring each other to think critically and collaborate as global citizens. As an Athenian graduate, you’ll thrive in any of the nation’s best colleges and be poised for a life of intellectual exploration and meaningful contribution.

At Athenian 535 students (170 day in grades 6-8, 365 in grades 9-12) enjoy a beautiful 75-acre campus at the base of Mt. Diablo. Students attend from many East Bay communities and 60 boarding students in grades 9-12 from beyond the local area and a dozen countries. The campus residential community also includes 20 faculty families, for a total of over 120 people living at Athenian. No other East Bay School offers this kind of community.

Our curriculum and learning approach is distinc tive, focused on learning by doing in engaging student-focused and project-based classrooms. Beyond the classroom, Middle School, focus days engage students to apply their learning in experi ential activities. Engineering design activities in the Carter Innovation Studio, athletics, and the arts are vital parts of the student experience. In the Up per School many students take part in internation al programs (exchange, service, and conferences), and all complete the grade 11 Athenian Wilderness experience. Athenian graduates attend an array

of outstanding colleges, carefully selected with the support of expert college counselors for each student and their goals. Athenian goes far beyond preparing students for college by equipping them for lives of meaning and purpose--and encouraging them to make the world a better place for all.

As one student explained, "At Athenian, I’m taught to live actively, not passively. I critically inquire about the information I’m presented, I do not take claims at face value, and I work to become a global citizen who is informed about issues both local and global. I do not allow the world to push me along; I work to shape it for the better."

CA

FEATURED SCHOOL & PRESCHOOL PROFILES

Fusion Academy

Since 1989, Fusion has provided a revolutionary educational experience that has allowed thousands of students reach emotional well-being and intellectual achievement.

Fusion Academy is an accredited, private academy and learning center that offers class sizes as small as they come: just one student and one teacher per classroom. Personalization and customization are key elements of the Fusion school model. The curriculum meets state standards, and classes are self-paced and taught in a way that considers each student’s individual interests, strengths, and learning style. Students can sign up for tutoring, classes for credit, or full-time academy enrollment. Flexible scheduling and year-round, open enrollment is an advantage for students who have active lives outside of school.

Student life is much like larger schools with clubs, dances, field trips, and international excursions. Additionally, Fusion Academy has a “no homework at home” policy, so students complete their homework before they leave for the day with teacher supervision in the Homework Café®.

Fusion Academy fosters strong, positive relationships between students, teachers, and parents. From remedial classes to honors, Fusion fully adapts to each student where they are and helps them unlock their academic potential and achieve personal growth. Fusion also partners with outside therapeutic professionals and programs to support students’ emotional health and create a balance between learning and life. Each campus is equipped with a state-of-the-art recording studio and a full mixed-media art studio

to provide students with opportunities for creative expression.

Fusion campuses are open in San Francisco, San Mateo, Walnut Creek, Los Gatos, Marin, and Palo Alto.

For the most personalized schedule, register early! For more information go to www.fusionacademy. com.

Los Gatos Marin 408.354.0743 415.472.1421

San Francisco San Mateo 415.765.9078 650.312.8305 Walnut Creek Palo Alto 925.296.0053 650.857.0634

Serendipity School

Serendipity:

n. The gift of discovering valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for Serendipity School:

A setting for unexpected and exciting learning experiences that are sparked by discovery, guided by individuality, and supported by community

Serendipity School is a rare and remarkable place: an encouraging, engaging, and empowering learning community where academic and personal discovery is prized, where the path to excellence is an individual adventure. A unique educational institution dedicated to progressive education, active and hands-on learning, differentiated instruction, and teaching to the whole child, Serendipity School is committed to the process and journey of learning. The result is a community of students who grow to be lifelong, joyful, and invested learners.

INDIVIDUALITY

Serendipity School’s rich and multifaceted programs promote each child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development in positive ways designed to further curiosity and creativity. Our programs encompass each child’s participation, interest, enthusiasm, and ideas. All Serendipity students are encouraged to meet challenges and strive for excellence.

DISCOVERY

Serendipity School believes in providing an educational experience that treats children as individuals and engages students throughout the learning process. Our highly skilled and trained

educators teach to the whole child, and implement a differentiated curriculum that is both diverse and dynamic.

COMMUNITY

Serendipity School supports effort and achievement by empowering students and giving them tools for academic success. Serendipity helps students to grow and learn with confidence and enthusiasm. Serendipity School students are empowered to experiment, assume academic risk, and take an interest in and responsibility for the world around them.

“Serendipity finds the little thing that makes each child unique and expounds upon that. It creates children who are confident, self-aware, and ready to face the world.” Serendipity School Parent

Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary School Education

San Mateo and Belmont • CA 650-574-7400 (Preschool) 650-596-9100 (Kindergarten and Elementary) www.serendipityschool.com/

FEATURED SCHOOL & PRESCHOOL PROFILES

Mariposa St San Francisco, CA 94107 415-861-8840

Live Oak School

Live Oak School is an all gender K - 8 school in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco.

At Live Oak School we understand that the best learning happens when students are actively engaged in the process—thinking deeply, exploring ideas, and solving problems. Our approach is deeply rooted in the progressive tradition, centered on supporting our students in knowing themselves well. Understanding their own identities fosters an appreciation for the diversity they see in others, building the foundation to be changemakers in the world.

Our students provide a daily reminder of our mission to support their potential and promise. We believe that the teacher’s role is to cultivate a stimulating and supportive learning environment in which students can construct their own knowledge. Each member of our school community brings a wealth of experiences, backgrounds, talents, abilities, and interests to school each day. Embracing this diversity, our faculty designs a rich and challenging academic program that is relevant and responsive to each student.

German International School of Silicon Valley - SF

The German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV) inspires students from preschool - high school to become global citizens. We provide a multicultural dual-language environment that promotes responsibility, critical thinking and academic excellence. Our programs culminate in U.S. and German diplomas, preparing our graduates for worldwide opportunities.

