Garfield Elementary School

We were attracted to this school because it was in our neighborhood and offered our daughter the opportunity to learn a second language, Cantonese. We couldn't be happier with the school, the principle, the teachers, and the community! The teachers are passionate about teaching and communicate proactively with parents. The small class sizes allow students to get the individual support they need. We love the principal who sets a very positive tone by modeling acceptance and respect for all students, teachers and parents. She truly cares about and gets to know each and every student. We are also fortunate to have a family liaison specialist, social worker, and literacy specialist on campus to support students. Our favorite thing about Garfield is the community! There is an incredible diversity of cultures and backgrounds represented at the school. And the very active Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) brings together families to build community and raise funds to enrich the lives of our students. This school is truly a hidden gem!

A friend first piqued my curiosity about Garfield when she called it a hidden gem. Over the next year, as we prepared to enter the kindergarten enrollment lottery, we researched dozens of elementary schools with diverse programs and toured multiple schools. Garfield ended up our #1 choice. We went through ALL the rounds of the lottery, and finally, during the second week of school, we got in off the wait pool!My son is now in second grade in the Cantonese immersion program. Our principal and teachers are dedicated and enthusiastic, and we love Garfield's small size and warm community. Although there are three pathways - general education, Cantonese immersion, and autism focus special education - it is clearly one unified school.We've also discovered what an amazing neighborhood Garfield is located in. Garfield is located right by Coit tower, on a fairly quiet residential street. Within a couple blocks walk is the North Beach library, Joe DiMaggio playground, the North Beach pool, the cute shops along Grant, and a great assortment of restaurants. It's become a routine for us to pick up our son, hang out at the library a bit for some reading and homework, then either play at the playground or go swimming before heading home.To top it all off, we are super excited for the re-opening of our fully renovated state of the art campus for the coming school year!

We love Garfield! I now have 2 kids at Garfield and we love the small, tight-knit community there. Teachers seem committed to providing a fun, safe learning environment for all kids. Our principal is EXCELLENT! She is a wonderful leader, a thoughtful communicator to parents and kids alike, and is invested in making Garfield the best school it can be. The staff's enthusiasm for the school and kids is infectious, and as a parent it encourages me to be an active participant in helping Garfield excel. The early start time is a great fit for working parents, and they provide after school programs on site. We are so glad this little gem is in our neighborhood!

I moved my kids from a private school to Garfield several years back, and we have no regrets. I feel that the school size, it’s committed teaching staff, and focused leadership are it’s biggest asset. Also, the kids are great!!! My children’s friends have so many widely different life experiences that it has been part of their education as well. I look forward to the Garfield campus being re-opened (after a full renovation) in 2020!