How Competitive is Admission into Private Schools?

I'm a mom of a soon-to-be Kindergartener and I'm starting the tours and research for East Bay Private Schools. We're looking at many schools, but are most interested in The Berkeley School, Black Pine Circle, and Walden (so far).

My question, to be blunt, is ''How difficult is it to gain admission into these schools?'' We have a son, bright, sweet, enjoys preschool, and no behavioral problems - probably like most kids applying to these schools. The question of admission is on my mind because the SF Private Schools are very competitive and I wonder about the admission situation for these schools - particularly as we get excited and invested in what they are offering.

We are moving from the City, to become members of the East Bay community, and are excited about the transition ahead - but also feel clueless about some aspects of this process. Any insights and words of wisdom are welcome. Thank you!

The reason is that public schools have steadily gained in popularity over the last 10-15 years in Berkeley and Oakland, and that fact, coupled with the recession, has resulted in declining enrollment at most local private schools. Many of them were established in the 1970's when more parents had lost confidence in the public schools, and they continued to thrive during the tech boom even though public schools were improving, because so many families had the money to not even consider public school as an option. But things are different now. The recession has reduced the number of families that can afford private school tuition. These families have improved their local public schools via more parent participation and higher expectations, which in turn has attracted more families away from private school. Another reason is Oakland's charter schools, the best of which now have a more competitive application process than a lot of the private schools.

Most East Bay families that can afford private school now live in a neighborhood that has a pretty good public school. Many public schools even exceed nearby private schools in quality. So the private schools have to work a little harder now to keep their enrollment at the levels they need to sustain salaries and infrastructure. I think this is a trend, because of the cycle of families improving public schools and thereby attracting more families to public school. I suspect we will see more private school closures in the coming years.

This is just my opinion, as someone whose kids have attended a variety of public and private schools over the years. I have chosen private over public when I had a kid who needed something different than what he could get in public school. Everybody has their reasons. You should definitely check out the public school for your new neighborhood, because there's a chance it might be quite a bit better than some of the local provate schools. But there is certainly no reason to fret about getting into an East Bay private school if that's what you want. local mom

K - 5th grade vs. K - 8th grade schools

Our child will enter kindergarten next fall and we are considering several private schools. Some of the K-5 programs appeal to us, but we're somewhat concerned about transferring to another private school for grade 6. Does anyone have experience with this situation or advice about choosing a K-8 program versus a K-5 program? Is the 6th grade transfer process so competitive that many applicants aren't accepted? For a variety of reasons we don't think our public school would be a good fit, so we don't want to be stuck without options come 6th grade.

We know each school varies, but how competitive have parents found the kindergarten application process in recent years? Can we apply just to our to our top choices or is it best to also apply to ''safety schools''? It seems ridiculous to ask these questions about K instead of college, but we'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks! -Anxious Kindergarten Applicants

I love that it is K-8 and that we don't have to make any more decisions until high school...but then again, it is a GREAT FIT for both of our children and for our family and I think that that should be your driving motivation in finding the RIGHT SCHOOL FOR YOU.

I do understand that people are starting to apply in 4th grade now so that they will be able to be in a private middle school. I don't know how common this is across schools; it is a good question to ask when you go on the tours. Good luck, it is a tough process

There are a LOT of private schools in the East Bay, especially if you are willing to commute a bit. Also, some of the schools have bus transportation. If you don't limit yourself to one or two schools, you should be fine.

As for the K process, I went through that last year. We applied to 3 schools. My daughter was accepted to 2 and didn't get into 1. I could have applied to more, but I wanted to right ''fit'' for her and we definitely found it.

