Excellent
#308 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 3% in state
Balboa High
High School · San Francisco Unified
1000 Cayuga Ave., San Francisco, CA 94112
Enrollment
1,251
Student-Teacher
21.2:1
Score
8.9
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,251
Student-Teacher
21.2:1
Score
8.9
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In San Francisco
#14 of 119
public schools
California high schools
#38 of 1,892
In district
#14 of 103
San Francisco Unified
Academic growth
9.4 / 10
Exceptional
About Balboa High
Balboa High is a public high school in San Francisco, CA, part of the San Francisco Unified. The school serves approximately 1,251 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 21.2:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.9/10, placing it in the 96.8th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 42% proficiency in math, 10 points above the state average and 67% in reading/language arts, 16 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.4/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $130,906, where 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a large city setting.
What's said publicly about Balboa High
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.
Sources (1)
What Parents Should Know
The student-teacher ratio at Balboa High is 21.2:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Balboa High — Students at Balboa High score 57% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
61.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 6 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.4/10.
How Balboa High Compares
See how Balboa High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 39% (2019) to 43.75% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 62% (2019) to 69.51% (2024).
Location
1000 Cayuga Ave., San Francisco, CA 94112
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Balboa High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. San Francisco Community Alternative (rated 8.4/10, 0.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Monroe Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 0.7 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, SAN FRANCISCO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (rated 7.5/10, 0.8 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in San Francisco, see our San Francisco schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 0.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Denman (James) Middle San Francisco | 0.1 mi | 5.4 |
| City Arts & Leadership Academy San Francisco | 0.2 mi | 6.9 |
| Lick-Wilmerding High School San Francisco | 0.4 mi | — |
| STRATFORD SCHOOL SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco | 0.5 mi | 7.1 |
| SCHOOL OF THE EPIPHANY San Francisco | 0.5 mi | 6.3 |
| Stratford School San Francisco San Francisco | 0.5 mi | — |
| WEN JIAN YING San Francisco | 0.6 mi | — |
| Wen Jian Ying San Francisco | 0.6 mi | — |
| San Francisco Adventist School San Francisco | 0.5 mi | — |
| SAN FRANCISCO ADVENTIST SCHOOL San Francisco | 0.6 mi | — |
| San Francisco Community Alternative San Francisco | 0.6 mi | 8.4 |
| SAN FRANCISCO ISLAMIC SCHOOL San Francisco | 0.7 mi | — |
| St. Finn Barr Catholic School San Francisco | 0.7 mi | — |
| ST FINN BARR CATHOLIC SCHOOL San Francisco | 0.7 mi | 5.5 |
| Monroe Elementary San Francisco | 0.7 mi | 7.9 |
| Sunnyside Elementary San Francisco | 0.8 mi | 5.8 |
| Longfellow Elementary San Francisco | 0.8 mi | 5.8 |
| Cleveland Elementary San Francisco | 0.7 mi | 6.3 |
| Guadalupe Elementary San Francisco | 0.8 mi | 4.5 |
| SAN FRANCISCO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL San Francisco | 0.8 mi | 7.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 94112 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$130,906
Median Home Value
$1,159,600
Median Rent
$2,326/mo
Population
80,133
College Educated
36.1%
Homeownership
67.4%
Avg Commute
31.7 min
Poverty Rate
9%
Median Age
41.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding Balboa High has a median household income of $130,906. It is an area where 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,159,600, with a median rent of $2,326/month. The local poverty rate of 9.0% is relatively low. 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 |
|---|---|
| Downtown Business High Los Angeles, CA | 8.9 |
| Mission Bay High San Diego, CA | 8.9 |
| Albany High Albany, CA | 9.0 |
| Burlingame High Burlingame, CA | 9.0 |
| Cathedral City High Cathedral City, CA | 8.8 |
| Erma Duncan Polytechnical High Fresno, CA | 8.8 |
Compare Balboa High with similar schools nearby
Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Balboa High
What grades does Balboa High serve?
Balboa High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Balboa High?
Balboa High has an enrollment of approximately 1,251 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Balboa High?
The student-teacher ratio at Balboa High is 21.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Balboa High rank in CA?
Balboa High is ranked #308 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Balboa High's MySchoolScout rating?
Balboa High has a composite rating of 8.9 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 Balboa High?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Balboa High has 42.2% math proficiency and 67.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Balboa High a charter school?
No, Balboa High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Balboa High a Title I school?
No, Balboa High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Balboa High?
61.1% of students at Balboa High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 95 Walker's Paradise
- Transit Score
- 89 Excellent Transit
- Bike Score
- 70 Very Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (4,559/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (San Francisco). Data >1 year old.
Compare This School
How does Balboa High stack up?
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,251
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 59
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 61.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- San Francisco County
- Phone
- (415) 469-4090
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
San Francisco Unified- District Enrollment
- 48,736
- Schools in District
- 113
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $22,909
- District Rank
- #14 of 103
Compare This School
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 methodologyRelated reading
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