Our two campuses feature a German/English immersion program with a well-balanced educational approach, fostering interests across all academic disciplines, socialemotional competency, artistic expression and physical motor skills. We are a recognized STEM school. Our curriculum is enhanced by comprehensive technology resources.

Our San Francisco Campus is centrally located in the Castro within walking distance to beautiful parks and adjacent to Eureka Valley Rec Center featuring sports fields, and open space. It serves a PS-9 program.

Francisco, CA

Our class sizes are small, which allows us to create a very personal atmosphere and fuels a strong community.

3140 Balboa Street San Francisco, California 94121 415-525-4035 www.kfsschool.org

KFS School

KFS SCHOOL was founded by Kahlon Family Services LLC in January of 2016, our school’s mission every day is working as hard as we can to bring quality education toall Children who are bright and have been called Twice Exceptional (2E). Our educational inspiration stems from believing in the potential and strength of each child. We actively guide every aspect of each child’s individuality, character and well-being on a personal level and in a group setting. We provide each child with a comprehensive environment to nurture his/her learning style through their own curiosity, passion for learning, and social interaction. We strive to create opportunities for learning, exploration, creativity and selfexpression. Flexible seating and movement desks. We are a year-round school! WASC Accreditation in process!

Academy of Thought and Industry

We are a modern Montessori-inspired school with campuses in Fort Mason and in Pacific Heights, San Francisco, delivering a powerful education for independence, to develop curious, self-motivated adolescents who thrive in school and in life.

Welcome to the future of education! ATI Fort Mason's middle school program and ATI San Francisco's high school program are unique: a deliberately planned and charted curriculum of foundational skills that open a greater and greater number of possible paths. We serve ambitious teens who are looking for a smaller, more personalized learning environment and an alternative to public high school.

Francisco, CA 94123 | 415-429-2008

Francisco, CA 94115 | 415-683-5459 www.thoughtandindustry.com/

& PRESCHOOL PROFILES

St. Thomas the Apostle School & Preschool 3801 Balboa Street San Francisco, CA 94112 415-221-2711 www.sfsta.org

A fully accredited K-8 school and preschool located in the Outer Richmond District of San Francisco

Each child at St. Thomas the Apostle is valued as a unique person with individual gifts and needs. The staff encourages each student to develop strong self-esteem, and to make an active contribution to the school and community. Our challenging academic program provides an opportunity to discover the joy of learning and the pleasure of intellectual, cultural, and physical activities. We appreciate and respect the religious, racial, economic, social, and cultural diversity within our student community.

St. Thomas the Apostle School believes parents are the primary educators of their children. Therefore, we seek a partnership, based on mutual respect, trust, and open communication, with each child’s family.

Guidepost Montessori Fort Mason

Guidepost Montessori in Fort Mason is one of the most trusted Montessori schools in San Francisco, California. Indoors, rooms are spacious, bright, and light-filled, creating a warm and calm space for children to work.

Our school is conveniently located in the heart of Fort Mason off of Beach St. and Buchanan St. Our goal at Guidepost Montessori is to serve each individual child, to help them realize their limitless potential, and the opportunities they will have to create real and lasting change throughout their lifetime. We are a school where children find the joy in learning — and thus make it possible for them to continue learning for the rest of their lives.

Children’s House: For children ages 4 to 6 years old. Students direct their own activities, building knowledge, confidence and social skills along the way.

San Francisco, CA 94123 415-429-2008 www.guidepostmontessori.com/

Elementary: Designed for children ages 6 to 12 years old, this program combines classical academic subjects with student-led project-based work, allowing each child to work at their own pace and reach their full potential.

150 N. San Pedro Road San Rafael, CA 94903 415-339-9336 www.themarinschool.org

The Marin School

Personalized High School Education at its Best College Prep Since 1981

TMS provides a collaborative learning community that inspires confidence, creativity, integrity, and academic excellence through a deep belief in each student’s potential.

Welcoming inclusive community: At TMS, each student is seen and celebrated for who they are, as they are.

Beyond the classroom: By teaching students how to think, reason, interpret, analyze, and improvise, TMS graduates leave with the future-ready skills needed to embark on life's journey as thoughtful, confident, contributing members of the global community.

Creative approach to everything we do: TMS teachers are empowered to teach, and students are free to learn in surprising, unorthodox, yet thoroughly effective ways.

Small school by design: Our low-student-to-teacher ratio (8-to-1 average) allows for personalized and experiential learning.

Individual learning styles: TMS embraces neurodiversity and supports a variety of learning strengths.

Winston Preparatory School – A

Finding the right school for your child with a learning difference is fundamental. The Winston Prep Marin County Campus – a part of Winston Preparatory School national network – is a leading school for students grades 4-12 with learning differences, including dyslexia, ADHD, and nonverbal learning disorders.

What makes Winston Prep unique is its commitment to an in-depth understanding of each individual student. Winston Prep accomplishes this through the Continuous Feedback process, designed to gain a deeper understanding of the students, facilitating constant assessment, remediation, and analysis of each student's response to their individualized program – while building a strong community.

This process is accompanied by Winston Prep's Focus Program, where students receive daily one-to-one instruction geared towards their individual needs. Winston Prep is the only educational institution for learning differences that provides a Focus Program in the nation.

If you are interested in the Marin County, California campus, please contact Kristen Atkins, Head of School, katkins@ winstonprep.edu or call (415) 993-5533, extension 28001. Visit https://www.winstonprep.edu/our-campuses/marincounty.

Moraga San Francisco, CA 94129 415-921-2328 www.cowhollowschool.org

Cow Hollow School

We are expanding! Learn more about our full-day, year round program in our new beautiful building in the Presidio.

