How to Get Into International High School of San Francisco: Top Admissions Guide for Elite Families

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Everything San Francisco families need to know about applying to this Hayes Valley IB and French Baccalaureate school.

Quick Answer for Busy Parents

International High School (IHS) in Hayes Valley offers Grades 9–12 with International Baccalaureate (English) and French Baccalaureate tracks. No French knowledge is required for the IB path. Standardized test scores (SSAT/ISEE) are optional, though applicants complete a mandatory 15-minute writing sample during their interview. For 2027–28 entry, admissions open in September 2026, with applications due January 5, 2027, and decisions announced March 12, 2027.

Why Do Families Choose International High School of San Francisco?

IHS traces its roots to 1962, when a group of visionaries founded French American Bilingual School, San Francisco’s first independent bilingual school, and by 1971, the first FABS students were ready to enter Grade 9, leading to the eventual creation of the standalone International High School.

Today, IHS gives students a genuine choice: pursue the IB diploma in English or the French Baccalaureate in French, both internationally recognized credentials alongside a U.S. high school degree. Families are drawn to IHS’s small classes, averaging 16 students, and its urban Hayes Valley campus, within walking distance of San Francisco’s civic and cultural center.

Another major reason families choose IHS is its signature Global Travel Program, where students in grades 9 through 11 take two-week international learning and service trips across the globe to build real-world, cross-cultural competence.

Did You Know? IHS’s boys varsity volleyball program, launched in 2021, reached the California state championship for the first time in 2025.

How Competitive Is Admission to International High School?

International School of San Francisco does not publish an official acceptance rate, but receiving roughly 250 applications for just 50 external freshman spots creates a fierce 20% acceptance rate. This makes admission just as selective as top Bay Area prep schools.

Without standardized test scores, the committee intensely scrutinizes every detail. Applicants face extreme competition and need top-tier 3-year transcripts, standout personal essays, stellar teacher recommendations, and a strong interview to secure a spot.

Top Tips for a Strong IHS Application

• Attend open houses and events between September and December to see the Oak Street campus and Arts Pavilion firsthand.
• Schedule the required student interview and writing sample between October and January.
• Submit SSAT or ISEE scores only if they genuinely strengthen your child’s application.

Best Practices for Prospective Families

• Prepare your child for a genuine 15-minute writing sample, not a rehearsed essay.
• Complete the parent questionnaire and student statement thoughtfully through Ravenna.
• Ask directly about the IB versus French Baccalaureate tracks during a visit.

What Is The International School of San Francisco’s Admission Process?

Creating an account in Ravenna is the first step in the International School of San Francisco’s admissions process, where you will be able to sign up for events and submit the required documents for your application.

1. Create an account in Ravenna.
2. Attend admissions events.
3. Submit the online application.
   • Parent/Guardian Questionnaire
   • Student Personal Statement
4. Designate recommendations.
   • Current math & English teacher
   • Principal or school counselor
5. Request transcripts.
   • Current year and prior two years’ transcripts
6. Schedule the student interview & writing sample.
7. Submit SSAT or ISEE scores (optional).

What Are IHS’s Application Requirements?

Personal Statement & Writing Sample

Submitted through Ravenna Hub, the personal statement lets applicants share their authentic voice, values, and intellectual passions. In addition to the written essay in the application, high school (grades 9–12) applicants must also complete a live, proctored writing sample near the time of their admissions interview to demonstrate authentic, spontaneous written expression.

How to write a compelling personal statement: Focus on a specific moment of growth rather than a list of activities. Authenticity is key. This is where Programs in Writing and Reading (PWR) helps students develop essential reading and writing skills that would allow them to produce compelling written outputs. Learn how to develop an authentic writing voice that helps your statement stand out.

Parent/Guardian Statement

Completed via Ravenna, the parent/guardian statement provides insight into the applicant from their family’s perspective. Parents are asked to share candid observations about their child’s character, learning style, household values, and reasons for choosing IHS.

How to write a compelling parent/guardian statement: Share anecdotes that demonstrate your child’s maturity and values rather than repeating their resume. Keep your tone authentic and collaborative. Learn how to write a compelling private school parent statement.

Recommendation Letters

Delegated through Ravenna Hub, high and middle school (grades 6–12) applicants submit recommendations from their current English teacher, math teacher, and school principal or counselor. Lower School (Pre-K–Grade 5) requires an evaluation from the current teacher or director.

How to get the best recommendation letter: To secure a strong recommendation letter, your child must build genuine relationships with teachers. Recommenders should highlight your child’s leadership, behavior, and academic impact on the school community.

Transcript

Grades 6–12 applicants submit current-year first marking period grades plus official report cards from the prior two full school years via Ravenna Hub. Non-English or non-French transcripts require an official translation.

How to improve grades: If grades have been a genuine struggle, improving them before applying requires targeted, consistent support—not last-minute cramming. 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.

Admissions Interview

High School (Grades 9–12) applicants complete a 1-on-1 student interview in person or via Zoom, which includes their live writing sample. Middle School (Grades 6–8) candidates participate in a student visit/interview, while Lower School applicants attend a group observation.

How to prepare for the admissions interview: Approach the interview as a collaborative dialogue. Students should practice articulating their passions, reflecting on past challenges, and expressing specific reasons why the school appeals to them. Practice with comprehensive interview preparation to build natural confidence.

Standardized Test

Standardized testing is optional for admission to The International School of San Francisco. Candidates are evaluated holistically through transcripts, recommendations, student essays, interviews, and the live writing sample.

Have Questions About Your Child’s Application?

Cardinal Education’s consultants help students prepare for the writing sample and interview and build a complete IHS application.