Again, there are a LOT of great private schools in the East Bay. I think you will be fine if you don't limit yourself. Good luck! Been There

What to look for in a school

In reference to the discussion a few months ago about elementary school choice ... I just completed a school search for my elementary school kid, and did an extensive search for kindergarten just a couple years ago. My three children have attended a total of 6 different public schools and 3 different private schools (!!), so I thought I would write up a few things I've learned. Some of these apply only to private school, like tuition, but most of them apply to any type of school. It's really important to consider factors beyond academics that will affect your long-term happiness at a school, so I am mostly addressing these non-academic factors:

1. Think beyond kindergarten!

When you are looking for a kindergarten, you have a 4-year-old child in preschool, and you are probably not thinking about how this school will work for your 3rd grader. You are thinking more about how your tot will adjust to "real" school. Moreover, it is very hard to tell what sort of school will best suit your child when he/she is only 4. But you have to force yourself to take a good look at the upper grades at every school you visit. Your child will most likely have a good experience in kindergarten regardless of which school you choose. But you really don't want to be looking for another school in three years when it turns out the school was not such a great fit after all once your child hits 8 or 9.

2. Do your homework ahead of time

• School Website: Read the school's website and get as much info ahead of time as you can. For private schools, the websites are mainly intended to promote the school, and the really useful bits may only be accessible to school staff & parents. But you can still tell lots about the school - see the following suggestions. Public school websites are usually run by the PTA or parents at the school. You can tell a lot about parent involvement from a parent-run website - is it up to date? Is there useful information about staff, hours, after school, etc.?

• Location & logistics: How hard will it be to get your child to and from this school every day for 6 or 8 years? Is there a bus? Can you walk? Is it on your way to work? Do most of the families at the school live near you, or do they mostly live farther away, making it harder to set up a carpool?

• Tuition & fees: If this is not posted on the website, that's a bad sign. Are there fees and charges for additional items that boost the tuition substantially? Are payment options and financial aid described?

• After-school program: If you know you'll be using before or after school care, check the website to see what the program looks like. Are there current announcements about interesting classes? Does the school have more of a babysitting service or a structured afterschool program with classes and activities? How flexible is the program? Can you drop in, or do you need to sign up for a regular schedule? Will you need to pay extra fees for classes? Is there homework help for older kids?

• Philosophy: Unless you are looking for the two extremes of "academically rigorous" vs. "anything goes", most schools in our area have very similar approaches. Don't get too wrapped up in philosophy. Instead try to determine if the school fits your family!

• Teachers: many schools have staff bios on their website and you can often determine useful info. Does this school have a higher than average staff turnover? One indication is a large number of very young looking teachers, say more than half of the staff. What is the average number of years of teachers at the school? You may be able to find out on the school's website. If not, ask. If most of the teachers have been there fewer than 3 years, and it's a school that has been around for a while, this could be an indication that teachers are not compensated adequately. Or worse, there may be a lot of conflict between teachers and administration, which may point to trouble ahead for you, too.

3. Go to the open house or informational meeting

• The director or principal: Does he/she come across as a leader who inspires confidence, but still seems accessible? Most good directors are more politician/marketing rep than educator, but you should look for straight talk on the important issues.

• The "pitch" at the open house: Does it seem intended to please anyone and everyone? Is there a lot of educational terminology and jargon that is not explained? Are you given specific-enough info to determine if the school is a good fit for your family? It's a good sign if the director mentions some aspect of the school that may not appeal to every parent.

• Are subtle "scare tactics" used in the pitch? For example, is it implied that only this school sends kids off to the best high schools and colleges? Is there a lot of verbage about keeping children "safe"? It's not a good sign if the school has to use this kind of tactic to attract families to the school, and it also tells you that the administration is willing to exploit common fears among preschoolers' parents in order to bring in new students.

• Read between the lines: If there is a Q&A session, pay attention to how the director responds to questions from other parents that are naive, awkward, or confrontational. Answers that are too vague, or defensive, or that are brushed aside, can give you a lot of insight into problems at the school.

4. What to Look for on a Visit

• Visit as late in the year as you can. If you visit in September, you are going to see kids still adjusting to a new class, new teacher, and new material. Mid-December or mid-January is good.

