Grattan Elementary is a small, vibrant K-5 public school located in the Cole Valley neighborhood of San Francisco, California. We offer a solid, structured program with an emphasis on developing basic skills, supplemented with extra programs in arts and sciences. Our school believes in a balanced approach to the development of the whole child. We foster critical thinking skills, nurture social and emotional growth, encourage respect for self and others, and inspire a lifelong love of learning. We implement anti-bullying and conflict-management curriculum for all students, with an emphasis on Restorative Practices.

Our students are all taught The Grattan Way: "Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Kind." This is an important school philosophy that guides the Grattan community. While all of our students embrace The Grattan Way, many will be "Caught in the Act" of doing so. On Mondays, Mr. Reedy reads the names of all the children who were "caught" exemplifying The Grattan Way, and those children take a well-deserved bow. This ritual is one way that our school builds and nurtures community, creating a solid foundation for our use of Restorative Practices.

All teachers at Grattan implement practices that encourage children to view learning with curiosity and joy. We believe in the necessity for a strong, balanced academic program with an affective component. We are committed to the belief that all children are learners and will take personal pride in accomplishments. We are a safe school where small class size is a priority. We value the connection between home and school as part of our school culture. Our community is dedicated to creating a positive, caring learning environment where diversity is celebrated and individual differences are honored. Grattan School exists for children to awaken their unique intellectual gifts, stimulate a moral sense, and strengthen their self-confidence and resiliency. At Grattan, we take a unique approach to teaching. We believe that authentic learning will take place with the acquisition of real skills in real context, and that children will engage more freely and learn best if given choice whenever possible—while being allowed to create and tinker frequently. We believe that gym and art are paramount to education as is the need to use the outdoors as a learning environment. We believe that good books across all genres are absolutely necessary to instill a love of reading. We are committed to exploring alternative forms of assessment including progress report narratives, portfolios of authentic work, oral exams, student presentations, and performances. All students participate in daily classroom activities that are integrated and designed to be open-ended and highly engaging.