Est. 1949 · Pacific Heights, San Francisco
Individualized attention in a relaxed family setting.
Hillwood is a family-run day school where about 4 students for every teacher — and a single $18,000 tuition covers the whole day, 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
77 Yrs
Family-run, in the same Pacific Heights home
4:1
Roughly four students per teacher
$18,000
Full tuition — 7:30 AM–5 PM care included
1–2 Yrs
Ahead of grade level, on average
Why Families Choose Hillwood
An education built around your child, not a curriculum built around a crowd.
About 4 students for every teacher
Multi-grade classrooms stay intentionally small, so teachers know exactly how each child learns — not just how the class as a whole is doing.
One tuition, one full day
Extended care from 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM is already built into tuition — not a separate bill that can add up to nearly as much as tuition itself, the way it does at many other San Francisco schools.
Outcomes that show up later
Hillwood students consistently test 1–2 years above grade level, and go on to thrive at schools like Lowell, Drew, Convent & Stuart Hall, and more.
77
Years. One family.
In a City of Closures
Built to last, not to scale.
Hillwood has never needed hundreds of students to stay open. It's been run by the same family for three generations, in an era when small private schools across San Francisco have quietly closed their doors. As long as even one family wants this for their child, Hillwood stays open for them.
Proven Outcomes
Our students don't just keep up. They're consistently ahead.
Hillwood graduates test 1–2 years above grade level and move on to competitive San Francisco high schools — many returning to mentor the students who come after them.
Our Philosophy
“Inspire, engage, and share.”
We believe in the value of both the individual and the community — meeting each student's needs while building a place where every child truly belongs.
Hillwood gave me a strong foundation. The emphasis on instilling bedrock knowledge has served me well throughout life.
A Full Day, Well Spent
Academics, language, and the arts — every day, not just some days.
One tuition, one schedule — 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Everything below happens inside it, with no add-on invoices at pickup.
Core academics
Math, English & Language Arts, Science, History & Social Studies, taught in an integrated curriculum tailored to each child.
French, K–8
Foreign language instruction begins in kindergarten and continues every year through eighth grade.
Choral music & the arts
Included as part of tuition — not an add-on — alongside regular cultural field trips across San Francisco.
See It for Yourself
The best way to understand Hillwood is to spend an hour inside it.
Tour the campus, sit in on a classroom, and meet the teachers who'll know your child by name.