Applying to Urban

One of the best ways to get to know Urban is to take a deep dive into learning by experiencing Urban’s extended classes. During your student visit, you will see firsthand our hallmark “depth over breadth” approach in an academic subject. You’ll experience a lively school day in action on your tour and can ask your Urban student tour guide questions along the way.

Check dates and register on your Ravenna-Hub.

Join us for a casual conversation to learn more about Urban’s curriculum and community and get your questions answered by the Admissions Team, current Urban parents and administrators. We will conclude with a campus tour! These sessions are designed for parents/guardians only.

Dates vary, you can access them and register on Ravenna-Hub.

Our Open House is designed to provide prospective 8th grade families an opportunity to experience our classrooms and community. Both students and parent/guardians are welcome! Participants will learn what it’s like to be a member of our community by engaging with a panel of administrators and current students and attend class presentations taught by Urban faculty. All three Open Houses have the same program and content.

If you are an interested athlete, please join us at the end of the program at 11:25 am, for an Optional Athletics Information Session, where you can learn more about Urban’s Athletics program and get your questions answered by the Athletic Department and Urban student-athletes. Go Blues!

Saturday, September 23, 2023
9 am - 12 pm

Saturday, October 28, 2023
9 am - 12 pm

Saturday, December 2, 2023
9 am - 12 pm

Please join us for a virtual panel conversation with Urban Department Chairs to learn more about our curriculum, pedagogy and hear why teachers love teaching at Urban. (Link will be shared ahead of event if you have registered through Ravenna.)

Wednesday, October 11, 2023
6 - 7:30 pm

At Urban, we believe the best education occurs in a school community made up of students, teachers and families drawn from many different socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions and sexual orientations. We celebrate those differences while honoring and respecting students’ individuality as we learn to work together. Among our priorities as educators is to create a strong and inclusive community – academically engaging and socially supportive – that prepares students to live and work in a diverse and multicultural world. We encourage all families to attend Affinity Night to learn more about Urban's commitment to diversity and inclusion in our curriculum, programs and student body. It will be an evening of vibrant discussion and learning, consisting of a panel and smaller breakout conversations led by leaders of our Multicultural Leadership Team and our affinity and ally spaces.

Monday, November 6
7 - 8:30 pm

After submitting the Parent/Guardian Application form and the application fee (or waiver), students may schedule an optional one-on-one student Zoom interview, OR submit an optional student video. Students may choose only one of these options or choose not to participate in either; it is truly up to the applicant!

The purpose of both of these events is for prospective students to tell us more about themselves. We are able to learn about applicants thoroughly and holistically in the many components of their application; these additional, optional opportunities just provide another touch point for the student should they choose to participate. We understand that each applicant and family have busy schedules and will learn about Urban differently by choosing to participate in the events that will be most helpful to them. More details and instructions are available on Ravenna-Hub.

If your student would like to participate in an Optional Virtual Interview, we suggest submitting the Parent/Guardian application well in advance of the January deadline, as the optional virtual interview spaces are limited. 

Urban School is located in the heart of San Francisco adjacent to the Golden Gate Park Panhandle at 1563 Page Street, between Masonic and Ashbury. The Mark Salkind Center is located at 1639 Oak Street. The school is accessible by 7, 33 and 43 bus lines. For directions and a map, please click here.

Urban enrolls approximately 105-110 students in each 9th grade class. Transfers are admitted based on space available in 10th or 11th grade. There are a total of 420 students currently enrolled at Urban.

We do not offer automatic admission to siblings, nor to children of alumni. These prospective students 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 high school options to ensure that whichever school they choose is the best fit for their child.

Urban provides reasonable accommodations for students with learning differences. We employ Learning Specialists who do hands-on work with students, including one-on-one tutoring, and who coordinate outside tutoring. Our Learning Specialists also work with the faculty to determine practical learning strategies for the classroom. For more information on our Learning Support services, please click here.

Starting at the end of August, you may register for all Admissions events through your Ravenna-Hub account. 
 

Urban does not evaluate standardized test scores as part of our application process. This change was made in support of Urban’s longtime commitment to access and equity, and simplifies and streamlines the process for students and families applying. Our application review process is holistic and comprehensive, and a student’s capacity for success at Urban can be showcased in a multitude of ways. We continue to value students with an enthusiastic approach to learning; a clear capacity for success in Urban’s innovative and rigorous academic program; and an affinity for our mission and deeply held core values.To our interested 8th graders: we are excited to learn more about you and what you will bring to Urban!

Urban’s evaluation and grading practices combine the best of innovative and traditional approaches, consistent with our long history as a nationally recognized educational leader. Designed to challenge students to perform at their highest level, Urban’s assessment system include cycles of ongoing teacher feedback and student reflection. Written reports are provided twice per term – at the midpoint and at the end of each 12-week class – along with a final course letter grade. We know from more than 55 years of experience that our use of specific, differentiated evaluative feedback fosters high levels of student engagement, depth of understanding and achievement, all of which support our mission to inspire a passion for learning.

It’s our strong belief that the best education occurs in a school made up of students, faculty/staff and families drawn from many different socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, sexual orientations and gender identities. Since our founding more than 50 years ago, diversity, inclusion, equity and access have been critical elements of Urban School’s mission and core values as we seek to create a community that reflects our city, state and our future world. To learn more about Urban’s commitment, please visit our Belonging at Urban: Equity & Inclusion page.

All entering students will be assigned a MacBook for both school and home use, which is paid via the annual laptop fee. After four years, laptop ownership is transferred to the student prior to graduation, following removal of school-provided software.

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. In addition to personal laptops, many classes incorporate digital tools into the learning process, including iPads, tablets, sensors, etc.
 

Dress at Urban is casual and students are encouraged to select their own style of attire. 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, tobacco or weaponry products or images. Shoes are required at all times, and undergarments may not show. 

Urban currently has more than 40 different student clubs, ranging from Model United Nations to the Students of Color to Environmental Clubs to Fight Club to Meat Club. There is a full array of performing arts, visual arts, yearbook, newspaper, student government and more! Incoming students are encouraged to get involved in club activities, and new clubs may be established -- even by 9th graders! -- if there is sufficient interest among a group of students. See a list here!

Based on space availability, Urban will consider transfer applications for a very limited number of places in the 10th and/or 11th grades. We do not accept transfers for Senior year. Please email or call the Admissions Office (415 593 9555) for more information regarding the transfer application process and timeline.

Please visit our Affording Urban page for additional information. The tuition and fees for the following academic year are determined in February. In budgeting for four years of an Urban education, parents can expect annual tuition increases. The average tuition increase over the past five years has been 4.2% per year. However, Urban does offer significant financial assistance, and families are encouraged to explore all financing options.