Dear Class of 2030,

I am thrilled to welcome you to UHS! You have made it through quite a wild ride in middle school, and I’m so proud of each of you for the work it took to do so: staying engaged in challenging classes, continuing to connect to your family and friends, and pouring yourselves into the hobbies and activities that bring you joy. I look forward to the ways you’ll bring your experiences and perspectives to the UHS student community in the fall. The next four years will prove to be transformational, enlightening, and enriching.

One of the first things you’ll get to experience is your cluster. At UHS, your cluster is like a little family. You will be thoughtfully grouped with students from various backgrounds, and you will be paired with a mentor who will guide you–emotionally, socially, and academically–through the next four years. This mentor will serve as your “big red help button,” as we like to say. Whenever you have a question or need help on something, your mentor is the person with the answer or the ability to point you in the right direction. I can’t wait for you to meet each other!

Something I’ve heard UHS graduates say year after year is that they feel like every space at UHS is an educational space. Whether in the classroom, at lunch, in office hours, on the sports field, or in a club or affinity group, there is always something new to explore or dig deeper into. My favorite thing about our students is that when they see a space that deserves to exist, they make it happen. Every year, UHS students and their adult sponsors run 50+ clubs and affinity groups catering to a wide variety of interests and identifiers, from the Black Student Union to the Committee on Sustainability to Dungeons and Dragons Club. I hope you take advantage of these opportunities during your time at UHS.

I can’t wait for you all to begin this journey. To restate some mantras I shared in my first letter to UHS families when I joined the community: 

• Be open to new experiences and challenges.
• Be adaptive when collaborating and learning.
• Be willing to dive in.

You’ve shown that you’re ready for the challenge, and I look forward to seeing each and every one of you engage deeply and inquisitively. See you soon!

With excitement,

Alexandra Simmons

Dean of Student Life

Greetings New UHS Families!

Welcome to UHS! I’m De Shan Lett, Director of Learning Services here at UHS! As part of the support team, I work with students, families, mentors, and faculty to support students' academic and social-emotional well-being, particularly as they transition to UHS. As the Director of Learning Services, I also lead workshops on learning and metacognition strategies for all 9th- and 10th-graders. One aspect of the Learning Services Director’s role is determining students' need for academic accommodations such as extended time and computer use for test-taking. I highly recommend openly communicating these needs early on so that the necessary accommodations can be in place for your student’s UHS placement exams.

To be considered for accommodations, please submit a copy of your student’s most recent psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation to me (hard copy or electronic copy) by Friday, April 10th. Please also provide a copy of a previous learning support plan or IEP, if available. For more information on the process and documentation guidelines, see the “Learning Services” tab on our school website. If additional testing or information is needed to support your request, I will contact you before the end of the school year so that you can make further testing arrangements over the summer. Please note that a record of accommodations received on the SSAT alone is insufficient documentation to secure accommodations on our placement exams. 

In mid-August, I will contact families who submitted documentation to schedule an initial meeting to discuss your child’s learning needs and how we will provide the necessary support during the coming school year. Please note that these meetings will occur during the last two weeks of August.

In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this process or about learning services at UHS. I can be reached via email at deshan.lett@sfuhs.org or by phone at 415.447.5821.

I look forward to meeting you in August!

Be well,

De Shan A. Lett

Director of Learning Services & 9th Grade Mentor

Dear Class of 2030,

On behalf of the Arts Department, welcome to UHS, where the arts are an integral part of the student experience.

UHS’s arts program is a vibrant and essential part of our school’s community. The skills of creativity, imagination, collaboration, and critical thinking are relevant not only to the world of the arts, but also informs your learning in other disciplines like science and literature, and gives you the tools to navigate our 21st century world.

While attending UHS, you will be expected to take two semesters of performing and/or studio arts classes. You may choose to immerse yourself in the world of photography, play an instrument that inspires you, learn how to use cutting-edge electronic music software, create your own masterpiece, write and direct a short play, or design and build a stage set that would rival those seen in our local professional theaters!

Each of our disciplines offers an entry-level course, as well as upper division and AP courses that allow students to explore a particular art form in greater depth. This means that you can follow your journey into the arts well after you have completed your two required semesters. As a matter of fact, over 80% of our student body does just that! By mastering the fundamental skills of the discipline, they mature into more confident and creative actors, visual artists, singers, theater designers, songwriters and musicians. It is also common for students to pursue more than one arts discipline.

An important offering in our program is Civilization  and  the  Arts:  A  Transcultural  History  of  the  West  and  the  World. This  is  a  full  year  interdisciplinary  course  that  examines  the  relationship  between  art,  music,  and  history. All sophomores are required to take this course, which  is  an  important  part  of  our  shared  goal  as  a  department  to  help  students  not  only  develop  their  artistic  skills,  but  also  their  appreciation of the arts. 

Our arts faculty is passionate about and professionally engaged with their respective disciplines. We can be found in the concert halls, galleries, theaters, and jazz venues throughout the Bay Area. We live what we teach in our classrooms; and with two major theater productions, a student-driven drama series, six art openings, and four concerts each year, the arts are always a focal point  in our school culture.

