Bay School
“Rigorously Designed. Thoughtfully Delivered.”
AKA: BayPresidioIndependent
The Bay School of San Francisco
“Rigorously Designed. Thoughtfully Delivered.”
AKA: BayPresidioIndependent
- Students
- ~400
- Ratio
- 7:1
- Tuition
- $66k
Base tuition as published for 2026–27.
Admissions
- Applications open
- Late August
- Parent/guardian application due
- Mid-November
- Application due
- January 5, 2027
- Decisions released
- Mid-to-late March
- Enrollment
- ~400
- Student:teacher
- 7:1
- Base tuition
- $65,630
- 2026–27 school year
- Real cost
- $70k
- Flexible tuition
- ~36%
What makes this school special
- A campus inside the Presidio, with Golden Gate Bridge views
- Known for its twice-a-year Immersives: three weeks, one topic, real depth
- "Inclusive tuition" covers everything: a MacBook, legendary meals, books, and all the trips
- A schlep for families on the south side of the City, but everyone seems to be okay with it
Academics
Curriculum
No APs — 25 in-house honors courses
World languages
Spanish, Mandarin
Schedule
Semesters + Immersives
Signature programs
- Immersives (twice-yearly three-week intensives)
- Senior Projects
- Ethnic Studies requirement
College matriculation
Amherst, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Harvey Mudd, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Northwestern, Pomona, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, University of Michigan, WashU in St. Louis, Wesleyan, Yale
See the full listAthletics, arts & activities
Athletics · Bay Counties League (BCL Central) / CIF NCS
BaseballBasketballCross CountryFlag FootballGolfLacrosseSailingSoccerSoftballTennisTrack & FieldVolleyball
Arts
DesignDrawingPaintingPhotographyFilmDigital ArtsTheaterMusicMusic Production
Clubs & activities · 50+
RoboticsModel United NationsMock TrialChessBay SoundWaves (a cappella)Climate Action TeamAstronomySTEMinistsProgrammingCreative WritingPhilosophyBayMDFinanceOutdoors
See all clubsLife there
Tuition includes
- MacBook for every student
- Books, materials, and a scientific calculator
- Daily lunch, snacks, and a toast/tea bar
- Athletic uniforms, equipment, and travel
- Field trips, Immersives, and Senior Project costs
Food
Included in tuition — daily lunch, snacks, and tea bar
Learning support
Bay Learning Services — individualized support plans and accommodations
Often on the same list
Sources
- Bay at a Glance — enrollment, founding year, mission
- Affording a Bay Education — 2026-27 cost $69,899 ($65,630 tuition + $4,269 inclusive fee), flexible tuition, food
- Admissions Process — deadlines, requirements, test-free policy
- Curriculum Overview — no APs, schedule, world languages, signature programs
- College Counseling — college matriculation
- Sports & Teams — sports
- Arts — arts disciplines
- Affinity Groups & Clubs — clubs
- Learning Services — learning support
- NCES Private School Survey — student:teacher ratio (2023-24)
Last reviewed July 2026