How to Get Into The Urban School of San Francisco

Overview

Urban School of San Francisco is a coeducational high school found in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco California. It has a total student population of 420 with a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1. This small ratio ensures that each and every student is given the proper attention and support that they need to succeed in Urban’s rigorous environment. Urban School was founded in 1966 by a team of parents who longed for an experiential school experience that prioritized their children’s needs. Since then, the Urban School of San Francisco has been a pioneer in educational excellence. The school is nationally regarded for its innovations in block scheduling and integrated service learning. Urban is also the first independent high school in California to have a 1:1 laptop program, guaranteeing a personalized learning device to every single student. 

How hard is it to get into the Urban School of San Francisco? 

Because of Urban School’s prime location and reputation as a top school in San Francisco, many parents aspire to send their children to it. With the main entry point of Urban School being grade 9, it receives a whopping 750 or so applicants per year. Of these applicants, the school admits approximately 101-110 students. This makes admissions incredibly competitive as the school only admits around 15% of applicants, making it more competitive than the national average for private school admissions and even more competitive than some colleges. Transfer students for grades 10 and 12 are admitted based on space while transferring into 12th grade is not allowed at all. 

To increase your child’s chances of admission into Urban School of San Francisco, you should seek the help of private school admissions consultants. Our experts understand the complex admissions process and can offer strategies to maximize your child’s potential and help them stand out from the rest. 

Urban School of San Francisco Application 

Students begin the application process by creating an account on Ravenna, an application portal used by many private schools. After creating an account and signing up to apply at Urban, applicants can fill out and submit their application requirements and monitor their application status. To complete your application, here are the steps to follow: 

1. Submit the application
2. Sign up for an admissions interview (Optional)
3. Complete the parent statement
4. Complete the personal statement
5. Delegate teacher recommendations
6. Request a transcript

Urban School of San Francisco Admissions 

Admissions Interview

Students are invited to take part in an optional admissions interview to get to know Urban School better and to share more about themselves with admissions officers. There are two for students to choose from. The first is the traditional interview which takes place over Zoom. Slots for such an interview are limited and are on a first-come, first-served basis. The second option is a Student Video Submission. Students, in no more than 5 minutes, can introduce themselves through a fun and casual video where they’re free to be themselves. 

Although optional, this step is a must according to our admissions consultants. They have over 20 years of experience in the industry and understand that admissions officers will use this optional application requirement to assess and evaluate your child. We suggest informed interview preparation to build up your child’s confidence and help them stand out whether in the traditional interview format or a video! 

Personal Statement

An applicant has to answer a variety of questions on Ravenna. Some of these questions feature a very limited allowed word or character count while others feature no word or character count at all. These questions will ask your child about their expectations of Urban School while also asking questions on things such as personality, skills, and interests. While these questions may seem simple, admissions officers will use your child’s answers to gauge if your child will fit in well with the school community.    

We have years of experience guiding children on how to best answer personal statements. Our team of private school admissions consultants knows what admissions officers are looking for and can help your child identify what traits and characteristics to highlight in their answers. For some tips on how to write a compelling personal statement, click here. 

Parent Statement

Parents must fill out the Parent Statement, also known as the Parent Questionnaire, which is found on Ravenna. There are seven questions in total that can be answered with no word or character limit. These questions cover your family’s interest in the Urban school and also ask for information relevant to your child’s application. Answering these questions well and clearly is important so that admissions officers can clearly grasp whether your family’s values align with the values of Urban. 

Teacher Recommendations/Recommendation Letters

Letters of recommendation give admission officers a thorough look into your child’s character, personality, and academic aptitude through a professional and unbiased lens. Your child’s teachers see your child on a near-daily basis and their observations are invaluable insight into how your child acts as an individual. 

It’s for this reason that most schools require teacher recommendations as part of the application process. Urban School is much the same and requires these from your child’s current english and math teachers as well as from an administrative figure like the principal or counselor. The forms are available on Ravenna, where the recommender may submit their letter directly to the Uran admissions committee. 

