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SFUSD Profile

Overview of San Francisco Unified School District and San Francisco County Office of Education

Profile of the District

Established in 1851, the San Francisco Unified School District (“SFUSD” or the “District”) is the seventh-largest school district in California and educates over 55,000 students who live in the 49-square-mile area of the City and County of San Francisco.

The District is governed by an elected seven-member Board of Education.

San Francisco is both a city and a county; therefore, SFUSD administers both the School District and the San Francisco County Office of Education. This makes SFUSD a “single district county.”

During school year 2011-12, SFUSD had:

  • 74 elementary and K-8 schools
  • 12 middle schools
  • 15 senior high schools (including two continuation schools and an independent study school)
  • 34 state-funded preschool sites
  • 11 active charter schools authorized by the District

Mission Statement

The mission of the San Francisco Unified School District is to provide each student with an equal opportunity to succeed by promoting intellectual growth, creativity, self-discipline, cultural and linguistic sensitivity, democratic responsibility, economic competence, and physical and mental health so that students can achieve their maximum potential.

Vision for Student Success

We believe that the following vision of student success accurately reflects our responsibility in preparing students to thrive in school and our global, creative-age society.

Every student who enrolls in our schools will graduate from high school prepared for the option of enrolling in a four-year college or university, pursuing a successful career, and living a healthy life.

Our students will have the confidence, competence, and information needed to make positive choices for their future and will have demonstrated strength and competence in all areas needed for full participation in the 21st century economic, political, cultural, and intellectual life of our nation and global society.

These areas include:

  • Academic competency
  • Multilingual and cross-cultural competency
  • Technological literacy
  • Communication skills
  • Aesthetic sensibility
  • Critical and creative thinking, reasoning and solution seeking
  • Social, environmental, and civic responsibility
  • Strength of character

We keep track of all students every step of the way, from preschool through graduation and enrollment in college or postsecondary training. And we judge ourselves as successful to the degree that we assist our schools, district and community in achieving this 21st-century vision of student success for every group of students we serve.

SFUSD Facts at a Glance