• In addition to a scheduled tour, try to visit the school as parents are picking up or dropping off. Are there opportunities for parents to chat and hang out? Is there cameraderie? Do the kids look happy in the morning? Or resigned? For schools that you are particularly interested in, visit a school-wide event, carnival, or assembly so you can observe how the school works in a big gathering.

• Try not to pay too much attention to the physical plant. It's nice to be in a shiny new building with the latest technology and beautiful grounds, but a nice building won't make you feel better about so-so teachers or difficult administrators or an unhappy child!

• Imagine yourself at this school. is it comfortable to you? Do you feel like you would fit in? Would you like to spend time here, over the long run?

• Visit a kindergarten class:
  - Can you picture your child in this class?
  - Is the teacher sweet and mommy/daddy-like?
  - How much of the day are children expected to sit still?
  - How often is recess? What is recess like?
  - Is there a bathroom in the class or nearby?
  - Is there a comfy "chill" area, where a kid can have alone-time?
  - Are there interesting and age-appropriate activity areas?
  - Do the kids seem happy and engaged?
  - If you are lucky, you'll see a disruption: how does the teacher handle difficulties?

• Visit a 3rd or 4th grade class:
  - Look at the books in the class. Are there a lot of books or only a few? Do they address a variety of interests? Or are they mostly serving academic requirements?
  - Look at students' current math work. Is it on par with what you are seeing at other schools? For example, are students at this school still doing addition and subtraction, while other schools are teaching multiplication?
  - What kinds of projects are on the walls? Are they interesting to you? Does it seem like a kid would have fun doing a project like that?
  - Observe the students. Do they seem engaged? Are they listening to the teacher? Do you see collaboration among students? Are all the kids working at the same level? Is the classroom atmosphere conducive to thinking and learning, or is it too chaotic or noisy? (But keep in mind that the 5 minutes you are there may not represent the usual classroom atmosphere!)
  - Observe the teacher. Does he or she seem interested in the topic? Does he hold the attention of the students? How much time is she spending on classroom management as opposed to teaching?

• What is the homework policy? Does the school provide specific information about homework expectations for specific grades? If not, and it matters to you, then ask. You could run into trouble in 2nd or 3rd grade with unexpected demands. If possible, ask kids at the school about homework when you visit classrooms.

• Behavior and discipline: Are there clear rules and policies, or is discipline left intentionally vague to give staff more flexibility? If the latter, then you should ask how the school makes sure that rules are applied fairly and consistently. Ask for examples of how the school handles various situations such as namecalling, exclusion, repeated teasing, bullying, physicality. What is recess like in higher grades? Is it structured, so that there are fewer opportunities for teasing and bullying? How does the school handle excess physical energy, especially in boys? Is there a school psychologist? If not, how are behavior problems identified and addressed?

• Communication: How does the school communicate with parents? Is communication mostly oral, or on paper, or by email? Is there a weekly newsletter? If so, look at a few issues. Is it mostly promoting the school? Or is it more directed to families at the school? Do the teachers send weekly updates to parents? Is there a discussion board for parents? What kind of information is available to parents on the school website? Grades? Rosters? Calendar? News about projects, field trips, presentations, accomplishments?

• Collaboration: Does the principal or director regularly meet with parents? What about with teachers? How often does this happen, and what kinds of things are discussed? How does the administration get input from parents? To what degree do parents participate in major decisions such as building projects, staffing, and policy changes?

• Family support: What kinds of structures does the school have in place to support single parents? What about parents who both work fulltime? Are siblings automatically admitted? If not, what is the typical acceptance rate for siblings? Are there events at the school for the entire family, such as carnivals, BBQ, field day, etc.? Are there opportunities for parents to socialize with each other? Is there a school directory?

