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Quick Answer for Busy Parents
San Francisco University High School (UHS) is a coeducational, independent, college-preparatory day school in Pacific Heights, serving Grades 9–12. Opened in 1975, UHS enrolls about 543 students drawn from 96 different middle schools, and 100% of graduates attend a four-year college. UHS does not require or accept standardized test scores as part of admissions. For Fall 2027 entry, applications open August 28, 2026, close January 5, 2027, and decisions are released March 12, 2027.
Why Do Families Choose San Francisco University High School?
UHS occupies five connected campus buildings, including the historic 1917 Upper Campus designed by architect Julia Morgan, in Pacific Heights and the Presidio. Families are drawn to UHS’s status as the original site of Breakthrough Summerbridge, the program that inspired the national Breakthrough Collaborative, and to its four-year Social Impact program, which integrates community service directly into the academic experience.
UHS reports that 59% of its students self-identify as students of color, and its 30-member Board of Trustees is 60% BIPOC, with a standing Board committee on Equity and Community established in 2019.
How Hard Is It to Get Into UHS?
San Francisco University High School does not publish an official acceptance rate, but its applicant pool, drawn from 96 different middle schools competing for roughly 135 spots per grade, points to a highly selective process. Notably, UHS states that sibling and legacy candidates receive no admissions guarantee and must undergo the identical process as every other applicant.
Top Tips for a Competitive Application
- Register as soon as applications open on August 28, since events and student inquiry activity slots fill through the fall.
- Since no standardized test is part of the process, focus preparation on recommendations and the application itself.
- Attend an Open House (September, October, or November) to see the five-campus layout firsthand.
Best Practices for Prospective Families
- Attend the Equity & Community Forum in November for a closer look at UHS’s diversity and inclusion work.
- Don’t rely on a sibling or alumni connection; prepare a complete, standalone application regardless.
- Review the school’s core values of inquiry, care, integrity, agency, and interconnectedness to ensure your student’s personal essays and activities align with the community culture.
What Is San Francisco University High School’s Admission Process?
Creating an account in Ravenna is the first step in UHS’s admission process. There, you will be able to sign up for events and submit the required documents for your application.
- Attend Admissions Events
- Submit Application
- Student Application
- Parent/Guardian Application
- Student Essay
- Designate Recommendations
- Current math & English teacher
- Principal or school counselor
- Upload Transcript
- Schedule Applicant Inquiry Activity
- Await Admissions Decisions
What Are San Francisco University High School’s Application Requirements?
Student Essay
The student essay provides the admissions committee with a direct sense of your child’s personal voice, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity, offering insight into how they will contribute to the San Francisco University High School community.
How to write a compelling student essay: Focus on highlighting a particular moment of discovery rather than summarizing an entire list of extracurriculars. Specific, narrow examples make a stronger impression. Learn how to develop an authentic writing voice that helps your statement stand out.
Transcripts
Applicants must request and upload official academic transcripts covering the prior two academic years and the current fall term directly through the Ravenna portal.
How to support academic performance: 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.
Recommendations
Recommendations are requested and submitted through Ravenna. You must enter contact details for the student’s current 8th-grade English teacher, current 8th-grade math teacher, and their principal, counselor, or advisor. The system emails confidential evaluation forms directly to each educator, and your Ravenna dashboard automatically updates once submissions are complete.
How to get the best recommendation letter: To secure a strong recommendation letter, ensure your child builds genuine relationships with teachers and mentors. Recommenders should highlight your child’s leadership, behavior, and academic impact on the community.
Student Inquiry Activity
Replacing the traditional one-on-one interview, the Student Inquiry Activity is a small group session where candidates work together on a collaborative task, allowing evaluators to observe real-time teamwork, curiosity, and engagement.
How to prepare for the student inquiry activity: Approach the group activity with collaborative confidence. Students should be prepared to listen actively, share ideas constructively, and demonstrate creative problem-solving alongside peers. Comprehensive interview preparation helps students communicate with confidence and authenticity, making a strong impression.
Have Questions About Your Child’s Application?
Cardinal Education’s consultants help families build a complete, compelling UHS application without a standardized test score to lean on.
What Is Student Life Like at San Francisco University High School?
Student life at San Francisco University High School is a vibrant blend of rigorous academics, creative exploration, and community engagement.
Beyond the classroom, students are encouraged to pursue their passions through a diverse array of extracurricular activities, fostering both personal growth and lasting connections within the school community.
