Sterne School
“Start with Strengths”
AKA: SterneFinancial DistrictIndependent
Sterne School
“Start with Strengths”
AKA: SterneFinancial DistrictIndependent
- Students
- ~100
- Ratio
- 7:1
- Tuition
- $54k
Base tuition as published for 2026–27.
Admissions
- Applications open
- Late August
- Application due
- Early January
- Decisions released
- Mid-to-late March
- Enrollment
- ~100
- Student:teacher
- 7:1est.
- Base tuition
- $53,550
- 2026–27 school year
- Real cost
- $55k–$59k
- Flexible tuition
- ~30%
What makes this school special
- The Bay Area's established high school built entirely for students who learn differently; founded in 1976 and marking its 50th year
- A strengths-based model: every student has an individualized learning plan, executive-function coaching, and accommodations woven into a full college-preparatory A–G curriculum
- Sterne READS delivers structured, research-based dyslexia intervention
- High-school classes average 10 students (max 15), with college counseling that starts in 9th grade and matches each student to a right-fit college
- WASC-accredited and a member of CAIS and NAIS, with CIF athletics and a full slate of clubs and arts
Academics
Curriculum
College-preparatory A–G curriculum with full learning support; A–F grading
World languages
Spanish
Schedule
Semester
Signature programs
- Sterne READS — structured dyslexia intervention
- Individualized learning plans with built-in accommodations
- Executive-function and social-emotional instruction across classes
- Senior Project (Passages)
College matriculation
Arizona State University, Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, Fordham University, Emerson College, Drexel University, Lewis & Clark College, Gonzaga University, DePaul University, California College of the Arts, Cal Poly Humboldt, Colorado College, Beacon College, Landmark College, City College of San Francisco
See the full listAthletics, arts & activities
Athletics · California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)
Arts
Clubs & activities
Life there
Learning support
Whole-school strengths-based program for students who learn differently — individualized learning plans, accommodations, executive-function coaching, and the Sterne READS dyslexia program; classes average 10 (max 15)
Often on the same list
Sources
- Fast Facts — address, transit, faculty count, community, arts/athletics participation
- Tuition — 2026-27 high-school tuition ($53,550), ~30% of families receive aid
- High School Profile 2025-26 — founding (1976), high-school enrollment (97), students of color (49%), accreditation (WASC/CAIS/NAIS), A–G curriculum, average class size, grading, Spanish, arts, athletics, clubs, college acceptances
- Admissions Process — Ravenna application, student visit, parent interview, test-free admission
- College Prep & Readiness — college counseling model
- NCES Private School Universe Survey — student:teacher ratio estimated from PSS (whole-school 181 ÷ 27.3 FTE ≈ 7:1)
- Sterne School homepage — motto ("Start with Strengths," the homepage hero line and first of the school's stated values)
Last reviewed July 2026