Presidio Hill School

We can't recommend Presidio Hill School highly enough. Wonderful and caring teachers who truly know the students. Strong and progressive curriculum that encourages critical thinking, self-advocacy, curiosity, and a love of learning. Lots of outdoor time in the Presidio, where the kids can play and learn. Strong moral compass in the administration that supports social and emotional learning as well as respect for equity and diversity. My two children are very different learners, but each has really thrived at PHS. My high schooler continues to lean on his friendships from PHS even though they no longer go to the same school. My 7th grader loves going to school every day and is loving her science class and art class in particular. The family community is warm, welcoming, and supportive. I wish I was able to have had the same experience at PHS as a child—it's a truly special place.

My kids have had a great experience at PHS. The projects they do and the lessons they learn are fantastic. They get outside and in the world quite a bit. The music program absolutely exceeded our expectations, and we look forward to Follies each year. The educational philosophy is modern and effective, building intrinsic motivation. Very strong and caring administration.

Presidio Hill School is amazing! Our daughter started at PHS in Kindergarten and is now a proud fourth grader. She loves her teachers and fellow students. It has been a pure joy watching our daughter grow and thrive at PHS. She is so enthusiastic about learning and each year that enthusiasm grows. Her teachers are so supportive and their dedication to and connection with each student is truly genuine. Our daughter runs and skips to school each morning, and is eager to teach us what she has learned at the end of each school day.PHS takes full advantage of having the Presidio so close to campus. I cannot overstate how amazing a resource the Presidio is as an outdoor classroom space, a place for physical activity such as PE and exploration, and just a gorgeous, natural, and vast area for the student's well-being. Our daughter loves, loves, loves going into the Presidio throughout the week to explore, play, and learn about nature. The teachers at all grade levels are incredible, as well as the assistants. They have an innate ability to connect with each child on a personal level, fostering a sense of belonging and security. The teachers, as well as the support staff and administrators, all handle any student disputes quickly and with kindness and understanding, focusing on resolving issues rather than using punitive measures. The teachers at PHS are so positive and caring towards the students, and make a real point to meet every child where they are socially and emotionally. The school buildings are gorgeous. The art and music programs are top-notch. Our daughter has enjoyed incredible after-school classes offered through PHS such as cooking, gymnastics, piano, hapkido, theater, illustration, coding, and many others. I am incredibly impressed with how PHS prioritizes social-emotional learning. Students at PHS not only excel academically but also develop the emotional intelligence and resilience needed to navigate life's challenges. The middle school students exude a remarkable level of poise, confidence, and maturity. Year after year, all of the graduating class get admitted into one of their top choices for High School. We feel so lucky to be a part of the PHS community. We have met so many amazing families and made so many friendships across all grade levels. Events like family picnics, all-school camping trips, fundraising soires, festivals, and performances foster a strong sense of belonging and camaraderie.PHS is a haven of learning where children's dreams are nurtured, their potential is celebrated, and their futures are shaped with love and care. I wholeheartedly recommend this extraordinary school to any parent seeking an exceptional and comprehensive education for their child.

Presidio Hill School is an incredible place - helping students nurture a love of learning, build confidence, and become informed, global citizens. We have been incredibly pleased with the experience our child has had at PHS. The close-knit community means that each kid is truly known - by teachers, admin, and peers alike. In the classroom, this means that students are challenged and encouraged at levels that are calibrated and individualized based on their own learning needs and strengths. In the broader community, it means that students make deep friendships (often across grade levels) and they feel safe, welcomed, and included thanks to the intentional culture created by the school. Our child LOVES school - leaping out of the car each day with eager enthusiasm. We attribute this to many, many facets of the incredible place that is PHS, but to name a few:- The teaching teams are experts at their craft. Watching and interacting with the teachers we have seen the such deep passion that comes across strongly in the experience the kids have in the classroom. Their ability to harness student curiosity and leverage that into new ways to learn and be challenged is impressive. And, we value their knowledge of each student and exactly what makes them tick and what each student needs to best fulfill their potential.- The time students spend in the Presidio is intentionally woven into the curriculum itself and isn't just bonus outdoor playtime (though there is lots of time for play woven into the days too, especially in the early grades).- The progressive approach to education shuns things like rote memorization and instead makes learning real for the students through opportunities to turn their learning into action and get hands-on whenever possible. PHS has been continually refining its approach to education for more than 100 years and it shows in the expert ways the teachers build their engaging curriculum.- The parent community is also wonderful - filled with lots of caring and down-to-earth people. There are lots of opportunities to build community through volunteer opportunities and school events, so a school is a place where families and educators work together in partnership daily in a natural way.

Our son transferred to PHS from a larger school that wasn't a good fit for him and we have watched him blossom since. Its small class size means that his teachers really know him as a learner, daily time in the Presidio has fostered curiosity and love of nature, and the warm community has benefitted our whole family. We love this school!