Schedule a Consultation

What Is Student Life Like at International High School of San Francisco?

Student life at The International School of San Francisco is a vibrant blend of rigorous global academics, multilingual immersion, artistic expression, and urban community engagement.

While the school provides a foundational French-English bilingual path in the lower and middle school divisions, the high school program gives students full choice in pursuing prestigious international tracks alongside an active array of extracurriculars. Beyond the classroom, students build leadership, compete in athletic leagues, create art, and travel the globe.

Academics

The high school academic life centers on two world-renowned diploma options. The school was the first in California authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and also provides the French Baccalaureate (Le Bac). While the lower grades (K–8) emphasize full dual-language instruction, entering high school students do not require prior French fluency to enroll in the English-track IB Diploma.

This academic structure prepares students for higher education by emphasizing critical inquiry, deep analysis, cross-cultural cognition, and bilingual proficiency.

Arts

The arts curriculum provides hands-on creative training across performance and visual media, supported by the dedicated Arts Pavilion facilities.

• Performance Schedule: Annual theater productions, musical showcases, and multilingual dramatic performances held in campus spaces.
• Visual Arts Series: Year-round visual arts exhibitions showcasing oil painting, photography, charcoal, and sculpture. Senior IB students host an annual IB Art Showcase in March.
• Specialized Facilities: Dedicated visual arts studios, darkrooms, and music rehearsal spaces at the Arts Pavilion.
• Studio Access: Studio hours are held at lunchtime and after school for students to work independently on portfolio projects.

Students gain technical proficiency and creative confidence, sharing their work with both local and international school audiences.

Clubs & Leadership

Student life features over 40 active student-run clubs, leadership organizations, and affinity groups that allow students to spearhead initiatives and foster community.

• Student-Led Clubs: Students create and run their own clubs, ranging from activism and media (such as a student-run radio station and TEDxFAIHS) to interest groups in baking, hiking, and film.
• Democratically Elected Leadership: The Student Council, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and Diversity Councils give students direct input on school culture and operations.
• Affinity Groups & Alliances: Specialized groups—including the Asian Student Union, Black Student Union, Familia LatinX, MENASA, Disability & Neurodiversity Alliance, and Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA)—provide supportive identity spaces and drive equity initiatives.
• Traditions & Fundraising: Clubs drive major campus traditions, including Songs for Senegal, an annual fundraising event for the school’s sister institution, Ecole Natangué.

This active club ecosystem ensures that students do not just participate in campus life but directly shape it, building real-world collaboration, leadership, and organization skills that extend well beyond the classroom.

Athletics

The high school athletic program balances healthy competition, sportsmanship, and personal growth across multiple sports seasons.

The athletic department provides equal support to novice athletes trying new sports and seasoned varsity competitors through disciplined coaching.

Global Travel Program

Global education is central to the school’s mission. The signature Global Travel Program sends students in Grades 9–11 on two-week international learning and service expeditions around the world.

• Experiential Learning: Students travel to destinations like Senegal, France, Vietnam, Germany, and Ecuador for direct cultural immersion.
• Service Learning & Research: Trips integrate hands-on community service, language practice, and environmental research with local partners.
• K–8 Progression: Building on outdoor education in Lower School and a 5th-grade exchange trip to Strasbourg, France, the high school trips serve as a culmination of global citizenship training.

These experiences foster resilience, adaptability, and cross-cultural empathy, embedding real-world impact into student life.

Notable International High School Alumni

The International School of San Francisco prepares students to lead with cross-cultural cognition, critical inquiry, and global citizenship. Graduates excel across diverse fields, including journalism, technology, athletics, and international advocacy, reflecting the school’s mission to foster purposeful, internationally minded leaders. Notable alumni include:

1. Benoit Denizet-Lewis (’93): An author, journalist, and long-time contributor to The New York Times Magazine. His distinguished career in non-fiction storytelling and cultural analysis highlights the school’s focus on deep inquiry and articulate expression.
2. Aryn Drake-Lee (’00): A real estate developer, tech entrepreneur, and co-founder of the mobile application Tinkitr. Her multi-faceted career embodies the school’s commitment to innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurial drive.
3. J.M. Long (’11): An international competitive athlete and skier who completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma program. His athletic and academic achievements reflect the discipline and rigor cultivated at IHS.
4. Claire T. (’14): An arts manager and international cultural coordinator working across major European art capitals. Her work demonstrates the global perspective and artistic passion fostered by the school’s international curriculum.
5. Shade R. (’22): A language scholar and cross-cultural advocate recognized across regional educational networks. Her focus on multilingual engagement showcases the bilingual and civic-minded foundation emphasized in an IHS education.

These alumni showcase how an International High School education empowers individuals to explore their passions, cross cultural boundaries, and make lasting contributions to society.

How Cardinal Education Strengthens Your IHS Application

With roughly 250 applicants competing for approximately 50 external freshman seats, admission to International High School is exceptionally selective. Because IHS does not require standardized test scores, the admissions committee applies rigorous scrutiny to every other component of the application.

Cardinal Education’s expert consultants help your family stand out in this competitive pool by offering tailored preparation for the crucial 15-minute writing sample and student interview, while providing strategic guidance to help you navigate and select between the International Baccalaureate and French Baccalaureate academic tracks with confidence.

Schedule a Consultation

Related Articles:
IHS’s Growing Urban Campus: What the Expansion Means for Students
Back à Dos: Inside International School of San Francisco’s Professional-Grade Student Theater Company

Frequently Asked Questions

IHS gave our daughter a genuinely global education without requiring her to already speak French. Cardinal Education helped her prepare for the writing sample and interview, and she felt ready walking in.

— IHS Parent