2023-2024 School Year Principal Welcome Letter

Dear DHS Students, Families and Guardians,

Welcome to Downtown High School for the 2023-24 school year!  The first day of school is Wednesday August 16th.  This year our dedicated staff will continue to work collectively to prepare all students at Downtown High school to develop agency to work towards high school graduation and to create meaningful career skills paths for life after high school. 

We continue to work to fulfill the mission and vision of Downtown HS:

• Our mission is to provide continuation high school students with an alternative educational experience that supports both academic and personal growth through project-based learning. 
• Our vision is to re-engage students through educational experiences and curricula that empower them to develop the necessary consciousness and self-determination to create positive and meaningful paths now and in the future. 

On the first day of school students will participate in an assembly highlighting each project’s focus followed by a selection process.

We start school promptly at 9:30am.  The schedule on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday is 9:30am-3:10pm, with Wednesday as an early dismissal day from 9:30am-12:30pm

Attached are the 2023-24 Instructional Calendar, and Bell Schedules. We have a 9 week grading period, and will be holding mandatory guardian/family/student/teacher conferences at the end of every quarter in order to update you on your child’s progress towards graduation.  Mark your calendar for our annual Back to School Night, which is the evening of September 7.  Please check your email and the school website for updates. Lastly, if you haven’t already done so, please set up your parentvue account using the provided access code. Through parentvue you can view all your student’s information such as grades and attendance.  Parentvue allows us to communicate with you more effectively.  

Best,

Todd Williams, Principal

Email: williamst2@sfusd.edu Cell: 415 309 1625