Transcript

To determine your child’s readiness to handle Urban’s rigorous curriculum, a transcript is a required part of the application process. The release and confidentiality forms may be downloaded from Ravenna where your child’s current school will submit records from the previous school year as well as from the current one.  

Are your child’s grades not all that amazing though? We have a team of tutors and academic coaches ready to work with your child and maximize their full potential. Our online or in-person tutoring covers a variety of courses and starts with diagnostic testing to assess where your child stands academically. While GPA boosting is positive, we understand that it does not guarantee success which is why we also provide academic coaching to teach executive function skills. 

Urban School of San Francisco Alumni

1. Zelda Williams – an American actress and daughter of comedian Robin Williams. 
2. Hannah Dreier – an American journalist who has won Pulitzer Prizes in both the Feature Writing and Investigative Reporting categories. 
3. Matt Deakin – an American Olympic champion who won the gold medal in the men’s eight category for rowing. 
4. Allison Elliott – an American actress known for her role in the 1997 film The Wings of the Dove.
5. Jené Morris – a former professional basketball player in the WNBA. 
6. Rebecca Walker – an American author and activist known for being a prominent voice of Third Wave Feminism.  
7. Onome Ojo – a Nigeran-American who formerly played as a wide receiver in the NFL.
8. Frances Dinkelspiel – an American author and journalist who founded the news website Berkeleyside. 
9. Phoebe Gloeckner – an American cartoonist and illustrator who wrote the graphic novel The Diary of a Teenage Girl which has since been adapted into a feature film. 
10. Bobby Chinn – an American chef and television personality known as the host of TLC’s World Cafe, and as a judge on MBC’s Top Chef Middle East. 

Student Life at Urban School of San Francisco

Urban emphasizes the importance of a school environment that is built on trust, honesty, and mutual respect. This is reflected in the healthy and inclusive community that pushes students to follow their interests and passions through the wide range of opportunities available at Urban. Students have athletics, arts, extracurriculars, and a variety of programs for students to develop their skills and further open their minds. Furthermore, Urban has a reliable student wellness & support team that offers counseling and a variety of other services to help students tackle the difficulties of not just school but of the world around them.    

Urban School of San Francisco Academics

Urban’s academic mission is one that asks teachers to challenge themselves the same way they challenge students—by questioning convention in order to unlock something greater than themselves. This is reflected in the rich and extensive curriculum at Urban which goes just beyond core academic classes. The school has a large number of specialized courses, advanced electives, and creative courses, all often found at the college level. Academics at Urban pushes students to become future leaders ready to impart positive change to their community. Students grow as stewards with an active mindset that is enriched with social responsibility.  

Urban School of San Francisco Athletics

The athletics program at Urban offers a variety of sports for both competitive athletes and students trying out new sports. The program is built on the values of respect, discipline, integrity, commitment, physical fitness, sportsmanship, leadership, and teamwork. The school offers cross country, flag football, golf, sailing, tennis, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball, fencing, lacrosse, softball, swimming, and track across three different seasons.

Urban School of San Francisco Arts

Arts at the Urban School is designed to help students understand their creative passions and teach them how to express these with intent and skill. Urban’s Visual and Performing Arts Departments encompass the disciplines of Visual Arts, Theater, and Music. Students can take a wide array of classes such as Architectural Design, Essentials of Comedy, Chamber Orchestra, and so much more! Through the arts, students are expected to grow as individuals, leaders, and artists as they take risks that form the heart of the creative process.  

Activities at Urban School of San Francisco

The Urban School of San Francisco has a variety of offerings for students to truly find ways to commit to the school’s mission of igniting a passion for learning. There are affinity and ally spaces, student clubs, and leadership opportunities available to cultivate new interests and connect with peers of the same interest. Examples of some of these include American-Born Confused Desis, Learning Difference and Neurodiversity, Beyblades Club, The Climbing Club, Conduct Review Committee, Peer Tutors, and more!