Proof School Admissions Consulting for Asian American Families
How San Francisco’s Math-Focused Independent School Fits Into the Bay Area’s Math Circle Tradition
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
Proof School and the Math Circle Tradition
Many Asian American families in the Bay Area already know the math circle world well, whether through weekend programs, the Bay Area Math Circle, or a summer spent on olympiad training. Proof School was built directly out of that same tradition. Founder Paul Zeitz, who chairs the mathematics department at the University of San Francisco, co-founded both the Bay Area Mathematical Olympiad and the San Francisco Math Circle before helping start the school in 2015, and he wrote The Art and Craft of Problem Solving, a text many competitive math students already recognize.
For families who have spent years shuttling a child to Saturday math programs, Proof School offers something different: a full-time school where that same problem-solving culture is the daily curriculum, not an extracurricular add-on. Around 130 students in grades 6 through 12 spend two hours every afternoon on proof writing and problem solving in classes that average 12 students, taught by a faculty of 26 that collectively holds 31 advanced degrees.
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
Languages Spoken by the Student Body
20+
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 full breakdown of academics and admissions strategy at Proof School, see Cardinal Education’s How to Get Into Proof School: A Complete Admissions Guide for San Francisco Parents.
How Proof School Evaluates a Math-Loving Applicant
Families used to the competitive rhythm of AMC scores and olympiad rankings sometimes expect Proof School’s application to work the same way. It does not. The school’s own math diagnostic and Math Ollie are designed to surface how a student thinks through an unfamiliar problem, not to rank prior competition results, and admissions officers read the parent and student questionnaires just as closely as the academic materials. A student arriving with years of math circle experience and a student arriving with pure enthusiasm and less formal training are evaluated on the same terms: curiosity, persistence, and fit with a small, collaborative classroom.
Key Dates and Events
Application Windows Open
September
Open House
October 3 (10:00-11:30 am)
Math Ollie + Diagnostic
November 15 (session 1) and December 5 (session 2)
Application Windows Close
January 8
Visit Days (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
Completed via Ravenna, the parent questionnaire invites you to detail your child’s engagement with mathematics, highlight their individual strengths, and articulate the reasons Proof School is an ideal match for your family.
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02Student Questionnaire
The student questionnaire allows the admissions team to hear directly from the applicant. This section centers on your personal mathematical passions, your curiosity, and your specific problem-solving style, giving the school a better understanding of how you will engage within their collaborative community.
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03Math Diagnostic and the Math Ollie
The math diagnostic helps the school determine the right class placement, while the Math Ollie serves as Proof School’s distinct assessment of problem-solving ability, focusing on mathematical reasoning, creativity, and perseverance rather than how quickly a student finishes.
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04Transcripts
Applicants are required to provide their most recent academic transcripts, giving the admissions committee insight into the student’s educational background and performance. In the months leading up to the application, tutoring and academic coaching can be instrumental in refining core skills, helping students showcase consistent academic development.
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05Recommendation Letter
Proof School mandates confidential letters of recommendation from the student’s current English and math instructors, along with a statement from a school counselor or principal, all submitted through the Ravenna platform.
How Cardinal Education Helps
Cardinal Education works with Asian American families throughout the Bay Area to prepare a Proof School application that reflects a student’s genuine relationship to math, not just their competition history. That includes coaching on the Math Ollie’s open-ended problem style, helping balance the parent and student questionnaires, and a realistic timeline from the first Ravenna login to Decision Day.
For the full picture of Proof School’s admissions process and fast facts, see our Proof School Admissions Consulting.
“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
How big is the Asian American population at Proof School?
Does a student need olympiad or math circle experience to get in?
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Is there an application fee?
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