Academics at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts

Ruth Asawa School of the Arts offers rigorous, high-performing academic programs alongside its nationally recognized arts training. Academic outcomes are consistently among the strongest in SFUSD.

College Outcomes

Ruth Asawa School of the Arts students are admitted to and attend a wide range of selective institutions.

  • Strong placement across the UC system, including UCLA

  • Competitive outcomes alongside top SF public and private schools

  • Distinct strength in both:

    • Academic pathways

    • Arts and conservatory programs

  • Seniors post their decisions here

Importantly

While some schools may offer more AP courses or a more traditional academic structure, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts students are evaluated in context—and consistently achieve excellent college outcomes, including admission to highly selective universities such as UCLA.

  • Rated 10/10 rating on Great Schools, with strong performance on state assessments and other academic metrics

  • A highly engaged student body attracts some of the most sought-after teachers in SFUSD

  • Academic courses often incorporate creative, interdisciplinary, and project-based approaches

Students have access to challenging and flexible academic pathways, including:

  • 11 AP courses (including AP Biology and AP Environmental Science)

  • CCSF dual enrollment, both on campus and independently

  • Additional coursework at City College and other institutions

Students can pursue highly rigorous schedules, or balance academics with arts, extracurriculars, and well-being—an intentional part of the school’s philosophy.

Academic outcomes:

  • 89% AP pass rate (637 exams administered last year)

  • 100% graduation rate

How rigorous are academics?

Academics are as rigorous as students choose them to be. The school supports both highly accelerated students and those seeking balance across disciplines.

How does the schedule allow for a larger arts block while still meeting academic requirements?

Very specifically, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts’ schedule ensures that all A-G requirements are met, and all core coursework is completed;  the "arts block" is in place of any electives offered at other schools, so there is less room in the schedule for additional electives that students may take at another high school.  In its place, we get the depth and rigor of committing to one arts department over 4 years.

How many AP classes are offered?

11 AP courses are currently offered. Students also expand beyond this through dual enrollment.

Do fewer AP offerings disadvantage students?

No. Colleges evaluate students within the context of their school. Ruth Asawa School of the Arts students demonstrate strong college outcomes comparable to top public and private schools.

What languages are offered?

Spanish is offered on campus. Many students pursue additional languages through dual enrollment or external programs.

What is the balance between academics and arts?

Students take 7 classes per semester, with 2 periods dedicated to their arts discipline. Academic classes are typically scheduled in the morning, with an afternoon arts block.

What support exists for students with learning differences?

The school provides strong case management and support for students with IEPs and 504 plans.

College & Career

Ruth Asawa School of the Arts students are recognized for being thoughtful, disciplined, and deeply engaged, with a rare combination of academic strength and creative focus.

Students attend top universities, UCs, and leading art and design schools, including UCLA.

The school offers:

  • A robust College and Career Center, beginning in 9th grade

  • Guidance on:

    • Course selection

    • Summer programs and extracurriculars

    • College list development and applications

  • A dedicated senior class focused on the college application process

  • Counselors who deeply understand each student and can contextualize artistic achievement in applications

Career pathways include:

  • CTE programs in A+D, World Dance, and Theater Tech

  • Some students transition directly into professional union careers from high school

Class of 2025

College Profile

A broad range of outcomes, with strong placement in four-year colleges, the UC system, arts programs, and conservatories.

80.1%
Four-year college or university
12.2%
Two-year college
7.7%
Work, travel, gap year, or military

UC & Private

  • 30.4% — UC
  • 21.5% — Private colleges & universities

Public & Arts

  • 10% — CSU
  • 10% — Visual & performing arts schools

Additional Paths

  • 5.5% — Out-of-state public universities
  • 3% — International schools
Class of 2025

Selected Matriculations

Recent destinations reflect both academic strength and depth in the arts.

