DISCOVER
UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL
At San Francisco University High School, we engage our community of diverse voices in a transformational experience that embraces the spirited pursuit of learning and empowers purpose larger than self.
At UHS , we embrace education as a transformational experience , empowering our students to invent and sustain their own vision of success and sense of purpose , while also prioritizing wellness and self-care . They, in turn, grow into motivated learners and creators , excited to make their mark on the world . We believe that collaboration among people of diverse backgrounds and life experiences is essential to deep learning , and we challenge our community to engage in learning, reflection, and growth on all levels—not just for four years of high school, but for a lifetime .
zip codes represented year founded total students students of color
WHAT WE VAL E
INQUIRY
Being curious, open-minded, and courageous; seeking out different perspectives and learning from one another; and striving to deepen our understanding of the evolving world.
CARE
Investing wholeheartedly in our work and in one another; cultivating empathy, compassion, mindfulness, and resilience; recognizing and seeking to address injustice.
INTEGRITY
Being truthful, open, honest, and reflective; honoring the wholeness of each individual; acting to fulfill a purpose larger than self.
AGENCY
Taking risks and growing from the experience; pursuing our passions with confidence, creativity, and humility; discovering and making real our own distinctive and evolving expressions of excellence.
INTERCONNECTION
Building and sustaining an intentionally diverse, equitable, and inclusive school; engaging as socially responsible citizens in communities both near and far; recognizing that we form a web through our common humanity–what affects one person affects us all.
INSPIRED BY
INQUIRY
The science teachers at UHS have had a huge impact on the way I think and learn. My science teacher made Honors Biology one of the most engaging classes I've ever taken. He didn’t just teach us the material–he encouraged us to ask questions, think critically, and explore how science connects to the world around us. That kind of support and enthusiasm from my teachers helped me become genuinely curious about topics I never thought I’d be interested in.”
Michael, Class of 2025
University’s Independent Studies Program is a prime example of how students can be the architects of their own education. Each year, over 100 students select a topic they're passionate about and, guided by a faculty advisor, set off on a semester-long journey grounded in inquiry. This work culminates at our bi-annual Independent Study Symposium.
Learning at UHS is an active, collaborative experience that drives students to ask tough questions, think critically, and lean into the challenges that face our world. Our faculty members are experts in both their subject areas and in working with adolescents, and they curate curricula that encourage students to dive into their interests and pursue new ones.
Our students are endlessly curious, and our academic program gives them the space to interrogate the world around them and learn from both their teachers and peers.
Without University’s Independent Study Program, I wouldn’t have deepened my understanding of the Prison Industrial Complex. Along with my friends and a mentor we visited San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Through our research and San Quentin visit, we were able to learn about the experience of prison firsthand. At the same time, and most importantly, our interactions during our visit brought life and conversations to inmates.”
Angel, Class of 2025
GROUNDED IN CARE
At UHS, care is at the core of each person. It is seen in the teachers who work to help every student feel empowered to learn, the athletes who cheer on their teammates, the artists who spend months perfecting their work, and in every classroom on campus. What makes UHS a community rather than a group of random people is that we support each other in order for everyone to reach their full potential.”
Alice, Class of 2025
Our belief in the promise of every student is epitomized by our nationally recognized mentoring program. Grounded in extensive research on adolescent development and cognitive neuroscience, we’ve developed a four-year plan designed to help our students transition and thrive in high school–academically, socially, and emotionally.
Every student is placed in a “cluster,” matched with a faculty mentor trained in how to best support them, and given the time to foster an authentic connection. The result? Confident students who know they are an important part of our community at University and have trusted adults to guide them at every turn.
FACULTY
INTEGRITY
“Playing field hockey, soccer, and lacrosse year round at UHS taught me the importance of time management and balance. Juggling practices, games, and academics pushed me to stay organized and come up with strategies to balance all the activities I was doing. By doing all these commitments I learned how to both fully show up for my teammates, while still showing up for myself in the classroom.”
