Hiba Academy Bay Area is a premium, independent, non-profit, international school. We provide a dual language education—in Mandarin and English—with just the right balance of world-class academic rigor, multicultural experience, and personal well-being.

We are new to San Francisco, but we are not a “start-up” school. Far from it. We are part of Wellington College Education–an innovative, global network of international schools, that currently empowers more than 10,000 students in China, the UK, Thailand, India and soon Indonesia and South Korea. Wellington College Education has its roots in Wellington College, one f the UK's most prestigious co-ed boarding schools. It was founded by Queen Victoria in 1859.

Hiba Academy Bay Area opens in Fall 2026.

The Hiba Academy Bay Area campus is at 99 Rhode Island Street in San Francisco’s Design District. The neighborhood is bounded by Townsend and 16th Streets, west of Mission Bay. The Design District is evolving fast. Close to the school, there is a concentration of upscale showrooms, distinctive restaurants, and the California College of the Arts.

Children entering Kindergarten must be 5 years old by September 1.

Hiba Academy will open in the Fall 2026 with classes for children in PK3, PK4, Kindergarten, and Grade 1. At capacity, our campus will serve 450 PK3 to Grade 5 students. In the longer term, we will expand to middle and high school.

Our teachers and families are local and from around the world. An international element is present in all our teaching and learning and in all of our community activities. Our curriculum fosters a global mindset. Students develop the cross-cultural competencies they will need to thrive and make a difference in an interconnected world.

At Hiba Academy Bay Area our 50:50 dual language model–in Chinese and English–ensures seamless transitions between the two languages. A bilingual person can speak, read, write, and think in both languages in multiple contexts and without hindrance.

Becoming bilingual and becoming biliterate enhances cognitive flexibility. This enables problem-solving from differing perspectives and in multiple ways. The acquisition of two languages enables deep engagement with the various academic disciplines and building an understanding of our complicated world.

It is never too early to start learning Chinese or any second language. Acquiring language for very young children is as natural as breathing. The earlier children are exposed to a second language, the better.

At Hiba Academy Bay Area, we welcome children of all language backgrounds. Many of our students will begin with little or no exposure to Chinese, and that is perfectly fine. Our immersive approach is designed to support all learners, with individualized guidance to ensure each child thrives. Learning in two languages is not only possible—it is a meaningful, lifelong gift for every student.

We will open in the Fall of 2026 with classes for children in PK3, PK4, Kindergarten, and Grade 1. No previous Chinese is necessary for any of these grades. In future years, qualified children entering in Grades 2-5 with little or no previous Chinese will receive individualized and small group, scaffolding to bring them up to speed.

The cognitive advantages of bilingualism hold true for all languages. Fluent bilinguals in any combination of languages benefit from what neuroscientists call an Executive Functioning Workout. In the frontal cortex of the brain, there appears to be some degree of activation of both languages, and some negotiation between them, constantly. This supports meta-thinking and problem-solving. It also aids multi-tasking, sustained focus, and screening out distractions. In young children, this is precisely what’s needed for academic achievement. The bilingual advantage manifest in any combination of languages is clear!

Chinese and English are contrasting languages. This certainly plays into cognitive agility. Keep in mind that Chinese is a tonal language, without verb conjugations and gender emphases; and its written characters have a profound internal logic that reveals meaning directly, unlike an alphabet that can be sounded out. Like all languages, Chinese and English are loaded with particular cultural attitudes and history. Having two distinct windows on the world enhances critical thinking and provides the foundation for an international mindset.

The standard written language of Hiba Academy Bay Area teaching materials is simplified characters. However, it is acceptable that individual students may prefer to use traditional Chinese characters in their writing.

Being well means doing well. We ensure student well-being precisely because children are being meaningfully challenged. They are told to “have a think” and to “have a go.” They are encouraged to try and to take risks. There is tension and release when a child has worked hard in a supportive social environment and experiences an “Aha!” moment. It feels good to be in the flow of the learning zone. Children own their knowledge when they have earned it through persistence—whether by solving a tricky problem, obtaining a high mark for excellent work, or finally realizing that they truly understand.

