The Urban School of San Francisco

The Urban School of San Francisco, founded in 1966, is a pioneering independent high school for grades 9–12 located in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. Serving approximately 360 students, Urban is nationally recognized for its innovative progressive approach to college preparatory education that prioritizes active learning, student agency, and social justice. WASC-accredited, the school eschews traditional grades in favor of narrative evaluations in the first two years, developing intrinsically motivated learners with exceptional critical thinking skills. Urban's curriculum features interdisciplinary courses, student-designed independent projects, and extensive community engagement. The school is particularly renowned for its exceptional humanities curriculum and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Urban students demonstrate extraordinary creativity and social consciousness, and the school has a strong tradition of alumni leadership in technology, the arts, activism, and public service. College placement outcomes are exceptional, with graduates regularly attending highly selective universities.