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Strengths STEM, Languages, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Cultural and Language, Arts and Creative, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction
Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy is a nonprofit private school serving TK–8 in San Francisco. Located at 455 Arkansas Street in Potrero Hill, campus provides a day program for ages 3–14 with class sizes under 20. The bespoke curriculum blends East and West, combining Chinese discipline and academic rigor with American creativity and independence. English, math, and Chinese are core subjects taught by teachers, with younger students learning math and science in Chinese and older students studying Chinese culture in English. Daily Mandarin instruction accompanies immersion in Chinese history, philosophy, poetry, and calligraphy. The school emphasizes project-based and AI-enabled practice and personalized support. Facilities include a garden for gardening and cooking classes, weekly field trips to parks and museums, and visits to Florence Fang Community Farm, and a 3-day nature ranch retreat. The founder and Head of School is Ann Hsu; it operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
455 Arkansas St, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States
The Essentials
Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy has typical class sizes of 19, instruction in English, Mandarin.
Location
455 Arkansas St., San Francisco, CA 94107 (Potrero Hill neighborhood). The campus sits on Potrero Hill with views of downtown. It is two blocks from Jackson Park & Playground and Potrero Hill Rec Center and is next door to the public library.
Stages
K-8
Type
Non-profit private school
School day structure
Our Daily Rhythms: Younger students have shorter classes and more recess; Older students get longer blocks; Mondays and Tuesdays are core academic days; Wednesdays and Fridays include arts, gardening, SEL (social and emotional learning), and cooking; Thursdays are reserved for field trips. Each semester includes irregular weeks; Summer session is built into the year with a lighter, more activity-based schedule.
Bus service
School bus service to start next month (announcement dated November 18, 2025).
Fees
Annual tuition at Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy ranges from USD 3,250 to USD 14,000 for 2026/27.
Application fees
- No separate application fee amount is published. Families complete an inquiry form to receive an application and, upon an offer of admission, submit an enrollment agreement and pay an enrollment deposit (deposit amount not published).
Tuition — overview (monthly and annual)
- Tuition is published as a sliding scale charged per month. The published monthly range is USD 270 – USD 2,000 per month, shown as the equivalent annual range USD 3,250 – USD 24,000 per year. Tuition includes lunch, snacks, and year‑round (12‑month) programming including summer. Sliding‑scale levels are applied based on family need.
- No separate, published tuition broken down by individual grade or year‑group is provided; tuition is presented as the sliding monthly/yearly range rather than a per‑grade schedule.
Tuition — term / session detail
- The school operates year‑round; tuition is stated per month and per year (12‑month programming). There is no published term‑by‑term invoice schedule on record.
After‑school, extended care and enrichment fees
- Extended care and after‑school enrichment are available; published monthly pricing ranges from USD 122 – USD 365 per month.
- The published after‑school program pricing (open to BHA and non‑BHA students) is: - For BHA students: USD 365 / month (5 days/week) or USD 275 / month (3 days/week). - For non‑BHA students: USD 420 / month (5 days/week) or USD 315 / month (3 days/week).
Summer program fees
- Summer School + Camp (6 weeks: June 22 – July 31, 2026) published weekly tuition rates: - USD 395 per week for the full 6‑week session. - USD 415 per week for any 4‑week session. - USD 450 per week for week‑by‑week enrollment. - After‑school care during summer (3:30–6:00 pm) is published as USD 100 / week (full 6 weeks), USD 105 / week (any 4 weeks), or USD 115 / week (week‑by‑week). Healthy lunch and snacks are included in the summer program fees.
Boarding fees
- No boarding program is offered. The school is described as a full‑day, year‑round day school for TK–8 (no boarding fees apply).
Other costs and routine extras
- Lunches and snacks are included in published tuition.
- No published uniform fee or uniform purchase requirements are provided. No specific published charges for textbooks, materials, or regular incidental fees are published. Published optional/additional services include after‑school enrichment and extended care (fees listed above) and summer program fees.
- Tuition assistance and scholarships are available; an Academic Merit Scholarship and a Scholarship Fund (supported by donations) are referenced.