Your hindsight about your elementary school choice

I am not asking for specific information about schools in this question. Rather, I am curious to know how people (who are a few years into their children's elementary school) feels it fits into their families and their lives. For example, did you choose a school that was more academically rigorous, but now wish you had chosen something more ''progressive''? Or vice versa? Did you chose something far away logistically and wish you had picked a school closer to home? Is your child not in his/her neighborhood home and now you feel like that affects your participation in the community? Etc., etc. Basically, what do you wish you had done differently or evaluated differently during the process? Are there things that were really important to you and factored into your decision that now seem less important? It's feeling hard to weight all of these different things, so I'm wondering if people can share their hindsight/insight about it. Thanks! Searchin'

Further, the public school curriculum is well-paced for most kids, not too slow or too fast. Even if a student is advanced in one or two subjects, there is still hands-on science and social studies projects that are new and exciting for all. With the money I saved with public school, I don't feel restrained in paying for enrichment classes outside of school. -- no stress mom

My son is at a private K-8 school in Oakland. Although in general, I'm OK with how this is going, here are things I wish I had done differently:

Not been so intimidated by public school. I wish I had looked into it more thoroughly, instead of relying on what I thought I knew about it. Part of the problem is that when you start looking at schools, your child is 4 years old, and you just can't picture sending your kid off to a big urban public school.

Similarly, I wish I had not focused so much on kindergarten. When you are touring, you hear from kindergarten and first grade parents the most, who are all still in the honeymoon stage with the school. I wish I had talked to more parents of older kids - fourth grade and up - particularly since one of the reasons I chose the school was so that I would not have to deal with applying to a new school for 6th grade (i.e., I was planning to stay). And I would have made sure to find out what people DIDN'T like about the school. Don't believe anyone who says their school is perfect. The key is to find the things that are wrong with it that will bother you the least.

Really drill down on teacher turnover. Some schools will outright lie to you.

My son's school is very progressive. All the p-c stuff and the helicoptering on social issues consumes a LOT of time and energy that I think could be better spent on academics. Thanks for asking!

I'm sure somebody could write the exact same post - switched from public to private and am loving it! Obviously it is a very personal decision (if you are so blessed to be able to choose between the two) and there is a lot of difference in terms of quality of school within the general category of public or private. But my advice having gone through it is to give the public schools a chance. It has been somewhat difficult for our child to socially navigate the change and I wish we could have avoided the switch. But looking back we didn't see the journey very well and couldn't quite imagine our 4 year old in a large, boisterous public school. I wish I had the hindsite I have now or wished somebody shook me and said ''what are you so afraid of?'' anon

I have asked myself: how could we have known? I don't know. We wanted the best, the very best, for our kid, just like everybody else. But it's impossible to tell what a 4-year-old will need when he is 9 or 12. And you really cannot see what a school is like in one or two visits. So you are attracted to the superficial aspects. Private schools put on a good show because they need to get a certain number of new kids every year to meet the payroll, preferably smart, easy-to-deal-with kids who ''have a diversity'' and don't need financial aid. Public schools do not have this motivation. The picture at a public school may be less appealing superficially, but you are seeing a more realistic picture of what the school actually will be like. On the other hand, public schools accept all comers, so your kid may be spending all day every day with kids who are disruptive, verbally abusive, developmentally delayed, and all round bad influences. Also, really important: not all the public schools in your district are equal. In Berkeley, there are public schools that are more like local private schools in terms of quality of instruction, classroom environment, and parent participation. And then there are the schools that no one puts down as their first choice. Sit in on classrooms in the upper grades at these schools. Talk to other parents. Figure out if the worst school in your zone is acceptable to you.

You cannot really know a school, public or private, until you have been there a few years. I believe it is safe to assume that with very few exceptions, your child will be academically prepared regardless of the school. So in retrospect, things that matter to me are mainly non-academic: #1 is proximity to where we live. Very important. You are talking about every day, for 6 or 8 years. Do you really want to be driving, carpooling, etc, day after day for the next decade or so? And think about ease of making playdates. #2 consideration is also not academic. For working parents: how is the after-school program and lunch? Visit the after school program if you are going to be using it, and take a good look.

