SFUSD
The Facts
Quick, citable truths about San Francisco's public schools. Each fact has a permanent link — share freely.
Every Student Who Leaves SFUSD Takes $10,000+ in Annual Funding With Them
California's school funding formula ties dollars directly to attendance. When a family opts out of SFUSD, the district loses more than $10,000 in annual operating revenue — while fixed costs like buildings, staff, and utilities remain. This compounds across hundreds of departing students each year.
SFUSD's Budget Is Now Balanced After Facing Potential State Takeover
SFUSD faced a serious fiscal crisis — if the budget had not been balanced, the district risked entering state receivership and losing local control. The new superintendent and Board of Education understood the stakes. The $114M deficit has been eliminated through back-office reductions, early retirements, and restructuring — while keeping all teachers employed. SFUSD is now in a significantly more stable position.
Opting Out of SFUSD Has a Direct Negative Fiscal Impact on Every Child Who Stays
California public schools are funded based on attendance. Every family that chooses a private school takes $10,000+ in annual operating funding out of SFUSD — while the district's fixed costs (buildings, staff, utilities) remain unchanged. Even families who pay private school tuition are still funding public schools through taxes; they simply redirect that funding away from the children who remain. Opting out is not a neutral act.
White Children Are Significantly Underrepresented in SFUSD Relative to the City
Approximately 30% of San Francisco's school-age children are White, yet only about 13% of SFUSD students are White. By contrast, local private schools are approximately 60% White. This racial opt-out pattern concentrates both privilege and funding outside the public system.
SFUSD's Enrollment Decline Is Primarily a COVID Story, Not a Quality Story
The dominant narrative — that families are "fleeing" a troubled SFUSD — is largely incorrect. San Francisco already had fewer children per capita than any other major U.S. city before the pandemic. COVID accelerated the departure of families with young children specifically in response to school closures. Enrollment has stabilized post-COVID, but many of those families are not coming back. The data does not support a story of quality-driven flight.
Private Schools Are Not Required to Report Their Demographic Data
When comparing SFUSD's demographics to local private schools, a striking asymmetry emerges: SFUSD is required to publish detailed demographic data, while private schools are not. The ~60% White enrollment figure cited for local private schools comes from available self-reported data — the full picture may be even more stark. You cannot compare what private schools will not disclose.
SFUSD Graduates Outperform Local Private Schools on UC Admissions
SFUSD graduates are admitted to University of California schools at a 76.5% rate — roughly 15 percentage points higher than graduates of local private schools. This is one of the most underreported facts about public school quality in San Francisco.
SFUSD Offers More Dual-Language Immersion Programs Than Nearly Any US District
SFUSD operates more than 14 dual-language immersion programs spanning Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean. These programs produce demonstrably bilingual graduates — a rare and valuable outcome that most private schools simply cannot offer.
SFUSD's 77 Elementary Schools Offer Over 100 Distinct Academic Programs
SFUSD's 77 elementary schools house more than 100 distinct academic programs, including STEAM pathways, dual-language immersion in five languages, arts-integrated curricula, and special education. This breadth of choice within the public system is exceptional and largely unmatched by private alternatives.
SFUSD's College Prep Rate Is the Best in California
Among all California public school districts, SFUSD graduates are among the most prepared for UC and CSU admission. In 2023-24, 72% of San Francisco county graduates met the A-G course requirements — among the highest rates in the state. This is the district the negative headlines describe.
SFUSD Teachers Have More Experience, Higher Credentials, and Better Pay Than Their Private School Counterparts
Comparisons between public and private school teachers are difficult, but the data consistently shows that public school teachers have more years of experience, more advanced degrees and higher certifications, and are paid substantially better. SFUSD teachers are trained professionals who are credentialed by the state and dedicated to their communities — not a compromise you make by choosing public school.
SFUSD Reinstated Algebra and Is Rolling Out a Fully New K-8 Math Curriculum
SFUSD briefly and controversially eliminated middle school algebra. After significant community outcry, algebra was reinstated. A wholly new K-8 Math Curriculum was approved by the Board of Education and began rolling out in Fall 2025, including digital tools, family resources, and targeted support for 8th grade math improvement. The district heard the feedback and acted.
Most Families Get Their First-Choice SFUSD School
69% of families who apply to SFUSD receive their first-choice school assignment. When expanded to the top three choices, the vast majority of applicants are placed at a school they actively wanted.
SFUSD Has Lost Thousands of Students Over the Past Decade
SFUSD enrollment has declined significantly over the past decade, dropping from over 55,000 students. The decline accelerated during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Lower enrollment means less state funding, triggering school closures and program cuts that affect every remaining student.
85% of Kindergarten Families Receive One of Their Top Three Schools
In AY25-26, 85% of SFUSD kindergarten applicants were assigned to one of their top three school choices. The lottery is more effective at matching families to preferred schools than most people assume.
94% of SFUSD Students Receive At Least Their Neighborhood School
Families with an attendance area tiebreaker — meaning they live near their neighborhood school — are extremely likely to receive that school or a school they ranked higher. In AY25-26, 94% of such kindergarten applicants were assigned to at least their neighborhood school. The lottery is far less of a gamble than the reputation suggests.
You Cannot Game the SFUSD Lottery — List Your True Preferences
The SFUSD lottery uses a deferred acceptance algorithm that is strategy-proof: any school you ranked higher than your assigned school is full of students with higher priority than you. Misrepresenting your preferences cannot improve your outcome — it can only hurt you. The single best thing you can do is list schools in the order you actually want them.
Students in Diverse Schools Show Stronger Critical Thinking and Civic Skills
Peer-reviewed research consistently finds that students educated in racially and socioeconomically diverse environments develop stronger problem-solving, empathy, and civic engagement skills — advantages that persist into adult life. SFUSD's diverse student body is a feature, not a bug.
There Is No Systemic Safety Crisis in SFUSD — and Metrics Have Improved Steadily Since 2022
Student socioemotional development suffered nationwide during COVID — SFUSD was no exception. But there is no systemic issue with student behavior in SFUSD, and school climate metrics have been improving steadily since 2022. Separately, SF voters passed $1.2B in school bonds to repair deteriorating facilities and strengthen community infrastructure.