Cow Hollow School, a full-day, full year school for children 2-5 years old, supports the belief that children learn through play, exploration and discovery within the context of nurturing and reciprocal influences of children, parents and teachers. Cow Hollow School's curriculum is based on the constructivist philosophy in which children construct knowledge and understanding from authentic experiences— they are encouraged to explore possibilities, invent solutions, collaborate with others, and try out ideas in the context of meaningful experiences. These reallife experiences make connections that inspire and provoke, and foster inquiry and critical thinking.

Cow Hollow is a community of families and teachers from a broad range of cultures, nationalities, family structures, languages, and economic backgrounds. We strive to be a community where each child and family is included, valued, and represented, and where each participant is actively invited to voice and contribute ideas, opinions, questions, and values.

What Does Accreditation Mean?

Accreditation and professional affiliations and associations indicate a private school has been evaluated by and met or exceeded specific criteria set forth by a designated and agreed-upon accrediting- or affiliation-granting body.

These accreditations, affiliations, and associations can be national, regional, or local, covering religious beliefs, educational philosophies, or special interests and last for a specific number of years, often with prescribed steps in the interim to assure compliance. What they have in common is that they serve as a sort of stamp of approval, signifying to colleges and universities that their members operate schools with meaningful education standards.

“Accrediting is done by a variety of accrediting organizations,” points out the California Department of Education online (www.cde.ca.gov), citing the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, or

WASC, as an example of an established organization that accredits both private and public K–12 schools. “WASC accreditation generally ensures that the credits and diploma awarded by the schools it accredits will be accepted by colleges and prospective employers,” says the CDE, which does not accredit schools.

WASC is one of five regional accrediting as sociations for schools and colleges, and its territory includes schools operating in California.

“School accreditation is a peer-review process that fosters excellence in education and encourages school improvement through discovery, dialogue, compliance, and commitment. Accreditation enables a member school to develop clearly defined goals and objectives based on its mission and philosophy,” says the California Association of Independent Schools (www.caisca.org). 

Featured Listings

Featured Preschools Ages Served

# of Children at Facility Religious Affil (if any) Hours of Care

Mill Valley

Guidepost Montessori

270 Miller Ave. Mill Valley • 866-202-8593 www.guidepostmontessori.com/ mill-valley/school

Marin Horizon School 305 Montford Ave. Mill Valley • 415-388-8408 www.marinhorizon.org

Novato

Good Shepherd Lutheran School

1180 Lynwood Drive Novato • 415-892-2880 www.gslsnovato.org

Noah’s Ark Preschool 1370 S. Novato Blvd. Novato • 415-892-5713 www.noahsarknovato.com

San Anselmo

San Anselmo Montessori School

100 Shaw Drive San Anselmo • 415-457-3428 www.samontessori.com

San Rafael

Marin Waldorf School

755 Idylberry Road San Rafael • 415-479-8190 www.marinwaldorf.org

Montessori de Terra Linda 610 Del Ganado Road San Rafael • 415-479-7373 www.mdtl.org

Montessori in Motion

3 Wellbrock Heights San Rafael • 415-472-5622 www.montessoriinmotion.com

Sausalito

The Discovery School

557 McReynolds Rd Suite 100 Sausalito • 415-339-3900 www.thediscoveryschoolbadm.org

Notes

Tuition Notes

Toddler-K All Gender Independent Please Call

PK-8 All Gender 8:1

Independent Please Call

PK-8 All Gender 16:1

2 - 5.11 All Gender 10:1

Lutheran Please Call FA Available

Christian $994 - $1,981 FA Available

2.10 - 6 yrs 36 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Independent $1,538 - $2,029

PK-8 All Gender 24:1

PK-6 All Gender 12:1

Waldorf Please Call FA Available

Independent Please Call FA Available

PS-K All Gender Independent Please Call

2.9 - 5 yrs All Gender Independent Please Call

Preschools Ages Served

of Children at Facility

Affil (if any) Hours of Care

FEATURED

San Francisco Preschools

Big City Montessori School 240 Industrial Street San Francisco • 415-648-5777 www.bigcitymontessorischool.com

Children’s Day School 333 Dolores Street San Francisco • 415-861-5432 www.cds-sf.org

Cow Hollow School See p. 46 387 Moraga San Francisco • 415-921-2328 www.cowhollowschool.org/

French American International School 1155 Page St San Francisco • 415-231-5733 www.internationalsf.org

German International School of Silicon Valley See p. 19, 42 117 Diamond St San Francisco • 650-254-0748 www.gissv.org

Guidepost Montessori Fort Mason See p. 11, 44 3741 Buchanan St San Francisco • 415-429-2008 www.guidepostmontessori.com/ schools/fort-mason-san-franciscoca

¡HolaKids! Preschool 1021 Sanchez St. San Francisco • 415-606-1205 www.languageinaction.com

Montessori Children’s Center 80 Juan Bautista Cir San Francisco • 415-333-4410 www.montessorichildrenscenter.org

Noe Valley Nursery School 5210 Diamond Heights Boulevard San Francisco • 415-647-2278 www.noevalleynurseryschool.com

San Francisco Montessori Academy 1283 22nd Ave & 1566 32nd Ave San Francisco • 415-759-5710 www.sfmontessoriacademy.com

2-1/2 - 6 yrs 75 8:00 am - 5:30 pm

3 - 14 yrs 481 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

2 - 5.9 yrs 132 All Gender 8:00 am-6:00 pm

Notes

Summer Programs $150-$3,500

Non Denominational Summer Programs

Diapers Accepted

( 8 installments)

