School Life

At the San Francisco High School of the Arts, we take great pride in guiding our students to become well-rounded individuals. Our whole-child education model not only assures the development of cognitive and artistic skills, but also helps students mature in emotional and interpersonal skills. We offer an array of extracurricular activities, and strongly encourage every student to become involved in at least one.

A Typical School Day

The school day begins at 8:15 a.m. with academics. Most students have two to four classes in the morning, depending on the day’s schedule. At 11:20 a.m., a hearty hot lunch is served. This home-cooked, buffet-style meal typically includes soup, rice, a vegetable dish, a meat dish, and fresh fruit. On Fridays, our World Cuisine days, the smell of organic homemade pizza, hamburgers, and tacos often drifts from our commercial-grade kitchen. After students finish eating and socializing with friends, the bell rings for the final academic class at noon. Arts classes follow from 12:55 – 3:25 p.m. After classes are over, many students choose to stay for study hall, student clubs, and/or extra practice time in the studios. Study hall is held in the library and lasts from 4 – 6 p.m.

Sample Class Schedules

Class Schedule - High School
Class Schedule - Middle School

8:15 am - 9:45 am: English

9:50 am - 11:20 am: Geometry

11:20 am - 12:00 am: Lunch

12:00 pm - 12:45 pm: High School Chinese Language I

12:45 pm - 12:55 pm: Break

12:55 pm - 3:25 pm: Visual Arts

3:25 pm - 3:30 pm: Break

3:30 pm - 3:50 pm: Advisory

8:15 am - 9:45 am: Physical Sciences

9:50 am - 11:20 am: Middle School Chinese Language II

11:20 am - 12:00 am: Lunch

12:00 pm - 12:45 pm: English

12:45 pm - 12:55 pm: Break

12:55 pm - 3:25 pm: Dance

3:25 pm - 3:30 pm: Break

3:30 pm - 3:50 pm: Assembly

School Uniform

Our school dress code is smart and comfortable. Uniform items may be purchased at the Lands’ End web store:

Student Clubs

On weekdays, the optional club programs and supervised study halls end at 6 pm. During this time, students may also work in the library under supervision and use the computers provided by the school.

Fashion Design
Basketball
Drawing
Video Editing
Games Club

The purpose of the Fashion Design Club is to provide students with an environment to explore their creativity and further their experience in working with textiles. Students are exposed to the history of fashion design, and learn from the traditional, as well as more contemporary trends in fashion.

For 1.5 hours every week, students come together to bond, thrive, and exercise their coordination in a healthy competitive environment. Students warm up with dribbling, passing, and shooting drills. Then we have 3-on-3, 4-on-4, and sometimes full-court scrimmages. Individual skill-development, trust, and teamwork are at the core of our club's foundation. Each semester culminates in 1 or 2 full-court scrimmages with other middle or high schools in the city.

Students in all arts tracks are welcome to join the Drawing Club. It's a great chance to explore this fundamental skill of visual arts in an enjoyable and relaxed environment.

The Video Editing Club introduces students to the basics of editing software and how to use the software to tell a story. They learn the software (the tools), and how to use them (techniques), and then strive to use the tools and techniques to create meaning (the art). Particular emphasis is also put on the use of sound. The course will supply a good selection of video and audio material for the students to use, but students are also encouraged to bring in material that they want to edit.

Focusing on games away from the computer, the games club challenges students in physical skills and logical thinking through traditional board games, card games, dice games, and more.

Study Halls

Quiet Study Group

During the Quiet Study Hall, students are supervised by teachers as they do their homework.

Casual Study Group

Students participating in the Casual Study Hall may do homework on their own or with other students. They may do quiet logic puzzles or solitaire games, work on artwork, and tutor or be tutored by fellow students.

The Kitchen

The goal of our lunch program is to provide students with a variety of nutritionally balanced, healthy, home-cooked meals. Each day, our commercial-grade kitchen serves a hearty buffet-style hot meal. All meals include soup or porridge, steamed rice, fried rice, a meat-based dish, a vegetable dish, as well as fresh fruit.

Homemade Organic Pizza

Our kitchen is proudly serving organic stone baked thin crust Neapolitan pizza on Wednesdays and Fridays, our lunch menu is as follows:

Appetizer:
Garlic knots garnished with lightly roasted garlic and parsley in organic extra virgin olive oil. Served with organic marinara source and basil.

Entrée:
Vegan tomato sauce pizza: Topped with Mozzarella cheese and basil in marinara sauce. Complimented with Parmesan cheese and organic olive oil.

Vegan pesto pizza: Topped with Mozzarella cheese and organic homemade pesto sauce. Complimented with Parmesan cheese and organic olive oil.

Pepperoni tomato sauce pizza: Topped with Mozzarella cheese and seasonal fresh vegetables in organic marinara sauce.

Beef sausage pizza: Topped with Mozzarella cheese, beef sausage, and seasonal fresh vegetable in organic marinara sauce.

