apply
/əˈplī/
from the Latin phrase applicāre, meaning “to fold, join, or attach to.”
To make a formal request, put to use, be relevant, or concentrate one’s effort.
Opening the door to math (and more!)
Each year, kids and families find out about us from all sorts of channels, with many of them coming from some sort of direct or indirect experience. Families have attended one of our math festivals or our summer camp, have frequented a math circle that happened to feature one of our teachers, or have been immersed in a summer sleep away camp focused on math. And many of our families heard about us from a friend.
These sorts of personal referrals may not reach drastically vast numbers, and we’re good with that. Word of mouth, one way or another, is an important impetus for community.
The application process
We open our admissions portal on Ravenna in the fall, and host two weekend visit days so you can get an initial sense of what the school is like. Our application consists of the usual elements (transcripts, recommendations) plus a few Proof specific pieces (student and parent questionnaires; a math diagnostic test; and a fun, problem-solving oriented Ollie).
Based on these initial documents, we then invite a subset of students to visit us during a school day, where they can attend morning meeting, meet a few Proofniks, and go to a couple of demo classes. Decisions are typically released in mid to late March, with responses due one week later.
Key dates for admissions
-
Monday, September 21
Applications open on Ravenna
-
Saturday, October 3
Admissions open house, 10:00am–11:30am
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Sunday, December 6
Admissions open house, 3:00pm–4:30pm
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Tuesday, January 5
Applications due
-
Monday, February 22
Financial assistance applications due
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February – March
Visit days for select applicants
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Friday, March 12
Decision day!
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Friday, March 19
Enrollment + deposit due
Key dates for admissions
2026–2027
Monday, September 21
Applications open on Ravenna
Saturday, October 3
Admissions open house, 10:00am–11:30am
Sunday, December 6
Admissions open house, 3:00pm–4:30pm
Tuesday, January 5
Applications due
Monday, February 22
Financial assistance applications due
February – March
Visit days for select applicants
Friday, March 12
Decision day!
Friday, March 19
Enrollment + deposit due
authentic
/ˌôˌTHenˈtik/
from the Ancient Greek, rooted in both authentikos (“original, genuine”) and authentēs (“acting on one's own authority”)
faithful to one's own character and spirit, even when it’s hard to do so
Who should apply
We’re a school for kids who love math, but there are lots of ways to love math.
Some kids arrive with a lot of enrichment from math circles and summer programs, some with a deep affection for mathy puzzles and word games, and some with a real interest in maps, chess, and social deduction games. Others have really liked math competitions and have been relatively advanced in school-based math.
Each year we admit kids who are ready for a challenge, whether that’s calculus or algebra 1. We encourage families to consider what kind of math kid they have.
» Note that applicants need to be at least 11 years old
before the start of 6th grade. «
Values & Principles
Underlying all Proofniks is a genuine curiosity about the world, which by necessity requires some level of humility. It’s what helps kids move from IDK to IW2K—not “I don’t know” but “I want to know.” It turns out, a subtle shift in thinking goes a long way.
It also turns out that kindness matters, that flexible thinking keeps persistence from becoming stubbornness, and that being thoughtful is about reasoning through choices and taking ownership over them.
Advice about applying
We’ll give you the same counsel we give seniors applying to college: Use the application process to figure out what you want and what you value, and why you are applying to any given school.
Authenticity matters. You want to gain admission based on who you are and who you might become because of a specific school. Embrace a recent “failure,” and see it as helping you set a goal. And reason through any advice you get along the way, before accepting or rejecting it.
Proofnik
/pro͞of nik/
from the old era, circa 2015, meaning one who is dedicated to demonstrating something is true, no matter how ridiculous
a peculiar sort of kid who loves math, demonstrates curiosity and care, and sometimes exhibits a harmless, impish relationship with language
Financial assistance
Our admissions process is need-blind, and applying for financial assistance has no impact on admissions decisions. We have always met 100% of demonstrated need, with assistance ranging 10% to 99% of tuition. Our goal is simple: to put Proof School within the financial reach of every family whose child is admitted, so that finances do not dictate enrollment decisions.
The Bay Area's high cost of living means that even a substantial household income may not leave much room for private school tuition. We consider the whole picture when determining tuition assistance amounts: household size, housing costs, savings and other assets, necessary expenses, the number of children in tuition-charging schools, and costs associated with school attendance such as transit.
If paying full tuition would strain your family, we encourage you to apply for financial assistance!
Equal Opportunity Fund
for qualifying families
- Daily transit fare between home and school. For students who commute to and from school via public transportation, the EOF fully covers transit fare by loading Clipper credit directly to the student’s youth Clipper card. Transit fare is determined based on the student’s home address and commute routine.
- Lunch provided at school. Students are welcome to order school lunch through the usual school lunch order form, with no charge to the family regardless of how many days of lunch the student orders.
