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Excellent

#89 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 1% in state

Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School

High School · San Francisco Unified

555 Portola Dr., San Francisco, CA 94131

Enrollment

680

Student-Teacher

18.9:1

Score

9.3

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In San Francisco

#4 of 119

public schools

California high schools

#10 of 1,892

In district

#4 of 103

San Francisco Unified

Academic growth

9.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School

Asawa (Ruth) SF School of the Arts is a regular public high school serving grades 9 through 12 in San Francisco, California, with 680 students enrolled. It earns a composite score of 9.3 out of 10 — rated Exceptional — placing it fourth among 119 public schools in San Francisco and tenth among 1,892 high schools across California. Academic performance scores 8.8 out of 10, while the growth score reaches 9.7 out of 10.

That growth figure signals a school actively moving students forward, not just serving students who arrive already prepared. With a student-teacher ratio of 18.9 to 1, class sizes remain manageable for a public school of this size. Statewide, the school ranks 89th out of 9,533 public schools in California — outperforming 99 percent of public schools in the state.

For parents comparing high school options in San Francisco, few public schools come close to matching this combination of academic output and student growth. The consistent performance across both dimensions makes it one of the most competitive public high school choices in California.

What's said publicly about Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

The Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, commonly known as SOTA, is a public alternative high school located in San Francisco, California 1 . Established in 1982, the school operates under the San Francisco Unified School District 1 . Its current campus is situated at 555 Portola Drive, San Francisco, CA 94131 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.7Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change+1.92 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendImproving
Academics8.8Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency59.4%
Reading/ELA Proficiency83.8%
Math vs. State Avg+31.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+27.9 pts
Overall Proficiency72%
Expected (poverty-adj.)65%
vs. Expected+6.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile82th
College Readiness9.5Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation42.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.3Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,682

Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School — Students at Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

18.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 58.6%
School
State
31.8%
ELA Proficiency 78.2%
School
State
51.5%

Based on 6 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2024
Math
59.4%
ELA
83.8%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.7/10.

How Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School Compares

See how Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.3/10
99th percentile in CA
Academic
8.8/10
8.8/10
Growth
9.7/10
Above average
Environment
9.3/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
18%
Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
36 teachers

Location

555 Portola Dr., San Francisco, CA 94131

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Academy (The)- SF @McAteer (rated 7.3/10), a more accessible option. Additionally, ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL (rated 5.7/10, 1.2 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in San Francisco, see our San Francisco schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Academy (The)- SF @McAteer San Francisco 0.0 mi 7.3
S.F. County Court Woodside Learning Ctr San Francisco 0.2 mi
Miraloma Elementary San Francisco 0.4 mi 6.9
ST BRENDAN SCHOOL San Francisco 0.4 mi 5.2
Clarendon Alternative Elementary San Francisco 0.7 mi 8.1
Rooftop Elementary San Francisco 0.8 mi 6.9
Alvarado Elementary San Francisco 0.8 mi 6.9
ST FINN BARR CATHOLIC SCHOOL San Francisco 1.0 mi 5.5
Sunnyside Elementary San Francisco 1.0 mi 5.8
St. Philip School San Francisco 0.9 mi
St. Finn Barr Catholic School San Francisco 1.0 mi
West Portal Elementary San Francisco 0.8 mi 8.7
ST PHILIP SCHOOL San Francisco 0.9 mi 5.2
ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST SCHOOL San Francisco 1.0 mi 7.8
Eureka Learning Center San Francisco 1.0 mi
EUREKA LEARNING CENTER San Francisco 1.0 mi
Wen Jian Ying San Francisco 1.2 mi
WEN JIAN YING San Francisco 1.2 mi
ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL San Francisco 1.2 mi 5.7
Lick (James) Middle San Francisco 1.0 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94131 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$198,779

Median Home Value

$1,749,500

Median Rent

$2,971/mo

Population

27,809

College Educated

77.6%

Homeownership

54%

Avg Commute

32.7 min

Poverty Rate

6%

Median Age

40.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School has a median household income of $198,779. It is a well-educated community where 78% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,749,500, with a median rent of $2,971/month. The local poverty rate of 6.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Abraham Lincoln Senior High Los Angeles, CA 9.3
Healdsburg High Healdsburg, CA 9.3
Laguna Beach High Laguna Beach, CA 9.3
San Marino High San Marino, CA 9.3
Piedmont High Piedmont, CA 9.4
California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley Duarte, CA 9.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School

What grades does Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School serve?

Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School?

Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School has an enrollment of approximately 680 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School?

The student-teacher ratio at Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School is 18.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School rank in CA?

Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School is ranked #89 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School's MySchoolScout rating?

Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School has a composite rating of 9.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School has 58.6% math proficiency and 78.2% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School a charter school?

No, Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School a Title I school?

No, Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School?

18.2% of students at Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
50 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
70 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
58 Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,559/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (San Francisco). Data >1 year old.

Compare This School

How does Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School stack up?

Washington (George) High
9.2
Balboa High
8.9
Compare Selected →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
680
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
36
Free/Reduced Lunch
18.2%
Type
alternative
Setting
Large City
County
San Francisco County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

San Francisco Unified
District Enrollment
48,736
Schools in District
113
Per-Pupil Spending
$22,909
District Rank
#4 of 103

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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