Lowell High School

There is no crystal ball for parents trying to find the right school for their kids. The only real guide is your own experience—how you’ve learned, grown, and found connection through community and education.Both of my children came from a Reggio Emilia–inspired preschool that was small, cozy, and deeply creative. We loved it. When it was time for kindergarten, we wondered if the structure of a parochial school would suit them. What we discovered is that St. Cecilia offers a beautiful balance. Our home life is playful and a little weird, and having a school environment that brings structure, accountability, and rhythm has been the perfect complement. It allows our kids to thrive academically while staying curious, joyful, and themselves.The academics here are strong and thoughtful, blending foundational skills with creative exploration. Spanish begins in TK, which has been a wonderful early exposure to language. Sports are also a huge part of the experience. From TK onward, the focus on teamwork, participation, and building the basics of different sports is both energizing and confidence-boosting. The effort teachers and coaches put into creating opportunities for movement and connection is something we truly value.At St. Cecilia, community feels like the heartbeat of it all. As a transplant to San Francisco who married a local, I wanted a small-town feel in a big city—a place where my kids would be known, loved, and nurtured. That has been true every step of the way. From the teachers and staff to the parents who volunteer side by side, there is a warmth that makes you feel immediately at home.I was not raised Catholic and wondered if that might make me feel out of place. Those worries disappeared instantly. The faith-based foundation at St. Cecilia is rooted in kindness, service, and shared values that include every family. It feels thoughtful, respectful, and inclusive in a way that makes everyone feel welcome.Over the years, I’ve found myself volunteering again and again, surrounded by parents who share laughter, meals, and a genuine sense of purpose. This school is more than just a place where my children learn—it’s a community that has embraced us completely. We’ve found something truly special here, and I’m so grateful to watch both my children and our family continue to grow within it.

The principal is horrible. She is a bully, demeaning, self-serving, petty, and belittling. She needs to be replaced. Until that happens, avoid this school. The school has experienced an extremely high level of staff turnover. If you question anything about the school, teachers, or other staff, the principal takes it as a personal attack and yells at you until you regret bringing anything up to her. She is a class-a bully!

KZV is a tight-knit, community-based Armenian school that in recent years has invested heavily in delivering academic excellence. The kids almost exclusively graduate to the very best high schools in the bay area, be it public or private, and they, in my experience, also get to benefit from an extended childhood that shields them a bit from some of society's ills during the critical formative PreK through 8th grade years. Teachers are part of the fabric of both the school and the community and garner that increased level of respect, and in exchange, take that deeper level of interest and responsibility in the health and success of their students. Similarly, there are many siblings and family connections, so the 8th graders know the 1st graders names and embrace them as part of an extended family, rather than creating generational gaps or cliques. It really is a wondrous environment we feel lucky and blessed to be a part of. On the constructive feedback side, the school cannot effectively grow children with special needs, who are better served with the significant resources of the public school system, and the Armenian language education is using dated methods that emphasize memorization and excessively complicated language rather than simple practice that makes children proficient in conversational situations.

My three children have thrived at SF Waldorf High School. Academics, clubs and sports all making a positive impact on their high school years. My two oldest are studying engineering at university. They were both very well prepared for the rigors of college academics. My oldest has said physics in college was easy because his HS teachers taught him everything. And math club brought a social element to his academic slant. My second child loved sports at SF Waldorf HS, playing soccer and basketball. At Waldorf, anyone can play; there are no tryouts or cuts. The coaches exude positivity. And the school also wins! My son's basketball team won the state championship for their division two years ago. My youngest child just finished 9th grade. The teachers really focus on every student and truly have their interests at the forefront. The transition from middle school was seamless, she had a great first year and is looking forward to the rest of her high school journey at SF Waldorf.