Public school · San Francisco Unified

Balboa High — Rating & test scores

1000 Cayuga Avenue, San Francisco · 1,238 students · Grades 9–12

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Campus map · © OpenStreetMap

Drawn from OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map it, so a new building may be missing. Buildings with no mapped height are drawn one storey high.

A picture of the campus, not an attendance boundary or a rating.

Schools maintain a closed campus policy. For students’ safety, visitors may enter a campus only with the school’s official permission; this drawing implies no permission to enter.

Scope Score 77

SolidScope Score · 60th percentile. Higher than 60 in 100 of the 1,498 California public high schools we score.

75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How the score is built

In 2024–25, 93% of the class graduated in four years (289 of 311); across California, 89%.

Source for this line
Source
CDE four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), 2024–25
Students
students who started 9th grade together: 311
Comparison
California: graduates divided by students who started 9th grade together, across 2,281 public schools’ rows (our combination, not CDE’s published state rate; 432,702 of 487,177).

Overview

Is Balboa a good high school?

Solid. Balboa is higher than most California high schools on test results. Balboa is lower than most on attendance.

Test results, spring 2025

English, Proficient or Advanced6566%
Math, Proficient or Advanced8046%
English, Advanced4623%
Math, Advanced7418%

Showing up, 2024–25

Attendance3226 in 100
Balboa’s place among California high schools, out of 100San Francisco Unified’s other high schoolsBar colour, from the lowest quarter of schools to the highest

One more thing to know

425 of 1,252 students missed 10% or more of school days in 2025–26, against 42 in 100 at the average San Francisco Unified high school.

Each bar is Balboa’s place among 1,498 California public high schools we score. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, updated October 15, 2026.

How to read these bars, and their sources

A place counts the schools out of 100 with a lower figure. The dashed line is the middle. Test results are from spring 2025, grade 11, the latest year with a high school Scope Score. That year the state called these levels Met or exceeded and Exceeded. Attendance counts students who missed 10% or more of school days; fewer is better, so a higher place means fewer such students.

Source for the sentence
CDE chronic absenteeism file, 2025–26. All students counted for chronic absence (CDE’s eligible enrollment): 1,252. District and California figures are averages of school rates (18 San Francisco Unified schools; 1,492 scored California high schools), our calculation.

In its own words

What does Balboa say about itself?

We haven’t read Balboa’s website yet. Until we do, the school’s own site is the best place to hear it in its own words.

Open sfusd.edu (opens in a new tab)

Nearby

How does it compare with schools nearby?

3 of the 9 high schools nearby have a higher Scope Score than Balboa. Each school is compared with every California high school.

Scope Score

10 high schools within 2.9 miles, highest score first. Under each name is how the school takes students.

  1. LowellNeighborhood school · by addressScope Score 9396th
  2. Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A PublicSchool of choice · by applicationScope Score 9093rd
  3. Lincoln (Abraham)Neighborhood school · by addressScope Score 8174th
  4. BalboaScope Score 7760th
  5. Burton (Phillip and Sala) AcademicNeighborhood school · by addressScope Score 7442nd
  6. JeffersonJefferson Union High · by addressScope Score 7235th
  7. City Arts & Leadership AcademyCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 7129th
  8. Jordan (June) School for EquitySchool of choice · by applicationScope Score 624th
  9. MissionNeighborhood school · by addressScope Score 612nd
  10. Marshall (Thurgood)Neighborhood school · by addressScope Score 53bottom 1%
San Francisco UnifiedA neighborhood school in another districtCharterMagnet or school of choice

A neighborhood school in another district takes students who live in its area. Ask that district about a transfer. A charter school takes applications from any family and holds a lottery when it has more applicants than seats. A magnet or other school of choice takes applications through its district.

Scope Score from California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Distance is a straight line from this campus and is not an attendance boundary. See these schools on the map

Scores and family income

Further right, more students are from low-income families. Higher up, more students met or exceeded the standard in English.

25%50%75%0%25%50%75%100%

7 of 10 schools are named on the chart. Point at a dot or tap it to read any school.

English results: California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Low-income is the share of students who qualified for free or reduced-price meals, 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes.

Schools like it

How does Balboa compare with schools like it?

Balboa’s Scope Score is 77. 217 California high schools, counting Balboa, have a similar share of students from low-income families. Their typical score is 74. Balboa’s result is higher than 152 of them.

The five schools with the highest results of the 217

  1. Students from low-income families: 64%

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  2. Students from low-income families: 65%

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  3. Students from low-income families: 65%

    Scope Score 97Strong · 99th percentile

  4. Students from low-income families: 59%

    Scope Score 93Strong · 96th percentile

  5. Students from low-income families: 64%

    Scope Score 93Strong · 96th percentile

217 California public high schools where 58% to 70% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, spring 2025.

How the group is chosen

The group is every California public high school we score where 58% to 70% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. That is within 6 points of Balboa’s share. The count includes Balboa. Typical means the median: half are higher and half are lower. Schools differ in more than family income, and no score is changed for it. Our calculation from California Department of Education records: state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, and school meal eligibility, 2024–25.

