Serra (Junipero) Elementary School

625 Holly Park Circle

School District

San Francisco Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
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 November 29, 2022

A small, close-knit school with a talented, dedicated teaching staff and an active PTA. A great place to learn for my daughter in a caring environment that reflects the diversity of the surrounding neighborhood.
Submitted by parent on November 12, 2018

We were assigned J Serra in the lottery system and decided to stay after our tour and considering logistics- and are so happy we did! The school building is brand new this school year and will continue to improve over the next few months: our garden will be renovated, including expanding to around the playground; the concrete "yard" will be repaved; and the new library is BURSTING at the seams with new books- nothing but great news! Our kid's Kindergarten teacher takes them across the street to the beautiful Holly Park for yoga and other outdoor activities. The school may be "urban" but it's nestled into a quaint little corner and knows how to tap into neighborhood assets. I have to also put a plug in for our PTA! After hearing about the high-pressure PTA culture at other schools, I'm grateful for ours. We have regular, manageable fundraisers that allow our economically diverse families participate in different ways. As parents, we all know that TIME IS MONEY! So our annual dollar amount totals may not look high, but if you start counting the number of cookies baked and hours of parent time donated, you would be impressed. Everyone gives what they can and when that happens, our kids thrive. We start every morning as a school on the yard for announcements, and then the pledge or school chant, depending on the day. We're a small school and just a few months in, already feels like a true community.
Submitted by parent on October 30, 2018

My daughter started kindergarten here this year. We're loving the school very much. It's a small school. The sense of community is strong. Principal Cheung seems to remember all the kids names. And the whole school has positive attitude overall: instead of scolding what's bad, they applause what's good. My daughter's classroom teacher says "you cannot learn problem solving skills unless there's a problem." I like that approach very much as supposed to try avoiding having any conflicts. Also, they get free breakfast, lunch and snack. I know they're not eating organic, the yummiest or the healthiest, but it's great that I don't have to stress about packing lunch everyday.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2018

My son has flourished here, and we have had nothing but great teachers. They develop well-rounded students.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2018

I know my child is getting a great education at J. Serra. It is one of the best schools in the neighborhood. We have an amazing principal, fantastic teachers, and a community of very dedicated parents, neighbors, and alum. It is truly a hidden gem in the heart of Bernal.
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2018

JSerra should absolutely be on every SF parents' radar. As a family who was leaning towards private schools at the beginning of the crazy SF school tour/enrollment process, I am so glad we chose JSerra. It was our #1 choice.Great neighborhood school with an ever increasing group of involved families from diverse backgrounds. (Yay diversity!!) Our family feels fortunate to be attending such a "small school with a big heart" within walking distance from our home and public transportation. JSerra has structure yet it's small & nimble enough to accommodate its student community when needs arise. I submitted a suggestion to the school and by the NEXT day it was incorporated in the school's daily routine. At this stage in my child's burgeoning academic career, I'm thrilled that he comes home happy with his day, classmates, teacher & school. I already see his academic confidence & independence building day-by-day. What more could a parent want for their ELEMENTARY school child? (I mean I won't know if he's going to Harvard for another 10+ years, right? ;) IMOA, there's enough time between now & then to course correct if necessary.Sincerely,Bernal Heights Parent, Elementary School Locavore & Attempting (Semi) Slow Parenting Advocate with Helicopter TendenciesP.S. The school's almost done with is total structural renovation. NEW landscaping slated within the next year.
Submitted by other on April 05, 2013

I should begin by saying that I'm a prospective parent, not a current parent. J. Serra had a school tour and I was able to attend. I'm writing because I loved what I saw. Make no mistake, this IS an urban school - the playground is concrete, space is limited and I'm sure the funding is sparse. However, J.Serra was warm - you could tell upon entering that children were loved and cared for and that this was a nurturing space in which to learn. We had the chance to visit classrooms, meet teachers, students, parents and talk with the principal. In each room, children were engaged and on-task. Teachers were happy and the quick snapshot of the lessons we saw seemed to have great focus. The K class that we observed was in yoga and watching the students follow directions, move their bodies and interact with one another was heart warming and just what I wanted to see. All of the rooms were child- centered. Lessons posted on the wall, on-going projects on the shelves, tutors in the room, volunteer readers from the community, etc. Teachers collaborate, PTA is strong and growing, Principal seems great. I encourage you to check it out, too.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2011

Truly Bernal Heights' best kept secret, as the school's website says. We found a very energetic principal, excellent faculty (Ms. Applin, the Kindergarten teacher, is fantastic!), and a great group of involved parents. Our daughter likes the afterschool program in particular, during which kids cook, go to the Bernal library and surrounding parks, make fun arts projects, take language classes, and get homework supervision. The school also has a state-of-the-art computer lab and gardening, and I know that many more offerings are in the works. A great neighborhood school.
Submitted by parent on August 24, 2011

Junipero Serra is a wonderful little school in a great location a few blocks from Mission Street next to Holly Park and St. Mary's Park where the students often go on quick field trips. The teachers are wonderful and friendly. Principal Eve Cheung works hard to make sure the students get the best education possible with limited funds; all the parents appreciate her hard work. Parent involvement is strong. The aftercare staff are great as well. It's a great little school where most of the parents know each other.
Submitted by parent on July 20, 2011

We are heading into our fourth year at J Serra and the school has become a second home for our whole family. Our son will be entering 3rd grade and our daughter 1st grade. I feel my children are receiving a strong education in a uniquely rich environment, and have had the added benefit of strengthening their bond to their own immediate community by attending their neighborhood school. With limited funds the ever supportive Principal Eve Cheung along with a talented faculty has managed to offer a wonderful after care program along with a range of enrichment programs including dancing, art, music, gardening and our cherished computer class.
Submitted by parent on July 19, 2011

My twin boys are entering 1st grade this year. We transferred them mid-year last year and have been so very happy with the teachers and especially the principal at this school. It's a sweet, gentle school with a with a lot of heart. We look forward to the next five years at this school!
Submitted by parent on July 18, 2011

J Serra is a small school with a lot going for it. Really good principle, staff that gets along well and works together. Lots of enrichment programs such as gardening, photography club, dance, music, partnership with UCSF for science etc. Parents are involved at the school and kids look happy when you pass them in the hall.
Submitted by parent on October 07, 2010

Our experience at J.Serra has been fantastic. Ms Applin is a fantastic Kindergarten teacher and well able to deal with our son's occasional disruptions and keep him challenged and on track. The principal, Eve Cheung, has been amazingly accessible as well, and has really managed to get blood from a stone in terms of making the best of the tight funding environment. J. Serra is one of very few schools with a computer lab and dedicated teacher, something our son enjoys immensly. We also have 2 after-school spanish classes going now, which is awesome. The parent community this year is really strong, we've got a tight group together and big plans for the years ahead. Our son and us are both very happy with the school.