Unexpectedly, Christian classical schools are flourishing in a deep blue city.

In San Francisco, classical Christian schools are gaining popularity as public school enrollment declines nationwide, according to a recent report.

In the past five years, three religious schools have opened in the Bay Area, providing students with a classic liberal arts education, as reported by The San Francisco Standard.

The Bernal Heights neighborhood, with its rainbow Pride flags, may seem an unlikely place for the Donum Dei Classical Academy, which emphasizes a Bible-based curriculum for K-8th graders. However, the academy's influence is expanding, according to a report.

Since its inception in 2019, the small school has experienced a significant increase in enrollment, with an addition of 25 students. Additionally, donations have surged from $45,692 in the first year to $773,319 in 2023.

Other classical Christian schools in the city, including private Catholic school Nativity High School, Saint John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy, and Stella Maris, have welcomed Donum Dei, a new school that opened this fall with 20 students in the Inner Richmond.

These schools attract parents who seek a curriculum that integrates "tradition, faith, and conservative values," according to staff.

At Stella Maris, an art teacher named Marilyn Bridon explained that their school differs from many public schools in that "woke" books are frequently removed from the library and discussions about preferred pronouns are not encouraged.

A representative from Saint Johns of San Francisco Orthodox Academy, who is both an administrator and a teacher, stated that parents have conveyed their concern that their children's education should not be too liberal.

"Our community members have emphasized the importance of not being too extreme in our views, according to Helen Sinelnikoff-Nowak in the report. She clarifies that she is not addressing parents directly but acknowledges their desire for moderation."

The classical education movement is gaining momentum as parents look for alternatives to public schools. As per the Association of Classical Christian Schools, there were 502 schools affiliated with their organization in the U.S. in 2023.

As more schools open nationwide, enrollment in public schools in America's largest cities has decreased, according to a recent study.

The Manhattan Institute released a report in June stating that the nationwide enrollment in public schools decreased by 2% from 49.9 million to 48.8 million between 2013 and 2022, reaching some of the lowest points in decades.

Planet Chronicle' Kendall Tietz contributed to this report.