FAQs

List of 26 frequently asked questions.

• Does MDA offer any enrichment programs?

  Yes. We address the needs of the whole child through a unique extended curriculum for all students, including:

  • Physical Education, Art, Music, Drama, and World Language Classes
  • Fun and Educational Field Trips
  • Community Service Projects

  And extracurricular programs, including:

  • Violin Program
  • Team Sports
  • After School Program through the Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco
  • Student Council
  • Summer Programs - STEM and Theater Programs

• Is MDA accredited?

  We are fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), a world-renowned accrediting association and one of the six regional accrediting agencies in the United States which works closely with the Office of Overseas Schools under the U.S. Department of State.

  
  Accreditation is a voluntary dual-purpose process that schools (1) must be worthy of the trust placed in them to provide high-quality learning and (2) clearly demonstrate continual self-improvement.

  
  An accredited school is focused on a mission and goals for students; it is student-oriented and examines its students' performance continuously; it accepts objective evaluation from a team of outside peer professionals trained by ACS WASC; it maintains a qualified faculty within an effectively organized school; it collaboratively assesses the quality of its educational programs on a regular basis; and it plans for the future.

• What grade levels do you serve?

  Kindergarten through Eighth Grade.

• How many students are in the school?

  We have 174 students currently enrolled.

• What high schools do your students get offers from?

  The majority of our graduates apply to and are accepted to local Catholic and independent high schools, including:

  • Archbishop Riordan
  • The Bay School of San Francisco
  • Convent of the Sacred Heart
  • Crystal Springs Uplands
  • ICA Cristo Rey
  • Lick-Wilmerding High School
  • Mercy High School Burlingame
  • Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory
  • San Francisco University High School
  • Serra High School
  • St. Ignatius College Preparatory

  Historically, more than 80 percent of our graduates attend Catholic, private, or select public/charter schools.

• How many teachers per classroom?

  Kindergarten through fifth grade have two teachers' a lead teacher and an associate teacher. Grades sixth through eighth have one lead teacher. We also have specialist subject teachers for PE, Music, Foreign Language, and Art.

  
  In addition, we have a reading specialist, a math specialist, and a speech and language pathologist who support the specific needs of our students.

• Does the school offer an after-school program? after-school activities?

  Yes, MDA offers after-school care from 3 pm to 6 pm through the Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco. Athlete study hall is also provided on campus between class time and practices. For more information, please visit our Student Life page.

• What standardized tests are given?

  The Northwestern Educational Assessment (NWEA) test is taken by students three times a year. As we are a technology-driven school, we felt it was imperative to implement an adaptive, online assessment. NWEA (math and reading) is an adaptive test that generates accurate and comprehensive data so that we can optimize each student's learning path. The administration also felt that the NWEA test curriculum more closely matches the common core standards, so it correlates more closely to our classroom instruction.

• What are your school hours?

  • Doors open at 7:00 a.m., Supervised space provided for early arrival student. Free breakfast provided.
  • School day from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • After school program until 6:00 p.m.

• What are the class sizes?

  The average class size for the 2023-2024 school year is 19 students.

• How much is tuition?

  One Child	Two Children	Three Children
  $5,125	$7,725	$9,270

• Can I come for a school tour?

  Yes! If you are interested in sending your child(ren) to our school, we would love to have you come visit.
  
  Please visit to book your school tour.

• How do I apply?

  Our application process is simple and straightforward and our Admissions Director is on hand to help guide you through it. You can apply online, or you can complete a hardcopy application and return it to the school. For full details on how to apply, click here.

• When should I apply? Is there an application deadline?

  There is no deadline for admissions applications as we admit students until classes are full. To avoid being placed on a waiting list, we recommend you apply early. We begin accepting applications in September for the following academic year.

• Do you accept new students during the school year?

  Generally, students join us at the start of the academic year. If you wish for us to consider a mid-year enrollment, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@mdasf.org or 415.346.9500 to discuss your situation.

• Do you give preference to siblings of students already at the school?

  Yes, preference is given to siblings of students already registered at the school.

• How do I contact the Admissions Office?

  You can contact our Admissions Office at admissions@mdasf.org or 415.346.9500 ext. 908

• Do you require letters of recommendation?

  For students transferring from another school, we request that your child's current teacher completes the Current School Recommendation Form.

• Is there any tuition assistance available?

  Yes, we have several sources of tuition assistance available to help families who qualify. For further information please visit our page on affordability.

• Is there a school uniform?

  Yes, our students are required to wear a school uniform. We have both a school uniform and a PE uniform.

• Does your school provide school lunch?

  Yes, Mission Dolores Academy partners with Choice Lunch to provide nutritious, freshly prepared meals every day at affordable prices.

• How much is the admissions fee?

  The application fee is $40. If your student is accepted there is a $250 enrollment fee.

• Does the school have a parent organization?

  Yes, the school has an active parent organization called Tiger PAC (Parent Action Committee) which meets once a month. Parents are also active as volunteers at the school in classrooms, on field trips, in fundraising and in arranging school events. For more information, please visit Our Community page.

• Do you offer field trips for students?

  Our students all enjoy regular fun and educational field trips. Recent field trips have included visits to the University of San Francisco, UC Berkeley, the Exploratorium, the Academy of Sciences, the Children's Theatre, the San Francisco Symphony and many more!

• Is testing necessary for my child to attend MDA?

  As part of the admissions process, we do have a screening process for applicants. The process varies depending on the grade the child is entering.  The purpose of the screening is to get general information regarding where your child is currently at academically and socially.

• Do you have athletics teams?

  Yes. Our MDA Tigers are active in the Catholic Youth Organization Athletics (CYO) league, allowing our students to compete with schools in San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties.  We have different grade level teams in basketball, soccer and volleyball. For more information visit our Athletics page.