Galileo

“Eppur si muove (And yet it moves)”

AKA: Galileo HighRussian HillPublic

Galileo Academy of Science & Technology

“Eppur si muove (And yet it moves)”

AKA: Galileo, Galileo HighRussian HillPublic

Students: ~1,750
Ratio: 20:1
Tuition: Free

Admissions

Application opens: October 23, 2026
Main Round application due: February 1, 2027
Offers released: Week of March 15, 2027

EnrollmentCenter@sfusd.edu

Visit admissions site

Enrollment: ~1,750
Student:teacher: 20:1
Base tuition: Free
Real cost: $0–$3k

What makes this school special

A Russian Hill campus near Aquatic Park, open since 1921 — the motto on the crest is Galileo's "Eppur si muove" ("And yet it moves")
A Newcomer Program serves recent-arrival English learners in all languages, alongside AVID at every grade level
Three career academies (Health, Computer Science, Startup Entrepreneurship) and three pathways (Biotech, Environmental Science, Digital Communication) across a 1,750-student school
18 football city championships, including the first state title won by a school in SF's AAA league (2017); alumni range from Joe DiMaggio and Hank Luisetti to Mayor London Breed
Over 40 clubs, plus G-House TV, a student-run broadcast network

Academics

Curriculum

Comprehensive school organized into career-themed academies and pathways, with honors, AP, AVID, and English Language Development

World languages

Chinese, French, Spanish

Schedule

Modified block — seven periods Mon/Tue/Fri, extended blocks Wed/Thu

Signature programs

Health Academy
Computer Science Academy
Startup Entrepreneurship Academy
Biotech Pathway
Environmental Science Pathway
Digital Communication Pathway
AVID
JROTC

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics · CIF San Francisco Section (AAA)

BadmintonBaseballBasketballCheerleadingCross CountryFencingFlag FootballFootballGolfSoccerSoftballSwimmingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling

Arts

BandOrchestraPianoGuitarVocal MusicDrawingPaintingPhotographyComputer ArtAnimationVideo ProductionYearbook

Clubs & activities · 40+

FIRST Robotics Team 4669DragonboatLion DanceGirls Who CodeBlack Student UnionGalileo Drum Corps

See all clubs

Life there

Food

Free for all students (SFUSD)

Learning support

English Language Development with a Newcomer Program, special education (Resource Specialist Program, SOAR, ACCESS), AVID for all grades, on-site Wellness Center, Peer Resources, credit recovery, free tutoring and the Futurama after-school program

Notable alumni

Joe DiMaggio (Baseball Hall of Famer; attended)
Hank Luisetti (basketball innovator, two-time national player of the year)
O.J. Simpson (NFL Hall of Fame running back; later centrally figured in one of the most publicized criminal trials in US history)
London Breed (Mayor of San Francisco)
Dave Toschi (SFPD detective, lead Zodiac case investigator)
Zaytoven (record producer)

Admissions

Application opens: October 23, 2026
Main Round application due: February 1, 2027
Offers released: Week of March 15, 2027

EnrollmentCenter@sfusd.edu

Visit admissions site

The application

Galileo is part of SFUSD's citywide choice process: one application, list your schools in preference order, no test and no feeder middle schools. When more students list a school than it has seats, tiebreakers (sibling, CTIP1 test-score area) decide — not grades. Apply by the Main Round deadline in late January or early February for fall enrollment. The school also offers family tours and student shadow days.