Directory

Public · Mission · AKA: O'Connell, O'C

John O'Connell

Students
~460
Ratio
16:1
Tuition
Free

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 (college classes for credit) and a senior-year work-based internship are built into the model
  • With 88 ninth-grade seats per cycle, it is one of the smallest comprehensive high schools in SFUSD
  • A Wellness Center with a full-time nurse and therapist, plus a partnership with the Mission Neighborhood Health Clinic
  • One to watch: a December 2025 school-board resolution reopened SFUSD consolidations for 2027-28, and an earlier, since-scrapped 2024 plan would have moved June Jordan School for Equity onto the O'Connell campus. 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

UC admissions

In fall 2025, 7 students applied to the UC system from this school; 5 were admitted to at least one campus. UC keeps smaller counts private, so the rest of this school’s numbers aren’t published.

What these numbers can and can’t tell you

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics · CIF San Francisco Section (AAA)

BadmintonBaseballBasketball (boys)Cross CountrySoccerSoftballTrack & FieldVolleyball (girls)Wrestling

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. Member high schools | CIF San Francisco Section — AAA league membership
  7. SFUSD school reorganization discussion | SF Standard (Dec 2025) — floated June Jordan relocation, no decision
  8. CIF SF Section standings (2024-25 varsity) and season calendar — teams by sport and gender, sport seasons

Details checked August 2026