For Our Neighbors

See below for list of Upcoming Larger Scale CAIS Community Events and be sure to check out all the happenings On Stage at CAIS!

Dear Lakeside Neighbors,

The CAIS community expresses our deep appreciation for the warm and welcoming spirit we have felt as members of the neighborhood. It is a privilege and a responsibility to be your neighbor, and we are committed to honoring that role with respect, care, and open communication.

Since opening our new campus, we have had overwhelmingly positive interactions with so many of you. These connections—whether a friendly wave, a shared concern, or a thoughtful suggestion—have meant a great deal to us. We want to be good neighbors, and we are always looking for ways to improve and strengthen our relationship with the community around us.

We recognize that the start of each new term brings a period of adjustment. Families are learning routines, drop-off and pick-up traffic may be heavier, and things can feel a bit more hectic. We appreciate your patience and understanding during these times, and we want to reassure you: it will get better as families settle in and as our afternoon programs ramp up each season.

We frequently remind our community to be mindful neighbors—respecting traffic rules, local noise levels, and the shared public spaces we all enjoy. If you ever notice something that doesn’t sit right or that you think we could be doing better, we sincerely welcome your feedback. The best way to reach us is by emailing neighbors@cais.org, and we promise to review all messages with care and a solutions-oriented mindset.

The vast majority of communications we receive from neighbors are constructive, courteous, and help us address concerns swiftly and thoughtfully. On rare occasions, we’ve received messages that don’t reflect that same spirit of mutual respect. We want to be clear: we will always treat our neighbors with kindness, respect, and a genuine desire to work together—and we trust that others will do the same.

Thank you again for your continued support and for making this neighborhood such a vibrant and welcoming place to learn and grow. We look forward to many more years of being part of this wonderful community.

CAIS Campus Background

Founded in 1981 by former San Francisco Supervisor Carol Ruth Silver, CAIS was the nation’s first Mandarin immersion day school. Over our 44-year history, we have occupied five different campuses. Now, we are excited to establish our Forever Home at 3250 19th Ave, where we teach 570+ preschool through eighth-grade students in accordance with our Mission and Core Values.

Since CAIS acquired the former Mercy High School campus in October 2021, we have been able to incorporate the campus’s Athletics and Arts facilities into our program and have enjoyed many of the benefits of the Lakeside neighborhood for almost three years. Our school community is excited about the opportunities that this magnificent campus offers our students now that we have fully moved in! (See a quick post celebrating the occasion.)

We invite our Lakeside neighbors to reach out to us at neighbors@cais.org with any questions you may have.

CAIS Quick Facts

Founded: 1981
Grades: Preschool (2 years old) – 8th Grade
Students: 571
Faculty/Staff: 128

Hours of Operation

Morning care for all grade levels begins at 7:45 a.m. and aftercare runs from 3:30-6:00 p.m.
Regular school hours for CAIS vary slightly by division, but range from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Afterschool programming runs through 6:00 p.m. each school day evening.
The CAIS school calendar can be found here.

Families Getting To CAIS

In addition to a CAIS bus route bringing students from the northern part of the city (Pac Heights, Nob Hill, Presidio, Richmond) to campus, CAIS is running a chaperoned Muni program to bring students to campus via the M and K trains. Families who drive their students (including carpools) will drop off and pick up at the following locations and times:

Campus Entrance on 19th Avenue for Preschool – 1st Grade Families

Drop off from 8:15-9:15 a.m.
Pick up from 3:15-3:45 p.m.

Campus Entrance on Junipero Serra Blvd for 2nd – 8th grade families

Drop-off from 8:15-8:45 a.m.
Pick-up from 3:15-3:45 p.m.

CAIS as a Community Resource

Since 2021, our Athletic Center and Arts Center facilities have been used by local nonprofit groups and we will continue to find ways to make our campus serve as a resource for the wider community. (Nonprofit groups interested in our space are encouraged to click here for more information.) Our middle school student and faculty-driven clubs and activities have historically included community service and environmental efforts that will certainly be extended to our new Lakeside home.