Tuition Assistance Available Education Based Center

PK-12 All Gender Independent Varies by Program

- 5 yrs Up to 40 children 8:00 am - 5:30 pm

Children’s House: Ages 4-6 All Gender 10:1 57

- $2,770 FA Available Accredited Education Based

Center Before/After School Care Summer Programs

Denominational $29,300 - $42,750

Available

2 - 5 yrs 22 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

- 6 yrs 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

2.9 - 5 yrs 27 9:00 am - 12:30 pm

- 6 yrs 23 8:00 am - 5:30 pm

Schools

- $1,990

Summer Programs Please Call

Summer Programs

- $473

Featured Preschools Ages Served

# of Children at Facility Religious Affil (if any) Hours of Care

St. James Preschool 4620 California Street

San Francisco • 415-752-8258 www.stjamespreschoolsf.org

St. Thomas the Apostle Preschool See p. 27, 44 710 40th Avenue San Franicsco • 415-387-5511 www.sfsta.org

Stratford School See p. 17 645 14th Ave. San Francisco • 415-742-4254 www.stratfordsf14.com

Stratford School Parkside See p. 17 2425 19th Ave. San Francisco • 415-564-6250 www.stratfordsfparkside.com

Sonoma Preschools Petaluma

The Spring Hill School 825 Middlefield Dr Petaluma • 707-763-7299 www.thespringhillschool.org

Windsor Christian Academy 10285 Starr Rd Windsor • 707-838-3757 www.windsorchristianacademy.org

Santa Rosa

Brush Creek Montessori School 1569 Brush Creek Rd Santa Rosa • 707-539-7980 www.bcmontessori.org

St Eugene Cathedral Preschool 300 Farmers Ln Santa Rosa • 707-545-7252 www.steugenesch.org

St Luke Preschool 905 Mendocino Ave Santa Rosa • 707-545-6772 www.stluke-lcms.org

St Rose Catholic School 4300 Old Redwood Hwy Santa Rosa • 707-545-0379 www.strosecatholicschool.org

2 - 5 yrs 45 8:00 am - 5:30 pm

2.9 yr - 5 Up to 75 children Catholic 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

PS-6 All Gender 12:1(PS) 15:1(K-6)

PS-PK

All Gender 12:1(PS) 15:1(K)

Notes

Tuition Notes

$5,900 to $21,000 for School Year

Education Based $700 - $1,600 Accredited Center

Independent English, Mandarin, Spanish

Independent English, Mandarin, Spanish

Varies by Program

Varies by Program

18 mos - 6 yrs 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

3 - 5 yrs 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

Varies

FA Available Summer Programs

$300 - $1,100

Available

PS - Grade 6

- 5 yrs

Summer Programs

yrs - PK

- 5 yrs

Schools

Programs

Corte Madera

Kentfield

Larkspur

Private Schools

Mill Valley

Guidepost Montessori

270 Miller Ave. Mill Valley • 866-202-8593 www.guidepostmontessori.com/mill-valley/ school

Helix School 145 Lomita Drive Mill Valley • 415-569-5060 www.thehelixschool.org

Marin Horizon School 305 Montford Ave. Mill Valley • 415-388-8408 www.marinhorizon.org

Mount Tamalpais School 100 Harvard Ave. Mill Valley • 415-383-9434 www.mttam.org

Northbridge Academy

17 Buena Vista Ave. Mill Valley • 415-462-5657 www.northbridgeacademy.org

Novato

Good Shepherd Lutheran School 1180 Lynwood Drive Novato • 415-892-2880 www.gslsnovato.org

Marin Christian Academy 1370 S. Novato Blvd. Novato • 415-892-5713 www.marinchristian.org

North Bay Christian Academy 6965 Redwood Blvd. Novato • 415-892-8921 www.nbca.com

Grades Gender

Ratio Enrollment

Toddler-K All Gender Independent Please Call

3-12 All Gender 5:1

PK-8 All Gender 8:1

K-8 All Gender 7:1

3-8 All Gender 10:1

Independent Special Education/ Autism

Independent English

Please Call NPS

Please Call NAIS, CAIS

PK-8 All Gender 16:1

PK-8 All Gender 24:1

9-12 All Gender 10:1

Independent English Please Call NAIS, CAIS, ISSFBA

Independent Dyslexic

Please Call

Lutheran English, Spanish Please Call FA Available ELEA, WASC

Christian English, Spanish Please Call FA Available ACSI, WASC

Christian English, Spanish Please Call FA Available ACSI, WASC

Our Lady of Loretto School

1811 Virginia Ave. Novato • 415-892-8621 www.school.ollnovato.org

Branson School

39 Fernhill Ave Ross • 415-454-3612 www.branson.org

Schools

www.ParentsPress.com

TK-8 All Gender 14:1

Catholic English, Spanish

Please Call FA Available WCEA, WASC Ross

9-12 All Gender 6:1

Independent English, Spanish Please Call FA Available WASC, CAIS, NAIS

to Private Schools

Ratio

San Anselmo

Irene M. Hunt School | Side by Side

300 Sunny Hills Drive San Anselmo • 415-457-3200 www.sidebysideyouth.org

Oak Hill School

300 Sunny Hills Drive #6 San Anselmo • 415-457-7601 www.theoakhillschool.org

San Anselmo Montessori School

100 Shaw Drive San Anselmo • 415-457-3428 www.samontessori.com

St. Anselm School 40 Belle Ave. San Anselmo • 415-454-3612 www.stanselmschool.com

San Rafael

Brandeis Marin

180 N. San Pedro Road San Rafael • 415-472-1833 www.brandeismarin.org

Marin Academy 1600 Mission Ave. San Rafael • 415-453-4550 www.ma.org

Marin School, The See p. 17, 45 150 N San Pedro Rd San Rafael • 415-339-9336 www.themarinschool.org

Marin Waldorf School 755 Idylberry Road San Rafael • 415-479-8190 www.marinwaldorf.org

Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive San Rafael • 415-454-4455 www.markdayschool.org