Academics
Academic life at San Francisco University High School balances a rigorous core curriculum with high intellectual flexibility, allowing students to pursue specialized interests while maintaining strong foundational training across disciplines.
| Metric | Overview & Academic Feature |
| Course Catalog | 135 total courses across core fields and specialized topics |
| Electives Offered | 111 elective options covering advanced STEM, humanities, and arts |
| Advanced Pathways | 37 Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses available |
| World Languages | Four comprehensive language tracks: Chinese, French, Latin, and Spanish |
This academic structure prepares students for higher education by emphasizing independent research, critical analysis, and customized intellectual development.
Arts
The arts curriculum provides hands-on creative training across performance and visual mediums, supported by purpose-built facilities that host showcase events throughout the year.
- Performance Schedule: 3 annual major music and theater productions staged in a 400-seat campus theater.
- Visual Arts Series: 3 annual student art gallery openings accompanied by a professional artist series.
- Specialized Facilities: Dedicated photography darkrooms, visual arts studios, and custom music rooms featuring an electronic recording setup.
- Community Engagement: Regular public exhibitions and live performances integrated into the school’s calendar.
Students gain technical proficiency and creative confidence, sharing their work with both local and wider school audiences.
Athletics
The Red Devils athletic program focuses on high participation, personal discipline, and championship-level competition across regional and state leagues.
| Athletic Metric | Program Statistics |
| Mascot & Team Identity | Red Devils |
| Student Participation | 81% of students actively compete on interscholastic teams |
| Multi-Sport Athletes | 45% of student-athletes participate in more than one sport |
| Championship Record | 66 league championships, 22 NCS titles, and 16 state titles |
| Collegiate Athletes | 102 student-athletes went on to compete at the collegiate level over the last 7 years |
The athletic department provides equal support to both novice competitors and recruited collegiate athletes through disciplined coaching and team play.
Signature Programs
UHS features flagship, multi-year initiatives designed to extend learning outside the traditional classroom through direct leadership, service, and mentorship.
- Breakthrough Summerbridge: Founded at UHS in 1978, this tuition-free initiative uses a “students teaching students” framework where high school and college fellows mentor middle schoolers during a 6-week summer program and a 2-year school-year session.
- Social Impact Program: A required 4-year curriculum grounded in Empathy, Collaboration, Purpose, and Advocacy—progressing from 9th-grade project coursework to 10th-grade UN SDG research and upperclassman multi-year service projects.
These core programs foster civic responsibility and community partnership, embedding purpose-driven work into the overarching student experience.
Notable Alumni of San Francisco University High School
The legacy of San Francisco University High School is best reflected in the remarkable achievements of its graduates, who embody the school’s commitment to academic rigor, creative expression, and community leadership. Across diverse fields, including athletics, technology, entertainment, and public service, UHS alumni have left an indelible mark on their communities and the world at large.
- Eileen Gu: An Olympic gold medalist and world-champion freestyle skier who gained international acclaim for her record-breaking athletic performances and influence in global sports.
- Ali Wong: An Emmy-winning comedian, actress, and writer whose groundbreaking stand-up specials and screen performances reflect the creative confidence cultivated at UHS.
- Robert Reffkin: Co-founder and CEO of Compass, Inc., whose leadership in tech-driven real estate development demonstrates the entrepreneurial vision fostered by the school.
- Daniel Lurie: Mayor of San Francisco and dedicated civic leader, embodying the spirit of public service, philanthropy, and community engagement central to the UHS mission.
- Deke Sharon: Renowned a cappella producer, arranger, and performer—often credited as the father of modern collegiate a cappella—reflecting the school’s commitment to artistic innovation.
These distinguished graduates serve as a powerful inspiration to current students, illustrating that a foundation built on intellectual curiosity and a commitment to purpose can lead to extraordinary success. Their accomplishments continue to define the UHS legacy, demonstrating that with the right tools and support, students are prepared to make a meaningful, lasting impact on the world.
Expert UHS Admissions Consulting: How Cardinal Education Helps
San Francisco University High School’s highly selective, test-free admissions process means your application rests entirely on transcripts, recommendations, and essays.
Cardinal Education provides white-glove support to help families craft a compelling, standout application for every non-testing component and manage the entire admissions timeline with confidence.
Related Reading
How UHS’s Social Impact Program Builds Across Four Years
Civilization & Arts: A Guide to SFUHS’ Humanities Course
Did You Know?
UHS’s historic Upper Campus building was designed by architect Julia Morgan in 1917 and originally housed the Katherine Delmar Burke School before UHS acquired it in 1975.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UHS have a religious affiliation?
Does UHS require standardized testing?
What is the UHS acceptance rate?
What is UHS known for?
How big is the Asian American population at UHS?
If there’s no test, what does UHS look at?
UHS pushed our daughter academically while giving her a genuine sense of purpose through the Social Impact program. Cardinal Education helped us put together an application that reflected who she really is, since there was no test score to lean on.
— Parent of a 10th Grade UHS Student