In 1966, The San Francisco School was founded in a Woolsey Street church basement with seven preschoolers. Since then, the School has moved campuses, added students, grades, buildings, and traditions, guided by Montessori’s student-centered, experiential approach.
1966
A new school is conceived, where parenting adults and teachers share in leadership and preschool children thrive in a program guided by the principles of Maria Montessori.
Five parenting adults and four teachers sign the Articles of Incorporation for The San Francisco Montessori School in March. In a Woolsey St. church basement in the Portola District, the school opens with seven preschool students.
1969
The school purchases 300 Gaven Street and adds a 1st grade.
1970s
The school expands to 5th grade with an enrollment of 145 students, integrating Montessori ideals of self-reliance, responsibility, and learning through experience with progressive teaching practices.
The traditions of lower school camping trips and ice skating on the last day before winter break are born.
1980s
The school expands to 8th grade with an enrollment of 225 and changes its name to The San Francisco School. An endowment is established, additional land acquired, and the Herbst Building is constructed.
1990s
The inaugural Opening Ceremony is held in 1990.
The School is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools. Many firsts are celebrated, including the middle school camping trip at Yosemite, international 8th grade trip to Mexico, Grandparents Day, and the Spring Concert.
Early 2000s
The Edeli Building opens and community members build the Adventure Playground. The School acquires 307 and 311 Gaven Street.
The middle school expands to two classes per grade with an enrollment of 275 students. SFS helps to launch a new teacher training program called the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute.
2004
The School adopts a new logo.
2006
The board adopts the strategic plan, The Broad and Adventurous Look at the Future.
2008
Longstanding Head of School Terry Edeli retires after 35 years of service, and Head of Middle School Steve Morris becomes the fourth head of school of The San Francisco School.
2009
When Learning Comes Naturally, featuring SFS, premieres in San Francisco. This PBS documentary focuses on strong school programs introducing children to the natural world and encouraging them to make lasting connections to the environment.
2010
Baby goats first visit from Toluma Farm (owned by Tamara Hicks and David Jablons, alum parents from the Class of ‘09 and ‘13).
2011
Middle School ensemble performs at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria.
2013
The Steve Morris Community Center is constructed providing a home court for athletics and a 350-seat theater for performances and ceremonies.
2015
Middle School ensemble performs at the American Orff-Schulwerk Association national meeting in San Diego.
2016
SFS celebrates its 50th Anniversary!
The annual 8th grade trip shifts from international travel to Mexico and Nicaragua to a Civil Rights Tour of the American South, becoming an integral and deeply meaningful culmination of the middle school program.
2017
The board adopts Strategic Plan 2017-2022: Living Our Humanitarian Promise.
SFS launches a new logo and branding.
The Family Association is established.
2018
Little Rock Nine member Minnijean Brown-Trickey visits SFS to speak about her role in the civil rights era and her activist life.
SFS introduces a middle school cross-country course in Crocker/McLaren Park, providing more varied terrain and bringing SFAL meets to the south side of the city.
2019
Middle School ensemble performs at the American Orff-Schulwerk Association national meeting in Salt Lake City.
Forge Our Future: the Campaign for SFS is launched to grow the endowment and deepen the school's STEAM program, raising a total of $7.2M.
2020
After more than 100 collective years at the School, Laura Burges (3rd grade head teacher), Doug Goodkin (music teacher), and Maggie Weis (head of lower school) retire from SFS.
SFS is the first PS-8th school approved by the SFDPH to reopen its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kindergarten moves up from mixed aged North and South Classes
to Lower School.
2021
Seventh and 8th grade students return to Gaven Street after spending the school year at the School’s temporary ancillary campus in Visitation Valley which allowed for in-person learning during the COVID pandemic.
Noyuri Mima, Ph.D. of Future University Hakodate’s School of Systems Information Science publishes her book Living in the Age of AI: Creativity and Empathy to Design the Future. The book features SFS in the chapter “What to Learn and How to Learn It.”
2022
The Advancement Committee announces a new philanthropic approach that focuses on mission-aligned fundraising and community building.
The Secret Song, a documentary about music educator Doug Goodkin’s 45th and final year of teaching at SFS during the COVID pandemic,
is released.
2023
Steve Morris completes his 15-year tenure as head of school, and Juna McDaid becomes the School’s fifth head of school. She announces the results of the mascot naming election: Bruno, after the nearby San Bruno Avenue.
Middle School Ensemble performs at the American Orff-Schulwerk Association national meeting in Albuquerque.
2024
Mosaic artist Colette Crutcher P’04 and middle school students begin their year-long mosaic project for the terrace.
2025
CAIS renews accreditation, stating, “SFS continues to enjoy a strong sense of community where students, staff, family, and alumni remain connected and dedicated to the care and well-being of all aspects of the School.
The Board of Trustees adopts the strategic plan, Cultivating For Growth: Our Promise in Action, 2025-30.