The 10 Most Popular High School in San Francisco

Finding a great high school for your child to attend can be a daunting task. Not only are you looking for the best possible education and learning opportunities, but also a safe, supportive environment that is going to propel them through their future.

We’re here today to help you narrow down your search by introducing you ten of San Francisco’s best high schools! Here’s what our experts have determined are the absolute cream of the crop when it comes to secondary education in San Francisco—stay tuned for our exclusive list!

The Top 10 High Schools in San Francisco

Abraham Lincoln High School

Address: 2162 24th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94116, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.5 (49)
Phone: +1 415-759-2700
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 8:40 AM – 3:55 PM

Tuesday: 8:40 AM – 3:55 PM

Wednesday: 8:40 AM – 2:45 PM

Thursday: 8:40 AM – 3:55 PM

Friday: 8:40 AM – 3:55 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

I mainly interact with the Biotech program at the school which is one of the better ones in the state and the teachers put a lot of effort into making sure they are teaching relevant material and giving the students opportunities to investigate careers in this field.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Damon Tighe (4 years ago)

I love my old school what you talkin bout

✭✭✭✭✭ By Leslie Gutierrez (5 years ago)

Found out that this school is in a show The Amazing World of Gumball

✭✭✭✭ By Yoshi Crossing (4 years ago)

Graduated from Lincoln. Had great memories from attending this school.

✭✭✭ By Liza Burgos (10 years ago)

Also know as ‘Elmore High’ on The Amazing World of Gumball from Cartoon Network

✭✭✭✭✭ By Berkley Dante (6 years ago)

Mission High School

Address: 3750 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.2 (45)
Phone: +1 415-241-6240
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

I had only attended for a year, but transferred to challenge myself more academically. I would have stayed otherwise! It’s very diverse and has a nice community feel to it (usually). I don’t know if I glorified it in my memories though, as it was 3 years ago. You feel more involved with the school since the number of students isn’t that high.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Kiana Kwong (8 years ago)

Well i go to Galileo, but i am a true mission die heart fan that cant get enough of the bears! my best friend goes to mission and hes just so amazing!! Go bears!!!

✭✭✭✭✭ By frank clay (10 years ago)

Even though I was still dealing with my flashback’s and nightmares. Mission high school is where I met friends. One whom texted me of her photo. Which brought me back to Mission High School.

“I am soo angry that I can scream. Ayayay.”

She had a cold at that time she said that. And she had a cold too.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Kaylee Stein (2 years ago)

I went to mission hs most of my freshman year it is a great school miss most of my friends their that are sophomore now

✭✭✭✭✭ By Mia J (6 years ago)

best/worst four years of my life, but that’s high school. The wellness center is spectacular

✭✭✭✭✭ By RedBacon (6 years ago)

Archbishop Riordan High School

Address: 175 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco, CA 94112, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.3 (44)
Phone: +1 415-586-8200
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 7:45 AM – 3:15 PM

Tuesday: 7:45 AM – 3:15 PM

Wednesday: 7:45 AM – 3:15 PM

Thursday: 7:45 AM – 3:15 PM

Friday: 7:45 AM – 3:15 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

Archbishop Riordan is a great school. My son was happy and thriving in the 4 years he attended. The faculty and staff work hard to do their best for the students. I came to discover that sending your son to an all-male high school is truly a gift and will stay with him his whole life. The family spirit is very apparent. They are all good boys.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Alona Sandoval-Grenacher (4 years ago)

Let me start by saying I am very proud to be a graduate of Riordan High School, which is what the school was called when my two brothers and I attended in the seventies. I am even prouder to be an Alumni Parent and have a son that graduated with honors 36 years later. My son truly enjoyed his time at A.R.H.S. and excelled in many ways. During his 4 years there, he participated in several sports, band, student government, and campus ministry. Upon graduation he moved across the nation to attend Texas Christian University and continued to excel by using the excellent tools he was given at A.R.H.S.. He has since graduated with honors and has found employment utilizing his Degree in Business Administration. In today’s world, that is what all parents wish for; an adult child that graduates from college with the education and skills that makes them employable and equipped to succeed. However, I am most thankful for the moral compass that he was able to develop and refine at A.R.H.S.. The Marianist Education he received and the diverse brotherhood that he is part of has helped him build a strong moral foundation for life. After being away for four years, he continues to interact and enjoy the company of many of his classmates. When I have the opportunity to see him with his Alumni brothers, and see how they are all motivating in positive ways, I feel blessed that he had the opportunity to be a Crusader. If you are contemplating sending your son to A.R.H.S., I can tell you that you would be giving him a gift of a lifetime and sending him well on his way to adulthood.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Steven Herrera (4 years ago)

So far I like it at Riordan it is a pretty chill school and can make friends quick I have gotten a lot more better in English and Math two of my worst subjects!! But I have learned a lot from the teachers it is a great all boys school and one of the Best!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Paris Galarza (6 years ago)

No assistance for students with actual educational needs: ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities, etc. Staff & Faculty fail to recognize “At Risk” students, ignore their needs completely if they do & actually have expelled a student days before graduation instead. The irony of a school that is paid by parents to teach their children the important lessons of life is not lost…the school’s moral compass is dictated by their faith and carried out horrifically by people that can make such a positive difference in a young person’s life but don’t. I am appalled: being better means doing better.

