Sterne School

838 Kearny Street

San Francisco, CA 94108

27 Reviews

School District
Grade

4-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 06, 2025

Our son was at a great public school for quite some time, but it was not a great fit for him. With a large student body that was overwhelming for him and the one-size-fits-all approach to teaching neurodiverse students, his needs were not met and his progress was slow. Further, being pulled out of the classroom for special education support made him feel disconnected from the rest of his classroom and friendships difficult to forge. We also tried another independent school, but that wasn't the right fit either. After hearing multiple positive things about Sterne, we started our son one year ago in 7th grade. Since then he has had the most academic progress that he has experienced to date. And equally as important, we've seen a big difference in his confidence, social life and self advocacy. The student that teachers, administrators and other parents describe to us did not exist in previous schools. He is thriving. One of the highlights for us about Sterne is that the teachers really understand our child and what he needs to be a successful learner. Academically, things are broken down in a way that is more accessible and the reading program has been incredible. With auditory processing disorder and speech/language disorders, our son really struggled to read. Since starting at Sterne he has made amazing progress with his reading fluidity and comprehension - and he no longer dreads reading! And when there's something he's struggling with, a talk with a teacher results in ideas of how to best help him succeed - and it's implemented quickly. The art classes/instructors are also incredible and the athletic program and the coaches are amazing too - PE and the competitive athletics after school are inclusive, encouraging and fun. Lastly, at Sterne learning differences are embraced - this has been huge for our child. As he got older he began to feel embarrassed that he learns differently then some of his peers, but Sterne has helped in this department too. Acknowledging that we all learn in different ways and that we all have strengths has given our son confidence in the classroom and beyond. Sterne is a warm community with great kids and families. He's made many friends across grades and he adores his teachers. At age 14 he's happy to go to school every day! We're very happy we found this school - our only regret is that we didn't discover it sooner.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2025

Sterne has been a wonderful school for our two daughters. They both have dyslexia and struggled at their previous schools, which could not support or address their academic needs. We are so thankful to have found Sterne. They wake up excited to go to school, love the caring teachers and staff, and have made good friends. They are getting the academic support they need, and the ability to learn in the way that works best for them. Sterne also has music, art, drama, film, which add so much to their school day. Sterne has made a real difference in their academic life. They now have the confidence and the tools to tackle their coursework. They have also learned how to advocate for themselves and have improved their executive functioning skills. We love being at Sterne.
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2025

We just wanted to express how much we love this school. We have two children attending, a son in 8th grade and a daughter in 6th grade, and they have truly thrived at Sterne. The faculty is devoted and energetic with small class sizes allowing individual attention and students to focus. The school facilities are first rate, with dedicated theater, music, art rooms and a fantastic gym/basketball court. Perhaps one of the many highlights is how the students support and root for each other. Attending the recent winter music concert, what really stood out was how the students cheered each other on, often cheering louder than the parents.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2025

My daughter is profoundly dyslexic. Word blind is the appropriate term for her, 1st percentile in natural reading abilities. She had decided school and learning wasn't her thing. Scared of going to school every day. Terrified of trying anything as she perceived herself natural failure. Ultimately, her first (traditional) private school all but kicked her out as they did not want to work with her level of dyslexia. At Sterne, after years of limited progress and even backsliding despite extensive tutoring and summer programs, her reading is making progress. While reading is likely to never be easy for her, progress is steady and she gets the supports she needs to continue on that course. All levels of the curriculum are designed to allow her to engage - she isn't limited by her disability, and is able to tackle complex material without her dyslexia holding her back. She's able to prove her mastery without being confined to a narrow way of presenting information, which for a dyslexic kid, is incredibly important skill. Film, drama arts, are even more necessary for kids like her. She loves school, and she will get the reading support for as long as she needs it. She is now into her second year, in 7th grade, and is moving into leadership roles, from managing school events to student council roles. Seeing her take on more and more responsibility and doing these things so well and with such pride, has been transformative for her. This was the kid who never wanted attention drawn to herself, now stage managing concerts, even for the high school kids. She loves Maker Lab, spending time working on projects during lunch and whenever she can, organizing other students to help with projects. Even when she's not taking the class! Most importantly, she now cares about school, her grades. She knows she can succeed. She knows how to advocate for herself, and gets what she needs to overcome a profound disability.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2025

Our daughter is an eighth grader at Sterne, and we are glad we made this choice for her education. As a teacher, I am impressed with lessons I hear about. From teaching students about marine life with the Marine Mammal Center, learning about the Innocence Project and reading about a child's experience with her father's incarceration, to reading about a migrant family and their experience in the U.S., Sterne's teachers are amazing, not shying away from challenging work and topics, despite student's academic struggles. They encourage critical thinking and empathy for all people. With dyslexia and dysgraphia, she has consistent support from her teachers, making big gains in reading. Formerly a reluctant reader, she goes to the library most weeks. The teachers and staff know my daughter as a unique individual, with strengths and talents. The school's motto is "start with strengths" and I have seen this enacted many times. She explores her interests in music, digital arts, theater and studio art with dedicated teachers creating wonderful performance opportunities: playing in a rock band, participating in a unique fairytales play, or building a carefully crafted art show. We look forward to these events each year, and there is a newfound confidence in our daughter, who was shy in the past. Additionally, the administration handled a difficult situation between our child and another student, with kindness, compassion and respect, with nearly immediate contact with me. The staff made her feel safe and empowered to speak up for herself, and I am grateful for that. We also appreciate the kind and attentive staff at the front desk and office, who always help her out. Working in public education myself, I do not take for granted the opportunities the students at Sterne have for field trips, interest-based lunch clubs, and experiential weeks. These opportunities take an incredible amount of planning. I am impressed at what they do for students who could easily become disenchanted with school. The students are lucky at Sterne. We look forward to her continued growth, and eagerly applied for the high school this past year. We are grateful to be part of the Sterne family.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2025

Finding Sterne was a life saver for my family. My daughter is currently in 5th grade at Sterne, and absolutely LOVES it! Prior to Sterne we had gone through multiple public and private schools looking for support for dyslexia and high-functioning ASD issues - I was nervous transferring my daughter to yet another school, but Sterne took one look at her learning profile and said yes, they were confident she'd do well there. And she has - she's caught up multiple grade levels on reading with their Sterne READS curriculum, has made so many friends, and adores her teachers (the teachers are truly the best, most caring, and the lower school Principal knows every kid by name). The curriculum is also tailored to each child individually, so they're placed in classes according to aptitude/need, but never made to feel "pulled out" for any sort of remedial work, like my daughter felt in prior schools. They also have great sports and student social life. We plan to stay through high school.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2025

Our son attends Sterne High School, and we are so grateful for the Teachers and the Administration. He had struggled with dyslexia in our public school district, and because of that, he had low self-esteem and struggled to make connections until he started at Sterne. The Sterne faculty listens, responds to your concerns, and works with you and the students to address their needs. The staff is approachable, and they create an environment where kids can be challenged and thrive. Our son has found a group of caring friends who provide an inclusive community. If there are problems with issues around discipline, the school acts quickly and fairly to ensure that the environment stays safe and conducive to learning. We are unsure what we have done as a family if we had not found Sterne.
Submitted by parent on November 14, 2024

Sterne School: A Concerning Contrast Between Appearance and RealityThe initial impression of Sterne School "appears" wonderful. During scheduled tours and open houses, prospective families encounter a meticulously orchestrated environment featuring engaged students, passionate educators, and promising academic programs. Marketing materials and preliminary visits paint a picture of an ideal learning environment.However, the day-to-day reality for enrolled students and families often reveals significant concerns:Academic Issues:Many teachers demonstrate inconsistent follow-through on academic support.Communication breakdowns are frequent, with staff regularly unreachable via email and phoneAcademic rigor falls short of advertised standards. Children watch movies in class and are consistently on their computer playing games. Teachers have little knowledge or experience in the content area that they teach. For example, an estate planning attorney with no experience as a teacher was hired by Sterne School to teach ancient civilizations. Administrative Challenges:Staff responses to parent concerns often feel dismissive or evasiveDocumentation of incidents and concerns appears inconsistentPromised support services may not materialize as describedLeadership seems resistant to addressing systemic issuesStudent Environment:Behavioral issues appear inadequately addressed. For example, many students are aggressive and engage in physical and verbal attacks. Children have pulled each other's hair, been grabbed around the throat, slapped in the back of the head, pinched and threatened with physical violence such as when one child said she would kill the other child with a hatchet while that child slept. Verbal bullying is unrelenting 10 - 15 times per day. Sterne School consistently covers this up and paints a different picture.Disciplinary policies seem inconsistently enforcedSome students report feeling unsafe or unsupportedClassroom management challenges impact learning effectivenessCommunication Problems:Emails frequently go unansweredPhone calls are rarely returnedStaff voicemails are consistently fullParent concerns seem to get lost in administrative limbo
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2024

My child has been at Sterne for two years and it has been a Godsend to her and to us. She feels included in the social life of school for the first time in her life, her confidence is growing, and she is progressing academically at the pace she can handle but still stretches her. The teachers are caring, attentive and supportive. The administration is stellar. With the addition of the new gym, music room, film studio and theatre, the facilities are enviable. We are so grateful for Sterne.
Submitted by other on July 27, 2023

