Middle School

 I see graduates from many local middle schools. The San Francisco School graduates stand out as intellectually curious, able to make connections across disciplines, are confident public speakers and, above all, seem very much themselves. SFS graduates are accomplished but are still very fresh and real.”
— Faculty/Administrator at a Bay Area Independent School

At The San Francisco School, we are confident that our graduates leave the gates of 300 Gaven as passionate learners who practice mutual respect, embrace diversity, and promote equity and justice for all. The transition to high school can seem overwhelming, particularly here in San Francisco, but with the partnership between the Upper School Head, Eighth Grade families, and the SFS Middle School team, our graduates enthusiastically enroll at high schools across San Francisco, the greater Bay Area, and beyond. SFS looks at this transition as a process - and if we do this process well, our graduates have a better understanding of themselves as learners and can identify learning environments where they will thrive.

Our work together for the high school transition process begins in the spring of Seventh Grade. We hold a preliminary information night for parents/guardians only, with a panel of current Eighth Grade parents/guardians sharing about their recent experiences as a highlight of the evening. During the summer, the Upper School Head and Upper School Student Activities Coordinator hold individual meetings with the parents/guardians of each Eighth Grader to begin formally the discussion about the high school transition process. The process then officially begins in the opening weeks of school, with an overview meeting and a Q&A session with SFS alumni representing public, private, and parochial school experiences.  

The fall of Eighth Grade will include shadow visits, open houses, and for most, testing. Our Eighth Graders take a seminar class that focuses on interview skills, SSAT prep (using Test Innovators), essay writing, application timelines, class discussions about shadow visits, and how to make informed decisions in the spring. We strongly suggest our families consider the full range of high schools: public, charter, parochial, and independent day schools, as well as boarding schools. At SFS, we work closely with families to ensure that our students enroll at the school where they will thrive. Our alumni arrive at high school prepared, enthusiastic, and ready to take on new challenges.

SFS Alumni currently attend the following high schools:

Independent	Parochial	Public / Charter	Marin / East Bay /  South Bay / Peninsula	Boarding
Bay  Drew  International  Lick-Wilmerding  Sterne  University  Urban  Waldorf	Archbishop    Riordan  Convent  Jewish    Community  Sacred Heart  St. Ignatius	Gateway  Lowell  Mission  SOTA	Aragon  Branson  College Prep  El Camino  Gunn  Marin Academy  Piedmont  Saint Mary’s  Sequoia	Eastside Prep  Groton School  McCallie School  Phillips Academy    Andover  Villanova    Preparatory