✭ By Zz Namen (9 years ago)

My dad was class of 1962. He loved Riordan so much that he put me into an all boys catholic high school run by Jesuits called Father Duenas Mem.HS [he was martyred by imperial Japanese army troops in Guam 41-44 because he refused to stop saying mass for local islanders] I graduated there in 1986. If we had still been living here then, I surely would’ve gone to Riordan HS. No question about it…

✭✭✭✭✭ By Patrick C. McEvoy (3 years ago)

George Washington High School

Address: 600 32nd Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.1 (44)
Phone: +1 415-750-8400
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 7:45 AM – 3:40 PM

Tuesday: 7:45 AM – 3:40 PM

Wednesday: 7:45 AM – 3:40 PM

Thursday: 7:45 AM – 3:40 PM

Friday: 7:45 AM – 3:40 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

My niece attends school here and loves it very much. She has a lot of options to try out different activities and sports. I would definitely recommend a school like this one for any student who wants to attend. ☺️

✭✭✭✭✭ By Emily Rivas (6 years ago)

Offers a variety of sports, diverse clubs, fun electives. Barely any fights, overall secure environment for our academic progress. Open campus allows us to eat in many places. School is located in a peaceful neighborhood.

✭✭✭✭✭ By J. G. Malverde (6 years ago)

The only good teachers here are Ms Nelson, Ms Hendricks and Mr Camacho
Others are average
Many are racist

School’s Big and clean
Has many language classes
A lot of class choices (AP), sports and clubs

Great teachers and counselors that help you get a job or get in a well fit college
offers handfuls of opportunities for you

I love gwhs’ library
Allows computers and hw help

Be careful of some weird or mean kids in this school
Many are very disrespectful
No smell of weed in school btw

Would recommend to people interested in music, art, computer science, math, and ones that likes or need getting tutor help.

✭✭✭✭✭ By any bite (5 years ago)

Great school. Prepared me for the adult life and taught me skills that will matter for the rest of my life

✭✭✭✭✭ By Lukas Gulbinas (4 years ago)

I graduated from this school many years again! Overall impression was good.

✭✭✭✭ By David Lee (5 years ago)

Lowell High School

Address: 1101 Eucalyptus Dr, San Francisco, CA 94132, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.4 (38)
Phone: +1 415-759-2730
Website: Link
Reviews:

Yes. It’s hard and competitive. It does prepare you for college. (In fact, college felt easy compared to Lowell.) Be humbled, knowing you won’t always be the best at something. I’ve made lifelong friends there and happy to be a graduate from Lowell. (Perspective from the early 2000s….not recently.)

✭✭✭✭✭ By Jonathan Lui (6 years ago)

Gave me a good start to college. Yes it’s nerdy but I want an education, not parties. Yes it’s heavily Asian but you are admitted on merit and grades, not race. As a parent I have no problems with either.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Lilian B (6 years ago)

it think this school had some good people there and some nongood people there. i didn’t like the looks of the houses in the neighborhood. they cost $1million or more and want to make people feel depressed by looking at them. our architecture teacher told the seniors to look into Cal State San Luis Obispo and that where Weird Al went. I wasted time on my architecture homework at this school. i was in the russian club. too bad we didn’t go to russia. they wouldn’t let us i guess. i also waited for an algebra 2 book for 3 weeks and then i guess i was in the wrong class. the geometry teacher could write faster on the board than you could in your notebook. my freshman class was so dull i had to flea and transfer

✭✭✭✭ By Kel Moy (6 years ago)

Although challenging, the challenge only gave me and my friends much to learn. Taught me how to be much more responsible and up to my grades and work. It has great clubs and its afterschool clubs/programs are all well developed. Truly loved it.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Drew .Min (9 years ago)

A very good place to learn, I mean really learning something. You have to do a lot of work though. Self teaching is also part of learning, too.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Bing Sun (4 years ago)

Phillip and Sala Burton Academic School

Address: 400 Mansell St, San Francisco, CA 94134, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.9 (34)

Balboa High School

Address: 1000 Cayuga Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4 (31)

John O’Connell Technical High School

Address: 2355 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.8 (24)

San Francisco High School of the Arts

Address: 1950 Page St, San Francisco, CA 94117, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 5 (20)

San Francisco International High School

Address: 655 De Haro St, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.4 (18)

Thank you for reading! We hope this list helps you find the best high schools in San Francisco. If you have any additional information, please leave a comment below!