Garfield Elementary, San Francisco CA

Original Research by School Decision on Garfield Elementary

Garfield Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in San Francisco's northeast residential neighborhoods. It is a small public school with an enrollment distributed across all six grades. Roughly half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic diversity of the neighborhood.

The student body is predominantly Asian, with substantial representation of Hispanic, multiracial, Black, and white students. No data was available on the school's share of English learners or students with Individualized Education Plans, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about these populations.

On state assessments administered in spring 2025, the school's math proficiency rates varied by grade. Third grade showed lower proficiency, while fourth and fifth grades performed better. English language arts proficiency was generally similar across the tested grades. Fifth grade science proficiency lagged behind both math and ELA, a pattern worth exploring with the school. Across tested grades and subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among schools in its county district cohort, a genuine strength relative to peer schools. That said, a parent reviewing the grade-level results may notice that proficiency in multiple grades and subjects sits below fifty percent, so understanding the school's approach to student support and any growth trajectory matters.

The school occupies a residential corner in San Francisco's northeast. The broader city is remarkably walkable, with mixed-use neighborhoods and strong transit infrastructure including Muni buses and light rail. Single-family homes and modest apartment buildings characterize many surrounding blocks; the neighborhood combines quiet residential streets with corner shops and community-oriented pockets. Housing in the 94133 zip code is expensive, consistent with citywide real estate values, though specific data on this school's attendance boundaries was not available. Families considering this school should expect to navigate San Francisco's housing market and transit-dependent lifestyle.

The school is part of San Francisco Unified, the city's large public district. District-level information on recent strategic priorities or policy changes was not readily available. Parents interested in understanding broader district direction may wish to contact the district directly or consult its website.

Garfield is a regular public school without a charter designation, magnet program, or special mission. It appears to serve its immediate neighborhood rather than drawing students across the city. Program offerings and staffing details were not provided in the available data, so a parent visiting the school and speaking with staff would give the clearest picture of teaching methods, enrichment, and classroom culture.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 333%

School 33% · District 52% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 467%

School 67% · District 49% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 554%

School 54% · District 46% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 344%

School 44% · District 47% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 452%

School 52% · District 51% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 10 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 556%

School 56% · District 55% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Science

Grade 536%

School 36% · District 42% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

This schoolSan Francisco Unified, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income36%Higher-income50%14 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income57%Higher-income55%2 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income27%Higher-income38%10 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income62%Higher-income46%16 pp gap