School Profile

Founded in 1952, Crystal Springs Uplands School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school located on the San Francisco peninsula. Serving grades 6-12 on two campuses, Crystal provides an intimate, collaborative community that encourages students to pursue their passions, explore new interests, build confidence, develop compassion and thrive in an environment of academic excellence.

With a 28% admit rate, Crystal enrolls 568 students from 88 elementary schools, 70 middle schools, and 10 high schools. Our student body reflects Crystal’s strong commitment to cultural, social and socioeconomic diversity. Fifty-five percent of the student community identifies as students of color. Our generous financial aid program annually awards over $4M in grants to 21% of the student body.

Crystal is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools and is a member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the National Association of Independent Schools and People of Color in Independent Schools, among others.

Curriculum

Given the rigorous academic demands of Crystal, freshmen and sophomores take five academic courses. In order to maintain a balanced course load, juniors and seniors are strongly encouraged to take four academic courses only. Students need 21 credits total in order to graduate.

Crystal Springs Uplands School no longer offers AP courses. The curriculum was uncoupled from the Advanced Placement model in 2012 in order for teachers to design challenging courses which allow for more student-initiated projects, internships, investigative research and global experiences. (Read more.) These courses have been renamed, redesigned and designated Honors (H) on the transcript. While Crystal no longer offers AP-designated courses, students are able to sit for AP tests administered on site.

GPA Calculation
Grade point average (GPA) is calculated using all academic courses (PE and non-Crystal courses excluded) and is cumulative from the fall semester of 10th grade onward. Honors-level (H) courses are weighted by 0.3 Crystal does not rank students.