La Scuola International School - San Francisco Mission Campus vs Terra Schools
La Scuola International School - San Francisco Mission Campus and Terra Schools are both in San Francisco, about 7 km apart. Both schools offer IB and Reggio Emilia programmes. Published annual fees are close, at $36,100 - 48,150 for La Scuola International School - San Francisco Mission Campus and $36,975 - 43,450 for Terra Schools. La Scuola International School - San Francisco Mission Campus takes pupils from 5 to 14, and Terra Schools from 2 to 10.
Mission Campus, 3250 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110; Dogpatch Campus, 728 20th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107. The San Francisco campuses are named Mission Campus (K–Grade 8) and Dogpatch Campus (Preschool). A Silicon Valley Campus is located at 2086 Clarke Ave, East Palo Alto, CA 94303, and Milano Campus is in Milan, Italy.
Location
Terra San Francisco is located at 3801 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121. Terra Mandarin Preschool is located at 529 Browning St., Mill Valley, CA 94941. Terra Marin PK-8 operates at 70 Lomita Drive, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Terra San Francisco offers a Pre-K to 8th grade, nature-based, trilingual program in Mandarin, Spanish, and English with weekly Earth Education excursions to nearby spaces such as Crissy Field, The Presidio, Bakers Beach, Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park, and the San Francisco Botanical Gardens.
Stages
Stages
Preschool (2-5 years); Elementary School (Grades K-5); Middle School (Grades 6-8).
Stages
Terra San Francisco serves Preschool (ages 2–4.5) and Transitional Kindergarten through 2nd grade, with 3rd–4th grade integrated in the program. The San Francisco campus provides a PK–8 program across multiple levels, including K–8 language offerings. Terra Marin serves PK–8 in Marin.
School type
School type
Private, day school; International Baccalaureate World School; Reggio Emilia-inspired; Italian Language Immersion; multi-campus.
School type
Private school
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
International community with families representing many nationalities; over 30 languages spoken on campus; only 17% of families have at least one Italian speaker at home; the majority are not Italian speakers.
Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Learning Differences is listed among the school's learning styles.
Additional learning support
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is prioritized through a dedicated SEL curriculum and school-wide support. A team of literacy specialists, educational consultants, and learning specialists collaborates with teachers to support students based on their learning profiles and needs.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Italy (Italian language immersion and cultural roots; listed by the Italian government as a paritarie school abroad).
Country affiliation
United States
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
School bus transportation is available to and from Terra Marin School each weekday for an additional fee. The San Francisco bus stops run pickups between 7:10 and 8:05 am and drop-offs between 3:35 and 4:35 pm; Marin bus stops run pickups between 7:40 and 8:10 am and drop-offs between 3:45 and 4:25 pm. The fleet includes two yellow buses, two vans (up to 12 passengers each), and an SUV; exact stop locations are provided to registered families for safety and privacy.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application fees
- Sliding-scale (Clarity) application fee: USD 65 (fee to submit the Clarity financial-aid application). - School application/portal: La Scuola uses the Ravenna application portal for admissions; no separate, fixed school application fee amount is published in the school's public admissions materials.
Tuition fees (San Francisco) — published academic year 2025–2026
- Preschool, Full Day (until 5:30 p.m.; 5-day schedule; lunch and morning & afternoon snacks included): USD 45,150 per year. - Preschool, Half Day (until 1:00 p.m.; 5-day schedule; lunch and morning snack included): USD 36,100 per year. - Elementary (Grades K–5; lunch included): USD 46,200 per year. - Middle School (Grades 6–8; lunch included): USD 48,150 per year. Mission Campus extended-care charges are billed separately from tuition.
Tuition breakdown per term / per year group
- The school publishes the above annual tuition amounts for each program (Preschool full day/half day, Elementary, Middle School) for the 2025–2026 academic year. Specific per-term or per-installment amounts are not stated as fixed figures on the public tuition page; extended-care programs list separate fees (see below).
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Extended-care payments (Mission and Silicon Valley campus extended-care programs) are processed through Clarity and are scheduled over 10 payments beginning in September. Late-pickup penalties apply (base late fee USD 50 after a five-minute grace period; beyond 15 minutes an additional USD 2 per minute; escalated base fee after repeated late pickups). - The school uses the Ravenna hub to accept and manage applications and uses Clarity for sliding-scale tuition processing; families interact with those systems during admissions and financial-aid processes. Contact information for the Business Office is provided for billing questions.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered. La Scuola operates PreK–Grade 8 campuses in San Francisco (Mission and Dogpatch) and a Silicon Valley campus; programs and schedules are day-school formats.
