The SMART Program

How to Apply

2010 Applications are now available in PDF
English | Spanish | Chinese
Please note that Breakthrough San Francisco and SMART are no longer sharing applications. Please visit Breakthrough SF website to apply directly to their program.

Questions? Please contact us at 415.865.5400.

Are you a teacher or community leader interested in referring 4th grade students specifically to SMART? Download our referral form and fax/mail it back to us as soon as possible.

Qualifying Criteria

Students must be in fourth grade attending SFUSD schools.
Students and families must live in San Francisco.
Families must qualify for low-income status, based on The BASIC Fund scholarship guidelines.

2009-2010 Income Guidelines

Household Size	Maximum Annual Household Income
Household Income includes the total gross income of all household members
2	$38,103
3	$47,896
4	$57,600
5	$67,304
6	$77,008

Five Stages of SMART Selection Process

Stage 1 Referral

SMART receives over 160 referrals from our partner referral sources (public schools and community-based organizations) for 15 - 20 student placements. Our candidates demonstrate strong academic potential, motivation to succeed, and curiosity for the world around them.

To qualify, students must be fourth grade students, attending a public school, live in San Francisco, and meet the low-income status based on the BASIC Fund scholarship guidelines or qualify for the Federal Free Lunch Program. The students and their families must show a strong commitment to participate fully in this intense year-round program.

Stage 2 Application

SMART application is provided in English and Spanish and consists of a student application/essay; parent application; teacher recommendation; 3rd and 4th grade report cards; standardized test scores; and previous year's tax forms. Please note: starting in 2010, Breakthrough San Francisco and SMART are no longer sharing applications or participants. Students and families must commit to be involved in one program or the other.

Stage 3 Selection Saturdays

Of the students who apply, roughly 75 students will be invited to participate in one of SMART Selection Saturdays, which consist of math and language arts assessments, a group activity, and a family interview with someone on the SMART admissions committee. 16 - 20 students are then chosen to the last stage of our application process: Applying to Partner Schools.

Stage 4 SMART Orientation

During the spring of a student's 4th grade year, candidates and their families must attend an orientation at SMART. We will present information regarding the structure of the program and list of our partner schools, introduce our staff, and answer any questions. Families will not be considered unless they attend one of our Orientation Sessions.

Stage 5 Applying to SMART Partner Schools

Students are invited to apply to one of SMART’s 17 partner independent schools in San Francisco, and supported by SMART staff through the application process. In addition to our normal application process, SMART may sometimes accept students into the program who are directly referred to us through one of our partner schools.

“Independent schools are
constantly looking to attract
an applicant pool that is
diverse in terms of
geographic, socio-economic,
and racial differences, yet
they struggle to find qualified
applicants who meet the
rigorous entrance
requirements. Recently,
SMART has emerged as an
outstanding resource for
private schools in this regard.”
Ted Saltveit
Marin Country Day School

SMART
1345 Mission Street | San Francisco | California
415.865.5400 TEL | 415.865.0505 FAX