Sutro Elementary School

Sutro is a great little school. Teachers are very caring and devoted to help the kids. Principal involves in a lot of activities and he always makes himself available to talk to the parents. The only drawback is the PTA, the PTA does not show any leadership, makes no effort to bridge the English and non-English speaking groups. Even some parents offer help, they are just being ignored. At least I know some parents pull their kids out because of the zero support and help from the PTA. It's kind of disappointing - school is good and I have seen many parents willing to support and help out but nobody in PTA is making effort to make the community a family.
—Submitted by a parent

This is such a great little school that has done so much to help my child succeed.
—Submitted by a parent

Sutro is a great school. Its have a great team of dedicated,devoted and loving staffs and teachers. They put in 101 percent of their time in to their students. Parents and community including teachers participate in lots of environmental awareness and instill the importance of environment to the earth. Great enrichment and academic programs that benefits our kids. Sutro is the best!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

We really wanted to love Sutro. But we were really put off by the sense of general disorganization and what we found to be a stifling, unpleasant kindergarten environment. The school has a hard time building bridges between the Cantonese and English speaking communities and as a result the PTA doesn't get as much done as it could. This school has a lot of potential but I cannot recommend it as it is today.
—Submitted by a parent

Sutro has a great staff. It's a small school but kids get a lot of one on one attention from the teacher and the paraprofessional. We have great enrichment programs that benefits the kids there. The school not only not foster great academic achievement but also environmental awareness and good social conduct.
—Submitted by a parent

Our school is a GREAT place where all of our children, along with all their friends, achieve great things every single day. This is only possible with a great support system, made up by a fantastic team of teachers and staff in a COMMUNITY environment. Every child receives individual attention- from adults that they idolize and love- every single day. Starting a new school year may feel scary and intimidating to a lot of other kids going to big schools. In our small school community, there is never a 'transition phase'. By the time we finish Kindergarten, we naturally know who 1st Grade teacher will be. From Day One each year, our teachers already understand how we learn best and what we play well. This is another of the countless reasons why we choose to send our children to Sutro School. Our teachers are those who give up their lunch breaks to teach our kids to play guitar and dream up adventures such as school sleepovers. Our school is forever bonded by strong friendships, where 5th graders take time out to read to their 1st grade peers. Our teachers and families join together on Gardening weekends to beautify our school. Our teachers stay up late at night to write online journals so that we parents can catch up on our children's day. Our school is truly one big happy family and we are thankful every single day. We drop our kids off every day knowing that they will be in good hands. As parents, this is a great relief!
—Submitted by a parent

School teachers love the kids, and teach a lot at the school lesson.
—Submitted by a parent

I had my oldest son complete K-5 at Sutro. I have an 8 year old in 3rd grade there, and a 5 year old who just started Kindergarten. Every teacher they have had has been fantastic. Great music programs and fiend trips. A real community at this school. Recent renovations have really beautified the entire school. I wouldn't want my kids anywhere else.
—Submitted by a parent

Sutro has the best teachers. Our kids love the school: high academic standards, involved parent and teacher community.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are hard working and go above and beyond their classroom duties. The kids are amazing and it's a wonderful learning community.
—Submitted by a teacher

Sutro is a small school with a caring, dedicated staff of teachers and parents.
—Submitted by a parent

Sutro's strength is in being a small school with fewer students so the principal and teachers know most of the children by name. It's a feature that I learned to appreciate when my daughter, now a first grader, thrived on having more personal attention. The principal demonstrates commitment to making Sutro the best school possible by attending and supporting fundraisers and social events sponsored by the PTA. Many of the teachers have a lot of years of teaching experience, yet I can see that they're embracing new teaching methods and technology to stay fresh. There are teachers who are designated champions of specific curriculum such as art, health, and the environment. The school is tucked away in the inner Richmond district so it's relatively safe from intruders. Sutro alumni have attended Lowell High School so this school provides the same opportunity for students to excel as other top schools.
—Submitted by a parent