Nut-free Lunch Menu (Spring, 2020)

Jan 21 - 23
Jan 27 - 31
Feb 3 - 7

Tuesday: Honey glazed chicken breast, Corn and Pan-Seared Tofu Stir Fry, pineapple fried rice.
Wednesday: Kimbap (Korean seaweed rice roll) served with Kimchi and rice. Kimchi pancake, Kimchi tofu soup.
Thursday: Corn dogs, french fries, chicken noodle soup.

Monday: Sweet and sour chicken and four treasures stir fry
Tuesday: Celery beef, bean sprouts pan fried three treasures
Wednesday: Korean BBQ, Korean vegetable pancake, Kimchi Tofu soup.
Thursday: Sushi, miso soup, sweet potato fries.
Friday: Spaghetti meat or tomato sauce, chicken noodle soup.

Monday: Curry chicken, sautéed mushroom with 3 treasures.
Tuesday: Braised beef, celery beef, bean sprouts pan fried three treasures.
Wednesday: Kimbap (Korean seaweed rice roll) served with Kimchi and rice. Kimchi pancake, Kimchi tofu soup.
Thursday: Tonkatsu (Japanese Pork Cutlet), sweet potato fries, and miso soup.
Friday: Lasagna with marinara sauce, mashed potato, curly fries, chicken noodle soup.

Nut-free Lunch Menu (Fall, 2019)

Nov 1 - 8
Nov 12 - 15
Nov 18 - 22
Nov 25 -Dec 6

Friday: Pizza, sweet potato fries, chicken vegetable soup.
Monday: Braised beef, Corn and Pan-Seared Tofu Stir Fry, chow mein noodles.
Tuesday: Stir-fried Pork with Luffa and black mushroom. Stir Fried Edamame with mixed vegetables.
Wednesday: Tonkatsu (Japanese Pork Cutlet), sweet potato fries, and miso soup.
Thursday: Curry chicken, sautéed mixed seasonal vegetables.
Friday: Spaghetti meat or tomato sauce, mashed potato, curly fries, chicken noodle soup.

Tuesday: Orange chicken, Tomato egg stir-fry, chow mein noodles.
Wednesday: Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls), sweet potato fries, miso soup.
Thursday: Sweet and Sour Pork, mixed vegetables stir fry.
Friday: Lasagna with marinara sauce, mashed potato, curly fries, chicken noodle soup.

Monday: Shredded beef and celery stir fry, Pan fried three treasures with mushroom, chow mein noodle.
Tuesday: Sweet and sour chicken, Wheat gluten bok choy stir fry,
Wednesday: Japanese sushi, sweet potato fries, miso soup.
Thursday: Teriyaki chicken, mixed vegetable stir fry.
Friday: Herb Roasted Turkey, Steakhouse Style Mashed Potatoes, Candied Yams, Buttermilk Biscuits, Turkey Gravy

Monday: Sweet sour chicken with pineapple, braised wheat gluten.
Tuesday: Braised beef, vegan wheat gluten with four treasures stir fry, mango fried rice.
Monday: Tomato chicken stir fry, Pan fried shredded potato with egg.
Tuesday: Braised summer squash with beef, sautéed eggplant and tofu,
Wednesday: Pizza, curly fries, chicken noodle soup, sautéed vegetables.
Thursday: Marinated beef patty with stake sauce, pan fried egg battered tofu.
Friday: Lasagna with marinara sauce, mashed potato, mashed potato, sautéed mixed seasonal vegetables.

Dec 9 - 16
Dec 17 - 19

Monday: Steamed Chicken with Wood Ears and Dried Lily Flowers, sautéed loofah edamame, chow mein noodles.
Tuesday: Stir-fried Pork with Luffa and black mushroom, two treasures sautéed dried tofu, pineapple fried rice.
Wednesday: Corn dogs, beef stew soup, curly fries, chicken noodle soup, mix vegetables stir fried.
Thursday: Curry beef, sautéed mixed seasonal vegetables, mango fried rice.
Friday: Sushi, miso soup, sweet potato fries.
Monday: Braised beef, cabbage and corn mixed vegetables stir fried, pineapple fried rice.

Tuesday: Glass noodle, meat balls with bok choy, tomato scramble eggs.
Wednesday: Spaghetti meat or tomato sauce, mashed potato, sweet potato fries, chicken noodle soup.
Thursday: Curry chicken, sautéed mixed seasonal vegetables, mango fried rice.

*Seasonal fresh fruit, salads, rice, and homemade soups served daily.
*The HSArts school lunch is free of peanuts and tree nuts.

Saturday Lunch Menu (Spring, 2020)

Requires pre-order three days in advance at the school front desk

Kids meal: $7
Lunch meal: $10

*All meals include seasonal fruit with a choice of boxed juice/soda/bottled water.

Jan 25
Feb 1
Feb 8
Feb 15

Made fresh daily California sushi roll (4 pc for kids, 8 pc for adults) served with french fries, miso soup, and rice.

Tonkatsu (Japanese Pork Cutlet), french fries, and miso soup.

Made fresh daily Kimbap (Korean seaweed rice roll) w/wo BBQ beef served with Kimchi and rice.

Hand-tossed pizza slice with the choice of pepperoni or plain cheese. Served with french fries.

Facilities

Our campus houses a spectacular training facility next to Golden Gate Park. Our dance studios are considered some of the best in San Francisco.