About CAIS

singing students
CAIS is an independent Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade co-ed Chinese-English dual language immersion school. It is located in the Civic Center/Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco and spans across two campuses. Known as the Waller Street Campus, the Pre-K facility accommodates three and four-year-olds and is a 10 minute walk from the main Oak Street Campus, which houses Kindergarten through eighth grade classes.

CAIS At-A-Glance

  • Founded: 1981
  • Grades: Pre-K through Eighth Grade
  • 2012-2013 School Year Enrollment: 502
  • Faculty: 74
  • Admin and Staff: 37
  • Student Ethnic Background: 39% Asian American; 37% Multiracial; 22% Caucasian; 1% Hispanic and 1% African American
  • School Model: From Pre-K through fifth grade, CAIS students spend a half day in an immersion setting with a native Chinese speaking teacher and a half day with an English speaking teacher. In middle school, the key subjects of math and science are only taught in English as we prepare the students for high school.