High School Guidance and Transition

Each year, the high school admissions process in the Bay Area seems to become ever more daunting.  With different procedures and timelines for public school lotteries and independent school applications, as well as the rapidly changing landscape regarding standardized testing, we know every family needs a deep and trusted partnership.

Thus, at PKS, we offer extensive, individualized support for all families.  This support comes from our high school guidance counselor and the rest of the transition team.

Every student joins a high school guidance course in the spring of 7th grade. This course begins by asking students to reflect on their hopes and dreams so they can make a wise and strategic next step - be it to an independent, public, parochial, boarding, or international school. The course prepares students for standardized testing; for interviews; and for writing essays and applications.

Every parent gets individualized support from our high school guidance counselor.  This includes 1:1 strategy sessions, reminders about deadlines, hints and pep talks, and-- most of all-- the confidence that comes from working with someone who holds years of experience in this field.  

High School Admissions:

Our results speak for themselves: 92% of our graduates are attending first choice schools. PKS graduates have been admitted to the following schools (bold indicates which schools our graduates are attending, or plan to attend):

• Abraham Lincoln High School

• Archbishop Riordan High School

• The Bay School of San Francisco

• The College Preparatory School

• Convent High School

• Drew School

• Dunn School

• International High School

• Lowell High School

• Lick-Wilmerding High School

• Mid-Peninsula High School

• Mission High School

• Newton Country Day (Newton, MA)

• Notre Dame Academy (Hingham, MA)

• The Nueva School

• Raoul Wallenberg High School

• Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

• San Francisco Girls High School

• San Francisco University High School

• Saratoga High School

• St. Ignatius College Preparatory

• Stuart Hall High School

• The Thacher School (Ojai, CA)

• Urban School of San Francisco

• The Waldorf School of San Francisco