Brightworks School

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Brightworks reimagines school as a joyful, inclusive, and antiracist learning community where students expand their curiosity and co-author their education through meaningful engagement. We use real tools, real materials, and real problems to encourage students' love of learning, curiosity about the world, ability to engage, tenacity to think big, and persistence to do amazing things.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • School Type: Alternative School
  • Grades: Kindergarten-12
  • Enrollment: 123 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $41,853
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 12 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-12
Year Founded
2011

Student Body

Total Students
123 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
45%
State avg.: 51%
Students by Grade
Brightworks School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
15 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
8:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
33%
Average Class Size
12 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
Jan. 12 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
Tuition Notes
Tuition assistance available; please fill out an application and submit tax documents through our Tuition Assistance platform to be considered.
% on Financial Aid
41%
Admissions Director
Lisa Nowell
Admissions Associate
Justine MacCauley

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
6 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
LARP (Live-Action Role Play) Club, Music Club, Newspaper Club, Spanish Club, Student Council, Yearbook

School Notes

  • Learning happens everywhere: at school, at home, out in the world. At Brightworks, we bridge the gaps between those three places in a child`s life by fostering a mindset of curiosity and interest and an environment of exploring and questioning at school that weaves learning and life experiences together.
  • A cornerstone of the Brightworks education is helping children understand that their learning is a lifelong process that happens everywhere they go. We work to help the students see school as being part of the community, country, and world. In practice, this means leaving the school frequently and easily when the need or opportunity arises, and welcoming outside experts and community members. Within the school, students are organized in mixed-age bands and are encouraged to pursue projects with partners of different ages, genders, and skill levels.
  • Thearcis how we structure our curriculum and think about the pedagogy. Students work in mixed-agedbandsin their everyday life at Brightworks. Our teachers are calledcollaboratorsto remind us that learning happens by working together. Variousprogram componentsbring us together as a learning community and provide opportunities to dig deep.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Brightworks School cost?
Brightworks School's tuition is approximately $41,853 for private students.
When is the application deadline for Brightworks School?
The application deadline for Brightworks School is Jan. 12 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 12 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
In what neighborhood is Brightworks School located?
Brightworks School is located in the Presidio of San Francisco neighborhood of San Francisco, CA.

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (5 reviews)
5  
Outstanding school that's very forward thinking! If you want your child to learn how to think and achieve all that the world has to offer them then this is one of the best places for them. With such a wonderful brilliant supportive community it's hard not to fall in love with this school. Project based classrooms with teachers who have the time, support and energy to guide children on a one-on-one basis my son has thrived here. On vacations he can't wait to get back to school and I have to drag him away when I go to pick him up. At first I thought that not having a ton of homework my child was not being challenged but if you're up on all the studies, then you'll know that more meaningful homework and projects that your kid not only wants to do but take the initiative on his leaps and bounds above the repetitive "standard" work that gets sent home. Out of convenience we tried a "very good" public school for 6 months in 4th grade after my son had been at Brightworks since Kindergarten. Let's just say we were both in culture shock. My son has been reading for pleasure since he could hold a book and when the new school made it a chore by having him keep a log, I saw the light of joy and inspiration slowly start to fade. That was all I needed to see that we were GOING BACK TO BRIGHTWORKS FOR SURE!
- Posted by
5  
My son has been at Brightworks (BWX) for 5 years and is now 14yrs old. Although BWX is sometimes seen as a "maker-school" the main thing I feel it allows our son to make, is his own education. BWX allows him to have ownership over his learning. It empowers him. He isn`t passive in his learning, he is in charge of it, crafting it. One recent example of this: he is currently working on a group project; they are building a website tool to help people create better habits in their lives. One of the kids who wanted to do the project with them, was unsure if he`d be able to, because his parents had hoped he`d do a project on his own. Our son and one of his teammates wrote an email to their friend`s parents outlining the project, trying to alleviate the parent`s concerns, and listing out exactly what their son would learn from the group project. It was fully from their own initiative. BWX has taught them, if you have a problem (here, they wanted this kid on their team), figure out a way to try and solve it. And in this case, it worked! And now they have this extra motivation, they want the project to do extra well because they`re responsible to themselves, but also to their friend`s parents. it just feels like life skills they are learning.In the Bay area, we sometimes hear anecdotal stories, from friends, about younger workers/interns in the tech industry who have difficulty being self-guided, who need to be told what to do and how. I can`t imagine a BWX kid being described that way.Now that so much knowledge is accessible to us through the internet, it feels like schools need to teach us not facts, but more what we should be doing with all that knowledge. And I believe that`s what BWX does.BWX also has a huge heart. The collaborators care and give so much. Our son calls BWX his second family. He feels safe and secure enough there to be vulnerable, take risks, and aim big. There`s a lot of interaction between students and they are constantly communicating and learning from each other.We love it.
- Posted by
5  
We've been at Brightworks 4 years, starting with K. Our kid is super happy, interested every day, and thriving. We love how engaged he is with his teachers and with the work they do in the school.
- Posted by
5  
I love this school! My daughter has attended Brightworks since Kindergarten and is now a fourth grader. She is excited to go to school every day. Since the curriculum is project-based, she is learning useful skills and how to solve problems on her own. She is developing a "can-do" attitude and often has solutions for problems that come up in our daily lives. There is no homework or tests but when I see 12 year old girls designing and building a real tiny house with sky lights and porch swing or baking cupcakes in their homemade solar oven, that is inspiring! You need to tour this school to see the amazing projects.
- Posted by
5  
We have been thrilled to find Brightworks and I can say with complete confidence that it has changed my son's life. He is so excited to go to school each day, both for the learning and the chance to engage with his peers. Allowing my son to learn in this encouraging environment, with freedom to explore his interests alongside his peers, has reinvigorated his creativity and joy in school. I couldn't recommend Brightworks more highly!
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • School Type: Alternative School
  • Grades: Kindergarten-12
  • Enrollment: 123 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $41,853
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 12 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in San Francisco, CA is $24,471 for elementary schools and $35,128 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in San Francisco, CA is 66% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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