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 2021-2022 school year is $2,766,000. 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 2030, has 30 preschools represented. The kindergarten classes of 2028, 2029, and 2030 combined have 49 preschools represented:
  
  

  Alta Plaza Preschool
  Alta Vista
  Bright Horizons Kansas St
  Bright Horizons LDAC
  Bright Horizons Mission Bay
  Calvary Presbyterian Preschool
  Cobb (William L.) Elementary
  Cow Hollow Preschool
  Epiphany School
  FACES SF
  Golden Gate Guppies
  Grattan Elementary
  The Growing Tree International School
  Horizon Community School
  JCCSF Helen Diller Family Preschool
  JCCSF Rosenberg Early Childhood Center
  Latchkey Alternative Center in Daly City
  Little Gators Preschool
  The Little School
  Little Worlds Workshop
  Lone Mountain Children's Center
  Marin Day Schools Fremont St
  Marin Day Schools Sherith Israel
  Marin Montessori School
  Marina Tots
  Nature Kidz Preschool
  Noriega Children Center
  One Fifty Parker Avenue School
  Our Lady of the Visitacion Valley
  Pacific Primary School
  Peekadoodle
  Phoebe Hearst Preschool
  Playgroup
  Presidio Early Education School
  Presidio Hill School
  Presidio Knolls
  Retonos School House
  Russian Hill Academy
  Santa Rita Elementary School
  The Serra Preschool
  Sherman Elementary
  SLS Preschool
  St. James Preschool
  Stratford School - Montfort
  Stretch the Imagination
  Sutro Elementary
  Temple Emanu-El Preschool
  Tiny Giants Childcare Center
  Treasure Island Child Development Center

• 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 and public high schools in San Francisco and neighboring communities. Hamlin graduates also choose to attend boarding schools around the country. As with elementary school admissions, it’s about each student finding the best fit. Please visit the High School Counseling page 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. Close to 90% 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 70% 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.

• 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 a required part of admission at Hamlin. If, however, you come to the end of the application process and find that Hamlin is your clear and unequivocal first choice, then the Admission Committee will welcome that news. That said, a first-choice declaration does not give an applicant an "edge" in the process, nor will it increase the likelihood of an offer of admission.