San Francisco Community Alternative

125 Excelsior Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94112

275 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

San Francisco Community School (often referred to as SF Community) is a unique public K-8 institution located in the Excelsior District. Unlike traditional schools, it is built upon the philosophy of "democratic education," which emphasizes student voice, social justice, and project-based learning. The school operates with a focus on small class sizes and a tight-knit community atmosphere, aiming to foster critical thinking and active citizenship rather than just rote memorization.

The school is well-regarded for its emphasis on integrated curriculum, where subjects are often taught through thematic, real-world investigations. By prioritizing social-emotional learning and collaborative governance—where students, teachers, and parents have a significant say in school operations—San Francisco Community strives to create an inclusive environment. It is an ideal setting for families seeking an alternative to conventional teaching methods, specifically those looking for an educational experience that values student agency and community involvement.

275

Total Students

12.5

Full-Time Teachers

22.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

41.8%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for San Francisco Community Alternative
Demographic	Student Count
White	68
Hispanic	110
Black	28
Asian	31
Two or More	33
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	3

Hispanic
110 (40.1 %)
White
68 (24.8 %)
Two or More
33 (12.0 %)
Asian
31 (11.3 %)
Black
28 (10.2 %)
Pacific Islander
3 (1.1 %)
American Indian
1 (0.4 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	San Francisco Unified
Phone:	(415)469-4739
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	275
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	12.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	22.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	110
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	5

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 22

Grade 1 28

Grade 2 33

Grade 3 33

Grade 4 32

Grade 5 32

Grade 6 33

Grade 7 30

Grade 8 32

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for San Francisco Community Alternative
Grade	Student Count
Kindergarten	22
Grade 1	28
Grade 2	33
Grade 3	33
Grade 4	32
Grade 5	32
Grade 6	33
Grade 7	30
Grade 8	32

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for San Francisco Community Alternative
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	117	42.5%
Male	157	57.1%
Not Specified	1	0.4%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)