Burton High School: Building Belonging, Excellence, and Opportunity in San Francisco

At Phillip & Sala Burton Academic High School in San Francisco’s Portola neighborhood, a strong sense of community fills the hallways. With about 1,050 students, Burton is large enough to offer a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities, yet small enough that “someone is going to know your name,” says Principal Dr. Suniqua Thomas, who has been part of the Puma family since 2001.

Dr. Thomas began her journey at Burton as a teacher and has seen the school evolve over more than two decades. “We’re committed to serving the students who come here,” she says. That commitment is reflected in a fully staffed school—including special education—and a campus culture built on relationships, equity, and opportunity.

A School Where Everyone Belongs

Burton’s student body represents the rich diversity of San Francisco. Half of the students identify as Latinx, and the school community celebrates this diversity as a strength. From the classroom to extracurricular activities, Burton encourages every student to find their place.

“There are enough programs where kids can find themselves in the right spot,” Dr. Thomas explains. Students can choose from a variety of clubs and activities—or even start their own with the support of a staff sponsor. A campus favorite is the Burton Bucks program, which rewards students for demonstrating community expectations and allows them to spend their earnings at the school store.

Burton also cultivates a sense of pride and connection through its marching band, which had the honor of performing at Mayor Daniel Lurie’s inauguration. 

The sense of family at Burton extends beyond students and staff. For example, parent liaisons help strengthen community ties through a lunchtime cooking club on Thursdays and Fridays, where families share recipes and ingredients to prepare meals together on campus—a reflection of Burton’s belief that connection fuels learning.

Learning That Connects to the Future

Burton is deeply focused on preparing students for college, careers, and life. Every student participates in one of four career pathway academies—Arts, Media, and Entertainment; Engineering; Health Sciences; or Performing Arts. This “wall-to-wall academy” model enables students and teachers to collaborate around engaging, theme-based curriculum that connects classroom learning to real-world applications.

In addition, all students take four years of math, ensuring a strong academic foundation. Recently, the school’s College and Career Readiness Program took students on a tour of Stanford University—a trip designed to inspire and expand their vision of what’s possible after graduation.

This year, Burton is also expanding project-based learning across all subjects to boost student ownership and engagement. Teachers are working collaboratively to integrate hands-on, cross-curricular projects over the next several years.

A Supportive and Stable Community

Behind Burton’s success is a connected and dedicated staff, including an all-female leadership team that exemplifies the school’s culture of stability and care. The school also prioritizes student well-being with a robust Wellness Center that provides emotional, mental and social support.

Burton’s commitment to inclusion is reflected in its ACCESS SFUSD program and its model as a co-taught school, where general and special education teachers work together to ensure students with special needs learn in the least restrictive environment possible.

Looking Ahead

As the Burton Pumas, students and staff alike embody resilience, pride, and teamwork. Guided by priorities of access and equity, academic rigor, community engagement, and culture and climate, Burton High School continues to be a place where every student can thrive—academically, socially, and personally.