School History

The school we now know as Frank McCoppin Elementary School was established in 1896 as a rustic one-story building with nine classrooms, serving the sparsely populated Inner Richmond district. At the time, the school was on the outer edges of the city, surrounded mostly by sand dunes and connected to town by a cable car line on 6th Avenue. A handsome new building with 16 rooms was dedicated on July 24, 1910. Designed by the city architect, Newton James Tharp, it housed the school for almost 70 years, until the current building was constructed in 1978.

The school was initially named the Park Primary School because of its proximity to Golden Gate Park. Miss Sarah B. Jenkins was the school’s first principal, serving for over 30 years. It is clear from her lengthy tenure that she was an important figure in the school’s history, seeing it grow from a shack in the late 19th century to a stately campus by the 1920s. Evidently her long tenure set a trend, as she is one of just six principals in the school’s nearly 130-year history, each principal serving for at least 15 years.

The school was renamed Frank McCoppin Primary School in 1908 to honor America's first Irish-born mayor and San Francisco's first foreign-born mayor. Frank McCoppin was also recognized for his important role in the founding of Golden Gate Park, and he helped set aside the land for many west side school sites in 1868, including the future Frank McCoppin Elementary School.

Almost 130 years after its founding, Frank McCoppin Elementary School continues to be a vibrant and diverse learning community, committed to providing a high-quality education for all students. The school building received a full makeover in 2018, bringing facilities up to date and making the campus a brighter, more welcoming space for today’s students.

Mister Bennett Lee has been the school’s principal since 2001, the second longest principal tenure in the school’s history.

Frank McCoppin School Principals, 1896-2024:

1896 to 1927 - Sarah B. Jenkins

1927 to 1944 - Effie E. Smith

1946 to circa 1964 - Mabel Delavan

1964 to 1979 -  Barbara B. Moore

Circa 1982 to 2001 - Marjorie Manko

2001 to present - Bennett Lee