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Excellent

#61 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 3% of private schools

Alta Vista School

Elementary School

450 SOMERSET ST, San Francisco, CA 94134

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 114 schools in San Francisco. Learn more

Enrollment

197

Student-Teacher

7:1

Score

8.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In San Francisco

#4 of 74

public schools

California elementary schools

#34 of 1,102

About Alta Vista School

Alta Vista School serves 197 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in San Francisco's vibrant urban landscape. This regular public elementary school stands out with an exceptional 7.0:1 student-teacher ratio, supported by 28 full-time equivalent teachers who can provide personalized attention to each child. The school has earned impressive recognition, ranking #432 out of 1,790 elementary schools across California, placing it in the 76th percentile statewide.

MySchoolScout rates Alta Vista School 9.0 out of 10, reflecting strong overall performance that makes it a standout choice among San Francisco's public elementary options. Alta Vista School is situated in ZIP code 94134, a diverse neighborhood where families enjoy a median household income of $104,247. The area reflects San Francisco's characteristic blend of urban energy and family-focused community living, with median home values of $1,027,600 and a relatively low poverty rate of 11.7%.

About 29% of neighborhood residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, contributing to an education-minded community atmosphere. Located on Somerset Street in this large city setting, Alta Vista School offers students the unique advantages of urban education while maintaining the intimate feel that comes with its small size and excellent student-teacher ratio.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 197 students, Alta Vista School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, Alta Vista School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Alta Vista School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$69,416
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$73,581
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.06x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
88%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$28.9M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 197 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Alta Vista School compares to 84 public schools serving similar grades in San Francisco, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
This School
vs
22.9:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
197
This School
vs
329
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.2
This School
vs
6.9
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 50.3% vs 0%
Asian 27.4% vs 0%
Hispanic 5.6% vs 0%
Black 5.1% vs 0%
Alta Vista School San Francisco Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Alta Vista School (this school) 8.2
Taylor (Edward R.) Elementary 6.0
El Dorado Elementary 5.1
Hillcrest Elementary 2.7
KIPP Bayview Academy 4.2
Revere (Paul) Elementary 4.8
Drew (Charles) College Preparatory Academy 6.7
Visitacion Valley Elementary 6.1
Serra (Junipero) Elementary 7.8
KIPP Bayview Elementary 7.8
Harte (Bret) Elementary 7.4
McLaren (John) Children Centers
Cleveland Elementary 6.3
Monroe Elementary 7.9
Carver (George Washington) Elementary 4.9
San Francisco Community Alternative 8.4
Huerta (Dolores) Elementary 8.1
Flynn (Leonard R.) Elementary 8.3
Malcolm X Academy 2.7
Glen Park Elementary 8.2
Mission Education Center 5.1

Showing 20 of 84 schools. View all schools in San Francisco

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 8.5 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 8.7 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.9 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,311
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 7.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 62%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 197
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 50.3%
Asian 27.4%
Native American 6.1%
Hispanic 5.6%
Two or More 5.6%
Black 5.1%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

450 SOMERSET ST, San Francisco, CA 94134

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Alta Vista School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. GOLDEN BRIDGES SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 0.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Drew (Charles) College Preparatory Academy (rated 6.7/10, 0.9 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Visitacion Valley Elementary (rated 6.1/10, 0.9 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in San Francisco, see our San Francisco schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Taylor (Edward R.) Elementary San Francisco 0.1 mi 6.0
King Jr. (Martin Luther) Academic Middle San Francisco 0.2 mi 6.5
Burton (Phillip and Sala) Academic High San Francisco 0.3 mi 8.7
El Dorado Elementary San Francisco 0.5 mi 5.1
CORNERSTONE ACADEMY-CAMBRIDGE CAMPUS San Francisco 0.5 mi 6.6
GOLDEN BRIDGES SCHOOL San Francisco 0.5 mi 8.4
Cornerstone Academy–Cambridge Campus San Francisco 0.5 mi
Visitacion Valley Middle San Francisco 0.7 mi 6.4
CORNERSTONE ACADEMY San Francisco 0.6 mi 3.9
Hillcrest Elementary San Francisco 0.6 mi 2.7
Marshall (Thurgood) High San Francisco 0.8 mi 5.7
Cornerstone Academy-Silver Campus San Francisco 0.7 mi
KIPP Bayview Academy San Francisco 0.7 mi 4.2
Revere (Paul) Elementary San Francisco 0.9 mi 4.8
Visitacion Valley Elementary San Francisco 0.9 mi 6.1
Brown Jr. (Willie L) Middle San Francisco 0.9 mi 8.4
Drew (Charles) College Preparatory Academy San Francisco 0.9 mi 6.7
Our Lady of the Visitacion Elementary San Francisco 1.1 mi
OUR LADY OF THE VISITACION SCHOOL San Francisco 1.1 mi 5.7
OUR LADY OF THE VISITACION SCHOOL San Francisco 1.1 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94134 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$107,566

Median Home Value

$1,064,100

Median Rent

$1,674/mo

Population

40,142

College Educated

29.9%

Homeownership

64.5%

Avg Commute

32.3 min

Poverty Rate

10.5%

Median Age

44.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Alta Vista School has a median household income of $107,566. It is an area where 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,064,100, with a median rent of $1,674/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.5%. The average commute for residents is 32 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
ADDA CLEVENGER SCHOOL San Francisco, CA 8.2
ALL SAINTS' EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL Carmel, CA 8.2
Albion Street Elementary Los Angeles, CA 8.2
Anaheim Elementary Online Academy Anaheim, CA 8.2
BERKELEY HALL SCHOOL Los Angeles, CA 8.2
Biola-Pershing Elementary Fresno, CA 8.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Alta Vista School

What grades does Alta Vista School serve?

Alta Vista School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Alta Vista School?

Alta Vista School has an enrollment of approximately 197 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Alta Vista School?

The student-teacher ratio at Alta Vista School is 7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Alta Vista School rank in CA?

Alta Vista School is ranked #61 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Alta Vista School's MySchoolScout rating?

Alta Vista School has a composite rating of 8.2 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.

Is Alta Vista School a private school?

Yes, Alta Vista School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Alta Vista School a religious school?

No, Alta Vista School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
83 Very Walkable
Transit Score
68 Good Transit
Bike Score
41 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,559/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
197
Gender Split
46% M / 54% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
Teachers (FTE)
28
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.9 hours
Days Per Year
190 days
Setting
Large City
County
SAN FRANCISCO
Data Year
2022–2023

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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