Over time

Have results changed?

Results in both subjects were lower than in 2025. English went from 66% to 50% and math from 46% to 33%.

Share at the state’s top two test levels, 2017 to 2026

Grade 11. Point at a year, tap it or use the arrow keys to read its figures.

English

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202669%67%58%San Francisco UnifiedDistrict57%CaliforniaCalifornia50%BalboaBalboa

Math

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202654%48%40%San Francisco UnifiedDistrict33%BalboaBalboa32%CaliforniaCalifornia

The lines break where a year has no comparable state test results. Each spring tests a different group of students. San Francisco Unified’s line combines its 17 high schools we score (our calculation). Faint lines are its other schools. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Each year’s results

The top two levels were called Met or Exceeded before 2026 and are called Proficient or Advanced now. San Francisco Unified’s figure weights each school by the students it tested.

English, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringBalboaSan Francisco UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201767%69%60%281
201858%62%56%260
201963%64%57%257
202268%65%55%275
202360%65%55%271
202470%63%56%246
202566%60%57%245
202650%58%57%224
Math, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringBalboaSan Francisco UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201748%54%32%277
201838%50%31%261
201939%49%32%256
202247%45%27%266
202343%44%27%275
202444%41%28%256
202546%42%30%247
202633%40%32%234

Tests

How did students here do on state tests?

Below California in English (reading and writing); near it in math.

English

50%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

24262921
San Francisco Unified56%California57%

Math

33%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

40272310
San Francisco Unified38%California32%
MinimalDeveloping levelProficientAdvanced

In grade 11, spring 2026, 50% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 33% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

The state published these results on October 15, 2026. What changed across California. Spring 2026, grade 11 combined. From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”). Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 17 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. The grade 11 cards above give each subject’s share.

All four test levels, with the number of students tested
Share of students tested at each level, spring 2026. The state’s test levels Advanced, Proficient, the Developing level (formerly Nearly met) and Minimal.
StudentsAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalTested
English, grade 11 · This school21%29%26%24%224
English, grade 11 · California27%30%21%22%414,559
English, grade 11 · San Francisco Unified29%27%19%25%3,317
Math, grade 11 · This school10%23%27%40%234
Math, grade 11 · California16%16%20%48%413,523
Math, grade 11 · San Francisco Unified20%18%18%44%3,249

Spring 2026, grade 11 combined: 224 tested in English, 234 tested in math. California combines the state’s results for the same grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Who goes here

Who goes here?

Asian students are the largest group here, at 38% of students. 425 of 1,252 students missed 10% or more of school days.

Missing school, 2025–26

34in 100

students were chronically absent. That means they missed 10% or more of school days (425 of 1,252 students).

At the average San Francisco Unified high school: 42 in 100. At the average California high school: 22 in 100.

Suspensions: 4.7% of students were suspended at least once (60 of 1,265). Average California high school 2.9%.

Students, 2024–25

1,238

students in grades 9–12.

Asian 38%Hispanic or Latino 34%Filipino 8%Black or African American 6%Two or more races 4%White 4%Not reported 2%Pacific Islander 2%

Family income

64%

of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 789 of 1,238. California: 63%.

Teachers, 2024–25

75

teachers, with 12 years of experience on average.

7% were in their first year.

67% of teaching positions had the right credential, 2021–22.

English learners

42%

of English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top, spring 2025 to spring 2026 (49 of 118 students).

San Francisco Unified: 43%. California: 47%.

It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Sources: California Department of Education and the California School Dashboard. Each tile names its year.

Full student mix, 2025–26
StudentsHere
Asian38%
Hispanic or Latino34%
Filipino8%
Black or African American6%
Two or more races4%
White4%
Not reported2%
Pacific Islander2%
American Indian or Alaska Native—
Where these figures come from

Attendance and suspensions: California Department of Education, 2025–26. Student mix: the students the state’s attendance file counts, 2025–26; a dash means our records hold no count. English learner progress: California School Dashboard, 2026 . Student count: California Department of Education enrollment, 2024–25. Teachers: California Department of Education staffing files, 2024–25.

Teaching credentials: California’s School Accountability Report Card, 2024–25, measured in 2021–22: 42.3 of 63.3 full-time teaching positions. It counts positions, not individual teachers.

Student groups

How do kids like mine do here?

Asian and Hispanic or Latino students scored well below the same groups across California in English.

This schoolThe same group, California
  • Asian101 tested66%California 79%
  • Low-income141 tested45%California 49%
  • Hispanic or Latino69 tested34%California 49%
  • English learners30 tested3%California 8%

66% of Asian students scored Proficient or Advanced in English (grade 11, spring 2026), against 79% for the same group across California. Hispanic or Latino students: 34% in English, against 49% for the same group across California. Every group’s math results are in the table below.

