Mccoppin (Frank) Elementary School

651 6th Avenue

School District

San Francisco Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
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 February 20, 2025

Frank McCoppin Elementary School was originally established in 1896 and still stands proudly today as a strong, tight-knit, community-centered school that I am proud to say both my children attended. The school fosters the importance of lifelong learning and appreciation for students of diverse backgrounds. This is reflected by the families, neighbors, and local business communities that come through to support the children's educational journey in our great city. I have a child that has completed her studies at Frank McCoppin and has moved on to a local feeder middle school at Roosevelt Middle School nearby. Her success and ability to navigate this part of her education I feel, is largely attributed to her foundation at Frank McCoppin. From the educators and administrators that give all their best...the thoughtful programming that our before/after-school care programs provide...to the employees that proudly keep our school running safely - all these experiences matter to our student experiences, and their learning outcomes. In future looking back in retrospect - my children and I will always keep Frank McCoppin Elementary as a school that is near to our hearts.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2024

McCoppin is a small but mighty neighborhood school. The communication, support and efforts from the teachers/staff has far exceeded my expectations. Our two children are thriving at this school, and we feel very fortunate to be a part of the McCoppin community.
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2024

McCoppin is small and mighty neighborhood school with an active and engaged parent community. Most of the students live within a few blocks of the school, which creates a really tight-knit and welcoming environment. The principal, teachers, and staff care deeply about the students and the Out of School (OST) program is top notch.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2023

This is a fantastic school. Our son is wildly happy. Mr. Lee is a pro. Our son’s teacher is exceptional. The kids seem genuinely kind. I hear the school is a destination for bullied kids and that makes sense. The parents are incredibly involved and passionate about our small school.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2023

A small, welcoming school with an incredible community of families and teachers. Passionate principal who has been there for 20 years. Fully remodeled in 2017. Strong academics paired with a focus on social-emotional learning. Plenty of enrichment built in (art, PE, outdoor garden learning), plus optional before and after school enrichment, including Spanish and Mandarin before-school language programs starting in Jan 2024, plus sports, chess, engineering and more. 9:30 start time, but with optional before-school care for a fee (after care too). If you’re in the Inner Richmond, you’re lucky to have this as your neighborhood school.
Submitted by other on November 04, 2023

I didn't go here but my friend did and she turned out decent a little coo coo but she's cool, i guess, so this school can't be that bad right? She tells me she enjoyed going here a lot when I visit her at the insane asylum. She said she had nice teachers and that she learned a lot.
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2023

We started in Kindergarten at McCoppin and absolutely love the school. The family involvement is exceptional and the sense of community is unlike any I've seen elsewhere. This is exactly the kind of neighborhood elementary school experience a parent dreams of for their kid! From the engaged parent community to the fantastic teachers and staff and super dedicated principal, to our walking commute to school, we hit the school jackpot. Our son is very supported in his learning and is excited to go to school every morning.Absolutely zero complaints. Nothing but positive things to say about our experience!
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2023

I cannot say enough about how much I love this school. My son started mid-year in 1st grade and stayed through 5th. He has special needs that were taken seriously and addressed thoroughly. He went from barely being able to write to loving to write essays. The teachers are incredibly dedicated and helped my son with self-sufficiency. The parents community is wonderful as well. Lots of opportunities to be involved without a ton of pressure. I miss having my son go there now that he’s in middle school.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2023

Our child has been a student at Frank McCoppin Elementary School for 3 years and we couldn't be happier to be part of such a wonderful school community.This elementary school is smaller than many in the area which is is exactly what we were looking for. Because of the smaller size, we truly feel a sense of community among the students and parents/caregivers. Several of the teachers have been at McCoppin for over a decade, which is a true testament to how committed they are to the school and students. One teacher has been there for 35 years! The principal, Mr. Lee has an open door policy for families and welcomes us to speak with him directly about any concerns we may have. He is enthusiastic and takes student learning and their well being very seriously.The school PTO is deeply engaging and goes above and beyond to support staff, teachers and families. The work they do as volunteers is incredible and they continue to add more value to the school year after year. They work hard to make sure families are heard.We are lucky to call McCoppin home!
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2023

This school has very little in the way of community. The parents at this school keep to themselves and there's not any sports programs or after school activities. The principal in shockingly afraid to discipline or take a stand on issues affecting his students and staff and is merely a yes man. Mr Lee is a nice guy but not a strong leader. This school adheres heavily to a woke political agenda and was becoming more politicized every year that my child attended. Instead of focusing on the basics like strong math and reading skills, this school focused HEAVILY on gender pronouns and political movements such as BLM. There is a place for politics but it should not be in elementary schools. I'm glad we got out when we did.
Submitted by other on February 11, 2016

Both my children attend this school. One in kindergarten and one in 1st grade. They are coming home happy and talk non stop about their day. They are enjoying PE and ART class and reading. The pick up and drop off system is great for the students and the neighborhood. The teachers are caring and very hands on with each individual student. I enjoy this school very much.
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2015

