Alice Fong Yu Alternative School Celebrates 30 Years of Excellence in Language Immersion Education

Posted Date

San Francisco (October 17, 2025) - Alice Fong Yu Alternative School, the nation’s first Chinese immersion public school, is celebrating its 30th anniversary on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the school’s San Francisco campus.

Founded in 1995, Alice Fong Yu has grown from a groundbreaking vision into a nationally recognized model for dual-language immersion and multicultural education. Today, the school continues to inspire new generations of students with the theme “Rooted in Excellence.”

The 30th anniversary celebration will feature:

  • Student and alumni performances
  • Cultural activities for families and children
  • Food and vendor booths highlighting community traditions
  • Guest Speakers reflecting on the school’s legacy and future

“We are thrilled to mark this milestone with our students, families, and the wider San Francisco community,” said Kevin Chan, Principal of Alice Fong Yu Alternative School. “For 30 years, Alice Fong Yu has been a beacon of educational innovation, blending rigorous academics with cultural immersion to help students thrive in a global world.”

Alice Fong Yu’s success reflects the San Francisco Unified School District’s deep commitment to bilingual education. With a decades-long legacy of success, SFUSD’s language programs help students achieve high academic outcomes, gain multilingual proficiency, and foster cross-cultural understanding. Superintendent Dr. Maria Su recently announced new efforts to expand Chinese immersion offerings and invest in bilingual teacher pipelines—work that builds on the foundation laid by trailblazing schools like Alice Fong Yu K-8. 

The district has even tapped Alice Fong Yu’s former principal and school founder, Liana Szeto, to help lead the opening of a new Mandarin immersion school and help grow and sustain a high-quality bilingual educator workforce with targeted training programs. This work underscores how the expertise and leadership developed at Alice Fong Yu continues to shape the future of bilingual education in San Francisco.

The event is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend and celebrate alongside students, alumni, and city leaders.

Event Details

When: Sunday, October 19, 2025 // 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Alice Fong Yu Alternative School // 1541 12th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122

###