Share who scored Proficient or Advanced, grade 11 English, spring 2026. Each group is compared with the same group in the same grades. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Every group’s results, with the district

Low-income is the state’s “socioeconomically disadvantaged” group.

Proficient or Advancedgrade 11 · spring 2026
Group and subjectHerevs San Francisco Unifiedvs California
Low-income · 141 tested in English, 147 in math
English45%+144%−449%
Math27%−229%+423%
Asian · 101 tested in English, 104 in math
English66%−672%−1379%
Math55%−358%−1267%
Hispanic or Latino · 69 tested in English, 78 in math
English34%+133%−1549%
Math9%−615%−1221%
English learners · 30 tested in English, 31 in math
English3%−14%−58%
Math6%−28%−28%

Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in San Francisco Unified, and across California. No group that is behind across California does 10 or more points better here.

Black or African American, Filipino and homeless students, students of two or more races and students with disabilities: fewer than 30 tested here. No published rate here for White, American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander and military-family students and foster youth. That can reflect privacy rules or small numbers; it isn’t evidence of a gap. This table covers groups by income, race or ethnicity, language and disability; girls and boys aren’t split out.

After high school

How many students here graduate, and where do they go next?

93% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25. That compares with 89% across California. 70% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 82% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

ready for college or career (state measure), 2024–25

70%

Across California: 52%.

of graduates finished the UC/CSU course list, 2024–25

71%

At the average California high school: 56%.

Graduation, college and university records

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

93%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 289 of 311 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

70%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 219 of 312 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

71%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 204 of 289 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

82% enrolled in college within 12 months · 293 students who finished high school

  • University of California UC detail ↓63 · 21%
  • California State University CSU detail ↓52 · 18%
  • California community college113 · 39%
  • In-state private4 · 1%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year9 · 3%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year0 · 0%
  • Not enrolled52 · 18%

Source: CDE college-going records, class of 2023. Shares are our arithmetic: each count divided by all high-school completers (graduates and other students who finished), rounded together so they total 100. “Not enrolled” does not describe employment, military service or other routes.

Where the class of 2023 went
82%enrolled in college within a year

293 completers, class of 2023

  • University of California63 (21%)
  • California State University52 (18%)
  • California community college113 (39%)
  • In-state private4 (1%)
  • Out-of-state, 4-year9 (3%)
  • Out-of-state, 2-year0 (0%)
  • Not enrolled52 (18%)

Source: CDE’s college-going rate for the class of 2023 (enrolled in college within 12 months). Shares are our arithmetic: count ÷ completers, rounded together so they total 100. A dash means we have no figure for that row; it isn’t zero.

Where these figures come fromEach measure’s source, student group and definition
Graduated in four years
2024–25 · 289 of 311 students who started 9th grade together. California Department of Education, adjusted cohort graduation records. Comparison is SchoolScope’s combination of graduates and cohort counts across the reference schools, not CDE’s published state rate.
Ready for college or career (state measure)
2024–25 · 219 of 312 students in the state’s measure. California Department of Education, College/Career Indicator (CCI), overall “Prepared” rate, among the students in the indicator’s group. Prepared is CDE’s overall classification, not AP participation or a college admission rate.
Finished the UC/CSU course list
2024–25 · 204 of 289 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list. California Department of Education, A–G completion records (graduates who met the UC/CSU course requirements). Course completion is separate from college enrollment.
Where students who finished high school went
CDE college-going records, class of 2023. College enrollment is counted for 12 months after finishing high school and matched to college records, so this runs about two years behind. A dash is unavailable, not zero.
A closer look: UC and CSU admission recordsApplied, admitted and enrolled, from each university system’s own records

UC’s own records

University of California

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
152
Admitted
120
Enrolled
60

By campus · fall 2025

  • UC DavisApplied 137 · Admitted 43 · Enrolled 20
  • UC BerkeleyApplied 130 · Admitted 17 · Enrolled 12
  • UCLAApplied 99 · Admitted 11 · Enrolled 3
  • UC San DiegoApplied 98 · Admitted 23 · Enrolled 4
  • UC IrvineApplied 97 · Admitted 14 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC Santa CruzApplied 96 · Admitted 64 · Enrolled 13
  • UC Santa BarbaraApplied 81 · Admitted 18 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC MercedApplied 75 · Admitted 73 · Enrolled 3
  • UC RiversideApplied 62 · Admitted 56 · Enrolled 3

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; a dash is unavailable. Source: UC admissions by source school.

Each fall since 2016

  • Fall 2025Applied 152 · Admitted 120 · Enrolled 60
  • Fall 2024Applied 149 · Admitted 105 · Enrolled 63
  • Fall 2023Applied 148 · Admitted 105 · Enrolled 66
  • Fall 2022Applied 136 · Admitted 96 · Enrolled 69
  • Fall 2021Applied 124 · Admitted 77 · Enrolled 40
  • Fall 2020Applied 120 · Admitted 97 · Enrolled 62
  • Fall 2019Applied 112 · Admitted 68 · Enrolled 38
  • Fall 2018Applied 138 · Admitted 92 · Enrolled 64
  • Fall 2017Applied 132 · Admitted 92 · Enrolled 65
  • Fall 2016Applied 128 · Admitted 94 · Enrolled 71

CSU’s own records

California State University

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
200
Admitted
186
Enrolled
67

By campus · falls 2021–2025 added together

Five years in each number, not one. CSU publishes campus counts only as five-year totals, so these aren’t comparable to the fall 2025 figures above or to UC’s one-fall campus bars.

  • San Francisco StateApplied 692 · Admitted 632 · Enrolled 160
  • San José StateApplied 582 · Admitted 447 · Enrolled 94
  • Cal Poly San Luis ObispoApplied 317 · Admitted 170 · Enrolled 43
  • San Diego StateApplied 297 · Admitted 57 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Long BeachApplied 208 · Admitted 65 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sacramento StateApplied 169 · Admitted 155 · Enrolled 10
  • Cal Poly PomonaApplied 152 · Admitted 107 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State East BayApplied 120 · Admitted 102 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State FullertonApplied 66 · Admitted 50 · Enrolled under 6
  • Chico StateApplied 65 · Admitted 55 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sonoma StateApplied 56 · Admitted 51 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State LAApplied 55 · Admitted 52 · Enrolled —
  • Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 46 · Admitted 43 · Enrolled under 6
  • Fresno StateApplied 41 · Admitted 40 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Monterey BayApplied 34 · Admitted 33 · Enrolled —
  • CSU BakersfieldApplied 33 · Admitted 28 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State NorthridgeApplied 16 · Admitted 15 · Enrolled —
  • CSU Channel IslandsApplied 13 · Admitted 10 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied 11 · Admitted 10 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San BernardinoApplied 11 · Admitted 11 · Enrolled under 6
  • Stanislaus StateApplied 10 · Admitted 7 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San MarcosApplied 7 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —
  • Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. CSU withholds counts under 6; a dash is unavailable. Students who reach CSU from a community college aren’t counted here. Source: CSU High School Success dashboard.

Each fall since 2021

  • Fall 2025Applied 200 · Admitted 186 · Enrolled 67
  • Fall 2024Applied 195 · Admitted 188 · Enrolled 77
  • Fall 2023Applied 164 · Admitted 154 · Enrolled 54
  • Fall 2022Applied 176 · Admitted 170 · Enrolled 62
  • Fall 2021Applied 146 · Admitted 135 · Enrolled 70
Advanced courses on record

AP courses the school is approved to teach

The College Board approved this school to teach 11 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26.

College Board AP Course Audit Ledger · 2025–26. Authorization doesn’t show which courses run or who can take them; ask the school.

  • Math & Computer Science3
  • Sciences2
  • English1
  • History & Social Science2
  • World Languages & Cultures2
  • Arts1
Every approved AP course11 courses in 6 subjects
Math & Computer Science 3
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Statistics
Sciences 2
  • Biology
  • Physics 1
English 1
  • English Literature and Composition
History & Social Science 2
  • Psychology
  • World History: Modern
World Languages & Cultures 2
  • Chinese Language and Culture
  • Spanish Language and Culture
Arts 1
  • Drawing

Family and staff answers

What would families and staff tell you?

Families and staff can answer a short set of questions about Balboa. These are not star ratings or reviews.

  1. Staff answers show once 5 people have answered.Until then this page shows no staff answers.
  2. Family answers show once 20 families have answered.Until then this page shows how many have answered.
  3. The questions are about the school, never a person.No question asks about a named teacher or staff member.
  4. Answers are never part of the Scope Score.They sit beside the state’s records and do not change a school’s score.
  5. Staff confirm a work email.Staff answers come only from people who confirmed an email address at San Francisco Unified.

Families

No family answers yet

0 of 20 needed before answers show

  • Does the school tell you how your child is doing, in a way you understand, before report cards arrive?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely
  • When you contact the school with a question, do you hear back within two school days?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely · Haven’t contacted them
  • Can you get school information in the language you read best?Yes · Mostly · No
  • And 4 more questions.

Answer the family questionsResponder en españolHow family answers work

Staff

No staff answers yet

5 answers needed before they show

  • Would you send your own child to this school?Yes · Maybe · No
  • Do you plan to work at this school next year?Yes · Not sure · No
  • Do you have the materials and supplies you need to teach?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely
  • And 5 more questions.

Answer the staff questionsHow staff answers work

Money

How much is spent on each student here?

$23,810 for each student in 2024–25. California’s high schools spent $20,309 for each student.

$23,810

for each student at this school, 2024–25
Spent at the school
$7,739
The school’s share of district office costs
$16,071
Of the total, from federal funds
$1,624
  • Balboa$23,810
  • San Francisco Unified high schools$24,049
  • California high schools$20,309

The district and California figures combine their high schools, weighted by enrollment (our calculation, 1,655 California schools). Spending does not show how well money is used. Source: California Department of Education, per-school spending report, 2024–25. Funding records ↓

The neighborhood

What is the area around Balboa like?

These figures are for everyone who lives in ZIP code 94112. They are not figures for the families at Balboa.

Typical household income in a year

$135,119

Typical means half are higher and half are lower. The ZIP code is the school’s address, not its attendance area. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024, ZIP code area 94112.

Typical home value
$1,174,100
People who live in this ZIP code
79,277
Typical age
42.8 years
Adults 25 and older with a four-year college degree
37%

What you can do

Who can act on Balboa’s results?

San Francisco Unified’s board decides Balboa’s plan.

When the plan is set

San Francisco Unified’s board must adopt its yearly plan (LCAP) by July 1, after at least one public hearing at an earlier meeting.

Read the 2026–27 plan (LCAP)

How to take part

  1. Watch the board’s agenda: the hearing is posted at least 72 hours ahead.
  2. Send written comments on the actions and spending the plan proposes.
  3. Raise questions through the district’s parent advisory committee; the superintendent must answer its comments in writing.
  4. Read the midyear report, due by February 28.

State support

The state hasn’t placed Balboa in a support program. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26. Source 

Extra state help for the district

The state is giving San Francisco Unified extra help in 2026. It qualified on the 2025 and 2026 California School Dashboards. The 2026 Dashboard flagged results for homeless students on two measures: English, and math; and for students with disabilities on two measures: English, and math. The county office must help the district for at least three years, including a review of its yearly plan.

Extra help for San Francisco Unified: CDE’s assistance status files for the 2025 and 2026 California School Dashboards. Source 

Questions to ask

What should I ask, and when?

Bring these 8 questions to Balboa. Confirm anything about applying with the school itself.

On a tour

  1. Do families get each child’s absence count during the year, and what happens once a child starts missing school?34 in 100 chronically absent, 2025–26 (425 of 1,252 students); average California high school: 22 in 100
  2. What does the school try before a suspension, and who talks with the family?4.7% suspended at least once, 2025–26 (60 of 1,265 students); average California high school: 2.9%
  3. What extra help do Hispanic students get, and how do you know it’s working?9% of Hispanic students scored Proficient or Advanced in math, grade 11, spring 2026 (78 students tested); the same group across California: 21%
  4. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  5. How do counselors help students plan for college, training or work?
  6. What support is available when a student falls behind on graduation requirements?

At the office

  1. What time does the day start and end, and is any day shorter?
  2. Is there care before or after school, and what does it cost?

Getting in

Which schools feed into Balboa, and how do I get in?

Families apply to Balboa through San Francisco Unified. San Francisco Unified high schools have no attendance areas.

  1. Elementary
    No feeder schools
    High-school placement does not follow earlier schools.
  2. Middle
    No feeder schools
    High-school placement does not follow earlier schools.
  3. High · this school
    Balboa High
    Grades 9–12Scope Score 77Solid · 60th percentile

Placement is by application in this district; confirm with the district. Explore schools on the map

Where it is

Where is Balboa?

Address
1000 Cayuga Avenue, San Francisco 94112Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Administrator
Catherine ArensonAs the state’s school directory lists it, last updated October 19, 2021.

A school’s place on the map is its address in the state directory. It does not show which homes the school serves. See nearby schools on the map

Short answers to 8 common questions

How do I get in?

Families apply to Balboa through San Francisco Unified. San Francisco Unified high schools have no attendance areas. See the details ↓

Is Balboa a good high school?

Balboa High has a Scope Score of 77. It scored higher than 60 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools (Solid, 60th percentile, spring 2025). See the details ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 34 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 42 in 100 at the average San Francisco Unified high school. 4.7% of students (60 of 1,265) were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school. See the details ↓

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 17 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. See the details ↓

How do kids like mine do here?

In spring 2026, 45% of low-income students in grade 11 at Balboa High in San Francisco scored Proficient or Advanced in English, against 49% for the same group across California. See the details ↓

What could my child study here?

The College Board approved this school to teach 11 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26. See the details ↓

Where do students go after finishing high school here?

82% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months, by CDE’s college-going records. See the details ↓

What should I ask on a visit?

The questions drawn from this page are under Questions to ask, ready to copy. See the details ↓

The full record

Source records

This page is built from 17 sets of records from public data sources. Every figure keeps its source, grades, year and count.

