New Traditions Elementary School

For more information about the benefits of a late start school — New Traditions starts at 9:30! — check out this article:

Wasn’t sure about NT-didn’t know a soul. Beautiful campus w garden & open playground. Focus on arts & outdoor ed.
Had a great tour w friendly open parents, teachers & staff. Answered all my questions & helped w stress. Motivated caring principal. Great counselor & social wkr.
Lots of welcome by parents-​small warm environment. Good for my kid not to feel lost & become best student possible. Hidden treasure in the NOPA. An oyster.

I will be 35 years old in about two months, this means it’s been about 30 years since I first started school at New Traditions. Dang I’m getting old lol anyways I just want to leave a review letting all of you parents know that enrolling your children at this school could turn out to be one of the most prolific experiences your child ever has. I unfortunately didn’t get to stay at NT for all of my elementary education and I let my parents know at every turn how unhappy I was that NT wasn’t in San Jose! I wish I could have bottled my experiences and taken them with me but unfortunately that wasn’t possible. I have always said that Diane and Odette were my favorite teachers of all time and that’s going back to 1986. I wish that NT was everywhere if I ever have children I only hope I can find a school as awesome as New Traditions and it’s sad to say that unless I get lucky enough to be able to afford to live in The City again this probably won’t happen. I hope that the students that have come and gone over the years and the future students of New Traditions appreciate how rare an opportunity they have been given to learn in such an amazing atmosphere.
Oh ya one more thing because of my education at New Traditions I speak three languages I can half ass play four instruments, I have an extreme appreciation for art in all of it’s various forms, and I see the world in all of it’s technicolor splendor!

I love this school! We were welcomed into New Traditions after our difficult departure from The Hamlin School. I was still suffering from serious anxiety upon entering NT. But, after meeting with Principal Agudelo (Principal of the Year) and other miraculous members of the staff who welcomed us with open arms; I knew we were home.
When my daughter was at Hamlin, I NEVER really felt welcomed into the school. I would tell perspective parents who visited on Hamlin tours «that you have to take yourself out of the picture and pick the school that you think is the best fit for your child.» Once we became a New Traditions family, I knew that I had been extremely wrong!
New Traditions has truly become an extension of our family! When searching for the right school; it is IMPORTANT to look for a good fit for the family as a whole… not just the child. If mom doesn’t feel welcomed and accepted; the child will never truly feel that as well. The warmth and comfort we have experienced since being at NT does not compare to where we came from.
Academically, New Traditions is strong! Having recently been honored as a «California Distinguished School», New Tradition faculty, families and strong PTA take pride in filling in gaps left by the state. Your child will lack for nothing at this school!
Take a tour! Go see it for yourselves! New Traditions truly is one of SFUSD’s best kept secrets!

New Traditions (NT) must be the best kept secret in the SFUSD. From what I’ve seen and heard, it’s *easily* one of the best schools in the district (along with Rooftop and Clarendon), but for some odd reason not many people have heard of it (although the word is finally getting out). Maybe because it’s a small school?
Anyhow, my son is in second grade, this is his second year at NT. We were attracted to NT because of the intensive arts focus, which is on par with places like the Creative Arts Charter school. Students have weekly classes in art, music, dance, and gardening that are separate from the regular curriculum/​class and taught by experts. There is a *very* active PTA that raises money for numerous projects and a strong community feeling to the place. Recently, asphalt was ripped out for a new garden and cistern, which complements the gardens that were already there.
Most importantly, my son has been happy and thriving at NT. He’s loved his last two teachers and takes it for granted that he gets to do art all the time and perform (singing) with his class in front of audiences. He’s also doing well academically, I think mostly because the environment as a whole is enriching and keeps the basics like math and reading more interesting. The physical environment of the school is in very good shape for a public school, with fresh paint, clean bathrooms, tidy halls, and beautiful art and academic projects covering all the walls. Just walking around you can tell that NT is a well-​loved, well-​cared for place.
I could say a lot more, but basically NT is an excellent public school with many great qualities. NT is not perfect, but now that we’ve been part of it for almost two years I see clearly that it’s a very good school that’s actually getting better all the time. What more can you ask for?

Before first round applications are due in two weeks, make a point to tour New Traditions, a truly exceptional elementary school (K-​5) within the SFUSD.
We just won a spot in the spring lottery and transferred into New Traditions, my original first choice among the District’s elementary schools. Prior, I had toured Miraloma, West Portal, Creative Arts Charter School, Grattan, Sherman, Rooftop and Claire Lilienthal.
With bright and stimulating classrooms and hallways filled with children’s artwork created under the tutelage of Meg, New Traditions’ fabulous art teacher (the arts program funded by New Traditions’ very strong PTA), New Traditions is led by an award-​winning Principal and as of May 2012, awarded the prestigious «California Distinguished School» designation.
With reciprocal programs with San Francisco’s major art institutions including the DeYoung, New Traditions has a traditional curriculum with a strong arts slant.
New Traditions is a nice, smaller size elementary school (student population around 250), with beautiful classrooms and grounds that include butterfly and vegetable gardens and a welcoming staff that makes you feel included in their community:
I ***highly recommend.

2 kids here. Small school, Changing quickly. Very involved PTA. Love Art teacher Meg. Very good gardening/​Greening program.

What a great school We only have good things to say about this school.
It is called in full New Traditions Creative Arts School, and it performs as one. Meg the art teacher is great, she included a lot of the art from NT in the annual art show at the de Young art show. Parent participation is big, and there is a feeling of neighborhood involvement.