Skip to main content

Excellent

#61 of 1,787 private schools in CA

Top 3% of private schools

Alta Vista School

Elementary School

450 SOMERSET ST, San Francisco, CA 94134

Private

Enrollment

197

Student-Teacher

7:1

Score

8.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

California private schools

#61 of 1,787

In San Francisco

#4 of 74

public schools

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Alta Vista School?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Alta Vista School

8.2/10

Elementary School in San Francisco · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Taylor (edward R.) Elementary

6.0/10

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

King Jr. (martin Luther) Academic Middle

6.8/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Alta Vista School

Alta Vista School is a private elementary school in San Francisco, CA. Alta Vista School serves approximately 197 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 7:1 student-teacher ratio. Alta Vista School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #61 of 1,787 private schools in CA.

How it compares2.0 pts above CA schools
  • This school 8.2 · Excellent
  • CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

At 197 students, Alta Vista School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 7:1 students to teachers, Alta Vista School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Alta Vista School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

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
6.7
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 3.2
Hillcrest Elementary 4.8
KIPP Bayview Academy 3.9
Revere (Paul) Elementary 3.6
Drew (Charles) College Preparatory Academy 3.6
Visitacion Valley Elementary 6.2
Serra (Junipero) Elementary 6.6
KIPP Bayview Elementary 7.2
Harte (Bret) Elementary 4.6
McLaren (John) Children Centers
Cleveland Elementary 4.9
Monroe Elementary 6.8
Carver (George Washington) Elementary 3.8
San Francisco Community Alternative 6.8
Huerta (Dolores) Elementary 5.5
Flynn (Leonard R.) Elementary 6.3
Malcolm X Academy 2.2
Glen Park Elementary 7.6
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

Preliminary

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 8.3/10, 0.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Visitacion Valley Elementary (rated 6.2/10, 0.9 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Taylor (Edward R.) Elementary (rated 6.0/10, 0.1 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 6.8
Burton (Phillip and Sala) Academic High San Francisco 0.3 mi 8.0
El Dorado Elementary San Francisco 0.5 mi 3.2
CORNERSTONE ACADEMY-CAMBRIDGE CAMPUS San Francisco 0.5 mi 6.6
GOLDEN BRIDGES SCHOOL San Francisco 0.5 mi 8.3
Cornerstone Academy–Cambridge Campus San Francisco 0.5 mi
Visitacion Valley Middle San Francisco 0.7 mi 6.0
CORNERSTONE ACADEMY San Francisco 0.6 mi 3.9
Hillcrest Elementary San Francisco 0.6 mi 4.8
Marshall (Thurgood) High San Francisco 0.8 mi 4.9
Cornerstone Academy-Silver Campus San Francisco 0.7 mi
KIPP Bayview Academy San Francisco 0.7 mi 3.9
Revere (Paul) Elementary San Francisco 0.9 mi 3.6
Visitacion Valley Elementary San Francisco 0.9 mi 6.2
Brown Jr. (Willie L) Middle San Francisco 0.9 mi 8.3
Drew (Charles) College Preparatory Academy San Francisco 0.9 mi 3.6
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

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
BERKELEY HALL SCHOOL Los Angeles, CA 8.2
CRESTVIEW PREPARATORY SCHOOL La Canada Flintridge, CA 8.2
Cardiff Elementary Cardiff-By-The-Sea, CA 8.2
Compton Avenue Elementary Los Angeles, 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 ranks #61 of 1,787 private schools in CA.

What is Alta Vista School's MySchoolScout rating?

Alta Vista School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; 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

Powered by Walk Score

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 County

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.