Frequently Asked Questions

List of 13 frequently asked questions.

• Q. Education is important to our family, but we cannot afford the tuition. Is tuition assistance available?

  A. The financial assistance budget for the 2018-2019 school year is $2,200,000. All prospective families will receive information about our tuition assistance program in the application packet. Socioeconomic diversity is an important goal, supported by the Board of Trustees, administration, and full community at Hamlin.

• Q. Do all Hamlin families live near the school?

  A. No. Hamlin families come from all over the Bay Area. We currently have over 40 zip codes represented in the Hamlin community. Most of our families live in San Francisco, although we have a significant number commuting from the North Bay and some from the East and South Bay. Carpooling is highly encouraged and recommended.

• Q. Do your students come from "feeder preschools"?

  A. Our students come from many different preschools all over San Francisco and beyond. The current kindergarten, Class of 2027, has 27 preschools represented. The kindergarten classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027, combined, have 54 preschools represented:
  
  

  Alta Plaza Preschool
  Bacich School
  Bright Horizons 2nd Street
  Bright Horizons Hillside
  Bright Horizons Kansas
  Bright Horizons Main Street
  Calvary Preschool
  Charles Drew EES
  Chinese American International School
  Community Preschool
  Cow Hollow Preschool
  Eureka Learning Center
  Friends to Parents
  Glen Ridge Cooperative
  Golden Gate Guppies
  Growing Place Family Preschool
  JCCSF Helen Diller
  JCC Tiburon
  Laurel Hill Cooperative
  Le Port
  Little Gators
  Lone Mountain Children's Center
  MAGC Garden
  Marin Day Fremont
  Marin Day Laurel Heights
  Marin Day Sherith Israel
  Mon Petit Village
  Montessori Children's House
  Montessori School of the Bay Area
  Mother Goose School
  Noriega Early Education School
  Old Firehouse
  Pacific Primary
  Peekadoodle
  Peter's Place
  Phoebe Hearst
  Playgroup
  Presidio Knolls
  Pumpkin Patch
  Redding Elementary
  Roland Park Country School
  Russian Hill Academy
  Russian Hill School
  SLS
  St. George's
  St. James Preschool
  Starlight Christian
  Stretch the Imagination
  Temple Emanu-El
  The Little School
  The Serra Preschool
  Tiny Giants
  Tule Elk
  Zaida Rodriguez EES

• Q. When does world language instruction begin?

  A. World language instruction begins in Kindergarten for all students. Our Kindergarten through Grade 8 Spanish program builds toward second-language proficiency.

• Q. Where do Hamlin graduates attend high school?

  A. Many Hamlin graduates attend local independent high schools such as University High School, Lick-Wilmerding, Urban, The Branson School, and Drew to name a few. Some students choose local public schools, such as Lowell in San Francisco, and Redwood in Marin. Hamlin graduates also attend boarding schools such as Cate and Thacher in the west and Andover and Deerfield in the east. As with elementary school admissions, it’s about finding the “best match” for each girl. Please visit the High School Placement section of our website for more information.

• Q. What does community service look like at Hamlin?

  A. We incorporate multiple service learning opportunities into our regular curriculum that invite the girls to venture out into the larger San Francisco community, applying facts and concepts learned in school, and fostering relationships with other local organizations. Additionally, Hamlin faculty, in partnership with the Parents Association Lend-a-Hand Committee, provide age-appropriate service learning opportunities for Hamlin students and their families. We also firmly believe that school service cultivates good citizenship and leadership in our students, and we provide numerous opportunities for Hamlin girls to serve their school.

• Q. What types of sports opportunities are there at Hamlin?

  A. In the Middle School, a variety of sports are offered in the athletics program, and girls have the opportunity to play at the club, junior varsity, or varsity levels. Currently, 85% of Hamlin Middle School students participate in athletics in some way! Club level, junior varsity, and varsity are offered in volleyball, cross country, and basketball; in soccer, club level and varsity are offered. We also offer a running club in the fall and spring.
  
  Hamlin participates in the Bay Area Independent Athletic League (BAIAL).

• Q. Are parents welcome to become involved at Hamlin?

  A. Parents are an integral part of the school, and we encourage all of our parents to become involved with the Hamlin community. Through the Parents Association, parents are on campus helping in the lunchroom and the library, preparing for numerous Hamlin community events, organizing community service projects, or helping with school fundraisers. You can also find parents reading stories in the classrooms, driving on fieldtrips, sharing a particular expertise as a guest speaker in the classroom, and so much more.

• Q. Do parents who work outside the home feel welcomed and supported at Hamlin?

  A. Most definitely! Over two-thirds of our families are “dual working.” Hamlin's Extended Day program is available from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. for all grades. Hamlin vacation camps are offered on days when school is not in session but many parents may still be at work. Whenever possible, we offer morning and evening meeting options to accommodate different schedules.

• Q. Will we have an opportunity to meet current Hamlin families as part of the admission process?

  A. Absolutely. We feel it is important for you to have contact with our current community. Hamlin parents will be available at all of our admission events including Learn About Hamlin on Saturday, October 20, 2018 and during weekday tours. Current Grade 8 students will be leading your tours of the campus.

• Q. How old does my daughter have to be to apply for Kindergarten?

  A. Applicants for Kindergarten must be five years old by August 1 of the year they would be entering.

• Q. Are letters of recommendation required for entrance?

  A. Teacher evaluations from your daughter’s present school are required as part of the application process. Additional letters of recommendation in support of your daughter’s application are neither expected nor required.

• Q. Is a declaration of "first choice" required?

  A. Declaration of "first choice" is not part of the admission process at Hamlin.