San Francisco Flex Academy

I like SF FLEX for both of my daughters. They make the learning fun and integrated and challenge the students to rise to successes.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is a freshman this year at S.F. Flex Academy. This is the first time, in all of his years at school, that he can't wait to get to school in the morning. He enjoys learning online and at his own pace, the small class sizes, the enthusiasm of the teachers and staff, and the variety of classes offered. As a parent, I am impressed with the challenging curriculum, the highly educated and devoted staff, and the high expectations from the school that students get their assignments done and behave appropriately. I appreciate that S.F. Flex has meaningful consequences for behavior and enforces them. It is amazing how much educational support/tutoring is available online, from teachers/peers, and after school tutoring programs. The school also emphasizes college and career plans through educational field trips, guest speakers, and a dedicated adviser. A variety of after school clubs are organized by the staff and students . My son comes home daily and tells us about a new learning experience he has had at school that day. He would never have these opportunities in a public school. We constantly refer to the S.F. Flex Academy as "The school that is too good to be true"!
—Submitted by a parent

SF Flex lives up to its name---it is flexible in a way a lot of public schools aren't. My son transferred to Flex from an expensive private school and he is doing so much better at this public (charter) school. He is engaged and challenged, and he likes being in downtown SF, too. I have also found the school's administrators and teachers to be quite responsive, and also non-judgmental----in a word, professional.
—Submitted by a parent

Coming to SF Flex is one of the best education-related decisions I have made so far! The positive and encouraging atmosphere, the amazing dedication of all staff members, the chance to take AP courses and the teachers' help to succeed in them, the ability to create new clubs, make an impact on the school, and be unique - all these things make SF Flex my favorite school in the world! You will be welcomed here :)
—Submitted by a student

San Francisco Flex Academy is a great place for students to learn and thrive. I have a student who was in a traditional high school got lost in the crowd. Here at SF Flex my child feels he is getting the academic help and support for all of his teachers and Academic Coaches. He has been able to learn how to manage his time, which will be important when he goes to college. He loves the use of technology not only in the Flex centers, but also in the classroom. Also he has made a number of friends and taken on leadership roles in SF Flex that he would not have had in his previous school. Every day my child looks forward to going to SF Flex.
—Submitted by a parent

This is our second year at the school and I have to say, the whole experience has improved dramatically. The new Head of School is awesome, accessible and forward-thinking; the teachers are energetic and resourceful; and on the whole the school is a tad more diamond and quite a bit less rough. Students and parents are really pulling together to make this place work -- and work it does.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been enrolling in Flex Academy for a year and a half now, and this school had never ceased to surprise me with its awesomeness! Like most kids, I have always hated going to school, and had never felt the motivation to do well at school, until I came to SF Flex. Being in the Flex Academy, I feel inclined to push myself to be the best I can be, to try again and again, because of the faith my friends and teachers placed in me. I was once so dependent on the people around me because of the mind set I had put myself in -- that I could not accomplish anything without the help of those around me -- and I DO NOT want to go back to that place again! Being in a loving and caring community, I feel as if I am a whole new person again, one that does not have to be pushed to try my best. Therefore, I strongly encourage all of you seeking a school for yourselves-- COME TO SF FLEX! Don't miss this chance of being in such a fantastic school!
—Submitted by a student

The progressive academics are excellent and students love to go to school. Great staff also.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is a very diligent, focused student. She loves SF Flex Academy: the teachers are progressive, creative, inspirational and truly caring. The head of school has wonderful vision and is very accessible to students and parents. The diverse student body is supportive and lively. The hybrid model, a combination of online learning through the very comprehensive and well-designed K12 curriculum and class discussions, is effective. It allows students to work at their own pace, and interact in a more small-group-process manner with teachers. Students are treated with respect by the teachers and administration. I think that the lack of social issues in within the school population is largely due to this mutual respect. The teachers work with my daughter on a individual basis, with allowance for specific study needs and learning style. SF Flex is a truly undiscovered gem within the SF public school system. I give it my highest recommendation, and are thrilled that we took a chance on this school!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is great! I love this school because I love the fact that I am being challenged at school everyday that way I am always learning. The teachers here are very supportive and know each student individually. I am glad that there are students here that have strength that I don't have, so I feel happy that I can always go to others for help. At this school most people get along with each other and I have personally made some friends that I know in heart will last a life time. I really believe students and parents should really consider this school! Its more than just a school, it is a community that treats one another like family.
—Submitted by a student

I have been hearing many good things about this school, especially in recent months. They have a caring staff that is committed to the students' academic achievement. A great place to send your kids!

San Francisco Flex Academy is a fantastic school. Besides the obvious, like the location and that it is a small school--so everyone knows everyone--I'm impressed by how much the teachers are really engaged. My daughter does much better when she has some choices about how she tackles her learning, and the teachers and curriculum here respect this. She especially likes the on-line learning (anything with a screen!) She tends to let her grades slip, so it is good that I can monitor her progress so easily. The school has had some rough patches, but now things are going great, and I'm happy my daughter goes to a school like this.
—Submitted by a parent

Flex is an amazing school! It's so nice to know that there is a school out there with education professionals who truly care about their student body.

Here are my thoughts... 1. Great location in Union Square that's easy to get to. 2. Easy to track student's progress. 3. Had a rough start but really pulled it together in the last year. 4. Lots of opportunities for students and parents to voice concerns and suggestions.
—Submitted by a parent

Have heard some great things about this school recently. A new head of school should help change things around and get everything back up to the Flex Standards. If your looking for a good school to help prepare your kids for college this is the place!

a very innovative program. individualized and progressive in methods. solid results. more schools should be like SF Flex!
—Submitted by a parent

The leadership at the principal level has really positively changed the dynamics in among teachers and students. I recommend this school to all parents who move to the area.
—Submitted by a parent

My Child has grown so much after being enrolled in this wonderful school. The fact that he even talks about what he learned in class, and that he does so with so much enthusiasm, lets me know he's enrolled in the right school. I can send my son off to school everyday knowing he will come back to me safely and further developed as the bright boy he is. I owe it all to the amazing staff and the extraordinary leadership of the institution!
—Submitted by a parent

I have mixed feelings about our last two years at this school. It is self paced and most likely 'the way of the future', but the school has definitely had some major growing pains and has fallen short on several occasions in two of the most important years of my son's academic career. There has been theft and technical issues, both causing assignments to go missing or not be able to be completed by the deadlines. I think the teachers and administrators are doing what they can and I think that they legitimately care about the students, but with the student body growing to more than double from last year to this year (I'm not absolutely sure of this, but I think this is the case) there have definitely been issues. If you do decide to send your student to Flex and they are not completed self motivated, be prepared to spend a lot of time and effort checking to make sure assignments are completed on the online account and reading a ton of e-mail (every correspondence between teacher and student is copied to the parent). I don't mind the work, so this has been a very helpful feature. I wish them the best and hope that they get all the kinks ironed out.
—Submitted by a parent

If I were you, I would steer clear of this school. The fact that around 75% of the school has a 69% or below is unacceptable. Do not send your child here if you plan on sending him to college.
—Submitted by a parent