Montessori de Terra Linda

610 Del Ganado Road San Rafael • 415-479-7373 www.mdtl.org

Montessori in Motion

3 Wellbrock Heights San Rafael • 415-472-5622 www.montessoriinmotion.com

Saint Raphael School 1100 Fifth Ave. San Rafael • 415-454-4455 www.markdayschool.org

K-12 All Gender 6:1

K-12 All Gender 6:1

PK-K All Gender 6:1

K-8 All Gender 7:1

Independent Special Education Please Call FA Available

Independent Special Education Please Call FA Available

Independent English, Spanish Please Call FA Available AMS

Catholic English, Spanish

Please Call FA Available WASC, WCEA, NCEA

Schools

K-8 All Gender 9:1

9-12 All Gender 9:1

9-12 All Gender 6:1 85

PK-8 All Gender 24:1

K-8 All Gender 5:1

PK-6 All Gender 12:1

Jewish English, Spanish

Please Call FA Available CAIS, WASC

Independent English Please Call FA Available NAIS, CAIS, WASC, ISSFBA

Independent English, Spanish, ASL

$54,950 FA Available WASC, CAIS

Waldorf English, Spanish Please Call FA Available AWSNA, NCPSA, ISSFBA

Independent English, Spanish Please Call FA Available NAIS, CAIS

Independent English, Spanish Please Call FA Available AMS

PS-K All Gender Independent Please Call FA Available AMS

K-8 All Gender 18:1

Catholic English, Spanish Please Call FA Available WCEA, WASC, NCEA, WASC, WECA

More Schools at www.ParentsPress.com

Star Academy 4470 Redwood Highway San Rafael • 415-456-8727 www.staracademy.org

Winston Preparatory School See p. 45

1 Saint Vincents Drive San Rafael • 415-993-5533 www.winstonprep.edu

Sausalito

Headlands Preparatory School See pgs 5, 37

1050 Bridgeway Sausalito • 415-944-2254 www.headlandsprep.com/

Tiburon

Saint Hilary School

765 Hilary Drive Tiburon • 415-435-2224 www.sainthilaryschool.org

San Francisco

Academy of Thought and Industry See p. 11, 43

3741 Buchanan St San Francisco • 415-429-2008 www.thoughtandindustry.com/schools/fortmason

Academy of Thought and Industry See p. 11, 43 2690 Jackson St San Francisco • 415-683-5459 www.thoughtandindustry.com/schools/sanfrancisco

Adda Clevenger School 180 Fair Oaks St San Francisco • 415-824-2240 www.addaclevenger.org

AltSchool Fort Mason

3741 Buchanan St San Francisco • 866-664-2070 www.altschool.com

Archbishop Riordan High School

175 Phelan Avenue San Francisco • 415-586-8200 www.riordanhs.org

Bais Menachem Yeshiva Day School

834 28th Avenue San Francisco • 415-636-9770 www.bmyds.org

All Gender

4-12 All Gender 5:1

Non Denominational Special Education Please Call FA Available WASC

Independent Special Education Spanish, French

6-12 All Gender 1:1

Independent Spanish, French, ASL, Japanese, Mandarin

Please Call FA Available NYSAIS, NEASC, NAIS

Schools

$35,000$65,000 FA Available

WASC

K-8 All Gender 9:1 278

6-8 All Gender 9:1 35

9-12 All Gender 9:1 60

Catholic English, Spanish $13,300 FA Available WCEA

Independent Upon Request $42,750 allinclusive FA Available

Cognia™, WASC

Independent Upon Request $41,300 allinclusive FA Available

Cognia™, WASC

All Gender Non Denominational Please Call FA Available

All Gender Non Denominational Please Call FA Available

www.ParentsPress.com

Boys Only 10:1

All Gender 6:1

Catholic Spanish ASL Russian Chinese

Jewish Hebrew

$17,410 Varies

WASC, WCEA

FA Available WASC

Bay School of San Francisco

30 Keyes Ave. The Presidio San Francisco • 415-684-8949 www.admission.bayschoolsf.org

Brandeis School of San Francisco

655 Brotherhood Way San Francisco • 415-406-1035 www.sfbrandeis.org

Cathedral School for Boys 1275 Sacramento St San Francisco • 415-771-6600 www.cathedralschool.net

Children’s Day School

333 Dolores St San Francisco • 415-861-5432 www.cds-sf.org

Chinese American International School 150 Oak Street San Francisco • 415-865-6000

Convent & Stuart Hall, Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco 2222 Broadway Street and 1715 Octavia Street San Francisco • (415) 563-2900 www.sacredsf.org

Discovery Center School

1442 Fulton St. Upstairs San Francisco • 415-724-7458 www.dcssf.com

Drew School of San Francisco 2901 California St. San Francisco • 415-409-3739 www.drewschool.org

Ecole Notre Dame des Victoires 659 Pine St San Francisco • 415-421-0069 www.ndvsf.org

French American International School 150 Oak Street San Francisco • 415-558-2022 www.frenchamericansf.org

German International School of Silicon Valley, San Francisco Campus See p. 19, 42 117 Diamond St San Francisco • 650-254-0748 www.gissv.org

