San Francisco is a diverse city, with a third of the population having been born in various countries outside of the US. Expat parents will be spoilt for choice as international schools in San Francisco are just as varied, offering curricula from around the world, including bilingual teaching and language immersion programmes.
Many of San Francisco's international schools offer a combined curriculum, often consisting of either the International Baccalaureate or the American curriculum, alongside foreign curricula such as those of France or China. Language immersion programmes include French, Mandarin, Spanish, and Italian, among others.
International schools are especially popular among newly arrived expats looking to give their children an experience as close to school back home as possible. Overall, the standard of teaching in international schools in San Francisco is high, and though fees can be steep, most parents feel the quality of education justifies the extra cost.
Below is a list of popular international schools in San Francisco.
International schools in San Francisco
The International School of San Francisco
The International School of San Francisco teaches a well-regarded French-English immersion programme from Pre-K to the Elementary level. Post-Elementary, students can opt to undertake either the International Baccalaureate or the French Baccalauréat programme in addition to the US High School Diploma.
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate, American, and French
Ages: 3 to 18
Website: www.internationalsf.org
La Scuola International School
La Scuola International School (LSIS) is an International Baccalaureate World School that offers a highly regarded Italian immersion programme for kids aged 2 to 14. LSIS takes a Reggio-Emilio-inspired approach to education, with an emphasis on collaboration, inquiry and experiential learning.
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Ages: 2 to 14
Website: www.lascuolasf.org
San Francisco Pacific Academy
A small school of around 100 students, San Francisco Pacific Academy (SFPA) is a bilingual school offering both the Russian and American curricula. The school's small student body creates a warm atmosphere, and small class sizes of no more than 12 children per class allow individualised attention for students.
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: American and Russian
Ages: 5 to 14
Website: www.sfpacificacademy.org
Springbridge International School
Springbridge International School (SIS) is a bilingual school with two excellent language immersion programmes on offer – children can either enrol in a Mandarin-English programme or a Japanese-English programme. The American curriculum is studied alongside the Chinese or Japanese curriculum, depending on which language path a student takes.
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: American, Mandarin, and Japanese
Ages: 2 to 14
Website: www.springbridgeschool.com