COVID-19 Testing for Students

COVID-19 Testing for SY 2022-2023

Central office locations are now open for with Color molecular test kits and drop off for SFUSD students and staff:

  • 555 Franklin Street (Civic Center)
  • 834 Toland Street (Bayview)
  • 135 Van Ness Ave (Civic Center)
  • 750 25th Avenue (Richmond)
  • 3045 Santiago (Sunset)
  • 1515 Quintara (Sunset)
  • 20 Cook (Inner Richmond) 

December 2022:   

  • Last Day for Central Office Pick Up for SY 2022 will be 2 pm, December 24th.  
  • Central Offices are closed from Dec. 27-30th (no pick ups) 

January 2023: 

  • School Based and Central Office pick ups will resume on January 3rd 

Molecular take-home test kits are available at all SFUSD schools and central sites for SFUSD students and staff.

Drop-off times for samples:

  • School sites: before 10 a.m.
  • Central office sites: Monday-Friday before 4:30 p.m.

Pick-up times vary. Please see sticker on bin to see if samples have been picked up for the day.  

For city testing options, please visit sf.gov/drop-testing.

Testing Options at SFUSD

Testing is a very important part of keeping our schools safe by caring for ourselves and others and helping to stop the spread of COVID-19. Participating in testing for COVID-19 helps us to support students and school staff to know when to isolate if they test positive for COVID-19. Getting tested for COVID-19 when your child is identified as a close contact may allow them to return to school sooner if they test negative. 

There are multiple ways that SFUSD is providing COVID-19 testing to students, staff, and families. 

Test Type Test Results Registration How to Get Tested
Molecular test* via Color
  • Available in 1-4 days
  • Results will be sent to the email address and phone number used to register

Register for a Color account

Contact Color at 844-352-6567 for help
  • Steps and instructions for using the take-home/self-swab kit
  • Pick up instructions: Students and families can pick up self-swab kits at any school site or any central office drop-off location
  • Drop off instructions: Drop off samples at school sites by 10 a.m. and at central office sites Monday-Friday by 4:30 p.m.
Rapid antigen test
  • View the test's instructions
 n/a

We distribute test kits as we receive them from the California Department of Public Health

* Color's lab uses RT-LAMP technology. LAMP, just like PCR, is a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Color uses LAMP technology because of supply chain robustness and scalability. 

Students and staff with COVID-19 symptoms before school should not come onto school campus. 

Testing is not mandatory. All students will be able to come to school if a family chooses not to have them participate in COVID-19 testing.

Check out our frequently asked questions about monitoring and testing for COVID-19.

Non-SFUSD Testing Options

Free and low-cost testing options:

For more information about COVID-19 testing, or to find a testing site near you, visit sf.gov/gettested or call SFDPH’s COVID Resource Center at 628-652-2700.

After Getting Test Results

If you or your student has COVID-19 symptoms, stay at home and do not go to school until you receive a negative test result. Symptoms include: fever greater than 100.4° F, chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, headache, new loss of smell or taste, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, or fatigue. Find COVID-19 testing options for symptomatic students.

If the test is positive:

  • Report positive cases to 415-660-9850 or email covidreporting@sfusd.edu 
  • Stay home and isolate for at least 5 days
  • Students can return if they test negative after 6 days since symptoms first appeared or 10 days without a negative test since symptoms first appeared

Learn more about isolation and quarantine guidelines.

This page was last updated on December 14, 2022