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. 3
year founded
543
4
total students
59
students of color
54
zip codes represented
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
INTERCONNECTION
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.
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. 5
INSPIRED BY
INQUIRY
For my junior year independent study, I focused on US film propaganda during WWII and the Vietnam War. Not only did my studies allow me to focus on something I was interested in, it also taught me how to manage my time and communicate with my advisor. It was a great experience and I loved presenting my project to the school at the end of the year.” Nina, Class of 2026 6
University’s Independent Study 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.
8:1
STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO
I appreciate how self-motivated students are. I think that UHS fosters an environment where students have tons of resources at their disposal, and UHS does a good job of encouraging students to be independent and reach out for these resources on their own. Because of this, I think UHS students are well equipped to ask for help, which is a skill that I truly believe is invaluable.” Amelia, Class of 2026 7
GROUNDED IN
CARE
Our Arts Department works so hard to let students express themselves and speak in languages that the world doesn’t always have space for. It doesn’t fault students for not being picture perfect so long as the they’re pushing themselves to try and find new parts of themselves to speak into the world.” Adele, Class of 2026 8
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.
100+
INDEPENDENT STUDY PROJECTS PER YEAR
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.
51%
FACULTY OF COLOR
9
UHS taught me that
working through hard problems is a lot less intimidating when you’re not doing it alone. Because the community is so close, there’s no cutthroat competition in the classroom. Kids actually collaborate, ask questions without fear, and work through things together.” Jasper, Class of 2026
COMMITTED TO
INTEGRITY
10
10
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.”
96
MIDDLE SCHOOLS REPRESENTED 11
EMPOWERED BY
AGENCY
UHS has helped me develop independence in ways I didn’t expect. Choosing my own courses, managing a demanding schedule, and taking ownership of complex projects has taught me how to be genuinely self-directed. By senior year, you realize just how much you’ve grown in your ability to navigate life on your own terms.” Eli, Class of 2026 12
135
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 90+ student led clubs, 37 athletic teams across 16 sports, and a bevy of productions and events celebrating the visual and performing arts, our students are given every opportunity to pursue their passions.
40
MENTORS WHO SPEND 40+ HOURS IN TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
COURSES OFFERED
13
81%
of UHS students play on at least one team per year.
82%
of students participate in the arts beyond the two-year requirement.
13
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.”
ENRICHED BY
Alexandra Simmons, Dean of Student Life
INTERCONNECTION
14
85%
OF FACULTY HAVE ADVANCED DEGREES
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.
111
ELECTIVES OFFERED
AVERAGE CLUSTER SIZE
13 15
Beyond
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 2022-2026: COLLEGE
ATTEND
COLLEGE
ATTEND
Barnard College
6
Tufts University
10
Boston College - Massachusetts
12
Tulane University of Louisiana
14
Boston University
7
University of California-Berkeley
18
Brown University
8
University of California-Los Angeles
11
Columbia University
10
University of California-San Diego
9
Cornell University
10
University of California-Santa Barbara
7
Dartmouth College
10
University of Chicago
22
Georgetown University
14
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
7
Harvard University
5
University of Pennsylvania
10
Haverford College
8
University of Southern California
13
New York University
17
University of Washington-Seattle
6
Northeastern University
7
Vanderbilt University
15
Occidental College
5
Wake Forest University
6
Pitzer College
9
Washington University in St Louis
12
Pomona College
7
Wesleyan University
6
Princeton University
7
Yale University
8
Stanford University
32
16
UHS is a school where adults believe in the promise of every student, and we work together
to build a community where each individual can flourish. It’s an exhilarating place to be, because the brilliant, creative, and kind people who surround you inspire you to be your best self. People here invest fully in their work and in one another, and that results in an environment that fosters growth, nourishes innovation, and celebrates authenticity.” Kate Garrett, Director of College Counseling
42
PEER ADVISORS, JUNIORS AND SENIORS THAT WORK CLOSELY WITH EACH CLUSTER OF YOUNGER STUDENTS
17
Applying to
UHS
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.”
APPLY HERE
ravenna-hub.com
For details and updates on our application process, please contact: Office of Admissions and Financial Aid 415.447.3101 admissions@sfuhs.org.
41 18
ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND HONORS CLASSES
Affording
UHS
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 2026-2027 school year, UHS awarded $6.1 million to 23% of students through the financial aid program; the average tuition cost for families participating in the financial aid program is $18,489.
$6.1M
FINANCIAL AID AWARDED FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid San Francisco University High School 3065 Jackson Street San Francisco, CA 94115 415.447.3101 | admissions@sfuhs.org