Other costs and fees (examples and published extras)
- Extended-care / after-school program fees (2025–2026): - Mission Campus registration options: 5 days/week USD 6,500; 3 days/week USD 4,600; daily drop-in USD 50/day. Late-pickup fees as noted above apply. Payments processed via Clarity over 10 payments starting in September. - Silicon Valley extended-care registration options: 5 days/week USD 4,600; 3 days/week USD 3,475; daily drop-in USD 40/day. Payments processed via Clarity over 10 payments starting in September. - School merchandise / uniforms / spiritwear and ancillary items: La Scuola Mercato (the parent-run school store) sells spiritwear, yearbooks and other items; prices vary by item and are purchased separately through the school store (Il Mercato / shoplascuola.com). - Enrichment, camps and special programs: seasonal camp and enrichment program fees are charged separately (registration and per-program fees apply). Extended-care and enrichment have their own registration and billing processes.
Refund information
- The school's publicly available admissions and tuition materials do not publish a general, consolidated tuition refund or withdrawal policy for the academic year materials accessible to the public. For specific refund or withdrawal terms applicable to an enrollment contract, extended-care registration, or particular program, families are directed to contact the school's admissions or business office directly.
Fee payment options
- Extended-care payments and sliding-scale processing are handled through Clarity. Clarity-supported payment methods commonly include ACH (bank transfer), debit card, credit card, and wire transfer; credit-card transactions may incur standard processing fees. (Clarity is the platform La Scuola identifies for processing these payments.) - School store purchases are processed via the school store (Il Mercato) checkout system (shop platform).
Contact for billing or program-specific fee questions: business.office@lascuolasf.org (Business Office) and admissions@lascuolasf.org (Admissions).
- Elementary (TK–3rd listed as the elementary range): USD 2,000 – USD 36,975 per year (annual maximum/top rate for TK–3rd).
Note: Terra Schools operates an Indexed Tuition model; the figures above are the Board‑set maximum/top rates for the 2026–2027 year and many families will be placed at lower levels within the USD 2,000–top rate ranges based on the indexed-tuition assessment.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Preschool offers documented 10‑month and 12‑month billing arrangements (10‑month and 12‑month options are used in the published tuition structure). Infant program is presented as a monthly rate. Elementary tuition is stated as an annual amount (top rate shown). - Deposits that hold a space for a child are non-refundable. - Aftercare charges are additional and are billed separately; aftercare for the school day is offered 3:15 PM–5:30 PM and is charged as an additional fee (aftercare charges are generally billed monthly and vary by number of days per week).
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered; Terra Schools operates day programs at its San Francisco and Mill Valley locations.
Other costs and typical additional fees
- After‑school enrichment and specialized programs: additional fees apply; Terra families register and pay for after‑school enrichment through Clarity or Zelle. Examples of camp-related aftercare/shuttle fees are published for camps (aftercare and shuttle are additional). - School bus/transportation: available on select routes and charged in addition to tuition. Specific route and service fees are billed separately. - Year‑round camps and holiday/summer camps have separate fees and their own refund/processing terms (see camp fee items such as shuttle and aftercare where published).
Refund information
- Enrollment deposit that holds a space is non-refundable. - Camp registration refund policy: camp registrations may be canceled up to two weeks before a session starts for a full refund minus a USD 99 processing fee; after that two‑week deadline camp fees (and associated shuttle/aftercare fees for camp) are non‑refundable.
Fee payment options and payment methods
- Application submission and school application are handled through Ravenna (application platform). - Financial‑aid (Indexed Tuition) submissions are managed via the Clarity application; Clarity charges a USD 60 submission fee. - After‑school enrichment payments: families may register and pay using Clarity or Zelle. - For certain school payments and donations the organization publishes bank/wire transfer details (East West Bank) for electronic transfers.
Summary (concise)
- Application fee: USD 100 (Ravenna). Indexed‑tuition submission fee: USD 60 (Clarity). - Top published tuition rates for 2026–2027: Infant USD 3,500/month; Preschool up to USD 33,500 (10‑month) or up to USD 38,750–USD 43,450 on 12‑month plans; Elementary up to USD 36,975/year. Indexed Tuition ranges begin at USD 2,000 and families may pay lower levels based on need.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
IB Primary Years Program (PYP) for Elementary (K-5) and IB Middle Years Program (MYP) for Middle School (6-8). The school integrates the Reggio Emilia Approach with the IB framework. Language of instruction is Italian and English with a Montreal Model balance by grade: K-1 approximately 80% Italian / 20% English; Grade 2 approximately 70% Italian / 30% English; Grades 3-5 approximately 50% Italian / 50% English; Grades 6-8 approximately 30% Italian / 70% English. Spanish is taught in Grades 4-5. The curriculum uses transdisciplinary Units of Inquiry, culminates in the PYP Exhibition, and aligns with the Italian National Curriculum; the school is an IB World School for both PYP and MYP.
