Brightworks of San Francisco pioneered the use of project based learning in K-12 education, originally in a loft space in the Mission District that later became the Chat GPT development center. They are now currently nestled among trees in the Presidio with three small buildings that house their classrooms and maker space. Brightworks runs from kindergarten thru 12th grade, with four elementary classes (called bands), two middle school classes, and a micro high school. All their classes are mixed-aged and these change yearly depending on the student body.
The youngest elementary students are in their own building, with two spacious classrooms containing room to play and build, including an indoor loft playhouse. The upper elementary, middle and high school are in the main building, which includes an art room with creative space, a coworking space, middle and high school rooms with sewing machines and indoor lounge spaces. The lower level has a maker space housing machinery such as drills, saws, laser cutters, and 3D printers.
The outdoor space includes multiple play structures that blend into the Presidio, with wooden materials and creative space to roam. Separate from these spaces, students walk to designated spaces in the Presidio during lunchtime, the lower school on a 0.25 mile hike, and the middle and upper school on a 0.5 mile hike.
Academics
Originally, the program was pure project based learning, with each year focused around an Arc. This fall term, the school-wide Arc topic was Body, whether that be human or animal bodies, bodies of water, or other bodies. Over the past few years, Brightworks has added pedagogical curricula for literacy and math to ensure students learn skills such as phonics, writing and mathematical reasoning. Math education is project-based, and students learn the basis of mathematical operations, for instance understanding why and how quadratic equations represent scientific phenomena.
When you walk into a classroom, you might see students creating projects out of clay, sewing, or upcycling. The lower grades look similar to Montessori, with play-based learning. You might see students looking up their projects on a laptop. Classrooms integrate presentations with video on topics such as Martin Luther King, Jr.
Current bands with approximate grade level equivalents include:
Garnet (kindergarten)
Lapis (1st/2nd)
Quartz (2nd/3rd)
Sapphire (4th/5th)
Amethyst (6th/7th)
Onyx (7th/8th)
Obsidian (high school)
The school follows an unorthodox high school curriculum, with math and science explicitly taught in a project-based fashion. The school does not administer standardized testing or letter grades (instead providing narrative assessments), but will support students who would like to register for publicly available testing, such as AP or SAT/ACT.
Brightworks brings in an outside college advisor for the seniors to assist in the process. Some high schools among its middle school graduates include Bay, Urban, Lick, SOTA, Riordan, and Lowell.
Enrichment as Curriculum
The Brightwork day is enrichment blended with education. Project time involves a range of materials and equipment, such as glue, clay, sculpting, 3D printing, laser cutting, and woodworking. Students learn creatively to produce projects that enhance their learning, with design challenges, collaboration, and individual plans. For example, the first weeks of 3rd grade, students build their own personal chairs to reflect their identities and share them out with classmates and build community.
During recess, students have the flexibility to build forts with large blocks, work on art projects and other fun areas. Live Action Role Play (LARP) is popular among the students, and the school maintains a storage of costumes and role playing props.
Brightworks offers aftercare and clubs, which rotate through the school. Clubs to date include robotics, carving, creative writing, newspaper, music, yearbook and fine arts.
Types of Students Served
Brightworks is a fit for families looking for a hands-on education with an emphasis on fostering curiosity. Similar to the types of families that enjoy Waldorf curricula, Brightworks families appreciate a balance of life skills and education in a low structure environment.
Younger students are taught the independence needed to produce projects in this type of environment. For those joining Brightworks at middle or high school, an independent, self-driven streak can be handy.
The school is welcoming of neurodiverse students with mild needs who thrive with less structure and more space but don’t require a formal learning specialist, although the school has a part time learning specialist. Project based learning combined with outdoor time meets the needs of students who bristle in a traditional classroom. The freedom of movement inherent in the Brightworks classrooms offers both physical and mental space, as well as sensory options for students who prefer a more tactile approach.
For quick learners, Brightworks assesses their executive function skills and maturity before choosing an approach. For those able to move with older students, they might be placed in older bands, and for those less mature or more asynchronous, the challenge might be pushed into a younger band.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Brightworks has a tuition of $41,853 for kindergarten thru 12th grade, and aftercare is billed by the hour. The school has need-based financial aid available.
Role of a K-12 Consultant
A consultant can help you craft your school list to be sure of a balanced list offering a match of services with the student and parent’s interests. A consultant can also review all admissions materials, in particular student and parent essays, to help focus them to each school’s admissions goals. A consultant can directly work with your child to brainstorm, draft, and edit their own essays. The consultant can provide feedback on whether the essays read as genuine and how to shine during the application process.
Want more input on K-12 schools?
Vicky consults with families to help select, apply to, and communicate with public and private schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Vicky maintains a principle of non-judgment. Hourly, VIP, and Season packages include a discussion to review school options, applications, essays, and key decisions. Vicky offers a limited number of packages each year to assure her availability.
Vicky’s own children have attended both public and private schools, and have received both accommodations and curriculum changes; her elder is in high school, and her younger in middle school. New clients can email to learn more about her services, or see her website to learn about her packages.
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