Founding Story
San Francisco Schoolhouse emerged from two mothers’ quest to find a school that provided academic excellence for their children while being affordable for their families. With many private schools charging upwards of $25,000, and even $30,000 per student (currently, tuition has increased to upwards of $40,000), it felt like a high-quality progressive education was simply not attainable. But when pushed by the necessity to educate their children, and inspired by the well-educated students in one-room school houses from around the world and in the past, Rebecca Dake and Erin Cooney simplified the definition of an excellent education down to two basic ingredients: a passionate, experienced teacher, and a room where students feel comfortable to explore and learn.
In February 2011, Rebecca Dake (a founding parent) started the process to organize a school, including finding a room, then a pair of teachers, Rebecca Schneider and Jack Schumacher (founding teachers), and even developing the name, the Schoolhouse. In August 2011, the first two students started to attend, with more students joining in early 2012! During this initial time period, the founding team, Erin Cooney, Rebecca Dake, Jack Schumacher and Rebecca Schneider began teaching, organizing, meeting with parents, and putting together the foundation of the Schoolhouse.
By the end of the first school year, the Schoolhouse had 6 students, followed by an enrollment of 19 students in grades K-2 for the 2012-2013 school year. By the time 2013-14 came along, the first lead teacher (outside of founders Jack and Rebecca) had been hired. Bridget Curley was the new kindergarten teacher, and the school year kicked off with 32 students in grades K-3. During the 2013-14 school year, the inaugural Winter Lights celebration took place, and the Schoolhouse showcased its first annual school play. In 2014-15 we opened with 42 students, and the school has continued to grow from there. In the fall of 2023, Jina Kim became the Head of School, Betsy Fowler was named as the Director of K-5, and Continuity of Curriculum, K-8. Patrick Ardinger was named as the Director of Middle School. As we enter our 14th year, Schoolhouse proudly begins with an enrollment of 109 students and 21 teachers K-8.