August 6, 2026
Opening Day
Mission Bay School was first planned in 1998 and opened with a ribbon cutting on August 6, 2026. This page keeps the coverage, the statements and the details in one place.
Coverage
In the News
KQED
News'I'm ready for kindergarten': San Francisco's Mission Bay gets first public school in 20 years
Read it at KQED ↗SFUSD
OfficialSFUSD Celebrates Milestone Opening Long-Awaited New School in Mission Bay Neighborhood
The district's own account of the ribbon cutting, with statements from everyone who spoke.
Read it at SFUSD ↗SFUSD
PhotosRibbon cutting and building photos
The district's own photo set from the day. Linked rather than copied here: these are SFUSD's images and this site does not have permission to republish them.
Read it at SFUSD ↗Office of the Mayor
VideoRibbon cutting at Mission Bay School
Video from the ceremony, posted by the Mayor's office.
Read it at Office of the Mayor ↗August 6
The Day Itself


Photographs by community contributors.
In one of these and would rather not be? Write to hello@missionbaypta.org and it comes down. No reason needed.
On the day
What Was Said
“San Francisco is opening the first new school in over 10 years here in Mission Bay. This neighborhood is on the rise, and a new school is exactly the kind of investment that will help families put down roots here.”
Daniel Lurie
Mayor of San Francisco
Source: SFUSD press release, August 7, 2026“This beautiful campus was designed to inspire curiosity, collaboration, and a love for learning. I am excited to see students embrace opportunities to thrive at Mission Bay School for generations to come.”
Dr. Maria Su
SFUSD Superintendent
Source: SFUSD press release, August 7, 2026“We celebrate this milestone because of the support of San Francisco voters and the dedication of countless community members, educators, families, and public partners who kept this vision moving forward.”
Phil Kim
President, SFUSD Board of Education
Source: SFUSD press release, August 7, 2026“This school is the result of years of hard work, unrelenting advocacy, and determination from families and leaders who came together to make it happen.”
Matt Dorsey
San Francisco Supervisor
Source: SFUSD press release, August 7, 2026“When my daughter … was less than a year old, I would bring her to the building and grounds meetings for the school board and give public comment about how there really are families in Mission Bay and these kids are going to need a school.”
Sarah Bertram
Mission Bay resident, speaking to KQED
Source: KQED, August 6, 2026From the day
Small Things Worth Keeping
- Principal Monette Benitez cut the ribbon. Source: KQED, August 6, 2026
- The Giants' mascot Lou Seal came to the ceremony. Source: photographed at the ceremony
- Mission Bay's population has nearly doubled in the last 15 years. Until now families travelled to Daniel Webster Elementary in Potrero Hill, about a mile and a half away, or to Bessie Carmichael in SoMa. Source: KQED, August 6, 2026
- Early education classrooms on the first and second floors have low tables and a mini play kitchen. The Learning Hub sits on the fourth floor. Source: KQED, August 6, 2026
- Plenty of the founding families and staff live close enough to walk, bike or take one short Muni ride. Source: KQED, August 6, 2026
Two decades in the making
Building the School
October 2022
Shovel Ready Ceremony
SFUSD and the Mission Bay community broke ground after two decades of planning.
March 2023
Site Prep
16,000 cubic yards of soil imported and settled to prepare the foundation.
March 2024
Foundation Piles Installed
All 170 foundation piles installed; concrete pours continued through early June.
July 2024
Topping Out
The steel structure was completed and the community signed the final beam.
May 2025
Facade Installed
The building's metal panel facade took shape.
August 2025
Interiors Taking Shape
Color-coded classroom portals, ceiling finishes, and light fixtures populating the building.
August 2026
Ribbon Cutting
SFUSD cut the ribbon on August 6 with the Mayor, the Superintendent and the Board President. Classes start August 17.
For the record
How It Happened
One detail is unsettled. SFUSD says the lot was designated for a school in the 1998 Mission Bay Redevelopment Plan; KQED reports the land was set aside in 1988. The district's own figure is used above, and the school can settle it.
Who it serves
Mission Bay School's attendance area is the current Daniel Webster Elementary attendance area, covering Embarcadero, SoMa, Potrero Hill, Dogpatch and Mission Bay.
Source: SFUSD press release, August 7, 2026Getting here safely
Ahead of opening, SFMTA finished street safety work around the school through the Mission Bay Quick-Build Project: traffic calming, protected bike lane upgrades, lower speed limits and high-visibility crosswalks.
Source: SFUSD press release, August 7, 2026