Eliza, Class of 2025
AVERAGE NUMBER OF YEARS TEACHING AT UHS
We believe that the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and aspirations in our community is what makes UHS extraordinary. We are proud to be a school in and of the San Francisco Bay Area, and we strive not merely to benefit from the variety of opportunities available to us, but also to contribute. Throughout all of their years at UHS, students learn to serve both their school and broader communities through leadership programs like student government and our Community Engagement Program. These experiences empower students to lead lives that embody a “purpose larger than self.”
AGENCY
“I came to UHS a very self-conscious and insecure kid, and I won't say I'm perfect now, but I can definitely see a change in how I see myself and how I feel about myself. I credit the community I found at UHS for this. I've managed to find an amazing community in UHS's Theatre Department, and it has allowed me space to make mistakes and grow in a space I'm comfortable in.”
Adele, Class of 2026
Be it in the classroom, on the athletic fields, or on the stage, UHS students own their high school experience. Our school is not for the complacent. With 60+ student led clubs, 42 athletic teams across 20 sports, and a bevy of productions and events celebrating the visual and performing arts, our students are given every opportunity to pursue their passions.
of UHS students play on at least one team per year. of students participate in the arts beyond the two year requirement. 81% 80%
In our community, we recognize that what affects one of us affects us all. To that end, our students are always in pursuit of understanding the world–and therefore each other–more deeply. This important work happens in classrooms, clubs, affinity spaces, day-long symposiums, and more. By creating and sustaining safe spaces in and out of the classroom for students to explore and share their experiences, our community grows closer and more understanding of the web that connects us.”
Alexandra Simmons, Dean of Student Life
INTERCONNECTION
Our students' work is perpetually rooted in one of our school’s core values: interconnection. University's fundamental belief is in students’ individual and collective responsibility to the broader community.
The affinity group program at UHS provides space for students and their families to celebrate community. Our student-led affinity groups allow our students to gather regularly, while families come together for weekend and evening celebrations to celebrate cultural and spiritual events. The many perspectives and experiences that make up the UHS community provide everyone with a rich and deeper experience.
UHS
With the support of our experienced and supportive college counselors, students map out a path forward that best matches their values, passions, and aspirations. While we take pride in the broad range of excellent colleges and universities our students choose to attend, we are most proud of who they are when they graduate: individuals ready to live a life with “purpose larger than self.”
Below is a list of colleges where five or more UHS students have matriculated between 2021-2025:
At UHS, we view interpersonal relationships as the primary vehicle for learning. True intellectual engagement occurs through taking creative risks and collaborating with both teachers and peers, and we work to foster the deepest learning by creating a climate of both inquiry and care. Wholehearted participation in the kind of transformational education we offer requires that you feel a genuine sense of belonging: knowing that you are seen for who you are, welcome in every space, and that you are essential to the whole. Our school would not be the same without you.”
Nasif Iskander, Interim Head of School
We hope you consider learning more about UHS and the opportunities that abound here. Come to an open house, sign up for a student campus visit, or check out a play or an athletic event.
Here’s how to get started:
• Visit sfuhs.org to learn more about our school community!
• To see important dates and deadlines, sign up for an open house or student campus visit, or to start the application, you must create a Ravenna-Hub account by visiting ravenna-hub.com, and complete a Student Profile. Find San Francisco University High School in the School Directory and click ”Apply.”
• Please visit our admissions home page to find ways to connect with current members of our student and parent community.
For details and updates on our application process, please contact the admissions office by phone (415.447.3101) or email (admissions@sfuhs.org). We look forward to getting to know you!
At UHS, we are committed to access and affordability. We work to build and sustain our community by intentionally seeking, enrolling, and fully supporting a student body representative of the Bay Area, regardless of financial means. Varied perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences among our students and faculty are critical components of a UHS education. To fulfill this commitment, UHS maintains a strong financial aid program to meet the demonstrated need of our families. For the 2025-2026 school year, UHS awarded $5.4 million to 21% of students who participate in the financial aid program; the average tuition cost for families participating in the financial aid program is $15,701. For more information on our financial aid program, please visit our Tuition and Additional Costs tab at sfuhs.org/admissions/welcome
