Admissions FAQ - Sterne School

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a Sterne student?

We are proud to serve a neurodiverse population. Students who attend Sterne commonly have ADHD, dyslexia, or a Specific Learning Difference (SLD) in reading, writing, or math. Other diagnoses among our student population often include dysgraphia, dyscalculia, 2e, and anxiety. Given that all accommodations are integrated throughout the school day, the effective teaching methods used for specific challenges also prove beneficial in supporting those students in our population without any diagnosis.

We have found that our program is best suited to students as described above. Students with intellectual disability, social pragmatic disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and/or severe behavioral challenges or mental health needs tend to be better served in environments with services tailored to these profiles. Our Admissions Team can provide a list of resources and other schools if Sterne is not the right fit for you.

How is Sterne’s learning support unique and effective?

At Sterne, learning supports and accommodations are available to all students and are embedded in every classroom throughout the school day. All of our teachers have experience and training that make them effective learning specialists who are attuned to understanding and meeting the needs of each student.

Specific supports and strategies we utilize:

Integrated Supports
Small class sizes
Individualized Student Learning Plans
1:1 Chromebook with assistive technology like Learning Ally, Speech to Text, Audible, etc.
Skill level based placement (4-8)
Social Emotional Learning Programming and Curriculum (4-8)
UDL (9-12) with Office Hours embedded in the school day and optional after-school Homework Hall

Because these supports are built into every aspect of our academic program, many families find that Sterne eliminates the need for “school after school” such as at-home tutoring and other outside academic help.

Click below to learn more about Sterne's learning supports for students in each of our grade divisions:

Lower School

Middle School

High School

What does a typical school day look like?

School hours are 8:55 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for grades 4–8, and 8:55 a.m. to 3:24 p.m. for grades 9–12.

Typical Day - Grades 4-8

Typical Day - Grades 9-12

High School has a block schedule Tuesday-Thursday with two alternating, longer block classes. There are a variety of semester long electives to choose from like Design & Engineering , Psychology, Food Stories, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Drama, Film, and Ethnic Studies.

Sterne’s doors open at 8:30 a.m. for student arrivals and we provide a variety of after school classes, as well as aftercare until 6:00 p.m. through the local Salesian Boys and Girls Club (for grades 4–8).

We offer a lunch delivery program with a variety of choices from local restaurants. Students can also bring their own lunch if they have dietary restrictions.

How does Sterne support new families?

Sterne hosts a variety of events in the Spring and Fall for new families. This includes a New Family Reception (May), Orientation (August), and All School Picnic (September). New Families are also connected with a returning family over the summer to help ease the transition. Throughout the school year, parents will have the opportunity to stay connected through the Parent Association, Coffee Chats, and other events advertised in our weekly newsletter!

For families joining the Sterne community mid-year, the Admissions team connects parents with our New Family Liaisons who help answer all logistical questions before their student’s first day of school. Families will be contacted by the Head of Division, Counselor, Parent Association President, and Head of School within their first month at Sterne, and can stay connected through parent events and conferences that take place throughout the year.

What are the offerings beyond the classroom?

Sterne offers a rich array of arts, athletics, clubs, experiential field trips, service learning, and enrichment opportunities for all grade levels 4–12. These include:

Arts: Film, drama, music, studio and digital arts
Athletics: Basketball, handball, volleyball, dodgeball, futsal, table tennis, running, biking, yoga
STEM: Makers Lab and engineering exploration
After school classes: Cooking, robotics, art, rock band, and more
A variety of electives, clubs, and affinity groups

Additional offerings also include leadership and mentorship opportunities (student council, Eye to Eye); community service learning; plus local, national, and international experiential trips.

Click below for more information about student life:

Lower School

Middle School

High School

What is Sterne's diversity policy?

