The transition from middle to high school is a pivotal time for students, developmentally and academically. High school guidance begins with connection and continues with care. Our high school guiidance counselor provides individualized support, focusing on each student’s personal hopes, academic needs, and each family’s individual circumstances.
Beginning in 7th grade, there are informal, as well as structured and one-to-one opportunities to provide parents, and later students, with information about the admissions process. Families hear from parents who have successfully navigated the process and secured spots for their children at a range of public, independent, and faith-based schools. Mindful of wanting students to finish the year strong and enjoy their upcoming summer, we begin with an informal orientation for students toward the end of 7th grade and provide recommendations for schools they might explore over the summer.
Moving into 8th grade, we shift from parent education to supporting students directly. The high school guidance counselor, head of middle school, and the middle school counselor meet weekly with students in High School Seminar, as well as informally during the week. They prepare students for school visits, practice interview skills, explain the different application processes, support essay development, and promote a lot of self-reflection. The high school guidance counselor works closely with students to harness what they have learned about themselves as learners and works with them to tap into their strengths and embrace opportunities for continued growth.
Throughout the year, the high school guidance counselor maintains communication and supports each family, as needed. This connection and care continues through their final decision, once acceptances are released in March.
Where do SFS graduates go?
SFS takes great pride that graduates attend a wide variety of high schools and colleges, each reflecting individual student's academic and personal needs and hopes. Graduates leave SFS prepared, confident, enthusiastic, and ready to develop their unique pursuits.
Our graduates are currently enrolled in the following schools:
- Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco
- The Bay School of San Francisco
- Berkeley High School
- Bishop O’Dowd High School, Oakland
- College Preparatory High School, Berkeley
- Convent & Stuart Hall, San Francisco
- Crossroads School, Santa Monica
- Design Tech High School, Burlingame
- Drew School, San Francisco
- Gateway High School , San Francisco
- George Washington High School, San Francisco
- Head-Royce School, Oakland
- The International High School of San Francisco
- Jewish Community High School, San Francisco
- Lick-Wilmerding High School, San Francisco
- Los Altos High School
- Lowell High School, San Francisco
- Marin Academy, San Rafael
- Milton Academy, Milton, MA
- Mission High School, San Francisco
- The Nueva School, San Mateo
- Orange County School of the Arts, Santa Ana
- Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, San Francisco
- Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, San Francisco
- Saint Ignatius College Prep, San Francisco
- San Francisco Girls’ School (closed 2023)
- San Francisco University High School
- San Francisco Waldorf School
- Urban School of San Francisco
- Vandegrift High School, Austin, TX
- Washington High School, San Francisco
- American University
- Bard College
- Berklee College of Music
- Boston College
- Brown University
- California State Universities, various
- Colgate University
- Cooper Union
- Dartmouth College
- Haverford College
- Howard University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Lewis & Clark College
- New York University
- Northeastern University
- Oberlin College
- Occidental College
- Parsons School of Design
- Pitzer College
- Pomona College
- Princeton University
- Stanford University
- Tulane University
- Tufts University
- University of California, various
- University of Chicago
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Southern California
- University of Washington at Seattle
- Washington University in St.Louis
And many more!