Data updated

October 15, 2026

Record sets on this page
17
Sources
California Department of EducationU.S. Census BureauUniversity of CaliforniaCollege BoardU.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil RightsNational Student Clearinghouse
State test years
2017–2026

Results

Students

After high school

Money and staff

Place, downloads and method

Score factorssource values, index and weights · 2024–25 · ranked #591 of 1,498 California high schools we score · #6 of 18 in San Francisco Unified
Score factors, 2024–25
FactorSchoolIndexWeight
Graduation rate93%5725%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math21%5522%
Ready for college or career (state measure)70%6620%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math56%6518%
Chronically absent26 in 100545%
Suspension rate4.9% (65 of 1,318)455%
English learners: top level6%335%

Index is where the school's value sits among the California high schools we score, from 0 to 100, where 50 is their average; it is not a percentile. School values are from 2024–25. Chronic absence and suspension are CDE's all-students school rates; the score uses an adjusted version of each that pulls small schools toward the average, so their index can sit nearer 50 than the rate suggests.

Scope Score by year2018–19 to 2024–25 · each year’s inputs, and the score for each year we could verify

The 2024–25 Scope Score, in the current-formula row below, uses the state’s college-or-career readiness measure, 2024–25. No verified earlier Scope Scores are available here.

Scope Score

School yearScope ScorePercentileRankComparison group
2024–257760#591California high schools · 1,498 schools · current formula

2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 have records on file but no Scope Score we could verify against that year’s source files, so no score is shown for them.

School yearChronic absenceSuspension
2018–1919 in 1003.8% (49 of 1,298)
2021–22not on filenot on file
2022–23not on filenot on file
2023–2425 in 1002.9% (39 of 1,344)
2024–2526 in 1004.9% (65 of 1,318)

Chronic absence and suspension are CDE’s all-students school rates for each year.

No 2019–20 or 2020–21 records in this SchoolScope series
Results by gradeEnglish and math · grade 11 · spring 2026 · % of tested students

What each level means: California's level descriptions.

English · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
EnglishTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1122421%29%26%24%50%57%−7

California is CDE’s statewide English row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Math · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
MathTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1123410%23%27%40%33%32%+1

California is CDE’s statewide math row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.

Every tested year2017–2026 · rates, tested counts, and each grade

English and math by test year · all tested grades

Year · subjectStudents with scoresTop levelTop two levels
2026 · English22421%50%
2026 · Math23410%33%
2025 · English24523%66%
2025 · Math24718%46%
2024 · English24632%70%
2024 · Math25615%44%
2023 · English27125%60%
2023 · Math27517%43%
2022 · English27534%68%
2022 · Math26621%47%
2019 · English25728%63%
2019 · Math25620%39%
2018 · English26018%58%
2018 · Math26112%38%
2017 · English28126%67%
2017 · Math27724%48%

Each year names its school year end (2026 = 2025–26). “Students with scores” counts each subject on its own, so don’t add the English and math counts together. A dash is unavailable, not zero.

Earlier years · grade and subject

Year · grade · subjectStudents with scoresMet or exceeded
2025 · Grade 11 · English24566%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math24746%
2024 · Grade 11 · English24670%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math25644%
2023 · Grade 11 · English27160%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math27543%
2022 · Grade 11 · English27568%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math26647%
2019 · Grade 11 · English25763%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math25639%
2018 · Grade 11 · English26058%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math26138%
2017 · Grade 11 · English28167%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math27748%

Current 2025–26 grade results appear above. “Students with scores” counts the students tested in that grade, subject and year. A missing result is not zero, and each year’s row is a different group of children.

Science (CAST)schoolwide · spring 2026
Science (CAST)TestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimal
Schoolwide2328%30%54%8%

CAST is tested in grades 5 and 8, then once in grade 10, 11, or 12. This row is the school's all-student aggregate. Not part of the Scope Score.

Student groups: test resultsEnglish · spring 2026 · against the same group in the district and California
Group · EnglishTestedProficient or Advancedvs districtvs California
Low-income14145%+1−4
Asian10166%−6−13
Hispanic or Latino6934%+1−15
Attendance and suspensionsState records · this school and each student group · 2018–19 and 2025–26

CDE’s all-students school rates for 2024–25 and 2025–26; the change is the difference between the two rates as printed.

Year-over-year school rates
Chronic absenteeism2024–25 · 26 in 100 → 2025–26 · 34 in 100 · +8 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 4.9% (65 of 1,318) → 2025–26 · 4.7% (60 of 1,265) · −0.2 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female22 in 10034 in 100+12 in 100
Male17 in 10034 in 100+17 in 100
Asian4 in 10017 in 100+13 in 100
Black or African American27 of 6446 of 81—
Filipino13 in 10028 in 100+15 in 100
Hispanic or Latino31 in 10047 in 100+16 in 100
Pacific Islander19 of 4018 of 24—
Two or more races11 of 2724 of 53—
White11 of 4317 of 49—
Students with disabilities35 in 10040 in 100+5 in 100
English learners28 in 10035 in 100+7 in 100
Homeless30 of 6018 of 50—
Low-income20 in 10036 in 100+16 in 100
All students19 in 10034 in 100+15 in 100

Two reported school years only; no intervening-year result is implied. Where fewer than 100 students were counted, the cell shows the count and no change is printed. Source: CDE school-level chronic absenteeism by student group.