Other considerations:
Teachers - there are good ones everywhere, and bad ones everywhere. Would you prefer to pay out the wazoo for a bad teacher or would you like to get him/her for free? Do teachers stay at the school? If more than half of the grades have a teacher who's only been there for a yearr or two, this probably indicates a problem with administration that is causing teachers to leave.
Peer group - some people say that what private school tuition is really paying for is the peer group. Are you OK putting your kids in a school with kids who have vastly different backgrounds or values from yours? For some kids, peer approval is so important that they will absorb values and outlooks that you may prefer they didn't. If you are looking at a school that goes to the 6th or 8th grade: by this age, kids start to choose friends based on compatibility. Are there enough students so your child will be able to find kindred spirits?
What about the other parents? Would you feel comfortable hanging out with them for an hour or two? How hard or how easy is it to communicate with other parents at the school? Is there a directory? Are there get-togethers for parents and families? Is there an active parent association?
Academics - for all the bad karma around No Child Left Behind, there are actually standards now that your child's public school teacher will be trying to teach. These standards are often higher than in private school (in our case this was true, despite PR to the contrary.)
Extra-curricular activities - ask about art, music, PE, field trips, etc. Be sure to look at the grades above kindergarten.

Don't sweat this too much: you can always move to a different school if it doesn't work out! Happy in school

Anxiety about affording the ''right'' Kindergarten

Our oldest child will be entering Kindergarten next fall and I've started to obsess about schools for her. I'm just not sure about our local public school--test scores are not that high (although improving) and from what I can tell, parent involvement is strong only among a small number of families. I'll probably end up applying for an intra-district transfer (WCCUSD), but the chances seem slim of getting one from what I understand. So, I'm going to research private schools, but I'm worried about long-term affordability--we could probably swing one kid, but not two, unless I go back to work full-time at a stressful job with a commute. Realistically, what kind of financial aid do private schools offer--would we get a better package with only my husband's salary? Sibling discounts? Also, is it terribly competitive to get into most decent private schools? Any insights would be much appreciated. perplexed parent

Turns out, the public schools in WCCUSD are more advanced academically, have a multitude of resources that the private schools do not have, have wonderful, supportive, well-educated, involved parents, excellent teachers (who are more educated, often, than their private school peers), and amazing kids! Four years later, I am still kicking myself that we ever went the private school route.

I would suggest you send your child to your neighborhood school. Give it a try. If it does not work out, private schools are so under-enrolled these days that you can transfer the next year. Had I known what I know now, I would never, ever start at a private school without first trying the public school.

Four kids later, we are thrilled with WCCUSD. Yes, it has been a bumpy ride, but our kids loved elementary school (and no, they did not attend Madera, Kensington, or Harding), one is thriving at Portola, and two are at El Cerrito High. Support your local neighborhood school

Most private schools offer financial aid and if you feel that private school is something you may want to pursue, it is worth applying and seeing what assistance you are offered. There are also very good public schools out there and even those in the same district can be quite different so keep an open mind.

Although difficult, it is not impossible to transfer out of WCCSD -- I know several families who have successfully done so. However, they generally found out that their child was accepted to the other school district after the school-year started. Depending on your child, a school transfer at that point could be stressful (for example, my child was shy and therefore I did not want to consider a mid-year transfer). It is free to apply for an intra-distict transfer, so if you think it may work for you, file the paperwork and decide about it IF your child happens to get accepted.

In my experience, becoming aware of the right learning environment for our child was something that evolved through the elementary years. We were able to find a mid-size public school that worked well for our child initially, and after moving to El Cerrito, we found a small community-oriented cooperative elementary, Crestmont, where my child thrived. if you work through the process, and don't put ''all your eggs in one basket'' it will get sorted out and you will find the right school for your child.

