Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus (Top Ranked Private School for 2026)

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Quick Facts (2026)

Top Ranked CA School
School Type: Special Program Emphasis
Grades: Prekindergarten-8
Enrollment: 144 students
Yearly Tuition: $38,670
Acceptance rate: 50%
Average class size: 16 students
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: ✓Verified school update

School Rankings

Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for:

School Facts

School Type

School with Special Program Emphasis

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

National Independent Private Schools Association

Religious Affiliation

Nonsectarian

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-8

Students By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade
Grade	Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus
Pre-K	18
Kind	12
1	17
2	19
3	6
4	16
5	16
6	16
7	12
8	12

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Year Founded

1980

Summer School Offered

Yes

School Calendar

View School Calendar

Student Body

Total Students

144 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

Academics & Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

27 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

5:1

National avg.: 11:1

Average Class Size

16 students

List of Courses Offered

Link to List of Courses

Classroom Dress Code

Formal

School uniform

Tuition & Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

None / Rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$38,670

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

5% sibling discount

Summer Program Cost

$4,550

Summer Program Cost Notes

$750 per week or $4550 for the entire 7-week camp, exclusive of transportation and field trip costs.

Acceptance Rate

50%

National avg.: 82%

Admissions Director

Kaitlyn Harrod

Application URL

Online Application

Sports

Total Sports Offered

4 sports

Sports

BalletBasketball

DanceIntramural Sports Only

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

9 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:

Language ClubLatin Club

Arts and Music Programs:

Art ClassesChorus

DanceDrama

Musical TheaterSpeech and Debate

Stage Techs

School Notes

Adda Clevenger School is an independent TK-8 school offering an accelerated academic curriculum plus a fully integrated performing arts program. Adda Clevenger operates a 20,000sft campus in Noe Valley. Starting Fall 2024, Adda Clevenger will be opening a second 18,000sft campus on the Presidio of San Francisco.

Founded in 1980, the Adda Clevenger School is an independent elementary and middle school providing an accelerated academic and arts curriculum to San Francisco Bay Area students grades TK-8. The integrated program of arts and academic subjects is informed by the five central entailments of John Dewey's experientialist educational philosophy: modeling, reflection, experimentation, adaptation, and autonomy. The Deweyan school believes that children are real people in the world, whose educational needs are continually changing along with their world. Established learning standards provide a useful starting point for teachers to develop lessons that respond to the evolving interests of their students. Young students are most motivated to learn when they perceive the relevance and utility of what they are learning to themselves and to others. Teachers must know their students and know themselves, and create dynamic lessons that never leave students questioning the relevance of their learning.
Assessment of academic progress is based on students' actual learning experience, not on external standards. There is no composite of an "average child" against which all others are measured. While the school can speak of any individual child's "average performance" and adapt the levels of support and challenge accordingly, it opens the door for every child to achieve excellence without requiring every child to achieve the same excellence in the same way. No artificial limits are imposed on a child's progress; classmates learn and grow together instead of competing. With only one class section per grade level, there is no requirement for groups to progress in tandem, a situation that inevitably leads to one grade section "treading water" while another catches up. Teachers are free to differentiate instruction without external constraints.
Adda Clevenger's focus is the optimal academic, physical, and social development of all of its students. The academic curriculum aims to build conceptual mastery across all subject areas. Students are discouraged from memorizing their way to success. Memorization frequently masquerades as early giftedness but is no substitute for real conceptual understanding. As material becomes more abstract, it is concepts, not facts, that must be transferred between subject areas. The Deweyan practice of reflection is an early intervention that helps students avoid this trap.
The integrated arts classes are an effective vehicle for the developmental growth of students. The performing arts curriculum and regular performance opportunities develop confidence, discipline, self-assurance, creativity, and flexibility of mind. Students in all grades participate in all arts activities, learning to work as a team to put on challenging performances in front of an audience and to enjoy the feeling of justly earned praise for accomplishing something difficult. Students learn as much from the process that leads to a successful performance as they do from the experience of success itself. For this reason, all students are required to participate in all classes, regardless of any native talent or affinity.
The school's expectations of both new and current students are curiosity, intelligence, enthusiasm for learning and a high level of respect for their peers and teachers. Adda Clevenger students enjoy a great deal of autonomy throughout their school day and school year. Students of all ages mix freely during breaks and outside of classes, and participate in many cross-grade collaborations. All students can enjoy a safe, respectful, fun, and fast-paced learning environment.

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus cost?

Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus's tuition is approximately $38,670 for private students and $4,550 for summer students.

What is the acceptance rate of Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus?

The acceptance rate of Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus is 50%, which is lower than the national average of 81%. Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in California with low acceptance rates.

What sports does Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus offer?

Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus offers 4 interscholastic sports: Ballet, Basketball, Dance and Intramural Sports Only.

What is Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus's ranking?

Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Lowest average acceptance rates.

When is the application deadline for Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus?

The application deadline for Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

In what neighborhood is Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus located?

Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus is located in the Dolores Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, CA. There are 2 other private schools located in Dolores Heights.

School Reviews

5.00 out of 5 (3 reviews)

5 9/2/2022

Both of my kids graduated from Adda Clevenger. They both started in K and went all the way through 8th grade. Best investment I've ever made. In addition to rigorous academics, this unique school offers amazing theatre, music, and dance programs as well as gymnastics, art, and speech/ debate. Unique curriculums, amazing administration, and dedicated teachers make this school a hidden gem in San Francisco. You can spot an Adda kid from a mile away, as they possess incredible public speaking skills, creativity, and passion for arts.

- Posted by Parent - Margarita

5 5/17/2016

Our kindergarten daughter is thriving here and can't wait to go to school each day. The school places a heavy emphasis on music, dance, gymnastics and performing, which makes it a great fit for high energy and creative kids. I''m continually amazed at the level of musical education she is receiving at 5. The classes are small, which means all of the teachers get to know my daughter well and the breadth of the curriculum for a kindergartener is very impressive. The school feels like a large family and I can't imagine a better place for teaching poise, confidence and creativity.

- Posted by Parent - jenny

5 5/21/2012

Adda Clevenger is a gem of a school. A bit different than most private schools, Adda offers a unique self-esteem building combination of performing arts (ballet, tap, choir, acting, gymnastics) with an excellent math, science, history and language and visual arts curriculum. The small class sizes, combined with an extended day and academic calendar, allow for this school to stay ahead of the curve and offer an excellent, well-rounded education. Students graduate happy and are accepted into the top high schools in San Francisco.

- Posted by Parent - raque

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in San Francisco, CA is $24,294 for elementary schools and $40,742 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in San Francisco, CA is 59% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).