A Sterne School community member is, first, an individual with a distinctive life experience, perspective, lens and learning profile. Sterne School welcomes and celebrates students of all races, ethnicities, belief systems, religions, sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities, family structures and socio-economic backgrounds. The Sterne School community does not tolerate behaviors or actions that infringe upon one's ability to be seen, heard and understood. The Sterne community is centered in learning from everyone’s uniqueness, creating self-advocates who strive to develop awareness, empathy, cultural competency and allyship in the Sterne community and beyond.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Sterne

Up to 95 students are enrolled in the Lower and Middle School (grades 4–8) and 100 students in the High School (grades 9–12). Sterne has a diverse community from all over the Bay Area, that includes LGBTQ+ families, single parents, cross-generational households, adopted children, and economically diverse families. Approximately 47% of our students self-identify as people of color. Approximately 30% of our families receive some level of financial aid.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging informs all aspects of our program at Sterne, and while there are many areas of DEIB to address and highlight, each year we focus on a specific DEIB initiative schoolwide. Click here for more information on this year’s DEIB focus.

What are the admissions deadlines?

JANUARY 9, 2025
Application deadline.
Go into Ravenna and schedule a Student Visit and a Parent Interview as soon as possible. Spaces fill quickly after the January 9th deadline. We suggest applying early.

FEBRUARY 7, 2025
Deadline to apply for Tuition Assistance.
Click here for more information.

MARCH 20, 2025
Grades 4–8: You will be receive a decision notification by email no later than 12:00 p.m. Please respond with your decision by 10:00 a.m. on March 27, 2025.

MARCH 21, 2025
Grades 9–12: You will be receive a decision notification by email after 4:00 p.m. Please respond with your decision by 12:00 p.m. on March 28, 2025.

Does Sterne accept rolling admissions?

What are the required supplemental materials?

Documents Required for Grades 4–8

Confidential Teacher Evaluation Form
Transcript Release Form
About Me Project

Documents Required for Grades 9–12

Confidential Teacher Recommendation Forms
(Principal or Counselor, Math, and English)
Transcript Release Form
Student Essay
About Me Project

Important notes on how forms are submitted:

Transcript Release Forms are delegated to your child’s school via email and the school registrar will electronically submit documents through Ravenna or email.
Parents delegate the Teacher Evaluation Form (grades 4-8) and Teacher Recommendation Forms (grades 9-12) through Ravenna. Then, teachers electronically submit forms through Ravenna directly to Sterne School.

*Please give the teachers plenty of time to complete these recommendations before the application deadline.

Do Sterne 8th Graders continue to High School at Sterne?

Where do Sterne High School graduates go to college?

At Sterne, the college counseling journey begins the first year of high school, with families participating in an informative Zoom session outlining the College Planning and Application timeline. Moving into sophomore year, families engage in personalized meetings with our dedicated college counseling team to tailor plans according to the unique goals of both the student and their family. Individual counseling continues through Junior and Senior year, with more frequent meetings.

Sterne is a college preparatory school. Our high school curriculum adheres to the California Colleges-approved course map (A-G), ensuring that every student aspiring for college has the opportunity to pursue higher education. We pride ourselves on having a 100% “best fit” rate, and over the past five years, all of our graduates have been accepted to more than 100 national and international four-year colleges—see for yourself.

What are the transportation options to/from Sterne?

Many students at Sterne use public transit to get to school. Our campus is walking distance to the San Francisco Ferry Building, Embarcadero and Montgomery Street BART & Muni stations, and Golden Gate Transit bus stops. Additionally, families can find a Carpool Connections document on our parent portal which assists in finding other families that may live nearby.

After school, Sterne has a relationship with the Salesian Boys & Girls Club in North Beach for affordable after care until 6:00 p.m. (for students in grades 4–8 only).

What are some Sterne community highlights?

There are many opportunities throughout the year that bring the Sterne community together. See list below for some of our annual events, and visit our social media feeds for additional highlights.

All School Back to School Picnic
Back to School Night for Parents & Guardians
Winter and Spring Drama performances
Winter and Spring Concerts
Winter and Spring Student Film Festivals
Fall Full Circle Cocktail Party
Quarterly School Dances for Middle School and High School
Volleyball, Basketball, Handball games
Off-Campus Expedition Days
The Annual Spring Gala
Grandparents & Special Friends Day
Spring Art & Maker Faire
Spring Donor & Volunteer Appreciation
Local, National, and International Experiential Trips
High School Prom
Eighth Grade and High School Graduation Ceremonies
Participation in the Annual SF Pride Parade
...and much, much more!

The teachers at Sterne truly see my child. They are attuned to his interests and responsive to his needs. He now has a strong sense of himself as an artist, inventor, maker, and engineer and feels celebrated as such.

Sarah, Sterne Parent

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