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Very Good

#460 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 26% of private schools

Sterne School

School

838 KEARNY ST, San Francisco, CA 94108

Private Estimated Score

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

Enrollment

173

Student-Teacher

6.4:1

Score

7.1

Grades

4th – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In San Francisco

#28 of 74

public schools

California schools

#103 of 366

About Sterne School

Sterne School serves 173 students in grades 4 through 12 as a regular public school in San Francisco's vibrant downtown area. With just 27 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 6.4:1, allowing for highly personalized attention and individualized instruction. The school has earned a strong 9.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks in the 50th percentile among California's 1,790 schools, placing it at #903 statewide.

This solid performance reflects the school's commitment to student development across its unique grade 4-12 structure, which allows younger and older students to learn together in a continuous educational environment. Sterne School draws from a diverse urban community where nearly half of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, creating an educationally supportive environment. The surrounding neighborhood reflects San Francisco's characteristic diversity, with a median household income of $68,768 and home values averaging $1.3 million, typical of the city's competitive real estate market.

Located on Kearny Street in the heart of San Francisco, Sterne School sits in one of the nation's most culturally rich and dynamic large cities, offering students access to world-class museums, educational institutions, and career opportunities right outside their classroom doors.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 173 students, Sterne 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 6.4:1, Sterne 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, Sterne 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
$50,922
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$49,454
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
0.97x — Tight
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
84%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$27.8M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 173 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Sterne School compares to 120 public schools serving similar grades in San Francisco, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
6.4:1
This School
vs
21.3:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
173
This School
vs
468
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.1
This School
vs
6.9
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 56.6% vs 0%
Asian 16.8% vs 0%
Hispanic 9.8% vs 0%
Black 8.1% vs 0%
Sterne School San Francisco Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Sterne School (this school) 7.1
Lee (Edwin and Anita) Newcomer
Chin (John Yehall) Elementary 9.4
Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary 8.3
Parker (Jean) Elementary 9.5
Garfield Elementary 6.9
The New School of San Francisco 6.8
Francisco Middle 5.8
Yick Wo Elementary 6.9
Spring Valley Elementary 4.7
Redding Elementary 3.8
Galileo High 8.5
Sherman Elementary 5.2
Tenderloin Community 6.0
Five Keys Charter (SF Sheriff's) 5.6
Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) 5.5
Carmichael (Bessie)/FEC 3.5
S.F. County Civic Center Secondary 7.5
San Francisco Public Montessori 5.9
Parks (Rosa) Elementary 5.0
Marina Middle 7.1

Showing 20 of 120 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 8.9 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 6.4:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C- 2.3 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.1 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,061.4
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 173
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 56.6%
Asian 16.8%
Hispanic 9.8%
Black 8.1%
Two or More 7.5%
Native American 1.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

838 KEARNY ST, San Francisco, CA 94108

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sterne School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Parker (Jean) Elementary (rated 9.5/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Chin (John Yehall) Elementary (rated 9.4/10, 0.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 0.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in San Francisco, see our San Francisco schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Sterne School San Francisco 0.0 mi
Lee (Edwin and Anita) Newcomer San Francisco 0.1 mi
Sovereign Private School San Francisco 0.2 mi
Chin (John Yehall) Elementary San Francisco 0.2 mi 9.4
Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary San Francisco 0.2 mi 8.3
Stockton (Commodore) Children Center San Francisco 0.2 mi
CUMBERLAND CHINESE SCHOOL San Francisco 0.2 mi 6.2
Ecole Notre Dame Des Victoires San Francisco 0.3 mi
ECOLE NOTRE DAME DES VICTOIRES SCHOOL San Francisco 0.3 mi 7.4
Garfield Elementary San Francisco 0.4 mi 6.9
Parker (Jean) Elementary San Francisco 0.4 mi 9.5
Fusion Academy San Francisco San Francisco 0.4 mi
FUSION ACADEMY SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco 0.5 mi
STS PETER & PAUL SCHOOL San Francisco 0.5 mi 7.5
Enlighten Academy San Francisco 0.6 mi
Cathedral School for Boys San Francisco 0.5 mi
Francisco Middle San Francisco 0.7 mi 5.8
The New School of San Francisco San Francisco 0.6 mi 6.8
Yick Wo Elementary San Francisco 0.8 mi 6.9
Splash Learning Online San Francisco 0.8 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94108 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$63,864

Median Home Value

$1,207,500

Median Rent

$1,562/mo

Population

11,008

College Educated

45.3%

Homeownership

9.1%

Avg Commute

27.1 min

Poverty Rate

19.7%

Median Age

45.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Sterne School has a median household income of $63,864. It is a well-educated community where 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,207,500, with a median rent of $1,562/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.7%. The average commute for residents is 27 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
Davis School for Independent Study Davis, CA 7.1
JOAN MACY SCHOOL La Verne, CA 7.1
ORANGE CRESCENT SCHOOL Garden Grove, CA 7.1
PALM VALLEY SCHOOL Rancho Mirage, CA 7.1
SPIRIT ACADEMY Orange, CA 7.1
Wilson Alternative Santa Clara, CA 7.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sterne School

What grades does Sterne School serve?

Sterne School serves students in grades 4th through 12th.

How many students attend Sterne School?

Sterne School has an enrollment of approximately 173 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sterne School?

The student-teacher ratio at Sterne School is 6.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Sterne School rank in CA?

Sterne School is ranked #460 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Sterne School's MySchoolScout rating?

Sterne School has a composite rating of 7.1 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 Sterne School a private school?

Yes, Sterne 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 Sterne School a religious school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
100 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
100 Rider’s Paradise
Bike Score
81 Very 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
4th – 12th
Enrollment
173
Gender Split
62% M / 38% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
6.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
27
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.1 hours
Days Per Year
174 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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