Kittredge School is a small, warm school with traditional academics and a focus on helping students reach their potential while instilling character values, such as kindness. Founded 80 years ago by a local family, Kittredge is now owned by a former current teacher and a former principal, with a similar vibe as a nonprofit. The school has one combination class each for K-1st, 2nd-3rd, and 4th-5th, and a class each of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. The school offers small classes that personalize the learning for each student, whether they need extra help or extra challenge. The tuition runs roughly half the price of the typical San Francisco privates, and offers need-based financial aid.
The school is housed in a large, converted home in a residential neighborhood in the Richmond District of San Francisco near the Presidio. The building includes several classrooms on three levels with two flights of stairs. The outdoor space onsite houses picnic tables for lunch and snack; they visit a large, local playground for recess and the Presidio for field trips.
Academics
What makes Kittredge special? Academics are based on a traditional curriculum with a warm environment that also teaches executive function and kindness. Kittredge offers small classes, capped at 14 students with a full time teacher and part time assistant for each classroom (i.e. 7:1 to 14:1 student-teacher ratio). The small class size allows the teachers to notice which kids might be quietly lost or quietly bored. The teachers seek to meet the needs of each student, whether that be extra time to learn or a quicker pace with extensions and acceleration.
Each classroom in the lower school includes two grade levels (14 students per combo class) and, in the middle school, one classroom for each grade (14 students per grade). The school admits new students for 6th grade to expand the classes. Seventh and Eighth graders move between two classrooms, share subject specific teachers, and are paired together for recess and PE classes. The school teaches math at the same time so that those needing more challenge can accelerate, typically a handful of students across the school. The middle school teaches through Algebra I in 8th grade for most students and Geometry for the most advanced. Approximately half of graduates are placed in Geometry in 9th grade, and 1-2 graduates each year are placed in Algebra II.
For teaching values and executive function, the school uses the Habits of Mind and Character Counts! programs. This teaches what are helpful behaviors or habits to be successful at school, and how to embody character values, such as fairness and kindness.
Technology includes a plethora of onsite laptops and iPads.
The school does not have a learning specialist, but instead relies upon the small class size.
Enrichment Classes
Kittredge offers before and aftercare from 7:45am to 6pm. They offer after school clubs that typically include science, chess, drama, and music.
The school teaches Spanish from kindergarten, and the Spanish teacher offers free tutoring after school for new students who arrive without the language background. Most graduates are placed in Spanish II in 9th grade.
Kittredge has a variety of sports teams, such as cross country, basketball, and volleyball.
The school offers a five-week summer program with morning academics and afternoon fun. Students are a mix of those looking for catch up and those looking to accelerate. The afternoon workshops include volleyball, basketball, pickleball, stem, cooking, drawing, legos and crafts. Students entering 4th thru 8th grades participate in a Green Energy Challenge, learning about alternative fuel sources such as wind and solar energy.
Types of Students Served
Kittredge is a fit for a variety of students seeking a small student-teacher ratio. The school does not have a learning specialist, but the small class size is a fit for students who need a lower student teacher ratio and adapted curriculum. This means, Kittredge is a fit for students who are gifted and/or are mildly neurodiverse.
The school has two flights of stairs and no elevator, so those with physical limitations must be comfortable with stairs. The ground level has direct exits for the youngest two classrooms.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Kittredge tuition is in the mid $20,000’s, and the school has a small financial aid program.
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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