Former Mayor Willie Brown tours San Francisco school named after him

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- One of San Francisco's most underserved communities will soon be the envy of other neighborhoods. In August, the Bayview District will have a hub that includes a middle school with a health and community center.

Many expect the 88,000 square foot project to be as prominent as the person it's named after -- former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who toured the construction site on Thursday.

Sixty percent of the students who will attend are from the Bayview District, which hasn't had a middle school since 2011.

"So we are reclaiming an education spot in the Bayview so that students don't have to go outside the Bayview for a wonderful education," said San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Richard Carranza.

More than 350 applications were received for only 200 spots. The school is in demand because it will offer a science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum.

"I like all the experiments, all the new things you can learn, also not just science, but math," said Sophia Silva, who already enrolled.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee says Silicon Valley wants more of these schools.

"The companies are looking for talent, the school district is creating that talent for them," he said.

It will be a place to stay after school and will have a health center.

"And the Department of Public Health has agreed to staff it with a nurse practitioner and a dentist and staff, and we will be able to serve our community," said Carranza.

The cost of the new construction is $55 million, which is coming from bonds. It's part of the city's commitment to revitalize a neighborhood that for decades has been overlooked.

"They were all led by the community's involvement, and that community designed this space," said Brown.

To lure even more students, a golden ticket perk has been added, which means students will be guaranteed a spot at any high school in San Francisco.

"It's fabulous to have my name, for me it is an incredible tribute! I don't know how it happened, but I'm accepting it, ha, ha," Brown said.

One thing they don't have in place yet is the medical equipment for the health center. That is estimated to cost $500,000. They are hoping to find generous companies in the Bay Area who want to contribute to that fund.