Refunds and cancellations
- No comprehensive general refund policy or standard tuition refund schedule is published. One specific published item: when families opt out of portions of the summer session, the corresponding tuition is treated as a tax‑deductible donation with a receipt provided rather than issued as a refundable credit.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is quoted per month and per year; the school operates year‑round. Enrollment requires signing an enrollment agreement and payment of a deposit at acceptance; no published schedule of term invoicing, deposit amounts, payment deadlines, late‑payment penalties, or refund timelines is provided.
Fee payment options
- Donation pages show an online credit‑card donation form and an option to donate by check (payable to A2Z Exploration / mail address provided). Those donation payment channels are published for gifts and scholarship contributions. No explicit, published list of accepted payment methods for tuition (for example, credit card, ACH/bank transfer, wire, or check) is provided in the publicly posted fee information.
Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy teaches Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 3 to 14.
Curriculum
Full-day, year-round private school for grades K-8. The bicultural program blends East and West, combining Chinese discipline and academic rigor with American creativity and independence. Language is one component; students are immersed in Chinese culture, including 5000 years of history, philosophy, poetry, and calligraphy, and are encouraged to continue learning and speaking Chinese outside the classroom. Core subjects include English, math, and Chinese, taught by dedicated subject teachers, with adjunct instructors in science, music, gardening, and art. Class sizes are capped under 20, and the daily schedule mixes quiet study with active time, arts, SEL, and field trips on a Potrero Hill campus.
Admissions
Admissions
1. INQUIRE & LEARN: Complete an Inquiry Form to receive an application. Attend a school tour or open houses. The admissions policy welcomes families regardless of cultural or socio-economic background.
2. APPLY & INTERVIEW: Upon receipt and review of your application, we will contact you for an in-person interview of both the student and the parent(s)/guardian(s).
3. NOTIFICATION & ENROLL: Upon an offer of admission, notify us of your acceptance by completing an enrollment agreement and paying the deposit.
APPLICATION DEADLINES: Rolling evaluation of Enrollment Application throughout the year, including interview; Admissions decision notification within one month of application submission; Enrollment Agreement Deadline: 2 weeks after admissions decision notification.
TUITION & FEES: $270-$2,000 per month ($3,250-$24,000 per year); Tuition includes lunch and snacks and 12-month programming through the summer; Sliding scale tuition based on family need; Extended care and after school enrichment activities are available for $122-$365 per month.
FAQs
What curriculum does Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy follow?
Full-day, year-round private school for grades K-8. The bicultural program blends East and West, combining Chinese discipline and academic rigor with American creativity and independence. Language is one component; students are immersed in Chinese culture, including 5000 years of history, philosophy.
What are the tuition fees at Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy?
Annual tuition fees range from USD 3,250 to USD 3,250 depending on the year group. **Application fees** - No separate application fee amount is published. Families complete an inquiry form to receive an application and, upon an offer
What age range does Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy serve?
The school serves students aged 3 to 14. K-8
Where is Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy located?
455 Arkansas St., San Francisco, CA 94107 (Potrero Hill neighborhood). The campus sits on Potrero Hill with views of downtown. It is two blocks from Jackson Park & Playground and Potrero Hill Rec Center and is next door to the public library.
How do I apply to Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy?
1) INQUIRE & LEARN: Complete an Inquiry Form to receive an application. Attend a school tour or open houses. The admissions policy welcomes families regardless of cultural or socio-economic background. 2) APPLY & INTERVIEW: Upon receipt and review of your application, we will contact you for an in
What type of school is Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy?
Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy is a Co-educational school with 8 students. Non-profit private school
What languages are taught at Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy?
The school teaches English and Chinese and includes Chinese language instruction within its curriculum. Summer School + Camp includes morning academics in math, English and Chinese.
Is there a bus service at Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy?
School bus service to start next month (announcement dated November 18, 2025).
What is the history of Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy?
The Grand Opening occurred in 2023; the school is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The school operates as a full-day, year-round private school for grades TK–8 in San Francisco at 455 Arkansas St, near Potrero Hill. The founder and Head of School is Ann Hsu. The school blends Chinese and American educational
What extracurricular activities are available?
The school hosts performances such as a Winter Recital that blends traditional Christmas carols with Chinese songs and poems. Chinese culture is integrated through calligraphy, poetry, and other cultural arts as part of the curriculum. The community posts show art and creative projects and student-l
What are the school hours at Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy?
Our Daily Rhythms: Younger students have shorter classes and more recess; Older students get longer blocks; Mondays and Tuesdays are core academic days; Wednesdays and Fridays include arts, gardening,
