Public schools in South San Francisco, CA
14 open public schools with an address in South San Francisco, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
14
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,475
14 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
18.4:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of South San Francisco public schools
The federal directory lists 14 public schools in South San Francisco, CA: 7 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high. The 14 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,475 students, an average of 463 per school. The largest campus is South San Francisco High (1,239 students), and the largest elementary school is Buri Buri Elementary (584).
Every listed school belongs to South San Francisco Unified. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 18.4:1, lower than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 42% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving South San Francisco
Elementary schools in South San Francisco
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buri Buri Elementary South San Francisco Unified | KG–05 | 584 | 22.5:1 | |
| Hillside Elementary South San Francisco Unified | KG–05 | 0 | — | |
| Los Cerritos Elementary South San Francisco Unified | KG–05 | 304 | 18.4:1 | |
| Martin Elementary South San Francisco Unified | KG–05 | 370 | 22.4:1 | |
| Ponderosa Elementary South San Francisco Unified | KG–05 | 359 | 22.4:1 | |
| Spruce Elementary South San Francisco Unified | KG–05 | 384 | 22.6:1 | |
| Sunshine Gardens Elementary South San Francisco Unified | KG–05 | 329 | 19.3:1 |
Middle schools in South San Francisco
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Loma Middle South San Francisco Unified | 06–08 | 652 | 16.9:1 | |
| Parkway Heights Middle South San Francisco Unified | 06–08 | 573 | 15.7:1 | |
| Westborough Middle South San Francisco Unified | 06–08 | 498 | 16.2:1 |
High schools in South San Francisco
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baden High (Continuation) South San Francisco Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 130 | 12.5:1 | |
| Community Day South San Francisco Unified · Alternative School | 06–12 | 0 | — | |
| El Camino High South San Francisco Unified | 09–12 | 1,053 | 17.6:1 | |
| South San Francisco High South San Francisco Unified | 09–12 | 1,239 | 18.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White6.2%
- Hispanic54.2%
- Black1%
- Asian30.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.8%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander1.4%
- Multiracial6.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 South San Francisco schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,475 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in South San Francisco
How many public schools are in South San Francisco, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 14 open public schools with a location address in South San Francisco: 7 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high. Together they reported 6,475 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve South San Francisco?
All listed public schools with an address in South San Francisco belong to South San Francisco Unified. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in South San Francisco?
South San Francisco High reported the largest high-school enrollment in South San Francisco, with 1,239 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in South San Francisco?
No school with an address in South San Francisco is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in California.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in South San Francisco schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across South San Francisco public schools is 18.4:1, lower than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in South San Francisco guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities