Flashback: The Founding of Alta Vista School!

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The Beginning of AVS

Just a few months before our opening, Abdur Chowdhury realized he wanted his daughter to attend a school that encouraged her nightly science experiments at the kitchen counter — a place where art, math, and hands-on projects flourished in small classes.

When he couldn’t find that school, he decided to create one. Together with six other founding families, Chowdhury found a building, hired a Head of School, brought in teachers, and began recruiting students.

On September 7, 2010, Alta Vista School officially opened its doors.

“It’s much like starting a startup,” Chowdhury reflected at the time. “If anyone knew how hard it would be, they would never do it. Especially in the middle of a recession.”

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The Early Days

AVS began in the former Waldorf School classrooms at the Greek Orthodox Annunciation Cathedral in San Francisco’s Mission District.

There were just two classrooms — one combined junior kindergarten/kindergarten and one first grade — each with about 10–12 students.

The vision was simple but ambitious: add classrooms through 8th grade while preserving small class sizes, inquiry-based learning, and an emphasis on math, science, and art.

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Then vs. Now: A Story of Growth

Then (2010):

• 2 classrooms (JK/K and 1st grade)

• 20 students total

• 1 Head of School and a handful of teachers

• Shared rented classrooms in the Mission District

Now (2025):

• 2 campuses in San Francisco

• 300+ students across Lower and Middle School

• 80+ faculty and staff

• Robust programs in STEM, arts, athletics, and social-emotional learning

• A culture of innovation, inclusion, and curiosity-driven education

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Looking Back — and Ahead

What began with just two classrooms has grown into a thriving learning community that now spans two campuses and serves hundreds of students.

The founding families set out to create a school where curiosity drives learning — and that vision continues to inspire everything we do today. AVS remains committed to nurturing young thinkers, innovators, and creators, carrying forward the bold idea that started it all.

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As we celebrate 15 years, we invite you to share your favorite AVS memory with us at advancement@altavistaschool.org - and help us continue telling the story that began in 2010.