San Francisco County Schools & Education
San Francisco County, California
NCES + U.S. Census BureauSchool Score
58/100
Higher = better
Rating
Average
Graduation Rate
86.1%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
86.1%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,192
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
58/100
Higher = better
State avg 55/100
Student-Teacher Ratio
N/A
National avg 15.8 : 1
Free Lunch (Median)
N/A
National median 48.2%
State School Rank
#23
of 58 counties (1 = best)
Education Advisory: San Francisco County
School Verdict
San Francisco County performs at an average level with a school score of 58/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.1%.
Funding Context
San Francisco County spends $10,192 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Attainment Context
Educational attainment data for San Francisco County is not available.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 6% above the California average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 16% higher than the state norm.
Education Overview
About Schools in San Francisco County, California
Urban education in the heart of the city
San Francisco County operates 131 public schools serving a compact student body of 56,209. The system is highly focused, consisting of 81 elementary schools and 26 high schools concentrated within the city limits.
Higher investment and strong school scores
San Francisco invests more than its neighbors at $10,192 per student, and this reflects in a high school score of 58.4. Despite the high investment, the graduation rate of 86.1% sits slightly below the 87% national average.
San Francisco Unified's city-wide reach
San Francisco Unified dominates the landscape, managing 113 schools and 48,722 students. The county also hosts 13 charter schools, including Five Keys Independence High, which serves over 3,000 students.
Purely urban schools with historic roots
Every single school in the county is classified as a city locale, creating a dense and walkable educational environment. The average school size is 457 students, though prestigious hubs like Lowell High host over 2,600.
Academic excellence in an urban core
Families seeking high-scoring schools in a dense city environment will find San Francisco's 58.4 score particularly attractive. Choosing a home here means immediate access to a unified system with significant per-pupil investment.
School Overview
Total Schools
131
in San Francisco County
Total Enrollment
56,209
students
School Districts
16
districts
Charter Schools
13
10% of total
Student-Teacher Ratio
—
county average
Free Lunch (Median)
—
of students countywide
School Type Breakdown
16 School Districts in San Francisco County
San Francisco Unified
Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) District
Thomas Edison Charter Academy District
Gateway High District
City Arts and Tech High District
Mission Preparatory District
Creative Arts Charter District
The New School of San Francisco District
KIPP San Francisco College Preparatory District
Gateway Middle District
131 Public Schools in San Francisco County
| School Name | District | Grades | Type | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) | Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) District | 9–12 | Charter | 3,019 |
| Lowell High | San Francisco Unified | 9–12 | High | 2,632 |
| Washington (George) High | San Francisco Unified | 9–12 | High | 2,036 |
| Lincoln (Abraham) High | San Francisco Unified | 9–12 | High | 1,997 |
| Galileo High | San Francisco Unified | 9–12 | High | 1,826 |
| Balboa High | San Francisco Unified | 9–12 | High | 1,278 |
| Giannini (A.P.) Middle | San Francisco Unified | 6–8 | Middle | 1,192 |
| Burton (Phillip and Sala) Academic High | San Francisco Unified | 9–12 | High | 1,060 |
| Mission High | San Francisco Unified | 9–12 | High | 1,041 |
| Presidio Middle | San Francisco Unified | 6–8 | Middle | 978 |
| Hoover (Herbert) Middle | San Francisco Unified | 6–8 | Middle | 938 |
| Aptos Middle | San Francisco Unified | 6–8 | Middle | 848 |
| Denman (James) Middle | San Francisco Unified | 6–8 | Middle | 816 |
| Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts A Public School | San Francisco Unified | 9–12 | Alternative | 679 |
| Marina Middle | San Francisco Unified | 6–8 | Middle | 676 |
| Lilienthal (Claire) Elementary | San Francisco Unified | KG–8 | Primary | 669 |
| Roosevelt Middle | San Francisco Unified | 6–8 | Middle | 666 |
| Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary | San Francisco Unified | KG–5 | Primary | 644 |
| Buena Vista/ Horace Mann K-8 | San Francisco Unified | KG–8 | Primary | 598 |
| Lawton Alternative | San Francisco Unified | KG–8 | Primary | 597 |
Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) District
Educational Attainment
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$10,192
State avg $8,762
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do schools in San Francisco County rate?
What is the graduation rate in San Francisco County?
How much does San Francisco County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in San Francisco County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in San Francisco County, California?
San Francisco County operates 131 public schools serving a compact student body of 56,209. The system is highly focused, consisting of 81 elementary schools and 26 high schools concentrated within the city limits.
How do schools in San Francisco County perform academically?
San Francisco invests more than its neighbors at $10,192 per student, and this reflects in a high school score of 58.4. Despite the high investment, the graduation rate of 86.1% sits slightly below the 87% national average.
What are the major school districts in San Francisco County, California?
San Francisco Unified dominates the landscape, managing 113 schools and 48,722 students. The county also hosts 13 charter schools, including Five Keys Independence High, which serves over 3,000 students.
What is the school experience like in San Francisco County?
Every single school in the county is classified as a city locale, creating a dense and walkable educational environment. The average school size is 457 students, though prestigious hubs like Lowell High host over 2,600.
How can I find homes near good schools in San Francisco County, California?
Families seeking high-scoring schools in a dense city environment will find San Francisco's 58.4 score particularly attractive. Choosing a home here means immediate access to a unified system with significant per-pupil investment.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.