- “Proofwear” such as hoodies and shirts. When the Parent Association organizes their annual sale of Proof-branded shirts and hoodies, each EOF-supported family is invited to order one shirt and one hoodie/jacket per student with no charge.
- A computer for use at both school and home. The school coordinates with the family to make sure the student has regular access to a suitable computer at school and at home.
- Full coverage of fees for overnight trips and fee-charging after-school activities. While tuition covers most school expenses, there are separate charges for overnight trips and occasionally after-school activities. All additional school activity fees are fully covered by the EOF.
- Typical SAT and AP exam fees. The EOF covers testing fees for SAT and AP exams that are taken at Proof School.
- Application fees to 10 colleges and travel subsidies for visiting top-choice schools. Students are encouraged to request fee waivers from the colleges that they apply to and/or via Common App, if applicable. The EOF will cover up to 10 college application fees beyond what is covered by fee waivers. In addition, the EOF will cover up to $700 of qualifying travel expenses to visit 1–2 top choice colleges that have already admitted the student; typically these trips will be for the student to attend college-organized visit days.
- A project fund for high school students to pursue individual interests. Proof School encourages all students to undertake projects through which they can explore interests, turn their ideas into reality, and expand their capabilities in personally meaningful areas. To this end, the school provides $250 per year in funding for each EOF-supported high schooler, to cover project expenses including tools, materials, and digital subscriptions.
- Financial support for therapy as needed. When EOF-supported students need therapy beyond what is covered by their family’s health insurance, the school can work with the family to arrange for ongoing therapy through a licensed provider who is paid for or subsidized by the school.
Equal Opportunity Fund
The Equal Opportunity Fund at Proof School aims to provide comprehensive financial assistance packages to qualifying families. EOF families typically pay less than 1% of a given year’s tuition; they also receive robust support, including transportation passes, Proof swag, standardized testing fees, and college apps and visits. Participation in school goes beyond the classroom.
Our EOF program supports families making up to 100% of San Francisco’s Area Median Income (AMI), with commensurate assets. For the 2026–2027 school year, 100% of San Francisco’s AMI is:
Family of 3: $145,900
Family of 4: $162,100
Family of 5: $175,050
To see a few particulars, click on the “Equal Opportunity Fund” button below.
Equal Opportunity Fund
for qualifying families
The Equal Opportunity Fund at Proof School aims to provide comprehensive financial assistance packages to qualifying families. EOF families typically pay less than 1% of a given year’s tuition, but we also recognize that participation in school goes beyond this; as such, the EOF aims to support the important work students do both inside and outside the classroom.
We work closely with families supported by EOF to make sure their child(ren)’s experience at Proof School is positive!
Supporting daily life at Proof School
Daily transit fare between home and school. For students who commute to and from school via public transportation, the EOF fully covers transit fare by loading Clipper credit directly to the student’s youth Clipper card. Transit fare is determined based on the student’s home address and commute routine.
Lunch provided at school. Students are welcome to order school lunch through the usual school lunch order form, with no charge to the family regardless of how many days of lunch the student orders.
“Proofwear” such as hoodies and shirts. When the Parent Association organizes their annual sale of Proof-branded shirts and hoodies, each EOF-supported family is invited to order one shirt and one hoodie/jacket per student with no charge.
A computer for use at both school and home. The school coordinates with the family to make sure the student has regular access to a suitable computer at school and at home.
College applications
Typical SAT and AP exam fees. The EOF covers testing fees for SAT and AP exams that are taken at Proof School.
Application fees to 10 colleges and travel subsidies for visiting top-choice schools. Students are encouraged to request fee waivers from the colleges that they apply to and/or via Common App, if applicable. The EOF will cover up to 10 college application fees beyond what is covered by fee waivers. In addition, the EOF will cover up to $700 of qualifying travel expenses to visit 1–2 top choice colleges that have already admitted the student; typically these trips will be for the student to attend college-organized visit days.
Additional support
A project fund for high school students to pursue individual interests. Proof School encourages all students to undertake projects through which they can explore interests, turn their ideas into reality, and expand their capabilities in personally meaningful areas. To this end, the school provides $250 per year in funding for each EOF-supported high schooler, to cover project expenses including tools, materials, and digital subscriptions.
Financial support for therapy as needed. When EOF-supported students need therapy beyond what is covered by their family’s health insurance, the school can work with the family to arrange for ongoing therapy through a licensed provider who is paid for or subsidized by the school.
Tuition
Tuition is set annually by the Board of Directors in the spring, and reflects our investment in world-class faculty, vibrant facilities, and a terrific neighborhood in downtown San Francisco.
Middle school tuition for 2026–2027
$54,570
High school tuition for 2026–2027
$60,620
Proof School
/pro͞of sko͞ol/
from the ancient era, circa 2013, conceived as a place of learning committed to math, new ideas and challenges, and a whole lot of wholesome fun
An equal opportunity educational institution, where all qualified applicants receive consideration for admissions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law; also, a place where being kind > being smart