Graduation and readinessstate records · each rate for its own year and class of students
MeasureSource record
This school · CCI overall PreparedCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · all students in the current four-year graduation cohort, plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. Overall CCI Prepared rate 70% · numerator 219 students classified Prepared · denominator 312 CCI students.
California · CCI overall PreparedCDE statewide CCI cohort · CCI source year 2025 · all students · overall Prepared rate 52% · numerator 257,567 students classified Prepared · denominator 497,814 CCI students.
AP pathway among CCI Prepared studentsCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · AP pathway rate 71% · AP-pathway numerator 155 · denominator 219 (CCI Prepared students). This measure uses Prepared students as its denominator, not the whole CCI cohort; it is not an AP exam-taking rate or a count of AP courses offered. That cohort includes all students in the current four-year graduation cohort plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. In 2025 the pathway accepts two qualifying AP exams, two qualifying AP courses, or a combination of one of each in different subjects.

CDE's overall Prepared rate is the college-readiness factor in the Scope Score (20% of the high school score). The school rate is 219 of 312 CCI students, not the AP-only pathway or A–G completion rate. The California figure is CDE's statewide CCI student cohort, not an average of SchoolScope's comparable high schools or the SchoolScope school-rank pool.

Graduation rate
93%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
71%
2025 CDE CCI cohort · AP courses, exams, or both; share of students ready for college or career (CDE’s “Prepared”), not course offerings
Finished the UC/CSU course list (A–G)
71%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-going rate
82%

These source periods and populations differ: graduation uses an adjusted cohort, while A–G completion and college-going use separately reported groups. The rates are shown individually, without a shared performance tier.

UC admissions, universitywidefall 2016–2025 · applied, admitted, enrolled, mean GPA · summed across CEEB codes
YearAppliedAdmittedEnrolledMean GPA (applied)Mean GPA (admitted)Mean GPA (enrolled)
2025152120603.803.904.01
2024149105633.853.994.04
2023148105663.873.973.99
202213696693.904.064.13
202112477403.763.934.05
202012097623.843.974.09
201911268383.854.044.10
201813892643.884.054.15
201713292653.793.994.07
201612894713.783.953.99

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. GPA is each group's mean weighted, capped high-school GPA for 10th/11th-grade college-preparatory courses. SchoolScope leaves GPA unavailable when several CEEB codes contribute rather than combining their means. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here. Complete, matching counts can support a historical descriptive rate, but do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances. Series shown from 2016.

UC admissions by campuslatest falls on file · each campus counted separately
CampusYearAppliedAdmittedEnrolled
Berkeley20251301712
Berkeley20241081711
Berkeley2023115119
Berkeley20221071310
Berkeley20218673
Davis20251374320
Davis20241255019
Davis20231323918
Davis20221223823
Davis2021982511
Irvine20259714under 3
Irvine2024115167
Irvine20231058under 3
Irvine2022939under 3
Irvine20217763
Los Angeles202599113
Los Angeles2024107107
Los Angeles2023107under 3under 3
Los Angeles20229663
Los Angeles20217543
Merced202575733
Merced202427243
Merced202347455
Merced202239373
Merced202134293
Riverside202562563
Riverside202440263
Riverside202351373
Riverside20223222under 3
Riverside202130163
San Diego202598234
San Diego2024100194
San Diego2023112124
San Diego202280146
San Diego2021706under 3
Santa Barbara20258118under 3
Santa Barbara20247722under 3
Santa Barbara202391113
Santa Barbara20227818under 3
Santa Barbara202149115
Santa Cruz2025966413
Santa Cruz202496638
Santa Cruz2023976021
Santa Cruz2022904820
Santa Cruz202170418
Universitywide202515212060
Universitywide202414910563
Universitywide202314810566
Universitywide20221369669
Universitywide20211247740

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. Campus totals are not interchangeable with Universitywide; students can apply to several campuses. Universitywide is separately reported; never derive it by adding campus rows. Universitywide applicant and admit counts are unduplicated. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here; these records do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances.

AP course catalog2025–26 · College Board course authorizations
SubjectAuthorization recorded for
Biologythis school
Calculus ABthis school
Calculus BCthis school
Chinese Language and Culturethis school
Drawingthis school
English Literature and Compositionthis school
Physics 1this school
Psychologythis school
Spanish Language and Culturethis school
Statisticsthis school
World History: Modernthis school

Authorization ≠ a section running this year — the Ledger records what the school may teach, not seat counts.