Universities

  • Princeton University
  • Stanford University (2)
  • Rice University
  • Pomona College
  • Pitzer College
  • Haverford College
  • Boston University (2)
  • New York University (2)
  • Northeastern University (2)
  • University of Southern California
  • Tulane University
  • McGill University (2)

University of California

  • UC Berkeley
  • UC Davis (15)
  • UC Los Angeles (5)
  • UC Merced
  • UC Riverside (3)
  • UC San Diego (5)
  • UC Santa Barbara (3)
  • UC Santa Cruz (10)

Arts & Conservatories

  • California Institute of the Arts
  • Pratt Institute (5)
  • Rhode Island School of Design
  • Otis College of Art and Design
  • The Cooper Union
  • Berklee College of Music (2)
  • San Francisco Conservatory of Music
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • School of Visual Arts
  • The New School (4)
Class of 2025

Additional Destinations

California & West Coast

  • Cal Poly Humboldt (2)
  • Cal Poly Pomona
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (2)
  • San Diego State University (3)
  • San Francisco State (2)
  • San Jose State (2)
  • Sonoma State (2)
  • CCSF (20)
  • Skyline College
  • Santa Monica College
  • University of San Francisco (5)
  • University of Oregon (2)
  • University of Washington

National & International

  • Chapman University (2)
  • Connecticut College
  • Ithaca College
  • Lawrence University
  • Lewis & Clark College
  • Seattle University
  • Skidmore College
  • University of Colorado Boulder
  • University of Vermont
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • John Cabot University
  • The American University of Paris
  • University of the Arts London
Multi-Year
Long-Term Matriculation List

Universities & Colleges

  • American University
  • The American University of Paris
  • Bard College
  • Barnard College
  • Bates College
  • Biola University
  • Boston University
  • Brandeis University
  • Bryn Mawr College
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Chapman University
  • Clark Atlanta University
  • Columbia University
  • Concordia University
  • Cornell University
  • Davidson College
  • Delaware State University
  • DePaul University
  • Dillard University
  • Dominican College
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Emerson College
  • Fordham University
  • Franklin University Switzerland
  • George Washington University
  • Goldsmiths, University of London
  • Goucher College
  • Hampshire College
  • Harvard University
  • Haverford College
  • Howard University
  • Hunter College
  • Ithaca College

 

  • Jackson State University
  • Kenyon College
  • King’s College London
  • Lawrence University
  • Lehigh University
  • Lewis & Clark College
  • Macalester College
  • Marymount Manhattan College
  • McGill University
  • New York University
  • Northeastern University
  • Oberlin College
  • Occidental College
  • Pace University
  • Pitzer College
  • Pomona College
  • Portland State University
  • Reed College
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Rutgers University
  • Saint Olaf University
  • San Francisco State University
  • Sarah Lawrence College
  • Scripps College
  • Seattle University
  • Sheridan College (Canada)
  • Skidmore College
  • Sonoma State University
  • Stanford University
  • Stevens Institute of Technology
  • SUNY Purchase
  • Swarthmore College
  • The New School

 

  • Tulane University
  • University of Bristol (UK)
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of California Berkeley
  • University of California Davis
  • University of California Irvine
  • University of California Los Angeles
  • University of California Merced
  • University of California Riverside
  • University of California San Diego
  • University of California Santa Barbara
  • University of California Santa Cruz
  • University of Colorado
  • University of Denver
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University of Hawaii Manoa
  • University of Manchester
  • University of Maryland
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Minnesota
  • University of Nevada Las Vegas
  • University of New Mexico
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Portland
  • University of Puget Sound
  • University of San Francisco
  • University of Southern California
  • University of the Pacific
  • University of Washington
  • Vassar College
  • Wayne State University
  • Wellesley College
  • Willamette University
  • Yale University
Art, Design & Conservatory Schools
  • Academy of Art University
  • ArtCenter College of Design
  • Art Institute of California
  • Berklee College of Music
  • Boston Conservatory
  • California College of the Arts
  • California Institute of the Arts
  • California Jazz Conservatory
  • Cleveland Institute of Music
  • Columbia College Chicago
  • Cooper Union
  • Cornish College of the Arts
  • Curtis Institute of Music
  • Eastman School of Music
  • Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
  • Fashion Institute of Technology
  • Laguna College of Art and Design
  • London College of Music
  • Manhattan School of Music
  • Mannes College of Music
  • Maryland Institute College of Art
  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
  • New England Conservatory
  • Oberlin Conservatory of Music
  • Otis College of Art and Design
  • Pacific Northwest College of Art
  • Parsons School of Design
  • Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
  • Pratt Institute
  • Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
  • Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
  • San Francisco Conservatory of Music
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • School of Visual Arts (NYC)

