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Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School · San Francisco

Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School: High scores, healthy climate, strong attendance. We looked for a catch — we didn't find one.

Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public posts 43.7% exceeding the standard — versus 15.8% statewide — with climate numbers better than most. That doesn't make it perfect. It makes it worth a visit to find what numbers can't measure.

555 Portola Drive, 94131 (opens in new tab)·San Francisco Unified·San Francisco·Grades 9-12·680 students·22% low-income·2024–25 CAASPP·(415) 695-5700
Alternative school — serves students who benefit from a non-traditional educational setting. Scores are not directly comparable to comprehensive schools.
2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope7344
% Exceeded44%16%
% Met+73%36%
Grad rate96.7%87.6%
College readiness92.0%35.4%
Absence16.9%30.2%
Suspension2.4%3.6%
Scope Score
73
💪 Strong All-Around · Strong
ranked #77 statewide · #2 of 22 in San Francisco Unified

Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School scores 73 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 96th percentile of 2,160 California high schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Measures test performance, attendance, and climate — not arts, community, or your kid. How we score →

💪 Strong All-Around — Ask about what we don't score — class size, electives, the feel of a classroom — strong numbers everywhere on paper don't mean every classroom feels the same.

Most rating sites would stop at “73% proficient” and call it done. Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public deserves a closer read. It sits at the 96th percentile of 2,160 California high schools — but the ranking is the least interesting thing on this page.

Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public's low-income kids hit 72.7% proficiency in ELA — a number the same group reaches at 38.2% statewide. If you're trying to read past zip-code-driven test scores, that's the signal worth weighing.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 2,160 high schools statewide

Has held the 96th-percentile line every tested year since 2019.

CA Dashboard
ELABlue(Increased Significantly)MathBlue(Increased Significantly)

The pandemic drop is behind this school: 73% of students meet the standard today, above the 62% who did in 2019.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 1169%88%84%84%81%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 1155%62%53%59%66%

The story this school is actually telling

Proficient by 11th grade
73%
State 36%
Graduate
97%
State 88%
Pass an AP exam
92%
State 35%

Of 100 students here: 73 are proficient by 11th grade → 97 graduate → 92 pass an AP exam. The gaps between those bars are the questions to ask.

The 6 things our score weighs

Graduation rate
96.7%
State 87.6%
9.1pp above state avg
Exceeded standard
43.7%
State 15.8%
27.8pp above state avg
College readiness
92.0%
State 35.4%
AP exam pass rate above state avg
Met or exceeded
73.1%
State 35.7%
37.4pp above state avg
Chronic absenteeism
16.9%
State 30.2%
13.3pp below state avg
Suspension rate
2.4%
State 3.6%
1.3pp below state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask what the school is working on next. Strong numbers tell you where a school is, not where it's going.

  • Ask whether the tour can step into a working classroom — watch how the teacher handles a student who's stuck.
  • Ask to tour while school's in session, and notice how hallways and transitions feel — culture shows up between classes, not just in them.
  • Ask how the school communicates with families when a child starts to struggle.
  • Ask what a typical day looks like for a new student in the first few weeks.

How every group of students does here

At Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School in San Francisco, 72.7% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 38.8% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School outperforms its district average for low-income students by 33.9 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (45.8% Math proficient); White students (76.4% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 49.0 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 23 students tested.

All students at this school: 73% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 73%, district —, state 36%73%
FemaleFemale: this school 70%, district 50%, state 44%70% · −3 vs school
WhiteWhite: this school 70%, district 71%, state 56%70% · −3 vs school
MaleMale: this school 79%, district 49%, state 42%79% · +6 vs school
Two or More RacesTwo or More Races: this school 84%, district 63%, state 56%84% · +10 vs school
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 59%, district 36%, state 32%59% · −14 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 54%, district 22%, state 32%54% · −20 vs school
Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities: this school 34%, district 19%, state 15%34% · −39 vs school
AsianAsian: this school 95%, district 69%, state 72%95% · +21 vs school

6 of 15 student groups here are too small to report — a privacy protection, not a gap.

this school district, same group California, same group

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 16.9%, district 27.1%, state 30.2%16.9% · −13.3pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 2.4%, district —, state 3.6%2.4% · −1.3pp vs state
Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 9–1215.2%

Where the path goes

The path below follows attendance boundaries — scores shown for each next step.

K-12 Feeder Path

Estimated path based on proximity within the same district. Contact your school district for official feeder information.

The people teaching here

Context — never part of the Scope Score
Student : teacherStudent to teacher ratio: this school 21:1, district 22:121:1
Teaching staff42 teachers
Avg. experience10.1 years
Fully credentialed80%
First-year teachers7%
Intern / emergency permit0.6%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$69,525 – $131,654
Principal salary$150,963 – $163,648
Superintendent salary$328,879

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

Course Breadth
AP courses offered21
AP exam qualifiers150 students
CTE pathway completers15 students

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $25,093, CA average $14,815$25,093 · spent at this school
District current expense · FY 2024–25$26,762 per student

The district's current expense of education per student, from CDE's annual SACS filing — the freshest district spending figure the state publishes.

