Applying to Urban

Thank you for your interest in The Urban School of San Francisco. We are delighted that you are considering Urban in your high school search. The following steps outline the procedure for applying to Urban and other information relevant to the application process.

1. Fill out Online Inquiry

In order to receive our admissions packet and paper application, please fill out our online inquiry form or call our office at 415 593 9555. We only accept inquiries from 8th grade families. We ask that potential transfer families contact our office. Printed admissions materials will be mailed to all persons who have filled out an online inquiry. Additional paper copies of application materials are available for downloading and printing here. After completing the online inquiry, you will receive a user name and password via email, which you will use to complete the online application and to register for events (open house, shadow visit, etc.).

2. Register for the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test)

For consistency between all ninth grade applicants, Urban prefers that applicants submit results from the SSAT.  The SSAT should be taken in the eighth grade in October, November or December 2010, or January 2011, in order to receive scores by the application deadline. Scores must be sent directly from SSAT to The Urban School of San Francisco's Admissions Office. Designate Urban (school code 7861) as a score recipient on the SSAT registration form.

Please visit the SSAT official website www.ssat.org or call 609 683 4440 for more information about registration, procedures and dates.

While The Urban School prefers that applicants submit SSAT scores, we also accept a number of other standardized tests widely used by other schools.  These tests include, but are not limited to the High School Placement Test and the Independent School Entrance Exam.

3. Make a reservation for an event using the Apply/Schedule Online module

Using the username and password you received when you completed the online inquiry, you may register for an Open House, half or full-day student visit, interview and parent information session. Urban will begin accepting reservations on Wednesday, September 1, 2010, by going to this page to begin the process. Only eighth grade families will be allowed to schedule events. We ask that potential transfer students contact our office at 415593 9555 or via email.

Our visit program will begin in late September. We offer half-day visits and this year we are offering a limited number of full-day visits. Half-day visits are held on most Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays during the morning or afternoon, and Thursday mornings. Full-day visits will take place on most Mondays and Fridays.

Interviews will begin in October and will be held on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons through mid-December.  Interviews are not required, however we appreciate the opportunity to meet our prospective students in person.

6. Student Application

Complete the online application by going here (you must have already completed the Online Inquiry) or fill in the paper student application found in the admissions packet. Both paper and online applications request the same information.

7. Teacher/Principal Recommendation Forms

Have your parent/guardian complete the top of the teacher recommendation forms found in your admissions packet or download and print the PDF. Complete the student portion of the forms and submit them to your current math teacher, English teacher and principal/counselor. Provide each teacher with a stamped envelope addressed to The Urban School of San Francisco (1563 Page Street, San Francisco, CA 94117) and ask them to send the completed recommendation directly to us by Thursday, January 13, 2011.

8. Transcript

Have your parent/guardian complete the top of the transcript release form found in your admissions packet or download and print the PDF. Complete the student portion on the top of the form and submit it to your school's office or registrar. Official transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope to the Admissions Office by Thursday, January 13, 2011. Transcripts should include grades from the last two years and the first semester of the current year. The transcript release form must accompany the transcripts mailed to Urban's Admissions Office.

9. Complete Application

Submit the Parent Application and Student Application to Urban's Admissions Office by Thursday, January 13, 2011. This can be the completed online application or the paper application included in your admission packet. The application will not be processed without a $75 application fee.* You can pay using a check or money order, or via credit card on the online application.

*Application fee waivers are available upon request. 

All documents should be sent to:

Attn: Admissions Office
The Urban School of San Francisco
1563 Page Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

If you have any questions please call the Admissions Office at 415 593 9555 or email us at admissions@urbanschool.org.