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La Scuola International School – Dogpatch Campus

United States, San Francisco

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Italian, English
Fees $37,815 - 50,550
Ages 2 - 14 years
Pupil numbers 450
Type Co-educational
Opened 2002
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Reggio Emilia Approach, IB (PYP), IB (MYP)
Taught languages Italian, Spanish
Typical class size 21
Strengths Visual and Creative Arts, Languages, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Arts and Creative, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Middle School
Introduction

La Scuola International School's Dogpatch Campus is a bilingual, globally oriented program in San Francisco for ages 2 through 14. Located at 728 20th Street, the campus combines the Reggio Emilia Approach with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program and Middle Years Program elements, all implemented through Italian language immersion. Preschool at Dogpatch is the only authorized IB PYP preschool in San Francisco, and the Reggio Emilia approach continues through middle school, fostering inquiry, hands-on learning, and expressive arts. The campus was designed by Michele Zini of ZPZ Partners and features light-filled spaces, color, texture, and dedicated art, music, and garden ateliers. Meals are prepared hot on site. Experiential learning connects students with local and international communities, including journeys to Italy. On-site clubs and activities include team sports, student council, affinity groups, and enrichment programs, with a focus on DEIB and belonging through Cultural and Language clubs for global citizenship.

The Essentials

La Scuola International School – Dogpatch Campus has 450 pupils, typical class sizes of 21, instruction in Italian, English.

Location
Dogpatch Campus is located at 728 20th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, at the corner of 20th and Tennessee Streets. It was La Scuola's first campus and remains the only authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program preschool in San Francisco.

Stages
Preschool (2-5 years)

School day structure
Preschool drop-off times: Grandissimi (8:15–8:30 a.m.), Grandi (8:30–8:45 a.m.), Piccoli (8:45–9:00 a.m.). Pick-up times: Half-day (12:45–1:15 p.m.), Full-day (4:30–5:30 p.m.).
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Meals are delivered hot from the oven.
Fees

Annual tuition at La Scuola International School – Dogpatch Campus ranges from USD 37,815 to USD 50,550 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- There is no single, fixed school application fee amount published for general admissions; families submit the admissions application via Ravenna and are prompted to pay the portal's required application payment when they complete the Ravenna application.
- There is a fee of USD 65 to submit a Clarity sliding-scale (financial aid) application.

Tuition fees (annual amounts for 2026–2027)

- Preschool (Full-Day): USD 47,300 per year. Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks are included for full-day preschool.
- Preschool (Half-Day): USD 37,815 per year. Breakfast and a morning snack are included for half-day preschool.
- Elementary (Kindergarten–Grade 5): USD 48,850 per year. Lunch is included.
- Middle School (Grades 6–8): USD 50,550 per year. Lunch is included.

Per-term / installment detail and billing schedule

- A public, school-published per-term breakdown of the tuition amounts (for example per trimester/semester) is not provided; only the annual tuition figures above are published. Families receive billing and payment schedules as part of enrollment and through the school's billing systems.
- Extended-day and after-school enrichment classes are available for additional cost and are billed separately from base tuition. Extended-day charges are eligible for the sliding-scale tuition discount, while most enrichment class fees are not.
- Extended-care payments (Mission K–8) are processed through the Clarity payment system and are scheduled over 10 payments beginning in September. Late pick-up charges are applied after a five-minute grace period; the stated late fee begins at USD 50 plus an additional USD 2 per minute after the specified cutoff time.

Boarding fees

- No boarding program or boarding fees apply at the Dogpatch campus; programs are day-school and licensed childcare services (before/after care and camps) are offered instead.

