Questions about How School Assignment Works

Are we guaranteed one of our 6 choices?

Our son will be entering Kindergarten Fall of 2013. I've read through the information on the OUSD website and have one remaining question. We are supposed to choose six schools. Are we guaranteed placement in one of those six schools? If not, then what happens? I welcome any insight into the Options process, even that not addressing my specific question. Also, our neighborhood school is an API improvement school and also wouldn't be one of my top six choices. Lisa

How does the lottery work for middle school & high school?

Hi BPN, I'm afraid I might sound very unaware, but I can't seem to find any info on how the OUSD lottery works past elementary school. Once you're in an elementary school, are you prioritized for its ''feeder'' middle and high school? Or, do you have to do the lottery all over again? How hard is it to move into non-neighborhood middle and high schools? Confused about the lottery

Confused about how the Oakland school lottery works

Hello: Am a new member of Berkeley Parents in anticipation of a move to the East Bay in July. I am sorry if this question seems obvious, but just can't seem to figure out an answer. Is the school district in Oakland lottery within a zone, or pure lottery? My oldest son will enter K in the fall, and we won't have an Oakland address until July. If we move to a neighborhood with good schools, are we guaranteed a spot in a school IN THE ZONE, but not necessarily the one closest to us? (Eg, if we moved to Rockridge, we could end up in Chabot or Hillcrest, but not necessarily the one closest to us?) Or is it that we'd be potentially given a spot anywhere in the district? (Eg, we move to Rockridge and end up in a school 30 minutes away). Again, apologies if this has been discussed before - I've scoured the boards and just haven't found the answer. Appreciate any help! Thanks, Amanda

Moving within Oakland after kindergarten

Is it okay to move to a different neighborhood a few years after you've enrolled in an Oakland elementary school? My son will be attending kindergarten in 2013. We currently rent so we're planning on moving this summer to a rental in one of the better school districts.

However, we are hoping to buy a house in three to four years' time. If the house we purchase is not in the same school district, would we have to transfer our son out of third grade? For example, if we rent in Rockridge but later buy in Temescal, would he have to transfer from Crocker to Emerson? Or is it a case of once-you're-in, you're-in through fifth grade?

Also, I know siblings get first priority, but is that whether or not you're in the district? If we moved before my younger son entered kindergarten, would he still get priority for the school his older brother attends? Thanks so much! Adams Point Mama

How to get into Thornhill or Montclair Elementary?

Our son will start kindergarten in Fall 2011. We're renters and can relocate anywhere. We're very interested in having him attend either of the Montclair elementary schools - Thornhill or Montclair. I assume we need to live in one of those school districts to have him attend? Are there any exceptions to that? Is renting okay? Do you have to live there for any specific length of time beforehand? Should I meet with someone at the schools first? What other practical advice could help us? Thank you so much! sarah

With ANY Oakland public school, you must have an address and related identification (car registration, driver's license, electric bill, etc) to prove your residence before the application date. Renting is fine. The date for a 2011 start is likely in mid December 2010.

I suggest you visit the schools you are interested in and talk with parents and teachers. This school year ends in 12 days-so act fast if you want to see action this year (or visit schools then move in the fall).

Please note- occasionally a school will have more neighborhood kids applying then they have space. I know that Hillcrest, for one, has this problem. So make sure wherever you move, your kid has a guarantee of getting in! You can get a sense of capacity by talking with principals, parents, and the person who runs placement for the district.

We toured schools and moved to the Montclair boundaries just before application. We also considered Thornhill, JM, and Piedmont. We're very happy at Montclair. Kim

Moving within Oakland - required to switch schools?

Our daughter is currently enrolled in the 2nd grade at Thornhill Elementary and we are very happy with her teachers and progress so far. We have the opportunity to buy a great house that, while still in Oakland and not very far away, is in a different elementary school district. Must we change our daughter's elementary school? I would hate to move her away from her friends and comfortable school envirnoment but also don't want to pass up this opportunity to own a home. Would love to hear from people who may have been in a similar situation. Conundrum

Our son is starting Kindergarden in the fall. Our lease will be up after he starts, and we'd like to consider buying a house. What happens if we move, within Oakland? Must our child switch schools? At the beginning of the next school year, would we face the interdistrict transfer lottery? Once a child is in a school, can he stay there until he graduates (so long as he lives in Oakland)? We haven't called the OUSD office because we have been told more than once not to trust information from the OUSD office. We like our current district school and wouldn't want him to be forced to move. What are the rules? We're not trying to game the system, but may likely buy in a less-desirable area. anon