Most of all, don't get discouraged -- the months before kindergarten can be an anxious time for parents, but if you know the type of learning environment you are seeking for your child, you will find it. -- Been There

My kids are at Windrush School in El Cerrito. It has been an excellent match for our family. A great community of families, a very strong academic program and an extremely caring and nurturing environment for the kids - they put a lot of emphasis on the social and emotional needs of the kids to enable them to succeed academically and in the world as citizens. It is on the small size which makes the transition to kindergarten very smooth for the kids. They say that the two most challenging transitions for people are to kindergarten and to college. I felt that having that level of attention in that first year was really important.

Private schools are offering tours, I encourage you to sign up for those and the information days/nights to see what is out there. Good luck with your search. I know it is not an easy time. Anon

My children got a fantastic education at a W. County elementary school with average test scores because they had caring teachers and the school staff were very compassionate and committed to helping each child.

All that money that we saved by doing public school went into a college savings fund, paid for family vacations, and enrichment during the school year and summers.

Plus our kids had the experience of meeting children from all walks of life--rich and poor, regular ed and special ed. These are invaluable ''real world'' experiences that will serve them well later in life.

Also, some schools with very high test scores can be difficult to handle because helicopter parents gravitate toward them and generally drive themselves and the school staff nuts with their worries and anxieties.

There are some very good reasons to attend private schools but why not try the ''free'' option first, see if it works for you, and if it's not a good fit, you can apply to a private school later.

You didn't mention which school you are zoned to. There seems to be a fair amount of fear in the West County area about public schools that are not Kensington or Madera. I say that without an ounce of judgment because last year I definitely shared that fear.

This year, that fear is gone because my son and a bunch of his friends from the neighborhood are very happy at Mira Vista. We know families that are happy at Riverside, Harding, Washington, Olinda, Stewart and Ellerhorst. I don't know any families at Fairmont right now but from what I've heard it's a small, close-knit community with some great teachers. There are some great things happening at schools with so-so test scores.

WCCUSD kindy is still just a half day. Before school began I saw this as a drawback but now I see it as a plus. Kids get all afternoon, at home or at aftercare, to unwind and play. And when you do public school you're more likely to be able to afford fun enrichment classes!

Best of luck to you. public school mom

The Private Kindergarten Mishigas

I would like to hear from other parents who just went through that harrowing experience of private Kindergarten applications. We applied to 5 (5!) schools, got into only one (not our first choice by far), and waitlisted on the rest. 2 other parents from the same preschool got in nowhere at all--and most of their letters were not just waitlists, but outright rejections. These are children of parents who are generally well-educated (a couple of graduate degrees amongst us) and care about education. Are our kids just duds? Was the preschool (a new one) maybe not preparing the kids for these assessments? Are other schools specifically prepping the kids? Is this normal? Or was it a particularly grueling year out there with unusually fierce competition? What happened to other people out there? No More Fingernails

We applied to four private schools in Oakland and Berkeley, focusing on those that consider themselves progressive and developmental. My son was offered spots at all four. I know that one of them is considered difficult to get into, but I have no idea about the others. He goes to a very small, play-based preschool, and there was no specific preparation for the assessments at all. I called them ''playdates'' and explained that he would get to check out the schools, and I tried to ease any anxiety he would have. I also tried to schedule the assessments on the same day as his best friend so that he would feel more comfortable. As far as I could tell, they were looking for basic kindergarten readiness at the assessments (ability to follow instructions, sit and focus on a task, relate to peers, communicate and so forth).

I have no idea what the experience has been like for those applying to the schools that are considered more college prep (Head Royce, Bentley, etc.) since we did not go that route. Perhaps there was more competition at those?

Even having been accepted at the schools we were interested in, I still found MANY aspects of the process distasteful and off- putting. It has been incredibly draining.

I realize that it must be a difficult balancing act for the schools too, but some of the late stage event / open house invitations that we received from the school that rejected us may more considerately have been reserved for families they were planning to accept/consider. Painful process for me. Anon

Choosing the right kindergarten

My daughter will be entering kindergarten next fall. With all of the different choices out there, I feel overwhelmed. Does anyone have any good suggestions of how I can find out more about my options and find the school that's the right fit for my daughter? I've done some research on my own and will do observations etc., but I'd like to know if there's a place or publication that will give me more information about finding the right match. We live in Albany, I teach in Berkeley so I have both public and private school options. Help?? Anon.

