Academics
What Are Academics Like at Archbishop Riordan?
A rigorous liberal arts education designed to serve every kind of learner.
Archbishop Riordan's curriculum serves the needs of all its students. At the program's core is a commitment to a rigorous and challenging liberal arts education designed to develop a student's understanding of the key topics and issues in each academic discipline in light of the 21st Centruy learning and technology. Students are trained to think critically, express themselves clearly, and identify the overlapping themes among the disciplines. While the curriculum offers a great breadth and identifies essential questions, it is also designed to develop academic skills in each student. The program encourages - indeed, insists- that students take a hands-on, active, self-advocating approach to their own education and that they apply learning to real-life situations.
13:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
#1
UC Acceptance rate of co-ed catholic high schools in San Francisco
1,250
Student Population
30+
AP and Honors Courses
15,000+
Alumni Globally
70%
Of Faculty and Staff Hold Masters Degrees
AP Courses
What Advanced Placement and Honors Courses Can Riordan Students Take?
Riordan offers more than 30 Honors and Advanced Placement courses across English, mathematics, science, social science, and world languages. Students may take up to four Honors or AP courses per year. Because the 4x4 schedule opens up two additional course slots each year, students have room to pursue advanced coursework without giving up electives or a specialty program.
UC Eligibility and City College Access
What Courses Can Riordan Students Take to Prepare for the UC and CSU Systems?
A Riordan student’s academic course load will not merely fulfill University of California and California State University requirements, it will exceed them, allowing more time for additional electives.
Students also have the option to take university-level courses at City College of San Francisco, located directly across the street from Riordan’s campus.
4x4 Schedule
What Is the 4x4 Block Schedule at Archbishop Riordan?
Riordan uses a 4x4 block schedule. Students take four courses each semester, and each course meets every day for 70 minutes. One semester of a 10 unit course covers the same material a full year covers on a traditional schedule, which means students can complete up to eight courses in a single school year instead of the six a traditional schedule allows.
"The future doesn't belong to those who can earn the most points, it belongs to those who can learn, adapt, and solve new problems. That's why Riordan's 4x4 schedule and standards-based grading are intentionally designed to reward mastery, revision, and meaningful learning rather than the accumulation of points."
- Nate Simon Assistant Principal of Academics