Other costs / additional fees

- Extended-day, after-school enrichment, and camp fees: these are additional to base tuition and are billed separately. Example: a recent Dogpatch or Mission campus camp week was listed at USD 557 per week, with optional extended-care for the week at USD 73; camp refunds for the example session were available only before a stated cutoff date.
- Meals: preschool, elementary, and middle-school tuition amounts shown above include lunch (preschool full-day also lists breakfast and afternoon snacks).
- Uniforms / spirit wear: school-branded apparel and spirit items (tees, hoodies, water bottles, yearbooks, etc.) are sold through the school's store (Il Mercato / La Scuola Shop); these purchases are separate costs paid by families. Prices for spirit-wear items vary by product.
- Late pickup and incidental fees: late pickup fees for extended-care are published (base USD 50 plus USD 2/minute after the cutoff) and other incidental fees may apply for optional activities or special events.

Refund information

- Camp and enrichment refund example: camp registrations processed through Homeroom included explicit refund windows (for example, refunds available for cancellations made on or before a stated cutoff date such as September 19 for an October camp); cancellations after the published deadline were not eligible for a refund.
- No general, school-published, line-by-line tuition refund or withdrawal schedule for annual tuition is publicly posted with the annual tuition figures; families receive contract/enrollment terms and any tuition-refund or withdrawal conditions through the enrollment agreement and billing materials.

Fee payment options

- Platforms used for billing and payments: the school uses third-party systems for various charges — Clarity is used for extended-care billing and payments, and Homeroom is used for camp registration and payment processing. Families are billed and receive payment instructions through the applicable platform or the school's enrollment/billing communications.
- School store transactions (spirit wear, yearbooks) are processed through the school shop (Shopify-based). Payment methods for those purchases follow the shop's checkout options.

Summary note on published detail

- The school publishes clear annual tuition amounts for 2026–2027 but does not publish a public per-term tuition schedule or a detailed, line-item public tuition refund policy alongside those annual figures; additional fees (extended care, enrichment, camps, spirit wear, late pickup) are published in connection with those specific programs and are billed separately. Families are provided with the precise billing schedule, installment options, and payment-method instructions in enrollment and program-registration materials.
Academics

La Scuola International School – Dogpatch Campus teaches Reggio Emilia Approach, IB (PYP), IB (MYP) for students aged 2 to 14.

Curriculum
Preschool at Dogpatch is the only authorized IB Primary Years Program preschool in San Francisco. The program blends the Reggio Emilia Approach with the International Baccalaureate and language immersion. The Reggio Emilia Approach is applied all the way through middle school. La Scuola operates preschool through eighth grade (ages 2–14) with Italian language immersion. The Dogpatch campus spaces include art, music, and garden ateliers. Preschool through eighth grade (2–14 years).

Student Teacher Ratio
Average class size is 18–24 students per class.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Belonging is a daily practice across every classroom and campus. The school is an anti-racist institution; cultural and racial literacy are core teaching competencies embedded in teaching and learning. Multiple perspectives—local and global, historical and contemporary—are integrated into every Unit of Inquiry and learning environment. The school celebrates the full spectrum of identity and rejects discrimination; every community member is seen, respected, and celebrated. Belonging is built through representation and relationships; equity means providing the right support for each individual. The guiding principles emphasize diversity enriching learning, global perspectives, empathy, belonging, and lifelong learning.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Language immersion uses Italian and English from preschool onward. Italian is the primary language in preschool, with English gradually increasing so that by fourth grade time is split between English and Italian, and Spanish is introduced as a third language in fifth grade. In middle school, instruction is primarily in English, with six hours of language instruction every six days, distributed four hours to the second language and two hours to the third language. The Montreal Model of Language Immersion guides language use by grade, showing greater Italian in the early years and increasing English usage over time. Early exposure to multiple languages strengthens cognition and supports multilingual proficiency across grades.

Mental Wellbeing
Belonging is not a destination; it is a daily practice woven into every classroom, campus, and community interaction. The school is an anti-racist institution and cultural literacy is embedded in how we teach, learn, and live together, supporting well-being. The environment is secure, responsive, and affirming, fostering mutual respect, empathy, and trust. We emphasize diverse perspectives and inclusive practices as essential to students' emotional and social health. Well-being is supported through representation, relationship-building, and a climate where every individual is seen and valued.
Parent Experience

History
La Scuola International School's Dogpatch campus was the school's first campus. It remains the only authorized IB Primary Years Program preschool in San Francisco. The campus was designed by Michele Zini of ZPZ Partners, renowned for Reggio Emilia–inspired schools and ateliers, and consists of a sheltered set of buildings and green spaces. The Dogpatch campus houses art, music, and garden ateliers, and meals are delivered hot from the oven.

Community
Mallory Matthews is the Director of Preschool Campus Operations & Auxiliary Programs. She coordinates experiences beyond the classroom, including summer camp and after-school enrichment, and oversees family events and day-to-day operations. A parent testimonial notes that La Scuola provides a safe environment that fosters curiosity and critical thinking. The campus presents a Land Acknowledgement recognizing the Ramaytush Ohlone homeland.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Dogpatch Campus houses a vibrant and engaging San Francisco preschool. It was designed by Michele Zini of ZPZ Partners, renowned for Reggio Emilia approach schools and ateliers. The campus consists of a sheltered set of buildings and green spaces. The environment emphasizes color, texture, light, movement, beauty, and joy to activate young minds. It is the first and only IB Primary Years Program preschool in San Francisco. The Dogpatch Campus includes art, music, and garden ateliers, and meals are delivered hot from the oven.

Academic Facilities
Dogpatch Campus is an authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program preschool in San Francisco. The campus is designed to activate young minds through an intentionally built environment. Learning spaces include art, music, and garden ateliers to support inquiry-based learning.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Art, music, and garden ateliers are available at the Dogpatch Campus.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Experiential Learning takes students into the community for public service and farther afield, including journeys to Italy. This hands-on approach makes education tangible and active. On campus, team sports, student council, affinity groups, peer advisory, and enrichment programs support ongoing intellectual and personal growth.

Arts & Creative
Clubs give students the chance to dive into shared passions — from photography and art to cooking and science to sports and games — in a student-driven setting. Middle school clubs are held during designated community time. The clubs encourage creative expression and collaborative projects.

Cultural & Language
Affinity Groups provide space for families and students with shared identities or experiences to connect, be seen, and build a sense of belonging. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) permeates all activities, throughout and beyond the school day.

Social & Hobbies
Clubs offer opportunities to explore shared passions — from photography and art to cooking and science to sports and games. Extended Care, Enrichment & Camps provide flexibility for families and offer social, educational, and growth opportunities. On-campus life includes team sports and other social activities.

Community & Service
Experiential Learning takes students into the community for public service and farther afield, including journeys to Italy. This makes education tangible and active.

Leadership & Professional
Middle school students have a voice in school life through the Student Council. This experience provides practice in leadership, collaboration, and civic responsibility as they plan events, initiatives, and represent their peers. Students learn democracy by living it, practicing real decision-making and shared responsibility for their community.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Physical Education & Athletics support personal achievement and communal joy. Affinity Groups provide space for families and students to connect and belong. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) permeates school life.
Languages

Language Provision
Italian immersion is the primary language immersion focus at the Dogpatch Preschool. Spanish begins in Grade 5. The Preschool program uses the IB Early Years and Primary Years Programs.

Bilingual Teaching
Italian immersion is a core component of the preschool program. Most preschoolers enroll without Italian language background; no prior Italian is required. The International Baccalaureate Early Years and Primary Years Programs are used across preschool through eighth grade. Spanish begins in Grade 5.