How many kindergartens should we apply to?

Hello,
I know this is kind of a crass question but in facing the private school application process for kindergarten in Fall of '07, I can't help but wonder how many schools people typically apply to and/or recommend applying to? How competitive is this process anyway?? My husband and I are already a bit aghast at the prospect of private school (We seriously cannot figure out how anybody pays for it! How would we? Who knows?)and truly hope to get a decent Oakland public school in the lottery (not necessarily one of the supposed ''best''). But we feel like we need to have a back-up in case that doesn't come through. At the same time, we don't want to spend a small fortune on application fees, nor get totally caught up in the school crazies. Any advice on how to approach the private school application process from more of a ''only as a back-up'' approach? Is such a thing possible? Also, everyone says that financial aid is available, even for more ''affluent'' people, but what does that really mean? We certainly are not affluent by Bay Area standards, but we could never claim to be poor either (thank goodness). Lastly, has anyone elected to have their child sit out kindergarten in lieu of attending either a poor public school or unaffordable private school? Thanks so much
Feeling quite flummoxed

I would also strongly encourage you to consider the public school option. You can always change your mind down the line if it doesn't work out! We love our daughter's school and in some ways regret not sending our son in the beginning. Good luck! Both public and private

My advice is to visit as many private AND public schools as you can before deciding which one to apply to. Each school has very distinct personalities and philosophies and it's true that you need to find the one or ones that fit your child's needs. After visiting only 3, I discovered that nothing can compare to an actual visit. Seeing the classrooms and playgrounds, viewing the resources and even at times experiencing the teachers with their students gives a parent a strong feeling for whether or not the school is a good fit.

While I can't speak for all private schools, it was explained to me at one that we visited, that all applications are first reviewed and students accepted or waitlisted. Only after the students have been identified does the school then look at financial aid applications. Anything from $1000 and up was available according to need and fund availability.

The application process for both public and private schools is crazy. Assessments and questionnaires, self-portraits and educational backgrounds -- it's like I was entering college again -- and for a 5 year old? It seemed insane.

In the end, the lottery treated us unkindly and we did not get placed into any of the 7 Oakland public schools we had listed. We were accepted to and are now attending Redwood Day School. While the cost is high and believe me, it's a stretch each month, my daughter is ecstatic. The resources available to parents, students, and faculty is tremendous and the philosophy is echoed with every teacher at the school. It's like having a first child -- the process is painful, but in the end, after the decision is made, you make the best of the situation. Public or private is not the issue. Finding the right school for your little one is the priority and there are plenty of options to choose from. No doubt, it will be school crazies (particularly for the first time parents) -- but whatever you and your husband decide will be the right decision for you.

Been There, Done That
abigail

Hi, there, I know it is kind of early but I cannot not worrying--our child is going to go to kindergarten next year and it seems we have a big project coming to research the school. I would like to ask a couple beginner's questions:
1. how many schools do people usually apply (I assume he may have to go to a private school as local public school is not of the satisfactory quality)?
2. any idea the ratio of applicant vs admitees for the private schools around east bay? what are the standards for schools to admit their students? what if a child is rejected by all the schools?
I know these may be silly but it seems a highly stressful procedure--so many what-ifs. Any response would be deeply appreciated. Thank you. anon

My advice would be tour as many as you have time for -- they are very different from each other and your preconceived ideas my turn out to be inaccurate. The good news is that we have some truly wonderful private schools in the east bay. Good luck anon

When are kindergarten open houses?

Hi! I have a 4 year old son who will start Kindergarten in Fall 2007, was wondering if anyone knew about any open-houses (both private and public) that will be happening anytime soon? Any help or direction is appreciated. THANKS! Lorena