Guidepost Montessori Fort Mason See p. 11, 44

3741 Buchanan St San Francisco • 415-429-2008 www.guidepostmontessori.com/schools/fortmason-san-francisco-ca

Grades Gender

Ratio Enrollment

9-12 All Gender 8:1 320

Independent English, Spanish, Mandarin

Range

$41,800 30% WASC, NAIS, CASE, NACAC, SSATB

K-8 All Gender Jewish Please Call FA Available

K-8 Boys Only 7:1 265

Episcopal $0 - $40,500 FA Available CAIS, NAES, NAIS

PK-8 All Gender Non Denominational Please Call FA Available

K-8 All Gender 449

K-12 Single-sex and all gender 16:1 1,180

K-12 All Gender 10:1

9-12 All Gender 8:1

K-8 All Gender

K-12 All Gender 958

PS-9 All Gender 7:1-10:1 110

Non Denominational Please Call WASC

Independent Spanish, Mandarin, French, Latin

$37,840–$52,270 FA Available

CAIS, CSEE, IB, IBSC, NAIS, NCEA, POCIS, SHCOG, WASC, WCEA

Nondenominational English $4,500$12,000 50%

Independent English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, ASL

$36,400

CAIS, WASC, NAIS

Non Denominational Please Call FA Available

Non Denominational French Please Call WASC

Independent German, Spanish

$26,400$29,200

FA Available

DAS, WASC, CAIS, WDA

Schools

PK-8 All Gender 10:1 57

Non Denominational $29,300$42,750 FA Available

Cognia™, WASC

More Schools at www.ParentsPress.com

Hamlin School

2120 Broadway San Francisco • 415-922-0300 www.hamlin.org

Hillwood Academic Day School

2521 Scott St San Francisco • 415-931-0400 www.hillwoodschool.com

Immaculate Conception Academy

3625 24th St. San Francisco • 415-824-2052 www.icacademy.org

Jewish Community High School of the Bay 1835 Ellis Street San Francisco • 415-345-9777 www.jchsofthebay.org

KFS School See p. 13, 43

3140 Balboa Street San Francisco • 415-525-4035 www.kfsschool.org

Katherine Delmar Burke School

7070 California St San Francisco • 415-751-0177 www.kdbs.org

Katherine Michiels School 1335 Guerrero Street San Francisco • 415-821-0130 www. www.kmsofsf.org

Kittredge School 2355 Lake St San Francisco • 415-750-8390 www.kittredge.org

Lick-Wilmerding High School 755 Ocean Ave. San Francisco • 415-333-4021 www.lwhs.org

Live Oak School See p. 13, 42 1555 Mariposa St San Francisco • 415-861-8840 www.liveoaksf.org

Lycée Francais de San Francisco PK-5 755 Ashbury St. San Francisco • 415-661-5232 www.lelycee.org

Lycée Francais de San Francisco 6-12 1201 Ortega St. San Francisco • 415-661-5232 www.lelycee.org

Mission Dolores Academy 3371 16th St San Francisco • 415-346-9500 www.mdasf.org

www.ParentsPress.com

Grades

Ratio Enrollment

K-8 All Gender

K-8 All Gender

9-12 Girls Only 24:1

9-12 All Gender 5:1 189

K-8 All Gender 4:1 10

K-8 Girls Only

PK-5 All Gender 10:1 100

K-8 All Gender

9-12 All Gender 15:1

K-8 All Gender 5:1 420

PK-5 All Gender 7:1 1,020

6-12 All Gender 7:1 1,020

Notes

Range

Assistance

Non Denominational Please Call FA Available

Non Denominational Please Call FA Available

Catholic Spanish $2,900 65%

Jewish, Independent Hebrew, Spanish $8,000$54,822 FA Available

Independent Year Round Flexible seating and movement desks.

WASC

WASC, CAIS

Year round school

Non Denominational Please Call FA Available

Non Denominational Spanish $27,563 FA Available

Non Denominational Please Call FA Available

WASC Accreditation in Process

NAREA

Independent English, French, Spanish, Mandarin

$35,996 WASC, NAIS, NACAC

Non Denominational Spanish $500$40,075 FA Available

French immersion French, English $19,580$25,690

French immersion French, English, Mandarin, German, Spanish

$19,580$25,690

K-8 All Gender Non Denominational Please Call FA Available

CAIS

Schools

CASE, NAIS, AEFE, WASC

CASE, NAIS, AEFE, WASC

Grades Gender

Oakes Children’s Center

1550 Treat Ave San Francisco • 415-641-8000 www.oakeschildrenscenter.org

Pacific Preparatory

2443 Fillmore Street

San Francisco • 314-722-7737 www.pacificpreparatory.com

Presidio Knolls School

250 10th St. San Francisco • 415-202-0770 www.presidioknolls.org

San Francisco Schoolhouse

301 14th Avenue San Francisco • 415-221-3435 www.sfschoolhouse.org/

Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

See p. 32-33, 38

1055 Ellis Street San Francisco • 415-772-6626 www.shcp.edu See p. 32-33, 38

San Francisco City Academy 232 Jones St San Francisco • 415-345-0924 www.sfcityacademy.com

San Francisco Day School

350 Masonic Avenue San Francisco • 415-568-3610 www.sfds.net

San Francisco Girls’ School

350 9th Avenue San Francisco • 628-280-4754 www.sfgirls.org/

San Francisco Pacific Academy 3301 Balboa Street San Francisco • 415-800-0730 www.sanfranciscoacademy.org

St. Anthony-Immaculate Conception

See p. 19

299 Precita Avenue

San Francisco • 415-628-2008

Principal: Barbara Moodie www.saicsf.org

St. Cecilia Elementary 660 Vicente Street San Francisco • 415-731-8400

St. Charles Elementary

3250 18th Street San Francisco • 415-861-7652

St. Ignatius College Preparatory

2001 37th Avenue

San Francisco • 415-731-7500

Range

Ratio

K-8 All Gender Non Denominational Special Needs Please Call FA Available

K-12 All Gender 1:1 70

PK-8 All Gender 10:1

K-8 All Gender 14:1 207

9-12 All Gender 12:1 1,320

Independent Spanish, Latin, French, German, Chinese, Japanese,

$40,000$80,000

Mandarin Immersion Mandarin $17,000$22,400 Varies

Independent Spanish $16,664 FA Available

Catholic English Spanish French Japanese Mandarin ASL

$23,250 $5 million in FA - over 330 students received

K-8 All Gender Non Denominational Please Call FA Available

K-8 All Gender 6:1 400

Girls Only

Gender

BADA, CALSBOA, NAIS

WASC, WCEA

Schools

Gender

Independent Spanish, Latin $29,710 FA Available CAIS, NAIS

Independent STEM $48,500 FA Available CAIS, NAIS, NCGS, WASC

Independent Russian $15,000 FA Available WASC

Catholic English $6,100$7,800 WASC, WCEA

Denominational Please Call WASC

Gender

Denominational Please Call WASC

Gender

Gender

Please Call WASC

More Schools at www.ParentsPress.com

St. Paul’s School 1690 Church Street San Francisco • 415-713-7818 www.stpaulschoolsf.org

