San Francisco County Schools & Education
San Francisco County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
58/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
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
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#23
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: San Francisco County
Measured School Summary
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.
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.
School Data Brief
How to read San Francisco County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
131 public schools and 16 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
58/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #23 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
86.1%
1.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$10,192
$1,430 above the state average
School coverage
131
16 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
San Francisco County has 131 public schools across 16 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What San Francisco County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
San Francisco Unified carries most of the listed public-school system, with 113 of 131 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#23
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 3 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 95% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
San Francisco Unified
Elementary to high school visible
48,722 students
113 listed schools in this county slice.
Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) District
High school only in this slice
3,019 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Thomas Edison Charter Academy District
Elementary school only in this slice
590 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Gateway High District
High school only in this slice
489 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
San Francisco Unified is the largest listed district slice, with 113 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in San Francisco County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different San Francisco County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Education Overview
About Schools in San Francisco County, California
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
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.
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.
School Overview
Total Schools
131
in San Francisco County
Reported Enrollment
56,209
124 schools reporting
School Districts
16
districts
Charter Schools
13
10% of total
School Level Breakdown
16 School Districts in San Francisco County
San Francisco Unified
GuideFive 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
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 11 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 131 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) | Profile | Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) District | San Francisco, 94107City: Large | 9–12 | Charter | 3,019 |
| Lowell High | Profile | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94132City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,632 |
| Washington (George) High | Profile | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94121City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,036 |
| Lincoln (Abraham) High | Profile | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94116City: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,997 |
| Galileo High | Profile | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94109City: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,826 |
| Balboa High | Profile | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94112City: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,278 |
| Giannini (A.P.) Middle | Profile | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94122City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,192 |
| Burton (Phillip and Sala) Academic High | Profile | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94134City: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,060 |
| Mission High | Profile | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94114City: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,041 |
| Presidio Middle | Profile | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94121City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 978 |
| Hoover (Herbert) Middle | Profile | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94116City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 938 |
| Aptos Middle | Record | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94127City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 848 |
| Denman (James) Middle | Record | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94112City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 816 |
| Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts A Public School | Record | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94131City: Large | 9–12 | Alternative | 679 |
| Marina Middle | Record | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94123City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 676 |
| Lilienthal (Claire) Elementary | Record | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94123City: Large | KG–8 | Primary | 669 |
| Roosevelt Middle | Record | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94118City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 666 |
| Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary | Record | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94108City: Large | KG–5 | Primary | 644 |
| Buena Vista/ Horace Mann K-8 | Record | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94110City: Large | KG–8 | Primary | 598 |
| Lawton Alternative | Record | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco, 94122City: Large | KG–8 | Primary | 597 |
Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's)
Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) District
San Francisco, 94107 / City: Large
Lowell High
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94132 / City: Large
Washington (George) High
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94121 / City: Large
Lincoln (Abraham) High
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94116 / City: Large
Galileo High
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94109 / City: Large
Balboa High
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94112 / City: Large
Giannini (A.P.) Middle
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94122 / City: Large
Burton (Phillip and Sala) Academic High
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94134 / City: Large
Mission High
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94114 / City: Large
Presidio Middle
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94121 / City: Large
Hoover (Herbert) Middle
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94116 / City: Large
Denman (James) Middle
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94112 / City: Large
Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts A Public School
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94131 / City: Large
Lilienthal (Claire) Elementary
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94123 / City: Large
Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94108 / City: Large
Buena Vista/ Horace Mann K-8
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94110 / City: Large
Lawton Alternative
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco, 94122 / City: Large
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$10,192
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review San Francisco County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in California?
How should I read the school score in San Francisco County?
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.
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.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.