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John O'Connell

AKA: O'Connell, O'CMissionPublic

Students
~460
Ratio
16:1
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

What makes this school special

  • A small school built around career pathways: ninth and tenth graders learn in thematic "houses" (Humanities & Social Justice; Liberation & Resistance Studies; Science, Communication & Sustainability), then choose a two-year pathway lab — culinary entrepreneurship, health sciences, or construction and environmental tech
  • Every pathway connects to the real economy: City College dual enrollment and a senior-year work-based internship are built into the model
  • At roughly 460 students with 88 ninth-grade seats per cycle, it is one of the smallest comprehensive high schools in SFUSD — a 16:1 student-teacher ratio in the heart of the Mission
  • A Wellness Center with a full-time nurse and therapist, plus a partnership with the Mission Neighborhood Health Clinic
  • One to watch: in December 2025 the school board floated relocating June Jordan School for Equity to the O'Connell campus as soon as 2027-28. Nothing has been decided

Academics

Curriculum

College prep through career pathways: thematic houses in grades 9-10, then two-year CTE pathway labs in grades 11-12, with CCSF dual enrollment and senior internships

World languages

Spanish

Schedule

Six periods; Wednesday advisory with early release

Signature programs

  • Entrepreneurship & Culinary Arts pathway (CTE)
  • Health & Behavioral Sciences pathway (CTE)
  • Construction & Environmental Technology pathway (CTE)
  • City College of San Francisco dual enrollment
  • Senior-year work-based internships

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics · CIF San Francisco Section (AAA)

BadmintonBaseballBasketballCross CountrySoccerSoftballTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling

Arts

Visual ArtsPerforming ArtsMedia ArtsCreative WritingCulinary Arts

Life there

Food

Free for all students (SFUSD)

Learning support

Special Education (RSP, separate classes, ACCESS), Wellness Center with full-time nurse and therapist, College & Career Center, refugee and immigrant support, free after-school tutoring until 6 pm (ExCEL/YMCA)

Often on the same list

Mission High School

Public

Thurgood Marshall Academic High School

Public

June Jordan School for Equity

Public

Sources

  1. John O'Connell High School | SFUSD — name, address, houses and pathways, support services
  2. About O'Connell | SFUSD — history, mission, AP offerings, dual enrollment
  3. O'Connell Details | SFUSD — seats, sports, arts, world language, after-school program
  4. NCES Common Core of Data (2024-25) — enrollment, student:teacher ratio, % students of color
  5. How student assignment works | SFUSD — application process, deadlines, tiebreakers
  6. CIF San Francisco Section member schools — league, mascot, school colors
  7. MaxPreps — O'Connell Boilermakers — sports gender breakdown
  8. SFUSD school reorganization discussion | SF Standard (Dec 2025) — floated June Jordan relocation, no decision

Last reviewed July 2026