The school has plenty of extra-curricular activities, so the previous reviews stating that Sutro doesn't offer them is wrong. Perhaps five years ago, they were accurate, but now, Sutro offers music, dance, ballet, guitar, knitting, after-school tutoring, choir, basketball, volleyball, P.E...all of the teachers are trained every year in VTS (visual thinking strategies) for their art curriculum. Really the only criticism I have is the PTA. There is little parent involvement, aside from the occasional activist. Also, the principal needs to maintain a better discipline structure for the kids. Overall they are kind, but there is an occasional outburst that never seems resolved.
—Submitted by a parent

Our family had a great experience at Sutro. This is the little neighborhood school that could. We enrolled our middle child on the advice of his pre-K teacher. He has an IEP, and Sutro rose to the occasion. I always felt like everyone, from the principal to the teachers to the paraprofessionals, did their best to understand him and his unique approach to learning. I was a little sad to lose Principal Lim a few years back, but her successor, Mr. Poon, was very capable and kept the mutually respectful atmosphere among her teachers and staff that she had fostered. It seemed like the school created a warm feeling amongst the kids, as well. It was a perfect fit for us. I just wish it was a K-8! We 'graduated' in 2005 and I still miss it.
—Submitted by a parent

Sutro is an exceptional school blessed with a loving, caring community of teachers, staff, and a qualified Principal that maintains the integrity of the many curriculum additions that makes it such an amazing place to attend school. There are many factors that makes Sutro such an incredible place to be, especially the kindergarten, which makes the school shine with excellence. I can't imagine having better teachers. They work endlessly and beyond their required work hours to make sure their classrooms are the best they can possibly be, and that their students are as happy as they can be. This school, unlike many others, knows the importance of keeping children interested in education by making the curriculum exciting, fun, and innovative.
—Submitted by a parent

Though we have not been at this school long (my son started Kindergarten last year), I am really pleased with the quality of education and the personal attention my child is getting from Sutro. The staff is very attentive and involved and I feel that we are part of a special community. It is a small school, so the extracurricular activities are limited, but the basics are covered: art, PE, music, choir, gardening club, a knitting club...enough to offer variety outside of the academics. Parents are involved because somehow everyone comes together to get things done, though it could always be better; however, I don't necessarily see all who participate since I am a working parent.
—Submitted by Leslie, a parent

There are music classes here (3rd thru 5th grade); there is also an after-school Choir (led by one of the Kindergarten Teachers). As for athletics - there is now a dedicated PE Teacher (teaches all Grade Levels K..5); sports programs include an Intramural Volleyball League (FALL); and an Intramural Basketball League (SPRING) open to all 3/4/5 grade students (boys & girls).
—Submitted by Stewart Dimon, a parent

When parents ask me which school is the best fit for their child, I always recommend they visit Sutro Elementary School. The Sutro School community is a kind, gentle, concerned group of caring individuals and students who encourage emotional wellness as well as acadmeic excellence. A well rounded child is their most prominent goal in everything they do. Their courage, curiosity and strength of character share the same level of importance as the academic achievement the students earn through hard work and effort. Teachers love their students, and the students admire and respect their teachers. There is a mutual admiration they hold for each other. The Principal has worked very hard to find a balance between a high scoring school and a happy, unified school community, and he has done a wonderful job of fostering good energy and great attitudes among his peers and students. Go public!
—Submitted by a staff

Sutro Elementary School is exceptional on many different levels. They consistently provide a safe, caring, and varied academic curriculum for the students that attend. Every aspect of the school encourages family participation and community involvement. The teachers at Sutro love their work and it shows in the amazing lessons they provide our kids. Not only are they aware of the importance of a quality academic education, but they also balance that with their effort to teach the children compassion, caring, and generosity of spirit and heart. This is truly a special school, and a shining example of what a successful public school is like. With a school like Sutro, there is not reasonable excuse not to attend and support public schools in San Francisco. Visit to see the school community in action, and see their kindergarten blog to get an in depth look inside the K classroom: http://sutroelementary.blogspot.com
—Submitted by a teacher

Excellent small school! Great staff and administration. New computer lab and PE program supported by the school and PTA.
—Submitted by a parent