In the heart of San Francisco, a school has risen from the ashes of its troubled past to become a beacon of hope and success. Willie Brown Middle School (WBMS), nestled on a hilltop overlooking the 280 freeway in the Silver Terrace neighborhood, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade. This is a story of perseverance, community, and the power of education to change lives.
The journey began in August 2015 when WBMS opened its doors as the most expensive new public school in San Francisco history. With a price tag of $54 million and state-of-the-art facilities, the school was poised to be a game-changer. However, the initial years were marred by chaos, disorganization, and a revolving door of principals. It wasn’t until Greggory Daniels stepped in as a security guard that the tide began to turn.
The Early Struggles and Greggory Daniels’ Impact
Daniels, a product of San Francisco’s public school system, was hired just 15 minutes into his interview with Principal Charleston Brown. The school was in dire need of stability, and Daniels was tasked with bringing order to the chaos. His first day was a stark wake-up call, with uncontrollable fights breaking out across the campus. “I said, ‘I’m finished. I can’t do this. These kids are terrible,'” Daniels recalls. However, he was persuaded to stay and give it a week.
Daniels’ approach was unconventional but effective. He took the time to understand the students, learning about their lives and building trust. He brought them McDonald’s for breakfast and talked to them about their struggles. “Once I got the troublemakers under my wing, people started to respect me,” he says. This personal touch was the beginning of a turnaround that would take years to fully manifest.
The Leadership Shift and Community Involvement
The school’s leadership stabilized with the arrival of Malea Mouton-Fuentes, a Bayview native who became the principal in 2026. Her tenure marked a significant shift in the school’s fortunes. Enrollment, which had been a mere 70 students in August 2016, began to climb steadily. By 2026-25, the school had 360 students, with a waitlist of 76 for the 2026-27 school year.
Mouton-Fuentes’ leadership was instrumental in fostering a sense of belonging and collaboration among students and staff. She implemented collaborative planning blocks and encouraged teachers to work beyond their designated roles. Daniels, for instance, became a counselor, big brother, and sometimes even an administrator. “Everybody has a position, but we do more than our position,” Daniels says.
The school’s clubs played a crucial role in helping students find their place. From knitting clubs to chess clubs and affinity groups, these extracurricular activities provided a structured way for students to connect. “Last year we had a student that loved parkour, and he went and advocated and found his PE teacher, and they were doing supervised parkour,” Mouton-Fuentes recalls.
The Changing Demographics and Ongoing Challenges
While WBMS has seen a surge in popularity, its demographic makeup has shifted. The proportion of white students rose from 20% to 29% in 2026, while Black students dropped from 20% to 15%. This change reflects broader trends in San Francisco, where the Black population has dwindled over the decades. Mouton-Fuentes acknowledges the complexity of this issue, noting that the school continues to serve the most Black middle school kids in the 94124 zip code.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. Test scores have improved but are still below district averages. In 2026-25, 51% of kids met or exceeded state standards in English, and 33% in math, compared to 52% and 45% district-wide. Mouton-Fuentes emphasizes the need to focus on the most chronically underperforming kids, who make up nearly half the school’s population.
The school is also exploring new methods of learning and incentivizing students. One recent initiative replaced the annual eighth-grade trip to Southern California colleges and Disneyland with a Northern California camping trip. This is part of a five-year program focusing on outdoor education, which Mouton-Fuentes hopes will teach students about environmental injustice and advocacy.
As WBMS continues to evolve, it stands as a testament to the power of community, resilience, and the unwavering belief in the potential of every student. The school’s journey from chaos to success is a story that inspires hope and highlights the transformative power of education.