Advanced coursework, federal snapshot2023–24 · Civil Rights Data Collection · dated historical snapshot
MeasureThis school
AP offeredoffered
AP course count9
AP enrollment (male/female)402
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentnot offered
Algebra I in grade 8not reported
Calculus sections7
Physics sections17
Chemistry sections4
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)1,243

These counts aren’t part of the Scope Score. “Not reported” means the federal record has no value for that item; it isn’t a zero. Enrollment counts add the male and female students the survey reports.

College destinationsclass of 2023 · state college-going records, 12 months after graduation
DestinationCompleters% (derived)
University of California6321%
California State University5218%
California community college11339%
In-state private41%
Out-of-state, 4-year93%
Out-of-state, 2-year00%
Not enrolled5218%

293 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 82% · % column is computed by SchoolScope (count ÷ all who finished high school; CDE calls them completers), not a CDE-native rate · an unavailable or suppressed cell is marked as missing; a reported zero remains distinct · source: CDE 12-mo CGR, 2023 cohort (the newest published), National Student Clearinghouse match — a different, older vintage than the fall 2025 UC admissions rows above.

Fundingschool and district spending, from state and federal finance records · each row names its fiscal year and measure

Per-pupil spending

District · current expense$17,416 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 51,790 pupils

California · selected district mean$14,491 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · SchoolScope’s unweighted mean across 818 selected California district finance records

Central federal expenditures attributed here$1,624 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 1,238

District current expense · FY 2024–25$26,762 per ADA

CDE SACS Current Expense of Education · district fiscal year ending 2025 · average daily attendance denominator

These figures are not directly comparable: school ESSA attributed spending and NCES district current expense use different measures and populations. Their fiscal years are labeled above.

How the California mean was selected

SchoolScope starts with its selected California finance records, not every NCES California district. For FY 2020–21, it calculates an unweighted mean of NCES F-33 current expense per pupil. District records contribute once, regardless of enrollment. The calculation keeps records with positive per-pupil current expense, enrollment over 100, CCD agency type 1, and a recorded district name; it excludes names ending in County Office of Education, Department of Education, or Superintendent of Schools. This is a SchoolScope calculation, not a state-published spending average.

Selected General Fund operating costs · FY 2024–⁠25 · SchoolScope calculation
Instruction 59%Instruction support 12%Student services 15%Administration 6%Buildings & maintenance 7%Other 1%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$720,888,04159.60%59%
Instruction support$141,236,09711.68%12%
Student services$180,276,74014.90%15%
Administration$76,502,3046.33%6%
Buildings & maintenance$82,226,8076.80%7%
Other$8,383,1320.69%1%
Total$1,209,513,121100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $1,209,513,121 total of the groups shown, rounded to whole percents by largest remainder so they add up to 100. Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so they can differ from the total by a dollar. SchoolScope groups district-level CDE SACS UserGL actuals from Fund 01, using operating objects 1000–5999 and excluding retiree benefits, food and community services, facilities acquisition, other outgo, and nonagency goals. These shares use that filtered total; they do not exactly break down CDE's official current expense per ADA above. The school-level ESSA figure uses a separate source.

NCES F-33 district fiscal-year history, 2017–⁠2021; latest district record shown: 2021
2021$17,416 per pupil
2020$17,139 per pupil
2019$17,228 per pupil
2018$13,640 per pupil
2017$11,532 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

Staffing recordsstate teacher credential-and-placement and district salary records · each for its own year

Additional workforce records

Properly assigned intern credential holders4.2%

CDE 2024–25 SARC, Teacher Preparation and Placement table; measured school year 2021–22. Share of reported school teaching-position full-time equivalents assigned to properly assigned intern credential holders. A reported 0.0% is shown; unavailable rates are omitted. This is a position share, not a count of current teachers or of emergency permits.

The surrounding ZIP codeCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 94112 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 94112 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$135,119
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)37%
ZIP-area population79,277
Median age42.8 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Median household income covers the past 12 months and is reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Bachelor's degree or higher uses adults age 25 and over as its population. A dash is unavailable, not zero; a reported zero remains zero. ZIP-area figures do not establish the school's attendance area or describe its enrolled students. These figures are not part of the Scope Score. See all schools in ZIP code 94112 →

Downloads, embed and methodologyCSV · embed code · sources · corrections

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Data sources: public data sources, including the California Department of Education · state tests (CAASPP) 2025–26 · Scope Score from 2024–25 results, compared across 1,498 high schools · attendance and suspensions by student group from 2018–19 and 2025–26 · district finance for the year each row names · Census survey (ACS) 2020–2024 · UC fall first-year source records — UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; the all-campus total is reported separately · AP courses the College Board approved, 2025–26 (approved to teach, not enrollment) · federal civil rights data (CRDC) 2023–24, a past snapshot · state college-going records, class of 2023, matched to National Student Clearinghouse enrollment · Data updated October 15, 2026

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