Compare Premium International Schools in San Francisco, United States

American International Montessori School (AIM) is a bilingual Montessori day school serving toddlers to elementary students on two Berkeley/Oakland–area campuses. Founded in 2009 by Ernest Mahr, AIM offers three Montessori programs: Infant Community (18–36 months), Children's House (3–6 years), and Elementary (1st–6th). Language immersion is embedded across all divisions, with toddler tracks in Japanese and Mandarin, and elementary bilingual options in English/Chinese or English/Japanese. Immersion is 100% in the target language for younger children, with English introduced in the afternoon for older students; elementary classrooms maintain all-day language immersion. Classrooms emphasize authentic Montessori materials and native-speaking teachers. Two campus sites host distinct language tracks, with Montessori-trained staff across every classroom. The campus features bright, natural-light rooms, child-sized furnishings, two large play yards, and abundant outdoor and garden activities. After-school enrichment includes sports, art, and dance—most notably Yosakoi Japanese dance—and annual cultural events like Setsubun, broadening students' world awareness and curiosity.

Convent & Stuart Hall is an independent Catholic K-12 school in San Francisco with two campuses, Broadway and Pine-Octavia, serving students from ages 5 to 18. The school is part of the Sacred Heart Schools network and offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the high school, alongside a comprehensive K-12 curriculum that emphasizes serious study and social responsibility. Students engage with humanities, mathematics, sciences and the arts, and study digital literacy and design integrated with core disciplines. Signature programs include K-12 Research-Based Literacy Programs, an Emotional Literacy Program, and a Structured Literacy Program. The Siboni Arts & Science Center houses science labs, art spaces, music rooms and a theatre, supporting on-campus performances through the Syufy Theatre. Athletics use on-campus facilities and external venues. A service ethos is expressed through the Heart to Heart program, international exchanges, and service-learning trips, complemented by a range of arts, language and leadership opportunities.

East Bay German International School (EBGIS | EBIHS) is a dual‑language German‑English international school serving preschool through high school in Emeryville, California. The program blends a German/English bilingual curriculum with IB World School status and Advanced Placement options. Elementary and middle grades provide a dual‑language program in which 65–80 percent of instruction is in German, with a third language (Spanish or French) introduced in Grade 6, and by Grade 8 students prepare for the Deutsches Sprachdiplom I. In high school, Grades 9–10 offer AP courses, while Grades 11–12 pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, including a bilingual IB Diploma. Language offerings include English, German, French, and Spanish, with IB DP Language & Literature options in English or German. The campus includes bilingual libraries, maker spaces, a science lab, spaces for music and art, an auditorium, and on‑campus athletics. Emeryville site has hosted a community school with family involvement and volunteers locally.

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley provides a dual-immersion education from preschool through eighth grade. The school follows the French National Ministry of Education curriculum alongside the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. Instruction is delivered through a co-teaching model where French and English teachers collaborate to build literacy in both languages.The 2.3-acre campus includes specialized outdoor learning environments such as a water creek, a dedicated garden, and an outdoor amphitheater. A unique feature of the elementary program is the "Vers le Pacifique" initiative, a social-emotional program focused on conflict resolution and identity development. Additionally, the school offers an Accelerated French Program specifically for students entering grades one through eight with little to no prior exposure to the language, allowing them to join the bilingual track. Students participate in physical education and arts regularly, with after-school clubs ranging from robotics to global cooking.

Escuela Bilingüe Internacional is an independent IB World School serving students ages 3 to 14 with a bilingual program across PK-8. The school operates on two campuses: Alcatraz Avenue in Oakland (PK-1) and San Pablo Avenue in Emeryville (2-8). Opened in 2006, it is the West Coast's only Spanish-English bilingual IB World School offering both the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). The language model begins with full immersion in the early years and progresses to a balanced bilingual approach through middle school, with an Accelerated Spanish Program (ASP) to support Grades 2-8 with little or no prior Spanish. Lead teachers are native or near-native Spanish speakers from international backgrounds. The IB framework guides inquiry-based learning, global citizenship, and biliteracy, preparing graduates for top high schools and continued success. Facilities include Alcatraz PK-1 and San Pablo 2-8 campuses with libraries, arts spaces, music and PE facilities.

La Scuola International School in San Francisco is a private day school that operates as an IB World School for the Primary Years Program and the Middle Years Program, and it embraces a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach. The school offers Italian language immersion with English instruction, supported by a Montreal Model grade balance and ongoing Spanish instruction in upper grades. Established in 2002, La Scuola maintains multiple campuses, including the Mission Campus (K–8), the Dogpatch Campus (Preschool), the Silicon Valley Campus (PreK–Elementary), and a Milano, Italy campus; it is recognized by the Italian government as Scuola Paritaria abroad. The Mission Campus is the Americas' first Reggio Emilia-inspired campus, with spaces such as the food atelier, dining room, art, music, and makers ateliers surrounding a central piazza. The environment emphasizes hands-on learning, cross‑grade collaboration, and inquiry through transdisciplinary Units of Inquiry, culminating in the PYP Exhibition and the MYP Community Project for students.