A key element that sets Hiba Academy apart from the other Chinese immersion schools in San Francisco is our direct bridge to China. As an arm of Wellington College Education, Hiba Academy Bay Area is part of something much bigger, something genuinely international.

Other differentiators are the promise of a seamless PK3 through Grade 12 bilingual journey and the energy and excitement of becoming part of our Founding Family community.

Our bilingual curriculum also sets us apart. The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP) is concept-based and fulfills UK, Chinese, and IB benchmarks. Our teachers co-plan, deliver, and continuously reflect upon Units of Inquiry. These interdisciplinary units are taught jointly in both languages. The PYP presupposes a constructivist approach to teaching and learning, encouraging children to ask questions. Along the way, PYP Units of Inquiry incorporate Shanghai and Singapore math, research and evidence-based thinking, and extensive hands-on activities.

It is well known that teenage students in Singapore and China earn the highest PISA math and science literacy scores in the world. At Hiba Academy Bay Area, both Shanghai and Singapore math are at the core of our curriculum.

Singapore math emphasizes a multiplicity of approaches to problems. Through bar modeling, students progress naturally from hands-on manipulation of concrete objects to colorful pictorial representations, ultimately leading to the creation of abstract concepts that help them visualize and internalize mathematical ideas.

Shanghai math incorporates the best of the Singapore methodology with a strong focus on mastering the fundamentals. Math is the universal language of pattern and quantity. It is axiomatic–with each unit building on prior knowledge. At Hiba Academy, each lesson is structured around one or two core objectives. Complex topics are made accessible by breaking them down and approaching them stepwise.

Teachers work vigorously at each stage to ensure that children achieve mastery before advancing to the next level. This enables them to build their skills and make connections incrementally without feeling overwhelmed. Teachers adjust the pace of the class using continuous formative assessment and scaffolding interventions as individual needs arise.

Along the way, Hiba Academy students explore ever more variations on a mathematical concept and its practical applications. They are encouraged to collaborate with their peers, ask questions, and take risks. In this way, they learn to recognize recurring patterns and make connections.

Our teachers enhance mathematical skills by moving beyond formulas and abstractions, emphasizing understanding over rote memorization. Students undertake collaborative, real-world projects that address open-ended problems. These projects are often hands-on and linked to other academic disciplines.

Beginning in the Early Years, we highlight the logical structures inherent in both languages of instruction. Age-appropriately, students learn to communicate through a math problem with line-by-line defensible logic. Students come to appreciate the precision as well as the austere beauty of mathematical proof.

At Hiba Academy Bay Area, mathematics is more than just an academic subject; it serves as a tool for interpreting and reshaping the world. Mastering each level before advancing provides strong preparation for the future. Our graduates emerge as confident, adaptable thinkers ready to tackle evolving technological and global challenges.

We will recruit teachers and staff internationally and locally. Many of our educators will come from Hiba Academy’s sister schools in China, where they have spent years honing their craft. All our teachers are familiar with the needs of bilingual learners, even those who come to a language as a novice. They embrace Wellington College’s values-driven educational philosophy, prioritizing student wellbeing and an international mindset, setting high expectations for our students both in and out of the classroom.

Wellington College Education is recognized in China as an “Employer of Choice.” It is the four-time winner of HR Asia’s Best Companies Award. Our teachers are lifetime learners, and we promote continuing professional development in our faculty and staff.

Our uniform is a consistent visual representation of Wellington College Education's heritage and values. It gives students a sense of pride and belonging. It frees our students from the potential distractions of fitting in or making choices about what to wear, so they can focus on their learning. The Hiba uniform ranges from practical and stretchy sportswear to something more traditional and formal, depending on age and occasion.

Students enter the campus after 8:00 am. The regular class day runs from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Our activity-based after-school program continues until 6:00 pm. A 7:30 am drop-off is available.

We offer healthy snacks mid-morning and at the end of the day.

We ritualize eating our lunches together unhurriedly. Most children will bring packed lunches from home. An outside lunch option will be available.

We will open applications for Fall 2026 on August 18, 2025. You can jumpstart your application by submitting an Inquiry on our Ravenna portal.

Click here to view our Application Process and Timeline

Click here to view Tuition and Affordability

Call or text us at (415) 930-0165, or email us at admissions.bayarea@hibaacademy.org