If you’d like to attend one of our art openings, theater productions or concerts, please check the calendar of arts events on our website. This is a great way to see first-hand the depth of our programs and a fantastic opportunity to meet and speak with our arts faculty. If you are unable to make one of our events and/or if you have further questions about our arts program, you can always feel free to contact me. 

Warmest regards,

Nikhil Paladugu

Arts Department Chair and Ceramics Instructor  Nikhil Paladugu

Dear Future Red Devil,

Congratulations on your acceptance to San Francisco University High School! We are thrilled to welcome you to the UHS community and look forward to the journey ahead. The years you spend here will be filled with discovery, growth, and meaningful connections. You will challenge yourself academically, build lasting friendships, and develop the confidence and character that will serve you well in college and beyond.

We also hope you will consider becoming part of Red Devil Athletics. Our program has a proud tradition and a strong reputation, and it plays a central role in the life of our school. In a typical year, about 90% of the ninth-grade class participates on at least one team, and across the entire student body that number is 81%. Students consistently tell us that their athletic experience is one of the most rewarding parts of their time at UHS, and creating a positive experience for student-athletes remains our highest priority.

Here are ten reasons we hope you will consider joining a team:

1. The balance athletics creates between academics, activities, and your overall life at UHS
2. The excitement of pursuing league, section, and state championships. Our teams regularly compete deep into the postseason, and this past winter three of our four varsity teams played in the Section Championship game, with Boys Soccer and Boys Basketball winning the NCS Division II title
3. The fun of team trips, shared experiences, and time spent together as teammates
4. The opportunity to develop leadership skills. Nearly 40% of the senior class serves as team captains
5. Preparation for college athletics. About 15% of each graduating class goes on to compete on varsity teams in college, many as recruited athletes
6. The confidence that comes from competing alongside teammates and experiencing both adversity and success
7. The energy of Big Red Games, Chase and Oracle Days, and competing in front of a sea of Red Devil fans
8. Learning firsthand that focus + effort + teamwork = success
9. The outstanding coaches who will challenge and support you, often becoming mentors long after graduation
10. The friendships and memories that will stay with you for a lifetime

Our program is intentionally structured to make participation accessible. UHS offers 16 different sports, and many students try activities they have never played before arriving on campus. We form JV and freshman teams whenever numbers allow, and our coaches are committed to creating an environment that is positive, constructive, and memorable.

Our athletic staff includes more than 60 coaches, along with an athletic trainer and strength and conditioning professionals. We look forward to meeting you, learning about your interests and experiences, and helping you find the right opportunities within our program.

Important Dates to Remember:

August 6

New Family Sports Orientation

Bessolo Family Pavilion, 6:00–7:00 PM

All new students interested in playing sports should attend this meeting to learn how athletics work at UHS and what to expect during the year.

August 10

Fall Sports Begin

Information about tryouts, practice times, and locations will be shared during the summer.

If you are planning to try out for a fall sport, it is very important that you are present on the first day of tryouts. Team selections and early evaluations begin right away, and attendance gives you the best opportunity to compete for a roster spot and get off to a strong start with your teammates and coaches. If you know in advance that you may have a conflict, please contact the coach or the Athletic Department ahead of time so arrangements can be discussed.

Once again, congratulations on your acceptance to San Francisco University High School and to the exciting world of Red Devil Athletics. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. We are here to help and are excited to welcome you to the Red Devil family.

Sincerely,

Anthony E. Thomas, CAA

anthony.thomas@sfuhs.org

Dear New UHS Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the San Francisco University High School community! UHS parents and guardians have a long-standing tradition of providing service and support to the school’s vibrant community through activities and events organized by the Parent Guardian Association (PGA). As UHS parents and guardians, you are each a member of the UHS PGA and I encourage all of you to enrich your time at UHS by getting involved.

The PGA plays a vital role in advancing the UHS community. We sponsor many exciting activities and events to enhance the overall experience of UHS students and families, and also provide a wide variety of support functions including:

• Promoting student arts and athletic events
• Producing educational forums and faculty-led parent seminars
• Arranging hospitality services for Back-to-School Night and other school events
• Staffing Admissions Open Houses, faculty-staff appreciation events and the famed San Francisco Decorator Showcase
• Initiating a wide range of social activities for students and families to build cohesiveness within each grade and throughout the UHS community

The PGA relies exclusively on parent and guardian volunteers and is proud of its culture of participation and inclusiveness. Given the diversity of activities, there is ample opportunity for everyone to become involved. Doing so helps parents and guardians stay connected with their child’s high school experience while making new friends and having fun. More information on signing up to volunteer will be shared later this spring.  

PGA announcements are published in the UHS Bulletin, which you will receive via email each Sunday during the academic year. The bulletin and the UHS website contain important information about upcoming events, PGA meetings, and volunteer opportunities.

Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to explore how you can get involved. I look forward to seeing you at PGA sponsored events in the new school year!

Sincerely,

Kimberley Tompkins Pettigrew 

President, UHS Parent Guardian Association 2026-2027

Kim.tompkins@mac.com

View the list here.