Lycée Français de San Francisco (LFSF) is an international school serving PreK–12 with two bilingual tracks: a French Track aligned to the French Ministry of National Education, and an International Track powered by the International Baccalaureate (IB). Students aged 2 to 18 benefit from continuous education across three campuses: Ashbury (Preschool–Grade 5) in San Francisco, Sausalito (Preschool–Grade 5) in Marin, and Ortega (Middle–High School) in San Francisco. The International Track follows the IB Middle Years Programme (Grades 6–10) and the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12). The school is accredited by the French Ministry and CAIS and is part of the AEFE network. Across campuses sustainability is embedded: Eco-Delegates, solar aquaponics, water cisterns, living green walls, and an organic Cantine kitchen. LFSF hosts a diverse community of around 50 nationalities and offers strong arts, athletics, and language programs, enabling bilingual French–English instruction and a wide range of extracurricular activities for families.

Lycée Français de San Francisco (LFSF) is an international school serving PreK–12 with two bilingual tracks: a French Track aligned to the French Ministry of National Education, and an International Track powered by the International Baccalaureate (IB). Students aged 2 to 18 benefit from continuous education across three campuses: Ashbury (Preschool–Grade 5) in San Francisco, Sausalito (Preschool–Grade 5) in Marin, and Ortega (Middle–High School) in San Francisco. The International Track follows the IB Middle Years Programme (Grades 6–10) and the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12). The school is accredited by the French Ministry and CAIS and is part of the AEFE network. Across campuses sustainability is embedded: Eco-Delegates, solar aquaponics, water cisterns, living green walls, and an organic Cantine kitchen. LFSF hosts a diverse community of around 50 nationalities and offers strong arts, athletics, and language programs, enabling bilingual French–English instruction and a wide range of extracurricular activities for families.

Lycée Français de San Francisco (LFSF) is an international school serving PreK–12 with two bilingual tracks: a French Track aligned to the French Ministry of National Education, and an International Track powered by the International Baccalaureate (IB). Students aged 2 to 18 benefit from continuous education across three campuses: Ashbury (Preschool–Grade 5) in San Francisco, Sausalito (Preschool–Grade 5) in Marin, and Ortega (Middle–High School) in San Francisco. The International Track follows the IB Middle Years Programme (Grades 6–10) and the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12). The school is accredited by the French Ministry and CAIS and is part of the AEFE network. Across campuses sustainability is embedded: Eco-Delegates, solar aquaponics, water cisterns, living green walls, and an organic Cantine kitchen. LFSF hosts a diverse community of around 50 nationalities and offers strong arts, athletics, and language programs, enabling bilingual French–English instruction and a wide range of extracurricular activities for families.

Shu Ren International School is a private international school in the United States serving ages 2-11, offering a blended IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and American curriculum. The program provides full Mandarin immersion for Early Childhood (ages 2-5) and Elementary (Kindergarten-Grade 5). It centers on the PYP's concept-based inquiry cycle, cultivating knowledge, skills, and dispositions for lifelong learning as students ask meaningful questions, make cross-subject connections, and apply learning to real-world contexts. Social-emotional development is embedded through the Responsive Classroom approach, Zones of Regulation, and PSPE, supporting wellbeing and global citizenship. Small class sizes and a close-knit community ensure every child is seen and supported. Aftercare runs 3:00-6:00 PM on preschool, TK, and elementary campuses, and enrichment is offered in both Mandarin and English. The Shu Ren Experience extends learning beyond the classroom with arts and athletics, language and cultural enrichment, and Mandarin-immersion Vacation Camps. Co-curricular programs broaden opportunities.

Silicon Valley International School (INTL) is a bilingual IB World School serving students from preschool to 12th grade across two campuses: the Cohn Campus in Palo Alto and the Willows Campus in Menlo Park. Formed in 2021 from the merger of Peninsula French-American School and Alto International School, INTL offers the full IB continuum—Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme—alongside bilingual curricula in Mandarin Chinese/English, French/English, and German/English. The Upper School Language Acquisition program provides a second language pathway for 6th–12th grade English-speaking students, culminating in the IB Diploma. The school emphasizes inquiry-based learning, social-emotional development, and a dynamic bilingual approach. Facilities support arts, design thinking, computer science and educational technology, athletics, and extensive after‑school activities. Distinctive programs include Round Square exchanges and international service trips, alongside Duke of Edinburgh's Award opportunities for older students. The campus culture celebrates multilingual collaboration, global citizenship, and hands-on learning across disciplines.