Class of 2025 – College Profile

  • 80.1% → Four-year college or university
  • 12.2% → Two-year college
  • 7.7% → Work, travel, gap year, or military

Breakdown

  • 30.4% → UC (University of California)
  • 21.5% → Private colleges & universities
  • 10% → CSU (California State Universities)

 

  • 10% → Visual & performing arts schools
  • 5.5% → Out-of-state public universities
  • 3% → International schools

Class of 2025 – Matriculations

Where Students Attended

<div class="rasota-grid-3">
  <div class="rasota-card">
    <h4>A–C</h4>
    <ul>
      <li>Arizona State University</li>
      <li>Berklee College of Music (2)</li>
      <li>Boston University (2)</li>
      <li>California Institute of the Arts</li>
      <li>Cal Poly Humboldt (2)</li>
      <li>Cal Poly Pomona</li>
      <li>Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (2)</li>
      <li>CSU Long Beach</li>
      <li>CSU Monterey Bay</li>
      <li>CSU Northridge</li>
      <li>CSU Chico</li>
      <li>San Diego State University (3)</li>
      <li>San Francisco State (2)</li>
      <li>San Jose State (2)</li>
      <li>Sonoma State (2)</li>
      <li>CCSF (20)</li>
      <li>Chapman University (2)</li>
      <li>Colorado State University – Fort Collins</li>
      <li>Connecticut College</li>
      <li>The Cooper Union</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <div class="rasota-card">
    <h4>D–P</h4>
    <ul>
      <li>Haverford College</li>
      <li>Ithaca College</li>
      <li>John Cabot University (Rome, Italy)</li>
      <li>Lawrence University</li>
      <li>Lewis &amp; Clark College</li>
      <li>Long Island University</li>
      <li>Massachusetts College of Art</li>
      <li>McGill University (2)</li>
      <li>New York University (2)</li>
      <li>Northeastern University (2)</li>
      <li>Notre Dame of Maryland University</li>
      <li>Oberlin College</li>
      <li>Otis College of Art and Design</li>
      <li>Pace University</li>
      <li>Pitzer College</li>
      <li>Pomona College</li>
      <li>Pratt Institute (5)</li>
      <li>Princeton University</li>
      <li>Reed College (2)</li>
      <li>Rhode Island School of Design</li>
      <li>Rice University</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <div class="rasota-card">
    <h4>R–Z</h4>
    <ul>
      <li>San Francisco Conservatory of Music</li>
      <li>Santa Monica College</li>
      <li>School of the Art Institute of Chicago</li>
      <li>School of Visual Arts</li>
      <li>Seattle University</li>
      <li>Skidmore College</li>
      <li>Skyline College</li>
      <li>Stanford University (2)</li>
      <li>The American University of Paris</li>
      <li>University of Southern California</li>
      <li>The New School (4)</li>
      <li>Tulane University</li>
      <li>United States Army</li>
      <li>United States Military Academy at West Point</li>
    </ul>
  </div>
</div>

University of California (UC)

  • UC Berkeley
  • UC Davis (15)
  • UC Los Angeles (5)
  • UC Merced
  • UC Riverside (3)
  • UC San Diego (5)
  • UC Santa Barbara (3)
  • UC Santa Cruz (10)

Other Universities

  • University of Colorado Boulder
  • University of Puget Sound
  • University of San Francisco (5)
  • University of Oregon (2)
  • University of the Arts London
  • University of the Pacific
  • University of Vermont
  • University of Washington
  • University of Wisconsin – Madison
  • Utah State University
  • Willamette University
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute