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Terra Schools

United States, San Francisco

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Spanish, Mandarin
Fees $36,975 - 43,450
Ages 2 - 10 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2018
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), Reggio Emilia Approach
Taught languages Mandarin, Spanish
Typical class size 11
Strengths Outdoor Education, Languages, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Preschool, Kindergarten, Primary School, Elementary
Introduction

Terra San Francisco is a private campus located at 3801 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121, serving Preschool through 2nd grade; the Terra network also offers Pre-K through 8th grade. The program blends the Reggio Emilia approach with the International Baccalaureate framework (PYP), delivering a nature-based, multilingual education in Spanish, Mandarin, and English. In the early grades, about 80% of instruction is in the target language, with English and Math taught in English; higher grades expand language infusion. Students participate in weekly nature-based excursions led by Earth Education specialists, supporting outdoor experiential learning, arts, teamwork, creative problem solving, and flexible thinking. Learn, Grow, Belong anchors Terra's approach, emphasizing tailored academics, multilingualism, social-emotional learning, and family partnership. The school offers after-care, enrichment classes, and community events that foster belonging and global citizenship. Classrooms emphasize inquiry-based, project-focused learning with low student-teacher ratios and collaboration with families.

3801 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

Terra Schools has typical class sizes of 11, instruction in English, Spanish, Mandarin.

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
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.

Type
Private school

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
United States

Bus service
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.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees

Annual tuition at Terra Schools ranges from USD 36,975 to USD 43,450 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- Application fee (Ravenna): USD 100.
- Indexed-tuition (Clarity) submission fee for financial-aid consideration: USD 60.

Tuition fees by year group (2026–2027 maximum/top rates)

- Infant program (monthly): USD 3,500 per month.

- Preschool (age 2–4.5 / PK & TK): maximum ranges and billing options:
- 10-month plan (school-year billing): USD 2,000 – USD 33,500 (8:40 AM–3:15 PM; aftercare not included).
- 12-month — Full (standard 12-month spread): USD 2,000 – USD 38,750 (8:40 AM–3:15 PM; aftercare not included).
- 12-month — Extended (year‑round/extended day): USD 2,000 – USD 43,450 (8:40 AM–5:30 PM; aftercare included).

- 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.
Academics

Terra Schools teaches IB (PYP), Reggio Emilia Approach for students aged 2 to 10.

Curriculum
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
Low student-teacher ratios are emphasized.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
The school has not added this information
Admissions

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.
School Events
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