Where the district's dollars go · FY 2024–25 · CDE SACS
Instruction60%
Instruction support12%
Student services15%
Administration6%
Buildings & maintenance7%
Other1%

District-level, from the district's own SACS general-ledger filing — school-by-school breakdowns aren't published by the state.

district detail, 2016–2020 — the newest published
2020$17,416 per pupil
2019$17,139 per pupil
2018$17,228 per pupil
2017$13,640 per pupil
2016$11,532 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

White37.1%
District 13.1% · CA 19.9%
Hispanic22.6%
District 36.7% · CA 56.1%
Other22.2%
District 15.1% · CA 9.0%
Asian14.3%
District 27.7% · CA 10.2%
Black3.8%
District 7.3% · CA 4.8%
GenderFemale 65.2%Male 34.6%Non-binary 0.3%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 22.2% (42pp below CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$199K · CA $85K
Median home value$1.71M · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+77% · CA 35%
ZIP population28,504
Median age40 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level

Worth Knowing

At 680 students, this school is much smaller than the typical California high school (≈1450).

On the state's science test (CAST), 67% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School a good high school?

Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School has a Scope Score of 73 out of 100, placing it in the 96th percentile of California high schools and ranked #77 statewide. 43.7% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 27.8 percentage points above the California average of 15.8%. The Scope Score weights 7 dimensions for high schools: graduation rate (25%), exceeded standard (22%), college/career readiness (20%), met or exceeded (proficient) (18%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

What are Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 73.1% of students at Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 43.7% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 29.4% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 43.7% pushed past it. Most rating sites report only the combined "proficient" number. SchoolScope surfaces the exceeded-vs-met split because it reveals whether a school's curriculum challenges students beyond minimum proficiency or paces toward it. 259 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School rank in California?

Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School ranks #77 among California high schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 96th percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score shows what drives the ranking so parents can decide what matters most to their family. See full methodology.

What is the attendance and school culture like at Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School?

16.9% of students at Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 30.2%. The suspension rate is 2.4%. SchoolScope includes these culture metrics in the Scope Score because they reflect day-to-day school experience in ways test scores alone cannot.

How does Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School compare to other schools in San Francisco?

Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School scores 73/100 (96th percentile) among California high schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. The school serves 680 students. Use the schools in San Francisco page or the map view to compare all high schools nearby.

How does Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School in San Francisco, 72.7% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 38.8% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School outperforms its district average for low-income students by 33.9 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (45.8% Math proficient); White students (76.4% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 49.0 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 23 students tested. SchoolScope shows disaggregated test scores by demographic subgroup so you can see how a school performs for your child's specific group — not just the school-wide average. Subgroup data is context, not part of the Scope Score: we don't penalize schools for who they serve. See our equity approach.

Your other options

Private alternatives nearby

Private schools within ~10 miles. These schools do not participate in state testing and cannot be scored or ranked.


For the data nerds

Every number on this page

Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.

01Score factorsWeighted composite · 2024–25
Graduation rate · 25%
96.7%
↑ vs CA 87.6% · 61th pctile
Exceeded standard · 22%
43.7%
↑ vs CA 15.8% · 80th pctile
College readiness · 20%
92.0%
↑ vs CA 35.4% · 83th pctile
Met or exceeded · 18%
73.1%
↑ vs CA 35.7% · 77th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
16.9%
↑ vs CA 30.2% · 61th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
2.4%
↑ vs CA 3.6% · 56th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 1113454%27%16%4%81%+33
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 1112534%32%18%16%66%+42
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/1114623%44%29%3%

CAST is tested in grades 5, 8, and once in high school — not annually. Not part of the Scope Score.

Subgroup · ELATestedMET+vs districtvs CA
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged2372.7%+34+35
White5676.4%+1+15
Two or More Races2387.0%+19+25
03Peer comparison · nearest high schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School ←7343.7%73.1%2.4%
Lowell High2.1 mi7850.4%79.2%0.3%
Lincoln (Abraham) High1.7 mi6029.8%55.6%0.8%
Balboa High1.7 mi5520.7%55.7%4.8%
California average4415.8%35.7%3.6%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
Graduation Rate
96.7%
AP Exam Prepared
92.0%
A-G Completion
87.4%
A-G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-Going Rate
88.0%
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20197193#14733.6%61.8%8.3%1.9%
20227697#5546.8%75.3%18.7%3.2%
20237195#10236.0%68.5%13.5%2.5%
20247296#8040.0%71.6%12.7%2.7%
20257396#7743.7%73.1%16.9%2.4%
NO STATEWIDE TESTING 2020–21 (COVID) · SCORE AND PERCENTILE ARE RELATIVE TO EACH YEAR'S FIELD
05Climate by student groupchronic absenteeism · 2019 vs 2025 — the two years CDE publishes at subgroup level
Group20192025Δ
Female6.9%17.5%+10.6pp
Male6.6%11.1%+4.5pp
Asian3.1%11.3%+8.2pp
Black/African American12.3%11.5%-0.8pp
Filipino12.2%10.3%-1.9pp
White7.9%14.3%+6.4pp
Hispanic/Latino8.4%15.5%+7.1pp
Two or More Races6.3%16.5%+10.2pp
Students with Disabilities7.0%23.4%+16.4pp
English Learners7.1%18.2%+11.1pp
Homeless21.4%
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged13.5%18.0%+4.5pp
All Students6.8%15.2%+8.4pp
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=2,160 high schools · Vintages: climate subgroups 2019+2025 · district finance per its label · ACS 2022 · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue

SchoolScope scores and verdicts are our interpretation of public California Department of Education data — independent analysis, not an official rating. How we analyze · Request a correction