Immersion Programs
Italian immersion is integrated into the preschool program. Language immersion continues through eighth grade. Spanish is introduced starting in Grade 5. The approach blends the Reggio Emilia Approach, the International Baccalaureate, and language immersion.
Admissions

Admissions
Preschool Admissions Process: 1) Connect via Ravenna. Ravenna is used to streamline the application process; create a profile and explore the admissions steps. Use the Ravenna inquiry form to begin, and use an email you check often because time-sensitive information will arrive via Ravenna. You can view events and sign up for information sessions through your Ravenna account. 2) Visit us for an in-person tour / September – early January. La Scuola is best experienced in person; through Ravenna you can schedule a tour, information session, open house, and virtual events. 3) Apply by January 15. Submit the application via Ravenna along with a family photo, a photo of your child, and the application fee; late applications may be accepted if space allows. 4) Join us for a Parent / Guardian Meeting between September – February. After attending an admissions event and planning to apply, schedule a 20–30 minute meeting with the Director of Admissions; complete your application before the meeting to support a productive conversation. 5) Attend a Student School Visit Day at the end of January. The visit is hour-long and designed to be a joyful experience to help the school get to know your learner, with classroom activities, teacher connections, and social time. 6) Decision emails sent / March. Enrollment decision emails are mailed in March with details on when to expect them. 7) Enroll and join us for celebratory welcome events. Kindergarten Admissions Process: 1) Connect via Ravenna. Use Ravenna to create a profile and explore the admissions process; an inquiry form is available to start. 2) Visit us for an in-person tour / September – early January. Schedule a tour and information session, and sign up for open houses or virtual events via Ravenna. 3) Apply by January 15. Submit the Ravenna application, family photo, child photo, and the application fee by January 15; late applications may be accepted if space allows. 4) Join us for a Parent / Guardian Meeting between September – February. Complete the online or in-person meeting with the Director of Admissions after an admissions event to support your application. 5) Attend a Kindergarten Student School Visit Day. The visit is hour-long and helps the school learn about your child with classroom activities and social time. 6) Request a confidential student evaluation from your child's current teacher. Send the Common Confidential Student Evaluation Form via Ravenna; the teacher can upload it to Ravenna, and request last two years of transcripts through Ravenna as well. 7) Decision emails sent / March. Enrollment decision emails are mailed in March. 8) Enroll and join us for celebratory welcome events. Elementary Admissions Process: 1) Connect via Ravenna. Create a Ravenna profile to explore the admissions steps and access the inquiry form. 2) Visit us for an in-person tour / September – early January. Schedule a tour, information session, or open house via Ravenna. 3) Apply by January 15. Submit the Ravenna application, family photo, child photo, and the application fee by January 15; late applications may be accepted if space allows. 4) Join us for a Parent / Guardian Meeting between September – February. Schedule a 20–30 minute meeting with the Director of Admissions after attending an admissions event; complete your application beforehand. 5) Attend a Student School Visit Day. The visit lasts about an hour and includes activities in classrooms and time to connect with teachers. 6) Request a confidential student evaluation from your child's current teacher. Have the Common Confidential Student Evaluation Form emailed via Ravenna; the school can upload the form, and last two years of transcripts should be uploaded as well. 7) Decision emails sent / March. Enrollment decision emails are sent in March. 8) Enroll and join us for celebratory welcome events. Middle School Admissions Process: 1) Connect via Ravenna. Create a profile in Ravenna to review the admissions steps and use the inquiry form to start. 2) Visit us for an in-person tour / September – early January. Tours, information sessions, and open houses are available through Ravenna. 3) Apply by January 15. Submit the Ravenna application, family photo, child photo, and the application fee by January 15; late applications may be accepted if space allows. 4) Join us for a Parent / Guardian Meeting between September – February. Schedule a 20–30 minute meeting with the Director of Admissions after an admissions event to discuss next steps. 5) Register for and attend a shadow day. The shadow day includes a brief math and English assessment to help the school understand the applicant. 6) Request a confidential student evaluation from your child's current teacher. Send the Common Confidential Student Evaluation Form via Ravenna and upload the last two years of transcripts. 7) Decision emails sent / March. Enrollment decision emails are mailed in March. 8) Enroll and join us for celebratory welcome events.

Scholarships
Sliding Scale Tuition program is available to make La Scuola education accessible based on financial need and the availability of funds. Tuition levels are listed as Preschool Full-Day / Half-Day, Elementary (Grades K-5), and Middle School (Grades 6-8).
School Events
The school has not added events
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