Drew School

As a parent of a Drew student I can honestly say that it is all that they say they are and more. The teachers are always available to my daughter, whether she sends them an email with a question about an assignment on Sunday evening or late on a weeknight. They are so invested in insuring that the students succeed. They also balance the academics with fun activities, assemblies and electives. The smaller size is more intimate and students have the opportunity to interact with each other at school events, assemblies and various clubs. It’s as competitive as you want to make the experience and at the same time everyone is challenged in a good way. My daughter loves the school and all that it has to offer.

As parents of a Drew School graduate, we were thrilled our daughter selected the school. There is a true partnership between the parents, the school and the students, while respecting the students independence. The teachers are fabulous, very proactive and engaged in student life, the curriculum is responsive to the needs of the students while the academic vision is always pushing the envelope.
We highly recommend Drew School, as does our daughter.

Wonderful school with an incredible community!

As parents of a Drew alum, we look back on how fortunate our daughter was to attend Drew. The experiential learning environment of intellectual rigor balanced with many opportunities for creative expression made for an enriching high school experience. She was so well prepared for the many challenges of college and life after Drew by a strong, dedicated, caring community of teachers, administrators and students. She frequently attributes her strong work ethics and confidence to her education at Drew.

I remember complaining to Sam Cuddleback that I didn’t have enough homework at Drew College Prep. He told me I could do more on my own. It was fun when I had some other students dress up as the cast from Beavis and Butthead. Also we used to call him ‘Cuddle the Buck’. I remember being so disappointed when we Drew Dragons went to a science informational session at USF for high school students in the region. The ones who did the best were from the East Bay I think.
We scored the lowest out of all the schools, as I recall those questions were harder than the SAT. We didn’t know our social security numbers and just made up something that was 9 digits to fill in the bubbles.
Drew was fun compared to a place like UHS, and there were some very bright students at this school. We used to rent out the Russian center for PE. And I played dodgeball in my wool clogs that (I bought with my own money vacuuming apartment buildings that my parents managed).
There was one guy Dan H who could really play the electric guitar, it was so loud the building shook and I stood outside waiting for it to be over. But everyone enjoyed it. Its nice that its an international school too. There were some very dedicated teachers there with alot of experience in teaching and life. We had a brilliant math teacher who escaped from a gulag (Russian concentration camp) and he said he could prove the existence of god using mathematics.
I was fortunate to have a brilliant psychics and chemistry teacher who treated me like his own child, in the way that he taught science and talked about science as culture. We (and another student) wants to start an electronics club here.
Drew was very special in its hiring of its teachers. Drew also hired teachers who when not that much older than us and they told us they wanted to be our friends or in the sense of being on the same level appropriately.
Drew students were very kind to eachother and I can’t remember a single incident of hazing or even teasing. We went to Great America not as a class trip, some of the classmates just arranged it. I was a little «reserved/​introverted/​shy» at the time because I was through a Psychiatrist who didn’t understand me and tried to diagnose me. Said I was ‘bipolar’ and that my mind was like a kid who was making up their own ballet and couldn’t conform to the other ballet students. I was even sent to a troubled teen high school in Italy for one month and I wanted to learn. So I got myself out there which wasn’t the easiest thing to do because they want your money. I felt so independent flying back on the plane back home. I interviewed at Drew the next week and was told I could start the next day.
I was a sophmore taking English with freshman, and they were nice to me.
Everyday single day in the morning announcements put together by Mr Joel our science teacher would read it ‘CCSF is currently accepting applications’. It was also nice that Mr Joel (a retired gentleman who had been loyal to the school for many years) was on staff and many students and parents liked him.
If you decide Drew is the right school for you. I would also encourage you to please visit at least one public high school such in your life and not write them off like my class did, thinking you’re better off because you’re automatically better off paying for education. If you like art/​graphic design check out SoTa (School of the Arts, formerly MacAteer High). Or Lowell Alternative High or Galileo School of Science if the sciences interest you located near Fisherman’s Wharf and Peer 39. Or you can transfer. All 4 years at the same high school is a little long for some. Or Washington Alternative High School or Lincoln High School, where my mother went.
In some ways Drew feels like a pleasant day camp and I think my sister should have went there instead of Urban, which is kind of a silly school anyways in my opinion and way too close to the drug scene.
I generally prefer public schools because there no mind games or status games played and the same goes for Drew. We were proud that a Drew student was accepted to Stanford his dream school. We were especially proud because it was an accomplishment for him and his dream, his mother worked at See’s Candy and we would get candy at a discount and sell it for student government. I never bought any.
I heard later that NP realized he wasn’ really wasn’t happy there. So just the letter would have been good enough. Besides UC Santa Cruz started the genome mapping project anyway.
Lick Wilmerdang, which is seen as a cheaper version of UHS, well I’m glad I didn’t apply there. I think the Lick campus is kind of ugly even though its modern. Eventhough Lick and CCSF are located practically across the street, I still think Lick is ugly and CCSF was a good experience. Drew will work with students who want to still be in high school yet take classes such as Calculus II at CCSF.
The name I made up for myself at Drew is «one who has been to many schools

