SF International
“Learn Together · Act with Empathy · Challenge Yourself · Create Change”
AKA: SFIHSPotrero HillPublic
San Francisco International High School
“Learn Together · Act with Empathy · Challenge Yourself · Create Change”
AKA: SF International, SFIHSPotrero HillPublic
- Students
- ~380
- Ratio
- 14:1
- Tuition
- Free
Admissions
- Application opens
- October 23, 2026
- Main Round application due
- February 1, 2027
- Offers released
- Week of March 15, 2027
- Enrollment
- ~380
- Student:teacher
- 14:1
- Base tuition
- Free
- Real cost
- $0–$3k
What makes this school special
- This school is exclusively for recent immigrants: students who have been in U.S. schools four years or less and are new to English. It is not an option for general enrollment
- Part of the Internationals Network for Public Schools: English isn't a separate class but is built into every subject, taught through projects in mixed-language groups with home-language support
- Every student completes a career internship at a business, government office, or nonprofit, and seniors take real college classes at CCSF or SFSU
- Under 400 students at a 14:1 ratio, with an advisory structure so every newcomer is known well, plus a Wellness Center, free breakfast, and after-school supper
- Graduates have gone on to UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, and across the CSU system
Academics
Curriculum
Internationals Network model — English development embedded in every subject through project-based, interdisciplinary work in collaborative groups, with home-language support; no APs, but seniors take college classes at CCSF or SFSU
Schedule
Traditional six-period day; early-release Wednesdays
Signature programs
- Newcomer program serving speakers of all languages
- Career internships for all students (businesses, government, nonprofits)
- College classes at CCSF or SFSU during senior year
- Project-based, interdisciplinary learning with service-learning portfolios
- Two years of A-G-qualifying art for all students
- College counseling — application workshops, college tours, UCSF EAOP and uAspire partnerships
College matriculation
UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, UC Merced, San Francisco State, San Jose State, CSU East Bay, City College of San Francisco
Athletics, arts & activities
Athletics · CIF San Francisco Section (AAA)
Arts
Life there
Food
Free for all students (SFUSD)
Learning support
Teachers trained in English language development, individual learning plans, in-school tutoring, credit recovery, Resource Specialist Program, advisory teams, Wellness Center with on-site nurse, social worker, and therapist; free breakfast and after-school supper
Often on the same list
Sources
- San Francisco International High School | SFUSD — name, address, newcomer mission, hours
- SFIHS Details | SFUSD — internships, college classes, arts, sports, after-school programming
- Our Academic Successes | SFUSD — first graduating class, college matriculation
- Language assessments and program eligibility | SFUSD — newcomer eligibility definition
- NCES Common Core of Data (2024-25) — enrollment, student:teacher ratio, % students of color
- How student assignment works | SFUSD — application process and deadlines
- Internationals Network for Public Schools — instructional model
- Ed-Data — S.F. International High — 2009 opening
- CIF San Francisco Section — AAA league membership, Huskies mascot
- Our Vision | SFUSD — motto (the school's four branded values: "Learn Together · Act with Empathy · Challenge Yourself · Create Change")
Last reviewed July 2026