Bret Harte Elementary School
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Have An Amazing Summer!
We wish all of our Bret Harte scholars and families a healthy and relaxing summer! SFUSD schools will re-open for the 2025-26 school-year on Monday, August 18th. Go ahead and read your favorite books this summer, too!
Bret Harte...A Thriving Community School
Check out our Community School Implementation Plan! Bret Harte is beginning our third year as a California Community Schools Grant participant, led by our extraordinary Community School Coordinator, Karla Zambrano-Armijos. So...come by and participate in one of our countless workshops and family-led organizations!
Striving for Excellent Attendance
Bret Harte Elementary School is laser focused on all students having excellent attendance. Thank you, families, for ensuring that your scholars come to school every single day on time! Remember that Morning Assembly begins at 8:30am daily, on the soccer field, and the instructional day begins at 8:40am.
Welcome to Bret Harte
Bret Harte Elementary offers a global education that honors and centers every student’s heritage. We provide a top-tier educational experience in a community that feels like home to our students.
School Uniforms & Nutrition Updates
Beginning this upcoming 2025-26 school-year, Bret Harte will no longer require uniforms or specific uniform colors. While we promote individual expression and are eager to be moving away from the uniform concept, please be sure that all clothing worn at school is elementary school appropriate. Thank you so much, families, for supporting our Bret Harte community. Remember, Bret Harte is a "Healthy Schools" community as well. The SFUSD Healthy Schools Guidelines are available, in hard copy, in the Main Office and online at www.sfusd.edu.
Beacon After School Program
The Bret Harte Beacon After School Program is accepting applications for students in grades TK-5 for before and after school programming for the 2025-26 school-year. Applications are available in Room 114. Please see Ms. K. or Ms. Afu with questions or for support with applications.
School Announcements
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More about this school
School Type
- Early Education
- Elementary School
Grades
Estimated Enrollment
Principal
- Jeremy Hilinski
Assistant Principal(s)
- Kelli Riggs
Hours
-
PreK
- M-F 7:45am-5:45pm
School Tour
School tours are by appointment. Please call the school at 415-330-1520 to schedule.
Sign up for a school tour at sfusd.edu/tours.
Uniform Policy
This School Feeds Into
Neighborhood
School Code
Overview
At Bret Harte, our mission is to provide high-quality instructional programs within a safe learning environment that maximizes individual talents and strengths, celebrates diversity, and prepares students to be productive citizens. As part of our commitment to access and equity, all students have access to instructional programs, materials, and resources that are aligned with California content standards. Every grade, from kindergarten through 5th, includes projects, cross-curricular activities, arts education, field trips, and interaction across grade levels. At Bret Harte School, children are surrounded by caring adults who provide academic and enrichment programs suited to fit their needs.
The Bret Harte community inspires, supports and nurtures learners on a journey toward excellence. We believe in the incredible potential of all children and are committed to providing academically challenging, culturally relevant learning options which fully develop the unique talents and gifts of each child in our program. High academic standards guide the curriculum across all grades. The school community is proud of its increased parent involvement, community support, and balanced instructional and enrichment programs. Teachers and staff share ownership of all students' academic and social learning and hold ourselves accountable for professional behavior and student success.
Community Partnerships
- Adventures in Music (AIM) - sends students to SF Symphony performances
- America SCORES Bay Area - teaches students soccer and poetry
- Bay Area Community Resources (BEACON program)
- SF Teacher Residency
- SFUSD Pathways Program
- Teach for America Corps
- Playworks - energizes recess and lunch recess
- 826 Valencia
- Mindfulness with author Andrew Jordan Nance
- Drumming Club
- Bay Area Discovery Museum
- Common Sense Certified 2019-2021
- Museum of Craft and Design
- San Francisco Public Library
Programs
Before School
Playworks (starting at 8:00 a.m. from Monday through Friday)
After School
Language
- Spanish Dual Language Immersion
Special Education
- Resource Specialist Program Services
- Separate class - Mild/moderate
Special Education Description
School Day Academic Enrichment
- Computer carts
- English literacy interventionist
- Library
- Playworks
- Spanish literacy interventionist
Arts Enrichment
- Dance
- Drumming
- Gardening
- Music program
- Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA)
Athletics
- Frisbee
School Data
General education entry grade seats per application
School Accountability Report Card (SARC)
School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) are required by state law and are intended to provide families with important information.
School Accountability Highlights
Published annually by SFUSD to provide access to key data points and three-year trends related to student achievement and school culture-climate. The highlights are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Filipino, and Vietnamese.
Social-Emotional and Culture Climate Report
SFUSD annually surveys families and school staff on a range of school climate indicators that have been found to predict positive student academic achievement. The social-emotional learning of students in grades 4-12 is also assessed.
School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA)
School communities gather twice a year to review data and previous actions in order to intentionally plan for the coming months. The School Plan for Student Achievement is the template on which this review and stakeholder engagement process is codified.