A journey of mixed emotions.As a parent of a recent graduate from the upper school of Sterne, I look back on our family journey with an ambivalent heart. The relationship we built with Sterne, once treasured, has encountered some turbulence in recent years, which compels me to share our experiences openly and honestly.To start with the positives, the teachers at Sterne have always been a gem in the rough. They managed to keep their cool, maintaining an inviting and approachable demeanor despite the rising challenges. They are the heart and soul of the institution, and for them, we express our gratitude. The dedication to their craft was apparent, event if we did occasionally feel a degree of disconnect between them and the student body.However, the administration leaves much to be desired. The tuition costs have been consistently on the rise, which, as we navigated the post-pandemic reality, put a strain on many families, including ours. There was a distinct lack of empathy and understanding during this challenging period, especially from the bursary. The expected support for families was largely absent, which was disappointing, and frankly a cause of distress.Moreover, the recent renovations, although aesthetically pleasing, have sparked a sense of discontent among some parents and students, ourselves included. The institution seems to be clamoring for more and more parental contributions, even from families of graduating students, like ours, who will not directly benefit from these renovations.As for the newly constructed facilities, it appears that some of these are catered towards a select few, rather than the student body as a whole. The film and music studios, for instance, are under-utilized, with the film studio catering to a niche group of students and a specific teacher , and the music studio going largely unused. A report from my child noted that watching movies in the film studio was a popular film class.We stuck with Sterne primarily for our child's stability, as well as the friendships they had cultivated over the years. However, we can't overlook the evident deterioration, which we found disheartening. We once held this school deep to our hearts and its hard not to feel a tinge of sadness seeing how things have evolved. I share our story with a heavy heart, hoping it leads to introspection and a resolve for improvement. Our experience has been a bittersweet symphony, echoing recommendations for the past and future hope.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2023

As a parent of the lower school and recent graduate to an east bay school, Sterne is severely declining both in enrollment and also educational support / teaching resources. Recently a focus has been on raising money from the school body to build a new gym, music studio and film studio. These changes are all focused on attracting high school kids and satisfying their own internal rhetoric of who they are - it’s decreased the overall charm and quality of the school however and vastly reduced focus away from supporting kids that really need help. Advice to the administration - close or fix your lower school as it’s an expensive mistake for some parents to make. Enrollment is at an all time low however so maybe the data will drive a decision on its own merit.
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2018

Our experience has been exceptional. Our son attended Sterne School from 5th through 12th grade. He graduated with academic honors and will be attending a 4 year college. At Sterne, he participated in student government, acted in plays, was a founding member of the rock and roll club, made deep connections with life-changing faculty, and made friends who will stay in touch past school. Sterne's programs allowed him to experience the larger world (Yosemite, Pinnacles, Washington DC, Civil Rights South, a night on a ship) and learn life skills (job at the Exploratorium). The Parent Association gave us a chance to know and socialize with other families who shared our challenges of having a child with learning differences. Sterne has offered our son and our family well rounded middle and high school experiences. What more can you ask for?
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2018

Our experience at Sterne has far exceeded expectations. We were hesitant for my son to leave the incredible school he had been at for 6 years but they were unable to teach to his needs and we were unsure if another school would be able to. We decided to take the plunge and I am so glad we did.. wish we had done it a few years prior. My son has LOVED Sterne and has flourished more than I could have imagined. Ed, the headmaster knows how to do it. Besides providing competent teachers, the school community is so positive, upbeat, mindful and nurturing. They really understand each individual student and know how to connect with them on both emotional and academic levels. I highly recommend Sterne!!
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2016

I have had a great time at this school while learning more than I ever have before. - Mariana (8th Grade)
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2016

Ed is at the helm and creates a nuturing environment for every student to flourish in the way they should.
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2013

High school options for East Bay students with Learning Differences are very limited. Sterne School's new high school is a great choice for East Bay families as the school is located on Valencia Street in SF, just a 10 minute walk from the 16th & Mission BART stop. My son has grown in independence, street smarts, self-confidence and simply learning how the world works with this new responsibility of getting himself to school. Sterne faculty and staff rotate daily and provide an escort for those students both to and from the BART station. In addition to the praises sung in the reviews below, commuting on BART has been yet another step in my son learning to be a productive citizen in our society.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2013

Sterne School provides individualized instruction for each of its students with an exceptional Faculty and Staff. Our son just started his third year at Sterne and we are very happy with the program there and he very much enjoys school. The Head of School is very experienced and knowledgeable and leads a dynamic, highly skilled and committed Staff. We are very grateful for Sterne School.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2013

Sterne School is a safe learning environment for students with learning differences. The teachers, staff members and administrators are all well equipped and educated in ways to make the students learning environment engaging.
Submitted by parent on October 21, 2013

We rate Sterne school 5 stars! My son entered last year as a very demoralized 7th grader who was failing in the public school system, though he had previously done very well. By the time the year ended, he was a confident outgoing boy again, who was learning and loving it! The individualized homework, stretch goals, executive functioning skills building and one on one coaching by staff make joining the Sterne community one of the best decisions we have ever made for our son and family.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2013

This is our second year at this school. The head of school is knowledgable and very involved. The teachers, head of school, and parents work like a team, all to make sure the students have the most individualized plan so the can succeed.