Berkeley Parents Network: Walnut Creek Schools

Berkeley Parents Network

Walnut Creek Schools

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > East Contra Costa County School Districts > Walnut Creek Schools

Questions

Interdistrict Transfer to Walnut Creek?
Schools in areas with rentals in WC?

Reviews of Schools

Interdistrict Transfer to Walnut Creek?

Jan 2011

Hi - We are hoping to have our son start kindergarten at Parkmead Elementary in WC in fall 2011. We currently live in Oakland and are looking for housing in that section of WC. In the meantime, we've heard one option might be an interdistrict transfer. Has anyone done this? Can you request a specific school (at least as a first choice)? Any advice on how to make this work? I've also heard you can get a transfer if you work in WC, at least 32 hrs week. Anyone know if this is true? I have called the district office but not yet gotten a call back. Thanks!

Hi there, Parkmead mom here. There are a number of kids at Parkmead who don't live in the district, so I think interdistrict transfer is probably an option. I don't know if you can pick a particular elementary, however. I think it just depends on space available, so it depends on how many Parkmead-area kids enroll. I know there are always kids moving around between the elementaries the first few weeks of school as they try to adjust class sizes. You might get a faster response from Parkmead itself, rather than the district. The principal is Dr. Kathleen Scott, and the schools number can be found on the Walnut Creek School District's website. Parkmead is great! I can't recommend the school or the area highly enough! WC mom

Schools in areas with rentals in WC?

Oct 2010

WC Parents - we are seriously considering a relocation to WC for the schools. Our son will start kindergarten in fall 2011. We have so many questions and would be so grateful for any advice - we've called several elementary schools, but have gotten limited information. So ...

We are separated and we will be renters, with both parents working f/t. WHICH elementary schools are in areas of WC that have rental properties (small houses and/or apartments)? Presumably some areas are only expensive houses. If you live in such an area, what do you think of your school? Also, we are concerned with sending our child to a school in which he may be unusual, with divorced parents and a full-time working mom. Any thoughts on this? Also, after school programs - what is available in that area, and what has your experience been like?

The schools have advised that we relocate by Jan 2011. Have you found elementary schools hard to get into after that timeframe?

Thank you so much! Sarah

I think every elem. school in WC school district draws from neighborhoods with apartments; I know ours (parkmead) does, as well as walnut heights, murwood and buena vista. You will definitely not be the only ones, and wc has a broader range of housing than you might know. There are still some very rural areas, and you'll often find very modest homes next to the big remodels. As for divorced families, again, probably more here than you might suspect. Not the '' norm'', per se, but common enough that most kids know a couple of families in which the parents are not together. Put your mind at rest, you guys will not be social pariahs!! Wc is a great town...welcome! Happy wc mom

My son is in K at Murwood in Walnut Creek, and I don't know much about the other schools here, but: Murwood draws from an area that has a lot of single-family houses, as well as a fair number of apartments (Creekside and other areas). There are lots of stay-at-home moms, but also lots of working moms (full or part time). There is an after-care on sight that seems to be really terrific so far.

You might do well to get a map from the elementary school districts (there are 2 that cover Walnut Creek), and then overlay that with apartment or rental home listings. I imagine (but don't actually know) that there will be rentals that feed to most of the schools. Good luck!

My kids attend Parkmead Elementary, and I love it. My kids are getting a great education, the staff are caring and warm, and I feel there's just a very nice atmosphere to the school.

As far as elementaries with renter areas, Parkmead covers the condos/apartments on Olympic Blvd. & Boulevard Way/Saranap areas. Murwood covers the Creekside area (many apartments) and Indian Valley covers the downtown/Walker Ave./Sharene Ln. apartments & condos. Of all the WC elementary schools, I'd say only Walnut Heights would have a low proportion of renter families.

Parkmead has numerous two-household families, renters, divorced parents, and a few gay/lesbian families. I don't think your son would stand out as 'unusual' just because you don't happen to own a home or be together.

I haven't used Parkmead's after school program all that much, but I know many people who do and are happy with it. WC mom

this page was last updated: Feb 2, 2011

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