St. Thomas the Apostle School See p. 27, 44 3801 Balboa Street San Franicsco • 415-221-2711 www.sfsta.org

Stratford School See p. 17 301 DeMontfort Avenue San Francisco • 415-333-3134 www.stratfordsfdemontfort.com

Stratford School See p. 17 645 14th Ave. San Francisco • 415-742-4254 www.stratfordsf14.com

Stratford Middle School See p. 17 75 St. Francis Street San Francisco • 415-715-8648 www.stratfordsfms.com

Stratford School Parkside See p. 17 2425 19th Ave. San Francisco • 415-564-6250 www.stratfordsfparkside.com

Synergy School 1387 Valencia St San Francisco • 415-567-6177 www.synergyschool.org

Town School for Boys 2750 Jackson St San Francisco • 415-921-3747 www.townschool.com

West Portal Lutheran School 200 Sloat Blvd San Francisco • 415-665-6330 www.wplsf.com

Schools

Ratio

K-8 All Gender 14:1 207

PS - 8 All Gender 13:1 175

K - Grade 5 All Gender K 15:1 Elem 22:1 Varies

PS-6 All Gender 12:1(PS) 15:1(K-6)

6-8 All Gender 15:1

PS-PK All Gender 12:1(PS) 15:1(K)

Catholic Spanish $6,850 FA Available WASC

Catholic Spanish, Chinese $10,600 FA Available

WASC, WCEA

www.ParentsPress.com

Non Denominational English, Spanish Varies by age WASC, CSSES

Independent English, Mandarin, Spanish

Varies by Program

Independent English, Spanish Varies by Program

Independent English, Mandarin, Spanish

Varies by Program

K-8 All Gender Non Denominational Please Call FA Available

K-8 Boys Only Non Denominational Please Call FA Available

K-8 All Gender Lutheran Please Call FA Available

WASC, CPSTEME

WASC, CPSTEME

to

Schools

WASC, CPSTEME

School

Featured

Road

Boarding Schools

Delphian School

20950 SW Rock Creek Road Sheridan, OR • 503-843-3521 www.delphian.org

Dunn School

2555 West Highway 154 Los Olivos, CA • 800-287-9197 www.dunnschool.org/

EF Academy

1539 E Howard Street Pasadena, CA • 914-495-6056 www.efacademy.com

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy

440 St. Katherine Drive

La Canada Flintridge, CA • 626-685-8521 www.fsha.org/

Hawaii Preparatory Academy

65-1692 Kohala Mountain Road Kamuela, HI • 808-881-4321 www.hpa.edu

Idyllwild Arts Academy

52500 Temecula Rd. Idyllwild, CA • 951-659-2171 www.idyllwildarts.org/

Lake Tahoe Preparatory School

255 Squaw Valley Road Olympic Valley, CA • 530-583-8665 www.laketahoeprep.org

Midland School

5100 Figueroa Mtn. Road Los Olivos, CA • 805-688-5114 www.midland-school.org/

Monte Vista Christian School

Two School Way Watsonville, CA • 831-722-8178 www.mvcs.org/

Ojai Valley School

723 El Paseo Road Ojai, CA • 805-646-1423 www.ovs.org/

Oregon Episcopal School

6300 SW Nicol Road Portland, OR • 503-768-3115 www.oes.edu

The Oxbow School

530 3rd Street Napa, CA • 707-255-6000 www.oxbowschool.org/

Pilgrim School

540 South Commonwealth Avenue Los Angeles, CA • 213-355-5204 www.pilgrim-school.org/

Grades Gender Stud-Fac Ratio Boarding / Day

5-12

All Gender 10:1 172 / 58

5-12

All Gender 5:1 100 / 80

9-12

All Gender 7:1 250 / 0

9-12

Girls Only 8:1 43 / 334

9-12

All Gender 12:1 200 / 200

9-12

All Gender 5:1 277 / 41

9-12

All Gender 7:1 70 / 5

9-12 All Gender 5:1 85 / 0

9-12

All Gender 16:1 76 / 564

3-12 All Gender 5:1 85 / 163

9-12

All Gender 12:1 150 / 727

11-12 All Gender 45 / 15

9-12

All Gender 10:1 26 / 395

Affiliation

Specialty Programs Notes

Tuition Range Tuition Assistance

Non Denominational Summer Programs $54,364$57,416 FA Available

Independent Fine & Performing Arts Program Summer Programs

$61,000 FA Available

NWAC, NWAIS, TABS, WBSA, AdvancedEd

WASC, CAIS

Non Denominational $62,250 FA Available NAIS, CAIS

Catholic Summer Programs

$61,740 FA Available

Non Denominational $57,200 FA Available

Independent Arts Program Summer Programs

$65,091 FA Available

Non Denominational Summer Programs $55,000 FA Available

Independent Place-based College Prep

WASC, CAIS

$62,100 FA Available

HAIS, WASC

Christian $45,900

WASC, CAIS

Independent Summer Programs

Episcopal Summer Options

Non Denominational Arts Focus Summer Options

$52,500$60,500 FA Available

$67,100 FA Available

$32,000 FA Available

Independent $39,000 FA Available

MSASC, NIPSA

WASC, CAIS

WASC, ACSI

WASC, CAIS

Schools

OES, NASC, NWAIS, TABS

WASC, CAIS

WASC, CAIS

FEATURED

Santa Catalina School

1500 Mark Thomas Drive Monterey, CA • 831-655-9300 www.santacatalina.org

Southwestern Academy

2800 Monterey Road San Marino, CA • 626-799-5010 www.southwesternacademy.edu/

St. Michaels University School

3400 Richmond Road Victoria, Canada • 250-370-6170 www.smus.ca

Steamboat Mountain School 42605 RCR 36 Steamboat Springs, CO • 970-879-1350 www.steamboatmountainschool.org

