Proof School Admissions Consulting
Expert Guidance for Families Applying to San Francisco’s Math-Focused Independent School for Grades 6–12
Cardinal Education is an independent educational consulting company. We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any private or public school, including Proof School.
As Seen On
About the School
About Proof School
Proof School is a small, need-blind independent day school in San Francisco built specifically for kids who love math. Founded in 2015 by mathematician Paul Zeitz alongside Ian Brown and Dennis Leary, the school serves about 130 students in grades 6 through 12 and pairs a rigorous, liberal arts curriculum with two full hours of math every afternoon. Classes average just 12 students, and the school’s 26 faculty members hold 31 combined advanced degrees. Families come to Proof School from across the Bay Area, drawn by a tight-knit, collaborative community built around the tradition of math circles rather than a conventional classroom.
Proof School Fast Facts
Location
221 Main Street, Suite 104, San Francisco, CA 94105
Type
Independent, coeducational day school
Grades Served
6–12
Enrollment
Approximately 130 students
College Outcomes
100% four-year matriculation, Classes of 2022–2025, with multiple students each enrolling at Harvard, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkeley, and UC Santa Barbara
Accreditation
Applications Open
September
Application Deadline
January 8
Decision Day
March 19
Academic Snapshot
Average Class Size
12 students
CEEB Code
054868
SAT Averages, Classes of 2022–2025
757 verbal, 781 math, 1538 composite
Faculty Advanced Degrees
31 combined (16 doctoral, 15 master’s) across 26 faculty
Want a Full Picture?
For a deeper look at academics, admissions strategy, and student life at Proof School, see Cardinal Education’s How to Get Into Proof School: A Complete Admissions Guide for San Francisco Parents.
What Makes Proof School’s Admissions Process Unique?
Proof School’s application looks less like a typical private school application and more like an invitation to think. Alongside the usual transcripts and recommendation letter, applicants complete a math diagnostic and the Math Ollie, a problem-solving assessment the school built itself to reward persistence and creative reasoning over speed or memorized technique. Parent and student questionnaires give both perspectives equal weight, and finalists are invited to a relaxed visit day rather than a single formal interview. The whole process reflects the school’s founding premise: that kids who love math deserve to be evaluated on curiosity and process, not just on scores.
Key Dates and Events
Applications Open (Ravenna)
September
Admissions Open House
October 3 (10:00-11:30 am)
Math Ollie + Diagnostic
November 15 (session 1) and December 5 (session 2)
Applications Due
January 8
Visit Days for Selected Applicants
February-March
Decision Day
March 19
Enrollment Confirmation
March 26
What the Proof School Application Requires
To apply to Proof School, you will need to submit the following:
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01Parent Questionnaire
Submitted through Ravenna, the parent questionnaire allows parents to share their perspective on their child’s relationship with math, their unique strengths, and why Proof School is a strong fit for the family.
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02Student Questionnaire
The student questionnaire provides the admissions committee with a direct sense of your voice and perspective. This form focuses on your specific mathematical interests, curiosity, and problem-solving approach, offering insight into how you might contribute to Proof School’s collaborative community.
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03Math Diagnostic and the Math Ollie
The math diagnostic is used to determine appropriate placement, while the Math Ollie is Proof School’s unique problem-solving assessment, designed to reward persistence, creativity, and mathematical reasoning over speed.
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04Transcripts
Applicants must submit current academic transcripts, which provide the admissions committee with a record of the student’s academic performance and history. This is where tutoring and academic coaching help strengthen the student’s key skills months before applications are due, allowing students to demonstrate meaningful, sustained academic growth.
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05Recommendation Letter
Proof School requires confidential recommendations from the student’s current math and English teachers, as well as a report from their school principal or counselor, all of which are submitted via Ravenna.
How Cardinal Education Helps
Cardinal Education’s admissions consultants help families put together an authentic, well-prepared Proof School application: strengthening the parent and student questionnaires, coaching students on the Math Ollie’s problem-solving approach, and building a timeline that keeps the process manageable from the first Ravenna login through Decision Day.
Families specifically interested in the Asian American community at Proof School can also see our Proof School Admissions Consulting for Asian American Families.
“Proof School has changed me into the person I am today. This community has helped me open up more and be successful. Thank you, Cardinal Education, for helping me get into Proof School!”— Proof School Alumni
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need advanced math experience to apply to Proof School?
What grades does Proof School admit into?
Is there an application fee?
How big is the Asian American population at Proof School?
Does Proof School offer AP classes?
Considering Proof School?
Our consultants help families navigate private school admissions with clarity and confidence.