Curriculum details
Terra Schools offer nature-based, multilingual education in Spanish, Mandarin, and English for Pre-K through 8th grade. The program blends the Reggio Emilia philosophy with the International Baccalaureate framework. Learn features tailored, collegiate-track academics, multilingualism, project-based learning, and high school preparation. Grow centers on Earth Education and outdoor learning, with arts, teamwork, creative problem solving, and flexible thinking. Belong emphasizes social-emotional learning, student-led discussions, mentorship, family partnership, and diversity. Languages include Spanish and Mandarin immersion.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
Low student-teacher ratios are emphasized.
Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Graduates have attended high schools in San Francisco and beyond, including the International School of San Francisco, University High School, Lick-Wilmerding High School, The Urban School, Drew School, Saint Ignatius, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, Lowell High School, Mission High School, and others. The first graduating class of 2020 is attending universities such as Georgetown University, Pratt Institute, University of Southern California, Loyola Marymount University, UC Santa Cruz, University College Dublin, University College London, and Bocconi University in Milan.
Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Apply to La Scuola International School. Sign up for an account with Ravenna to manage the application, register for campus tours and events, and view admissions decisions. Through Ravenna you can schedule a in-person tour or join a virtual event, and you can submit an application through Ravenna by January 15, 2026; enrollment decisions are sent in March 2026. Admissions are organized by grade level: Preschool process (ages Piccoli 2-3, Grandi 3-4, Grandissimi 4-5); Kindergarten process (age 5+ by September 1, 2026); Grades 1-5 process; Grades 6-8 process. Students are not required to speak Italian to enroll in preschool, kindergarten, grade 1, or grade 6; Grades 2-5 and Grades 7-8 are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Middle School instruction is primarily in English with 6 hours of language instruction per 6-day rotation, split 4 hours/2 hours between the second language and the third language (Italian or Spanish). Admissions events include Open Houses, Campus Tours, and Parent Education Series; see Tours & Events for details. The three La Scuola campuses include Mission (K–8) and Dogpatch (Preschool) in San Francisco, Silicon Valley (PreK–Elementary), and Milano (Italy). Sliding Scale Tuition is described separately; see Tuition & Affordability for details.
Admissions
1. Connect with Terra: Join a tour or an open house to explore the school and learn about the Terra curriculum. 2. Apply: Complete the online application through Ravenna and search for Terra Schools to find the correct application. 3. Student Assessment / Playdate: TK–4th grade families schedule a Student Assessment, Preschool families schedule a Student Playdate to experience the learning environment firsthand. 4. Family Meet & Greet: A 20‑minute Zoom with the Terra team to share information about the child and answer questions. 5. Admission Decision: Decisions are released electronically.
Additional details: The application fee is 100 dollars; waivers are available by contacting admissions@terraschools.org. Ravenna is the third‑party application platform used by Terra and many Bay Area private independent schools. For financial aid, Terra uses an Indexed Tuition model that aligns tuition with each family's financial circumstances, with ranges starting at 2,000 dollars. 37% of Terra families receive financial aid. New student Clarity applications for Indexed Tuition are due by February 14, 2026, and returning student applications are due by January 31, 2026. Clarity requires documents such as tax returns and W‑2s and has a submission fee of 60 dollars. 2026–2027 maximum tuition rates vary by program: Preschool 10‑month up to 33,500 dollars; Preschool 12‑month full up to 38,750 dollars; Preschool 12‑month extend up to 43,450 dollars; Elementary TK–3rd up to 36,975 dollars. Clarity is used to determine the Indexed Tuition, with a 30‑minute application time and a mobile‑friendly process. Contact admissions@terraschools.org for questions; Terra San Francisco and Terra Marin have dedicated admissions contact points as listed on the admissions pages.
Scholarships
Scholarships
Sliding Scale Tuition Grants are awarded to families based on demonstrated financial need as determined by the Clarity application and the La Scuola Tuition Committee. The Clarity application is used to assess financial need, and the process is designed to include a $65 submission fee. Sliding scale tuition is available for Grandi (3-4 years old), Grandissimi (4-5 years old), and Kindergarten through Grade 8; there are no merit-based awards. Award determinations are made after reviewing the Clarity application and the school's budget, and awards are not guaranteed due to limited funds. The deadline for completing the sliding scale tuition application and submitting supporting documents is January 21, 2026 for current families and February 1, 2026 for prospective families. Award letters are mailed with enrollment contracts. Questions about sliding scale tuition can be directed to Nichole Leon, Director of Admissions, SST & DEIB, at nichole.leon@lascuolasf.org. The school is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and does not receive state or federal funding.
