New Traditions Elementary, San Francisco CA

Original Research by School Decision on New Traditions Elementary

New Traditions Elementary is a small public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, near the Civic Center. The school enrolls about a quarter-thousand students across six grades, reflecting the neighborhood's residential character.

Academic performance is a core strength. Students in the upper elementary grades show strong proficiency in English language arts, with most demonstrating mastery by fifth grade. Math proficiency runs slightly lower but remains solid across grades three through five, with the highest achievement appearing at the fifth-grade level. Fifth graders also show competence in science. Across all tested subjects and grades combined, the school ranks in the top quartile of elementary and middle schools in San Francisco County on overall proficiency. This is a genuine distinguishing marker for a small school in an urban district.

The student body is economically mixed. About one in five students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating some families in the catchment area face economic pressure, though the majority do not. Race and ethnicity show high diversity. The largest single group is white students, followed by students identifying as two or more races, then Hispanic, Asian, and Black students, with smaller numbers of Native American and Pacific Islander students. The school does not report specific enrollment numbers for English learners or students with IEPs; if your family has a student with either designation, the school itself can clarify what services and accommodations it offers.

The neighborhood surrounding Grove Street sits in an area of high housing cost. Homes in the 94117 zip code command prices well above the state average, and rent is similarly elevated. Mortgage costs on a typical home would require substantial monthly payments; renting would also consume a large portion of household income by national standards. This means families living near the school tend to have higher income, inherited housing stability, or a mix of both. At the same time, the neighborhood is among the most walkable in San Francisco, with transit access through Muni and proximity to Golden Gate Park and cultural amenities.

San Francisco itself is in a period of economic transition. The city has pursued major housing development goals focused on new construction and office-to-residential conversions, with renewed investment signals in 2025 after a slowdown. The school district, like many urban districts, has not reported recent changes in strategic direction that are publicly accessible, so a parent may want to speak directly with the school about instructional priorities and any recent shifts in programming or staffing.

For a family considering New Traditions, the key trade is between strong academic performance and a location in one of the country's highest-cost real estate markets. The school shows real achievement in reading and mathematics, and the peer group is economically and ethnically diverse, though skewed toward families with means. The neighborhood itself is vibrant and well-served by transit, but housing stability requires either significant income or prior entry into the market. If your family already lives in or near the Haight, or is prepared for the cost of entry, the school's track record on proficiency offers a credible path through elementary years.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 373%

School 73% · District 52% · ▲ 21 pts above district

▲ 30 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 472%

School 72% · District 49% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 35 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 577%

School 77% · District 46% · ▲ 31 pts above district

▲ 47 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 386%

School 86% · District 47% · ▲ 39 pts above district

▲ 46 pts above state median · ▲ 40 pts above county median

Grade 481%

School 81% · District 51% · ▲ 30 pts above district

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

Grade 584%

School 84% · District 55% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▲ 39 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Science

Grade 573%

School 73% · District 42% · ▲ 32 pts above district

▲ 45 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above 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 5Lower-income71%Higher-income90%19 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income64%Higher-income83%19 pp gap