Silicon Valley International School (INTL) is a bilingual IB World School serving students from preschool to 12th grade across two campuses: the Cohn Campus in Palo Alto and the Willows Campus in Menlo Park. Formed in 2021 from the merger of Peninsula French-American School and Alto International School, INTL offers the full IB continuum—Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme—alongside bilingual curricula in Mandarin Chinese/English, French/English, and German/English. The Upper School Language Acquisition program provides a second language pathway for 6th–12th grade English-speaking students, culminating in the IB Diploma. The school emphasizes inquiry-based learning, social-emotional development, and a dynamic bilingual approach. Facilities support arts, design thinking, computer science and educational technology, athletics, and extensive after‑school activities. Distinctive programs include Round Square exchanges and international service trips, alongside Duke of Edinburgh's Award opportunities for older students. The campus culture celebrates multilingual collaboration, global citizenship, and hands-on learning across disciplines.

Terra San Francisco is a private campus located at 3801 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121, serving Preschool through 2nd grade; the Terra network also offers Pre-K through 8th grade. The program blends the Reggio Emilia approach with the International Baccalaureate framework (PYP), delivering a nature-based, multilingual education in Spanish, Mandarin, and English. In the early grades, about 80% of instruction is in the target language, with English and Math taught in English; higher grades expand language infusion. Students participate in weekly nature-based excursions led by Earth Education specialists, supporting outdoor experiential learning, arts, teamwork, creative problem solving, and flexible thinking. Learn, Grow, Belong anchors Terra's approach, emphasizing tailored academics, multilingualism, social-emotional learning, and family partnership. The school offers after-care, enrichment classes, and community events that foster belonging and global citizenship. Classrooms emphasize inquiry-based, project-focused learning with low student-teacher ratios and collaboration with families.

The International School of San Francisco, founded in 1962, is a bilingual international school offering the International Baccalaureate and French Baccalaureate programmes. The school serves students from Preschool (PK2) through Grade 12 across two campuses: the main campus at 150 Oak Street and the Maternelle at 1155 Page Street. French national standards are integrated with IB standards in a bilingual immersion model. The school offers arts, athletics, global travel, makerspaces, and service learning.

The International School of San Francisco operates as a dual-language institution in the center of the city, specializing in a bilingual French-English track from preschool through high school. Students at the Oak Campus, which primarily serves the high school, choose between the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and the French Baccalaureate. The campus includes specialized facilities like the Arts Pavilion for music and film and the Mark Salkind Center for science and design. A standout feature is the Global Travel Program, where students in grades 9 through 11 participate in two-week international learning trips to destinations such as Senegal, Vietnam, and Ecuador. These trips are often part of reciprocal exchanges where students stay with local families to practice language skills in real-world settings. The school also integrates "makerspaces" and a dedicated design lab into its curriculum, allowing students to apply engineering and artistic concepts to physical projects.

The Quarry Lane School’s Dublin East campus serves students from second grade through twelfth grade, offering a college-preparatory track centered on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. As the only private school in the East Bay providing the IB Diploma, the campus features a specialized STEM Academy that integrates science and engineering throughout the curriculum. High school students can pursue either the IB Diploma or an Advanced Placement (AP) path, with dedicated tracks in engineering and biotechnology. The campus includes a science and engineering lab where students participate in research projects, leading many to earn grand awards at the Hitachi Science & Engineering Fair. Beyond the classroom, the school is known for its competitive robotics teams and a visual and performing arts program that includes a planned performing arts center. Students also participate in a student-led club system, with offerings ranging from DECA and Speech and Debate to a variety of cultural and service-oriented societies.

Yew Chung International School Silicon Valley (YCIS Silicon Valley) delivers a bilingual Mandarin-English education for ages 2 to 14 within a non-profit American environment. The school offers EYFS, American, Singapore, and bespoke curricula, taught in English and Mandarin through a bilingual co‑teaching model that pairs English‑speaking and Mandarin‑speaking teachers. Students progress from preschool to middle school across two Mountain View campuses: an early childhood campus on East Middlefield Road and a K–8 campus on Easy Street. The program follows the Yew Chung Approach, emphasizing the Twelve Values and inquiry-based learning, with seven integrated areas of learning: Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Physical Development; Communication and Language; Literacy; Mathematics; Understanding the World; Expressive Arts and Design. The school blends Eastern and Western traditions to develop compassionate, bilingual world learners. Facilities include weekly violin instruction, Art and Music, an indoor gym, and extensive field trips and campus-wide events for families and communities.