Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Urban located?
How many spaces are available in the freshmen class?
Does Urban give sibling and legacy applicants priority in the admissions process?
Does Urban accommodate students with learning differences?
How do I schedule a visit or Open House?
Does the Admissions Office require a standardized test?
Does the admissions office require an interview?
How does the laptop program work?
What is the average homework load for a ninth grade student?
Does Urban have a dress code?
Does Urban have student clubs?
What is the daily schedule?
What is Urban’s evaluation and grading policy?
Does Urban accept transfer applications?
What does it cost to attend Urban?
Who should apply for financial aid?
How many students receive financial aid?
How is a family's need determined?
How do we apply for aid?
When will decisions about financial aid awards be made?
How long do financial aid grants last?
Am I required to submit the Parent/Guardian Form early?
How do I contact the Urban Admissions Office?


Where is Urban located?
The Urban School is located in the heart of San Francisco in the historic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood at 1563 Page Street, between Masonic and Ashbury, just a few blocks from Golden Gate Park. The school is accessible by 6, 21, 33, 43, 71 MUNI bus lines. For directions and a map, please click here.

How many spaces are available in the freshmen class?
With a student body of 350 students, Urban has approximately 90 spaces available in the freshmen class.

Does Urban give sibling and legacy applicants priority in the admissions process?
Siblings and children of Urban alumni are required to undergo the same competitive admissions process as all Urban applicants. While we value our strong relationships with our current and legacy families, we strongly recommend that each family undergo a thorough review of potential options to ensure that whichever school they choose is the best fit for their child.

Does Urban accommodate students with learning differences?
Urban provides reasonable accommodations for students with learning differences. We employ one part-time learning specialist who does some one-on-one tutoring and coordinates outside tutoring, as well as works with the faculty to determine practical learning strategies for the classroom. For more information on our Learning Support services, please click here.

How do I schedule a visit or Open House?
You may register for an Open House, half or full-day student visit, interview and parent information session once you have completed our Online Inquiry form. You will be issued a user name and password, which will allow you to register for events and to begin the online application. You will also receive an admissions packet which includes a paper application, should you prefer to use that. Urban will begin scheduling visit appointments online on September 1, 2010.

Does the Admissions Office require a standardized 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.

Does the admissions office require an interview?
Although it is not a required part of the application process, we greatly value the opportunity to speak with students individually and hope you will choose to schedule an interview with an Admissions staff member. The number of available interview appointments is limited, thus we cannot guarantee that every interested student will be granted an interview. However, we will strive to accommodate as many students as possible on a first come, first served basis. Interview appointments are available on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons beginning in October and will run through mid-December.

How does the laptop program work?
All entering students will be assigned a laptop for both school and home. Students gain a wealth of learning, teaching and organizational benefits by having their own computer for use anytime, anywhere. This is an important step in helping students use computer technology as a natural tool of the learning process. Learn more about technology at Urban.

What is the average homework load for a ninth grade student?
Freshman students should expect 45 minutes of homework for each subject. Given Urban's block schedule, a student can expect to have four subjects of homework two evenings per week and two subjects of homework three evenings per week. Read more about Urban’s academic program.

Does Urban have a dress code?
Dress at Urban is casual and students are encouraged to select their own style of dress. However, students are expected to use good judgment and dress appropriately for a school setting. Students may not wear clothes that show emblems or slogans that are profane or that represent drugs, alcohol or tobacco products.

Does Urban have student clubs?
Urban currently has more than 30 different student clubs, ranging from Model United Nations to the Students of Color and Environmental Clubs. New students are encouraged to get involved in club activities. New clubs may be established if there is sufficient interest among a group of students. Learn more about student activities at Urban.

What is the daily schedule?
The block schedule divides the academic year into three, 12-week terms: fall, winter and spring. Students take four intensive classes every term and most classes last for one or two terms. These classes meet for 70-minute periods with one 2+ hour period per week. Due to longer class periods, a term-long class is equivalent to a semester course and a two-term class is equivalent to a year-long course.

