The Bay School of San Francisco

Located in the Presidio of San Francisco, The Bay School was founded in 2004 to provide something truly groundbreaking. We aimed to create a project-based, multidisciplinary learning journey in a community organized around the principles of mindfulness and equity. The result is an innovative and supportive, yet challenging, experience that sets us apart from other Bay Area high schools. Our students develop integrity, self-knowledge, an adept intellect, and an expansive approach to learning. They are more than just prepared for college: They are equipped to bravely approach the challenges of an unpredictable world.

Bay is genuinely uncommon. Our students delve deeply into complex, real-world issues and creative endeavors. Faculty connect with their students in small classes and as advisors, coaches, and mentors for clubs and affinity groups. Our facilities, schedule, and curriculum are all designed for multidisciplinary and experiential learning, with long class blocks, two Immersive terms per year, and capstone Senior Signature Projects that are hundreds of hours in the making.

Students take full advantage of extracurricular, artistic, and athletic opportunities. As they engage in school life and with the wider Bay Area community, they unlock their potential to become powerful, ethical citizens and leaders in the future. We intentionally foster an environment that sends our graduates into the world with self-knowledge, empathy, and the tools they need to define success for themselves.

At The Bay School, we balance challenging academics and innovative thinking with a mindful approach to learning and life. Our goal is to see students unlock their individual and collective potential so they begin to realize their roles in a dynamic world.

We cultivate intellectual entrepreneurs. We design our curriculum to enable students to take ownership of their learning in an environment of high academic expectations. Students critically evaluate nuanced ideas from multiple perspectives and generate meaning for themselves. They craft creative solutions to real-world problems and come to understand their ability to effect meaningful change.

We see the challenges of adolescence as critical catalysts for personal growth. We teach students habits of reflection and discernment that enable them to navigate those challenges and discover who they are. Our students learn to think carefully and act deliberately, while considering the experiences and perspectives of others. The practice of mindfulness permeates all aspects of school life, fostering a thoughtful and cohesive community.

We challenge students to take risks. Our students learn to respond to setbacks gracefully, knowing that failure is often a step in the direction of success. They gain confidence in their own abilities and appreciate the value and richness of collective effort. Increasing levels of academic and personal autonomy enable students to discover their passions, pursue their interests, and test their limits.