I’m going to start with a conclusion: Going to Drew was is and will always be one of the BEST decisions I have EVER made in my life.
What can you ask for when you have teachers who are willing to go out of their ways to study WITH you, who are just essentially like friends to you through times of trouble, who recognizes every student as someone unique, special, great in different aspects, who has more patience than probably most teachers you ever encounter in life, who are willing to talk about anything and respect your opinions. I’ve been so lucky, not even able to describe how lucky I am, to have met, studied with, and graduated from these teachers and staffs in this school. We have a great head master, intelligent and humorous, cherishes everything in Drew and actually make every student count, it has been my pleasure to spend my four years with these great teachers like Ms. Sarles, Ms. Cater, Mr. O, Mr. C, Mr. Chabon, Mr. Islas, Ms. Papa, Mr. Zealand, Ms. Horne, and much much much more (don’t worry all those I didn’t mention, they are EQUALLY awesome). They are one of a kind, they are the best, they are my teachers for life!
Not only are the teachers awesome, all of our peers are friendly and nice, no one is perfect of course, there might be times where we don’t get along, but all of us mean good and we have a good heart, I can guaranteed it. And I can say that the students in Drew are probably the most encouraging and friendly students you can find in a private school in the entire bay area, no exaggeration.
All the materials we are being taught, all the debates we do, all the class discussions we held, they are not only educational but also memorable. So many people are surprised at how much I love school, but that’s only because I went to Drew, Drew made high school experience amazing and unforgettable. Community Service? We dare to care. The environment? We have a vertical garden. The students? Every student counts. Fun? Spirit weeks and Snow days, baby! Academics? Furious historical debates, physical math projects, courageous bands and countless musicians, books many people don’t get a chance to read elsewhere but get to read for English class. Extracurricular? A B blocks, choose what you like, improvisation, knitting, dancing, Latin band, choose one. Outside the classroom? Right before spring break, get a week go OUTSIDE your 4 walls and go to DC, go to Oregon for Shakespeare festival, go to Half Moon Bay to gather your own food and cook, go to the East Bay and learn how to sew, go to Spain and walk the trail! Anything else? Well, let me tell you, this is only the tip of the iceberg for Drew, we are a lot more, you won’t know unless you experience it.
Even through my time of financial hardship, Drew has been understanding and did ALL they could have with the Board of Trustees to help me stay in school, business dept, finance dept, BoT, all of you, every one of you are awesome. Thank you for helping our family get through our hard times, and let me graduate from amazing place.
And finally, to go back to my conclusion, I am proud to be the 2011 Drew graduate, and thank you, thank you, thank you, Drew, for every single thing you’ve given me, when I have what I need, you will be the first I give back! Thank you from my entire family!

Drew School is fantastic! There have been so many wonderful and important changes over the years. Once upon a time, it had a less than stellar reputation, but those days are WAY WAY over. Gorgeous modern facility, world class educators, ahead of the curve technology, full of SPIRIT, and the student body is the nicest group of kids in San Francisco. Everyone at Drew is just nice. It’s academically rigorous, but there isn’t the «pressure» that some of these other college prep schools have. The best way to learn about the school is to experience it first hand, like I did. What a magical place for high school kids.

I came by to look at the vertical plants growing on the side of the school. Very cool. They need more greenery in San Francisco instead of cement.

Having sent kids to this school, I can say with 100% confidence that I believe it’s the best kept secret for private high schools in S.F. They have the most dedicated staff I have ever seen, the campus is small but nice. They just built a 2^nd wing which has a state-​of-​the-​art theater/​music studio that is just stunning. Also, check out their new «vertical garden» — one of the largest of its kind in the U.S.
The classes at Drew are challenging, interesting and unusual. (They offer American Sign Language as a foreign language option). The courses are well thought out & are integrated for students. They have a vibrant Learning Differences program & work with the students as individuals.
Another thing that sets Drew apart is their application process. The prospective students are asked to write their essay ON SITE which is different than other schools. They are looking to see the character of the student and how they work independently.
Drew compares favorably with all the other ‘elite’ schools… Lick, UHS, Urban, as I have spoken to friends with kids at those schools. Here’s the difference; the academic pressure that causes kids to hurt themselves and creates stress does not exist at Drew. Kids are nurtured, cared for and do not slip through the cracks like at other schools.
Yes, it’s an expensive school, but they are thoughtful about financial assistance and work with families who need it. I can’ say enough great things about this school, where students feel important, loved and stimulated.
The academic expectations are high but manageable and my kids come out of Drew feeling good about themselves, feeling accomplished and feeling HAPPY. That’s quite an accomplishment for a high school.

Super cool high school. Little competition, some bad teachers but generally a good time. There aren’t a lot of AP and honors courses like a public school which I found rather annoying.

This is the best school. I don’t know what else to say. It’s the best. Beeeeesssst.