In addition, students may take elective classes such as Jazz Band, Chamber Ensemble, Urban Singers, Yearbook and Newspaper, which meet during a shorter period that spans all three terms. Students also have the option of participating in physical activity classes or study halls during this shorter elective period. The weekly schedule includes advising, a grade-level meeting, an all-school meeting and consultation periods for students to meet individually with teachers. The block schedule enables teachers to draw upon valuable off-campus resources such as art and science exhibitions, wildlife habitats, the court system and cultural performances. To see a sample schedule, click here.

What is Urban’s evaluation and grading policy?
Urban's evaluation and grading policy reflects the school's founding mission to “ignite a passion for learning and to inspire students to become self-motivated, enthusiastic participants of their own education.” Students receive extensive written evaluations for each course every six weeks.

One of Urban's chief goals is to prepare students for the next steps in their formal education. Therefore, grades are recorded on a transcript for the purpose of college admissions. A student’s grade point average (GPA) is available to students and their parents/guardians at year's end. Juniors and seniors may receive their GPAs at the end of each term as they undertake the college admissions process.

Urban teachers take seriously the obligation to write thorough reports that set specific goals for improvement. Students are asked to reflect on and evaluate their work, establishing a habit of self-assessment that is critical to academic and personal growth. This process prompts thoughtful discussion about what a student has learned rather than negotiation about grade received. Urban's evaluation system helps to inspire students to become curious active learners, individuals who see the learning not just as a means to an end but as a fulfilling, lifelong process. Read more about Urban’s evaluation policy. 

Does Urban accept transfer applications?
Based on space availability, Urban will consider transfer applications for a very limited number of places in the 10th and 11th grades. Transfer applications are due Thursday, January 13, 2011. Late applications for transfer students will be activated on an as-needed basis. Please call the Admissions Office at 415 593 9555 for more information regarding the transfer application process and time-line.

What does it cost to attend Urban?
Tuition and fees for 2010-11 school year are $32,800, which includes a $350 books and materials fee and a $650 laptop fee. The tuition and fees for the 2011-12 school year will be determined in March 2011. In budgeting for four years of an Urban education, parents can expect annual tuition increases. However, Urban does offer significant financial aid, and families are encouraged to explore all financing options.

Who should apply for financial aid?
Parents/guardians who have thoroughly pursued all other avenues (for example, help from extended family and reasonable equity loans) and who can document their need for further assistance should apply for financial aid.

How many students receive financial aid?
During the 2009-10 school year, 26 percent of the Urban student body received $2 million in financial aid.

How is a family's need determined?
The Urban School of San Francisco subscribes to the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS)in Princeton, New Jersey. After families submit detailed information, SSS analyzes this information and recommends an amount that each family can be expected to pay for education expenses. Urban's Financial Aid Committee uses this figure as the basis of its calculations for financial awards. For applicants with divorced or separated parents/guardians, the assets of both parents will be considered before any award is made. 

How do we apply for aid?
Download a financial aid form from our website or contact the Admissions office at 415 593 9555 or admissions@urbanschool.org. You will be sent a Parents Financial Statement form (PFS) and Urban's financial aid application in early December.  Please refer to Affording an Urban Education for additional details and deadlines.

When will decisions about financial aid awards be made?
Notification of financial aid awards will accompany letters of acceptance to The Urban School of San Francisco. These letters will be mailed Thursday, March 17, 2011.

How long do financial aid grants last?
Each financial aid grant is made for one year. Families must reapply for aid each year. Unless there is significant change in a family's resources, a family can expect that financial aid will be continued for the duration of the student's time at Urban. Because Urban allocates an equal amount of financial aid for each enrolling class, it is highly unlikely that a family who did not receive aid upon entering the school will receive aid in successive years.

Am I required to submit the Parent/Guardian Form early?
We offer parents/guardians the option of submitting the Parent/Guardian form (on paper or via the online application)  by December 1, 2010.  Alternatively, this information can be submitted with the entire application (online or on paper) by the application deadline of January 13, 2011. Submitting the Parent/Guardian form early gives Admissions staff an opportunity to organize applicant materials and in no way affect a student’s admission to The Urban School. Each application requires a non-refundable $75 application fee.  Application fee waivers are available upon request.  Please call the Admissions Office for more information.

How do I contact the Urban Admissions Office?
Please call 415 593 9555 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to speak with an Admissions Representative, email us at admissions@urbanschool.org, or send correspondence to:

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