Stevenson School

3152 Forest Lake Road Pebble Beach, CA • 831-625-8300 www.stevensonschool.org

Sugar Bowl Academy

815 Lupine Trail Norden, CA • 530-426-1844 www.sbacademy.org

Tahoe Prep Academy

2478 Meyers Grade Road South Lake Tahoe, CA • 844-752-9842 www.tahoehockeyacademy.com

The Thacher School

5025 Thacher Road Ojai, CA • 805-646-4377 www.thacher.org/

Villanova Preparatory School

12096 N. Ventura Avenue Ojai, CA • 805-646-1464 www.villanovaprep.org/

The Webb Schools

1175 West Baseline Road Claremont, CA • 909-482-5214 www.webb.org/

Woodside Priory School

302 Portola Road Portola Valley, CA • 650-851-8221 www.prioryca.org

Boarding Grades Gender Stud-Fac Ratio Boarding / Day

9-12 Girls Only 6:1 113 / 103

6-12

All Gender 8:1 121 / 22

8-12 All Gender 6:1 450 / 650

9-12 All Gender 8:1 40 / 28

9-12 All Gender 10:1 300 / 200

8-12 All Gender 5:1 60 / 2

9-12 All Gender 66 / 5

9-12 All Gender 5:1 227 / 27

9-12 All Gender 10:1 82 / 136

9-12 All Gender 6:1 243 / 167

9-12 All Gender 7:1 50 / 350

Catholic Summer Programs

Independent Summer Programs

$59,000 FA Available

WASC, CAIS

Schools

$44,600 FA Available WASC

Non Denominational Summer Programs $63,460 FA Available

Non Denominational $48,800 FA Available

Non Denominational $68,900 FA Available

Non Denominational Ski Focus $50,960 FA Available

Non Denominational Ice Hockey $47,500 FA Available

Independent Gifted Programs

Independent Summer Programs

Independent Summer Programs

Catholic

CAIS, WBSA, NAIS, PNAIS, TABS, IECA, SSAT

ACIS, TABS

WASC, CAIS

$62,810 FA Available WASC, CAIS

$51,500$61,500 FA Available

$68,775 FA Available

$76,880 FA Available

WASC

WASC, CAIS

WASC, CAIS, SBSA, WBSA, TABS, WCEA

A Key to Private School Accreditations, Affiliations, and Associations

Here is a list of some of the accrediting, affiliation, and association bodies that schools list in our Regional Guide to Private Schools.

AAIE — Association for the Advancement of International Education, www.aaie.org

ACSI — Association of Christian Schools International, www.acsi.org

AEFE — Agence pour l’Enseignement Français à l’Etranger, www.aefe.fr

AISAP — Association of Independent School Admission Professionsals, www.aisap.org

AMI — American Montessori Internationale, www.montessori-ami.org

AMS — American Montessori Society, www.amshq.org

Ashoka Changemaker School — Ashoka, www.ashoka.org

AWSNA — Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, www.whywaldorfworks.org

BAMA — Bay Area Montessori Association, www.bayareamontessoriassociation.com

CAIS — California Association of Independent Schools, www.caisca.org

CASE — Council for Advancement and Support of Education, www.case.org

CIS — Communities in Schools, www.communitiesinschools.org

Cognia — Cognia Performance Standards, www.cognia.org

CPSTEME — Carnegie Science Seal of Excellence for STEM, www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/

CQEL — California Quality Early Learning, www.caqualityearlylearning.org

ELEA — Evangelical Lutheran Education Association, www.elcaschools.org

Green Ribbon School — US Department of Education, www2.eg.gov

IB, IBO — International Baccalaureate, www.ibo.org

IB-PYP— International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, www.ibo.org

IMC — The International Montessori Council, www.montessori.org

ISBOA — California Independent Schools Business Officer Association, www.isboa.org

ISSFBA — Independent Schools of the San Francisco Bay Area, www.issfba.org

NAEYC — National Association for the Education of Young Children, www.naeyc.org

NAIS — National Association of Independent Schools, www.nais.org

NAREA — North American Reggio Emilia Alliance, www.reggioalliance.org

NCAA Approved — National College Athletic Association, www.ncaa.org

NCEA — National Catholic Educational Association, www.ncea.org

NCPSA — National Council for Private School Accreditation, www.ncpsa.org

NIPSA — National Independent Private Schools Association, www.nipsa.org

NLSA — National Lutheran School Accreditation, www.luthed.org

NPC National Paideia Center, www.paideia.org

PACE — Professional Association for Childhood Education, www.pacenet.org

PASCH — Schulen: Partner der Zukunft, www.pash-net.de

PEN — Progressive Education Network, www.progressiveeducationnetwork.org

POCIS — People of Color in Independent Schools of Northern California, www.nocapocis.org

SBSA — Small Boarding Schools Association, www.sbsaonline.org

SSATB — Enrollment Management Association, www.admission.org

TABS — The Association of Boarding Schools, www.tabs.org

WASC — Western Association of Schools and Colleges, www.wascweb.org

WBSA — Western Boarding Schools Association, www.westernboardingschools.org

WCEA — Western Catholic Education Association, www.westwcea.org