In 1982, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that all children living in the U.S., including the children of undocumented non-citizens, have a constitutional right to a public school education. In fact, the law requires children between the ages of 6 and 16 to attend school. Lawful permanent residents and U.S. born children with no immigration documents do not need student visas to attend school.  There are approximately 105,000- 112,000 public schools in San Francisco, with a total daily attendance of 63,500. An additional 19,000 students are enrolled in private and parochial schools.

A child must be at least four years and nine months old on or before September 1 to be eligible for Kindergarten. Full time attendance is required for all children between the ages of 8 and 16 unless specifically exempted. Furthermore attendance at continuation is required for those between 16 and 18 unless they are high school graduates.

Applications for enrollment into schools are available at all San Francisco public schools and at the Educational Placement Center, 135 Van Ness, Room 1, Ph: (415) 241- 6085. A listing of Catholic elementary and secondary schools are available in the directory.

There are more than 35 colleges and universities located in the Bay Area which are all renowned for their high standard of education. The University of California at San Francisco has been ranked as one of the leading health, science and educational institutions in the nation. Due to its development of biotechnology, it is responsible for many biotechnical companies being formed such as Genentech and Chiren.

Furthermore the University of California at Berkley is consistently rated the number one graduate school in the nation. With regard to scientific schools, Palo Alto is one of the world. s foremost scientific universities boasting the leading computer science schools in the nation.

Other colleges and universities include San Francisco State University, City College of San Francisco, Mills College, Santa Clara University and the Golden Gate University.

If you want to further your education the City College of San Francisco offers a wide variety of courses. The classes can be taken during the day or during the evening on a full or part time basis. Classes are offered at nine campuses around the city. Non credit courses are available as well as credit courses, which end with an examination. A minimal fee exists for credit courses. Further information can be obtained from the college.