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Mission High

“We're on a Mission to Change the World”

AKA: MHSMission DoloresPublic

Students
~990
Ratio
17:1
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

  • The oldest high school in San Francisco still on its original site (founded 1890), in a landmark 1927 Churrigueresque building with a 127-foot dome and WPA-era murals — directly across from Dolores Park
  • A dedicated Newcomer Pathway gives recently arrived immigrant students intensive English Language Development in every subject
  • Six CTE pathways, including ones you won't find elsewhere in the district (Fire Science and Urban Agriculture), plus dual enrollment at CCSF and SFSU
  • 85% of the class of 2021 went on to college, 60% to four-year universities; recent graduates attend Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Cornell, and Spelman
  • Carlos Santana is an alum, and the arts program still runs deep: band, choir, and a mariachi ensemble

Academics

Curriculum

Equity-centered comprehensive school: 8 APs (capped at three AP/honors per year), AVID, dual enrollment at CCSF and SFSU, project-based CTE pathways

World languages

Spanish, Arabic

Schedule

Block (rotating)

Signature programs

  • Newcomer Pathway (intensive English Language Development for recent immigrants)
  • Six CTE pathways — Peer Resources/Educator, Urban Agriculture, Environmental Science, Media Arts, Public Health, Fire Science
  • Dual enrollment at CCSF and SFSU
  • AVID

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics · CIF San Francisco Section (AAA)

BaseballBasketballCross CountryFlag FootballFootballSoccerSoftballSpirit SquadTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling

Arts

BandChoirMariachiVisual & Performing ArtsMedia ArtsPhotographyCreative Writing

Clubs & activities

Black Student UnionLatinx Community CouncilStudent GovernmentPeer ResourcesThe Mission Chronicle (newspaper)Mission Reads Book Club
See all clubs

Life there

Food

Free for all students (SFUSD), including after-school supper

Learning support

On-site Wellness Center, College and Career Center, AVID, credit recovery, Newcomer ELD program, special education (Resource Specialist Program, SOAR, ACCESS)

Notable alumni

  • Carlos Santana (musician and songwriter)
  • Joe Cronin (Baseball Hall of Famer)
  • James Rolph (Governor of California, SF Mayor)
  • Vincent DeDomenico (inventor of Rice-A-Roni)
  • Charles Phan (chef, The Slanted Door)
  • Bobby Freeman (rock and roll performer, "Do You Want to Dance")

Often on the same list

Balboa High School

Public

Phillip and Sala Burton Academic High School

Public

John O'Connell High School

Public

Sources

  1. Mission High School | SFUSD — name, address, hours, clubs, support services
  2. Welcome to Mission High School | SFUSD — motto, academic model, signature programs
  3. Mission HS 2022-23 Profile | SFUSD — AP courses and cap, college matriculation
  4. Mission details | SFUSD — world languages, arts, sports, transit, learning support
  5. NCES Common Core of Data (2024-25) — enrollment, student:teacher ratio, % students of color
  6. How student assignment works | SFUSD — application process, deadlines, tiebreakers
  7. MaxPreps — Mission Bears — sports team genders
  8. Mission High School | Wikipedia — 1890 founding, landmark building, alumni

Last reviewed July 2026