It's the end of a great school year! First and foremost, the principal Mr. Lee is great! He is so open to new ideas from parents, friendly, understanding and honest. My child's teacher was amazing! In fact all the teachers are top notch educators! They are all so friendly and caring that you can tell that they love your child and wants what's best for them. Their new literacy program (reading and writers workshop) was what set them from all the other schools around apart! The school also participates in Imagine Learning program at school and MyOn reading programs at home. I forgot to mention that they started a GREAT pickup routine on 7th Ave! After school, the kids will sit on the sidewalk and wait for you to drive up to the curb. They open the door for you so you don't have to get out of the car! How perfect is that?! No more finding or double parking for pick up. I cannot stop saying enough good things about McCoppin! I highly recommend this school if you are still debating about it. I'll leave it with this phrase ( very fitting to this school ): It's not what's on the outside, what matters is on the inside.
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2015

As the parent of a McCoppin student, I am 100% behind this transition the school has made. The classrooms look better than ever and the students are actually reading critically and finally doing meaningful writing. No more worksheets during reading is wonderful. This new approach has truly inspired my child and she is now excited about reading and writing. I am so glad this school was approached by Kellogg and that the teachers and principal decided to be a part of this grant. It has really transformed this school. I applaud those teachers that have embraced this and are truly making a difference. I also attended a PTO meeting and it was exciting to see people getting involved. Great things are happening at this school.
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2015

My daughter has been in Kindergarten ever since, and now she is in the 5th grade at Frank McCoppin. Frank McCoppin Elementary School is a wonderful school where the principal, secretary, and teachers, are all kind and caring. The principal has a great sense of humor, nice, and most of all dedicated his life to this school. I am very happy that this school has a wonderful literacy program where my child go on the "MYON" to read a variety of books that she can choose from fiction books, historical, real life situations, etc. One parent told me that the "MYON" has help his child in the first grade learn to read from listening to the words in highlight and read along. Ms. Read teaching literacy approach, assists and coaches teachers to do many variety of work that involves literacy. For example, the "MYON", Literacy Night, etc. Thank You Principal, Mr. Lee; Ms. Read, teachers, and secretary for all your hard work!
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2015

McCoppin Elementary has gone down the drain. After looking like a dump for years (non-functioning computer lab, dilipidated student furniture, etc.) improvements were suddenly made because of a new literacy program. but the program is just a bandage masking deeper issues, such as bad decision-making. The program itself wasn't even approved by teachers even though all the extra work and hours needed is required on their behalf. The school is very poorly managed. Many parents pull their kids out of McCoppin as soon as they get of the waiting list elsewhere. Bullying is a problem - not much in the way of students, but in terms of workplace. Many good teachers disappear with no plausible explanation. Poor leadership here has had a very negative impact.
Submitted by parent on January 09, 2015

I am disgusted by how McCoppin has grown worse and worse over the years with constant low student enrollment and very high teacher turnover. Things just don't seem to get done around here. This is one big issue (of many) for example: a small group of about 10 preschool kids occupies the entire cafeteria as a classroom even though they only use a part of the room. So the rest of the school all K-5 students cannot use the cafeteria for meals or for any other reason; they all eat outide for lunch even when it is very cold. There are empty classrooms available because of low student enrollment that could easily hose the preschool. So one big question is why doesn't the principal Bennett Lee roll up his shirtsleeves and do the work needed to move the preschool into one of the empty classrooms? Because of the lack of a cafeteria there are also no school assemblies or student performances - the typically normal stuff you would expect to see at any school. I dont like having my child to eat outside and I know a lot of other parents don't like this either. And as I said before this is just one of many problems about this school.
Submitted by other on December 23, 2014

Mccoppin Elementary is an okay school because of the teachers. But the principal Bennett Lee is bad and doesn't do his job.he is absent all the time and is not fair about many things.Kids have to eat outside because the cafeteria is used for preschoolers. We didnt have compbuters to use for a long time because the computer lab was closed.
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2013

We personally love this school. For my kids it is their second home. They love everything that happen at McCoppin. The teachers and principal really care about education. PTO is not that strong but we have some people that are always there when there is a need. All we can say is that McCoppin is a safe and fun place to be!
Submitted by other on September 16, 2013

Hi i am a student in frank mc coppin elementry school it is a very good school they have art,phisycal education,etc. teachers teach things such as math,science,social studies,languge arts, and much more. This year there was to new teachers and i know they are good. I had been in this school scince kindergarthen to 5th. I am going to graduate this year and go off to middle school. Anyway this is a great school! I had aways loved it. All my teachers where very good. Mrs.lee, Mrs noveski, Mrs berryessa, ms dressler ,ms wong, and now i have ms.to. And again this is agreat school and i wish to stay here for ever but i can't i am now going to graduate. And go yo middle school. One more thing this school transphers the kids to rosevelt. Middle school. That is all i hope that if you like this school please rate it because again it is a GRAET SCHOOL!!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2012

My son started at McCoppin this year for Kindergarten and he loves it! We toured many schools since we knew from previously going through the lottery process with our oldest to look for the "little known gems". We chose McCoppin as one of out top picks for several reasons. The teachers and staff are very sweet, the classes were clean, organized and the students were engaged, the small size, the location, the true diversity of the general education classes (they also have cantonese classes), it feeds into Roosevelt MS which we love, and the principal. He has made it a point to try and bring all students up to current standards in their education regardless of native language and the scores have steadily gone up under his direction. He is always present seems to know everyone's name!. We know from experience that it only takes a dedicated staff, a good principal, and participation from parents to help a school grow and we are happy to be a part of that again!