Ruth Asawa SOTA
AKA: SOTATwin PeaksPublic
Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts
AKA: SOTA, Ruth Asawa SOTATwin PeaksPublic
- Students
- ~680
- Ratio
- 20:1
- Tuition
- Free
Admissions
- Application opens
- October 23, 2026
- Application due (early deadline)
- December 11, 2026
- Audition
- January 2027
- Offers released
- Week of March 15, 2027
- Enrollment
- ~680
- Student:teacher
- 20:1
- Base tuition
- Free
- Real cost
- $0–$3k
What makes this school special
- SFUSD's audition-based arts school: admission rides entirely on the audition, not grades or essays
- Students commit to one department (Conservatory Dance, Media + Film, Vocal Music, Costume + Fashion Design, and more) and go deep for all four years
- Academics share the day with serious daily arts training, taught alongside working professional artists
Academics
Curriculum
College-prep academics + conservatory arts
Schedule
Semester
Signature programs
- Audition-based arts conservatory — four-year specialization in one of 14 arts pathways
- Two-track day — full academics plus daily arts training
Athletics, arts & activities
Athletics · CIF San Francisco Section (AAA)
BadmintonBaseballBasketballCross CountryFencingFlag FootballSoccerSoftballTrack & FieldVolleyball
Arts
Architecture + DesignConservatory DanceWorld DanceMedia + FilmInstrumental MusicVocal MusicWorld MusicMusic ProductionTheater (Acting)Musical TheaterTechnical TheaterCostume + Fashion DesignVisual ArtCreative Writing
Life there
Food
Free for all students (SFUSD)
Notable alumni
- Sam Rockwell (actor)
- Margaret Cho (comedian)
- Aisha Tyler (actress)
- Lena Hall (actress and singer)
- Joe Talbot (filmmaker)
Often on the same list
Sources
- SFUSD — Ruth Asawa SOTA — address, mission, logo, grades
- SFUSD — Admission 2026-27 — audition process, deadlines, arts pathways, residency
- SFUSD — Extracurricular Athletics — sports
- NCES Common Core of Data — enrollment, ratio, % students of color
- CA Dept of Education — School Directory — official name, address, grades
- Wikipedia — Ruth Asawa SF School of the Arts — founding, arts departments, notable alumni
- SFUSD Grading Periods — two-semester (Fall/Spring) structure ("18 weeks in a semester")
Last reviewed July 2026