New school rankings show San Francisco's top-rated and most improved public high schools

New school rankings show San Francisco's top-rated and most improved public high schoolsPhoto: Unsplash
Hoodline
Published on August 13, 2019

How strong are the public high schools in San Francisco?

With a fresh school year kicking off, we analyzed newly released data from Niche.com, which incorporates comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews to help parents choose the right school. With their help, we worked to identify the schools that made the biggest strides last year, as well as those that top the city's best public high school rankings.

George Washington High's overall rating improved the most among its peers in San Francisco, rising from an A- to an A, according to data from Niche.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 600 32nd Ave., will enroll 2,010 students. Niche gave the school mixed grades: A- on an A-D scale for academics, B for administration and C+ for clubs and activities.

The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.

Academically, 56% of George Washington High's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 70% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 34% in math and 50% in reading.

It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Raoul Wallenberg Traditional High saw its overall rating increase from a B+ to an A-. The school, located at 40 Vega St., is much smaller than George Washington High, currently serving 639 students.

Niche also gave Wallenberg mixed grades: B+ on an A-D scale for academics, C for administration and C- for clubs and activities. Wallenberg's latest math proficiency was at 57%, and reading proficiency was 72%.

Thurgood Marshall High also improved, from a C+ to a B-. The school is located at 45 Conkling St. and has 463 students currently enrolled.

Niche gave Thurgood Marshall mixed grades — C+ on an A-D scale for academics, B for administration and C for clubs and activities. Thurgood Marshall's latest math proficiency was at 22%, and reading proficiency was also at 22%. The school's improved grade is notable since it serves a less affluent population, with 63% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

While some public high schools are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:

  • Lowell High School, with an overall rating of A+.
  • Abraham Lincoln High, with an A rating overall.
  • Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, rated A overall.

This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.