Best Parochial Schools in San Francisco, CA

Preschool

St. Philip Preschool is a Catholic, play-based program fully integrated with the elementary school, focused on the whole child's academic, spiritual, social, and emotional development in a large open classroom with a dedicated outdoor play area.

Transitional Kindergarten

St. Philip's kindergarten through 8th grade program is a Catholic elementary school rooted in faith and values, offering a rigorous academic curriculum that includes Spanish, Art, Music, Technology, and Physical Education, alongside enrichment activities and a comprehensive sports program.

Preschool

Holy Name Preschool is a Catholic preschool that focuses on the cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual development of each child, with a nutritional lunch, snacks, and music, soccer, and sports programs included in the curriculum at no extra cost.

Kindergarten

Holy Name's full-day kindergarten program follows California State Standards infused with Catholic teachings, with hands-on learning in small group stations, weekly Mass, and a year-long mentorship pairing each kindergartner with a fifth-grade buddy.

Pre-Kindergarten Program

Kindergarten

The kindergarten program at St. Paul's is a full-day offering within this WCEA- and WASC-accredited Catholic K–8 school in Noe Valley, where the curriculum covers English language arts, math, science, social studies, and religion, supplemented by PE, library, technology, and music.

Preschool Program

The Caterpillar Class is St. Anne's preschool program, focused on routines, group socialization, and foundational experiences in art, science, early number and letter concepts, music, and gross motor activities, with projects that are theme-based and emerge from children's interests.

Pre-Kindergarten Program

The Pre-Kindergarten Program (Giraffe Class) uses a structured, child-led curriculum designed to build kindergarten readiness through math and science concepts, early reading and writing, art, gross motor and dramatic play, and social development — all within St. Anne's Catholic environment that fosters spiritual, intellectual, and physical growth.

TK

St. John's TK program is the entry point to a Catholic TK–8 school in San Francisco's Glen Park neighborhood, where instruction is rooted in the Ursuline tradition and shaped by high academic standards, service, and compassion. The school holds dual WCEA and WASC accreditation, including WASC's highest available six-year term.

Elementary Program

The elementary program covers grades 1–5 with daily instruction in English language arts, math, science, social studies, and religion, supplemented by weekly Spanish and rotating classes in music, dance, technology, and art, all within St. John's WASC- and WCEA-accredited Catholic curriculum aligned to California Common Core standards.

Kindergarten

St. Peter's kindergarten uses a 50/50 Dual Language Immersion model, with half the school day taught in English and half in Spanish, covering subjects including English Language Arts, Religion, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, P.E., and Technology.

Elementary

St. Peter's elementary program (grades K–5) builds foundational skills in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, and nurtures Catholic faith through religion class, Masses, and prayer services. The school holds dual accreditation from WCEA and WASC, and offers a Dual Language Immersion curriculum with instruction in both English and Spanish.

K-8 Program

Saint Brigid Academy's K-8 program is a micro Catholic school built around a 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio, serving neurodivergent and academically gifted students through personalized instruction, multiage classrooms, and a whole-child approach that addresses spiritual, intellectual, social-emotional, and physical development.

Extension Program

The Extension Program provides supervised after-school care for Saint Brigid Academy students, with activities including arts and crafts, outdoor play, STEM, sports, and homework support.

TK

The TK program is the entry point to School of the Epiphany's Catholic TK–8 academic community, which has served students of diverse backgrounds since 1938 and is accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA).

Elementary School

School of the Epiphany's elementary program is part of a Catholic TK–8 school that has served San Francisco students since 1938, challenging them to achieve educational excellence within a Catholic tradition.

Tiny Knights Preschool

Tiny Knights Preschool uses a play-based curriculum that emphasizes social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development through varied indoor and outdoor activities including art, music, and motor development. The program is part of St. Gabriel's Catholic parish school community and collaborates with families to support each child's individual growth.

TK & Kindergarten

The TK & Kindergarten program is part of St. Gabriel's Catholic elementary school, which integrates Christian values into academics and holds dual accreditation from the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Transitional Kindergarten

Transitional Kindergarten is the entry point to St. Cecilia's TK–8 Catholic academic program, where students begin developing as lifelong learners, effective communicators, and active Christians guided by Gospel values.

Elementary School

St. Cecilia's elementary program is part of a WCEA-accredited TK–8 Catholic school where parents and teachers collaborate to support each student's academic, spiritual, and social development, with instructional aides supporting classrooms through sixth grade.

Laura Vicuña Pre-K

Laura Vicuña Pre-K is the preschool program at Saints Peter and Paul School, emphasizing curiosity, creativity, and exploration through play in an environment designed to foster an early love of learning.

Elementary School

The elementary school program at Saints Peter and Paul School spans kindergarten through fifth grade and extends learning beyond the common core through a curriculum that includes Spanish, Italian, art, coding, robotics, and physical education, alongside core academic subjects.

Transitional Kindergarten

Elementary School

St. Stephen Preschool

St. Stephen Preschool is a faith-based preschool program whose mission centers on educating the whole child—spiritually and intellectually—within a nurturing, inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports each child's individual pace of learning.

Kindergarten

Grades 1–5 is part of St. Stephen School's K-8 Catholic academic program, accredited by both WCEA and WASC, with curriculum grounded in Archdiocesan Guidelines and California State Standards alongside integrated faith formation.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten at St. Vincent de Paul is the entry point to the school's Catholic K-8 academic program, where religious education is described as "the heart" of school life and Gospel values are woven through all subject matter, including core subjects such as language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

Kindergarten

St. Vincent de Paul School's K–8 program delivers Catholic education rooted in experiential, innovative, and courageous learning, with a core curriculum spanning Religion, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science, alongside co-curriculars including Italian, Visual and Performing Arts, and Physical Education.

Utopia Preschool

Utopia Preschool is a separate preschool program at St. Thomas More that emphasizes each child's individuality while building community among peers, families, and staff, with a focus on diversity, curiosity, and early foundations for learning.

Transitional Kindergarten

Transitional Kindergarten at St. Thomas More is the entry point to the school's TK–8 Catholic academic program, which combines core academic instruction with a faith-based curriculum grounded in Catholic values and a focus on spiritual, intellectual, and social growth.

K-8 Program

St. Finn Barr Catholic School's K-8 program is rooted in Catholic faith and serves a diverse community, with a mission to develop critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and compassionate students who live Gospel values.

Middle School

St. Finn Barr's middle school program serves grades 6–8 within a Catholic academic community dedicated to developing critical thinkers and lifelong learners who live Gospel values. Middle schoolers complete grade-level service hour requirements and are supported by a dedicated subject-specialist team covering language arts, math, science, and social studies.

Elementary School

St. Brendan Parish School is a Catholic parish elementary school serving kindergarten through eighth grade, accredited by both the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), with a mission rooted in faith, academic excellence, and service to others.

Middle School

Archbishop Riordan High School

Archbishop Riordan High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory high school in the Marianist tradition, offering a rigorous academic curriculum alongside a house system and co-curricular activities grounded in values of faith, community, inclusivity, service, and justice.

Elementary School

Middle School

High School

Elementary School

Middle School