Lawton Alternative Elementary School

1570 31st Avenue

School District

San Francisco Unified
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

School Map for San Francisco Unified School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on May 20, 2024

Like this school and good teacher and safe environment,school activities are diverse.music concerts are impressive
Submitted by other on November 25, 2023

I used to be a Lawton student. Super friendly. I volunteered for a few things recently and I saw how close the students are with one another! Super friendly, one or two approached me and then the rest followed like a flock of sheep! Super cute the way they react when another does something.
Submitted by student on September 15, 2023

I am a current student of Lawton Alternative Elementary School. Lawton is high-spirited, fun, educational, and a very connected and healthy community. In my experience, my fellow piers are so nice, welcoming, and incredibly supportive of each other! I have noticed that most my grade-mates have always been advanced for their grade. The principal is amazing, he hosted an entire math club on his own and taught us 9th grade level math in 6th grade. He was great at teaching. The teachers as a whole were incredible. I've been told I got the nice teachers, but I believe this is because all the teachers are nice. My 1st grade teacher still keeps in contact, and the same can be said with every other teacher I've had, even some I haven't. The teachers seriously care about us and teach us so well in such interesting ways. They actually try to connect, unlike some teachers I've heard of in other schools who don't try to connect or empathize with the students. The teachers remember most if not all of the students names. Homework is set in a good way, so that we learn and practice new stuff and older stuff all the time. Even though everyone knows everyone, new students fit in almost perfectly. 5/5 stars no doubt.
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2023

I have two daughters currently going to Lawton. They both love it. They feel safe and have been progressing so much. I found that the teachers are to approach. The principle is very supportive. We were lucky to get into the school since it was a lottery system. Very happy with the school.
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2021

Lawton is a great "smaller" SFUSD K-8 within the Sunset, which allows for a more intimate classroom setting. Most of the teachers do really care about the students' well being within academics and physical health. As with all schools, you do have a handful of some teachers which try to add their own personal agenda/beliefs to the students in their class. Graduates from Lawton are very well qualified to move into any HS setting be it public or private. The move is seamless! Most kids are accepted into honors classes (public and private) and not struggling, which is amazing!Thank you to all the wonderful teachers and staff at Lawton Alternative Elementary!!!
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2019

Excellent! Field trips, projects, garden time, a superb music program, great teachers ...
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2018

A few of the middle school teachers are injecting personal political views towards the students in class. Students are there to learn, not manipulated or brainwash into communist progressive ideology.
Submitted by parent on March 14, 2016

I have 2 kids at Lawton and cannot say enough about the incredible staff (from front office to janitors) and families. The teachers are engaged, enthusiastic, and genuinely seek to connect with the kids. The PTA does amazing work despite their limited budget and works hard to bridge the many gaps left by budget cuts. Principal Gina Ferrante is passionate about what she does and inspires all the kids to do their best. Go Lawton Lions!!!
Submitted by other on September 13, 2015

A former student-I spent 8.5 years at Lawton and I have to say looking back it was probably the best school I went to. The teachers were great and the curriculum was put in high standards. I believe Lawton is one of the few schools left in the district with Detention which is actually a good way for kids to learn. My 6th grade was memorable as I literally "flunked" so a decision was made for me to go to James Denman Middle School. At Lawton, my GPA was barely a 2.0 while my GPA at Denman was a 4.0; but I was constantly getting bullied at Denman so it got to a point where I broke a bully's nose and another decision was made so I got sent back to Lawton because I had a learning disability. I'm a teacher today and most of my techniques were learned from when I was at Lawton. I remember this school is academically hard but in a good way. If I were a parent I would only consider sending my children to Lawton or Alice Fong Yu because as a teacher I've seen which schools work and Lawton is one of them.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2014

The school is k-8. It is safe. Students mostly Asian. I do not see and hear any bully situation . This school is very academic. 3-4 pages of homework per day for Kindergarden plus book report. It does not teach too much of the learning foundation. Parents are not very active. The ones active is working very hard. PE, music , art, science are taught by home room teacher for lower grade. I wish I can see more extra curriculum. New principal and new vice principal. Too little space for too many student.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

Lawton Alternative is a great school with a very family friendly environment. Our family really loves the staff. All the teachers we've come to know are very nurturing and dedicated to the kids. We've got a new principal and assistant principal and we think they're going to be really good for the school The PTA is active and helps fill the gap left by state funding cuts.