Getting into Oakland High Schools

We're going to be buying in Oakland, and want to understand the impact of various neighborhoods for education options down the road. Many things (including OUSD rules) could, of course, change in the next decade, but we'd like to understand where things are at right now. We will buy in the flats and will decide based on many factors - not just the schools. We are currently in Oakland Tech's area, which seems fine. How about Oakland High School? It appears that the high schools tend to have small-school academies -- how hard is it to get in, if you meet the academics, on a transfer? thanks for any insight. anon

OUSD Enrollment Policy Changes/Megaboundary

Dear Parents- I hope you can help. I want to get feedback on the proposed changes to OUSD enrollment policy for elementary schools. We're moving from Oakland to Boston this summer and hope to buy a house by fall. We used to live in Oakland & my husband worked for OUSD so we know its pitfalls. My question is whether or not the proposed changes (sibs first, megaboundaries for enrollment because of overcrowding) will actually effect the neighborhoods/schools. Will people move out if boundaries are expanded? Will home values dip? Will the schools change that much as a result? I know it's an emotional & political issue, but we're devestated to have settled on area that was challenging to begin w/in terms of enrollment (REdwood Heights) only to learn the policy might change drastically w/the new boundaries. Would it be a mistake to buy in such a neighborhood if the policy changed? Any answers welcome. E

The Education Report is a blog where reporter Katy Murphy discusses Oakland schools in great detail. There are many active participants on the blog and it's a decent source of information and opinion on the current issues. crocker parent

OUSD districting and cut-off date changes?

I understand that OUSD in the process of making changes to the cut-off date for kindergarteners from December 1 to September 1. I have also heard that they will be adding a lottery system whereby people in neighborhood schools are not guaranteed their neighborhood school and it is a lottery system instead much like San Francisco Unified. A couple questions, one being when are these changes going to take place, and also, do I have the facts right? Could someone clarify? We are thinking of moving to a new Oakland neighborhood for the schools and I would hate to move and then find out that we can't even go to our neighborhood school. anon

In the last few years or more, there has been a measure in the legislature to change the kindergarten age 5 date requirement (usually a phase in) from Dec. 1 to Sept. 1. However, there has generally been a conflict with folks that like it the way it is, the fact that compulsory education begins at age 6-18, and what to do about the kids that are not placed because of change-which generally means some sort of preschool placement which is always a cost issue. To answer your question directly, there is a bill- AB 683 authored by Sharon Runner that failed to get out of the Assembly Education Committee. See link below. Since this bill failed passage, there is no real threat of anything changing anytime soon.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0651-0700/ab_683_bill_20070426_amended_asm_v97.pdf

Lupita Cortez Alcala Director, Legislative Affairs Office of Jack O'Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction California Department of Education

We live in Montclair - which school?

We live in the Montclair District of Oakland and have a son who will attend elementary school in 2010. I need to figure out which elementary school our son is eligible to attend in Montclair (I assume it's based on our street address) and whether or not there is a lottery system or if we are guaranteed a spot by virtue of being Montclair residents. I would appreciate some guidance and advice. I tried to research the OUSD website but it wasn't very helpful. Chris

OUSD: do neighborhood siblings have priority?

A couple years ago I was told by an official at OUSD that neighborhood children who had a sibling currently enrolled at school would be admitted first, so we thought we'd be fine when it came time to enroll our second child. Now I've been hearing rumors that ''neighborhood siblings'' will be in the same pool as all other applicants from the neighborhood and may not be assigned to the same school at their older sibling. Has anyone else heard this or had this happen? Are you aware of any other school districts that don't prioritize siblings who live within the school boundaries?
Just want my kids to attend the same school!

Current OUSD Open Enrollment Policy?

We are hoping to send our son to public elementary school next year. Does anyone have any current information on how open enrollment works? Is it hard to get into your school of choice? How soon do you have to apply? We are debating whether to move to another area with a better elementary school or to stay put and hope he gets into one of the schools we prefer. We were thinking of listing about 6-8 schools. Is there a good chance we will get one of them? Our local elementary is in the low 600s for API performance, and we are not very comfortable sending him there, but we want to send him to public school. Thanks.

Considering a move from SF - is Oakland school assignment more certain?

We are thinking about moving from SF to Oakland in the next few years for the schools but are not sure about how the neighborhood school system works. If we move into a home that would be in the district for, e.g. Crocker Highlands, before the application deadline, are we guaranteed a spot as neighborhood residents? It wasn't clear from the OUSD website whether living in the neighborhood is more than just a priority ranking. Also, is it difficult for families in the ''more desirable'' school neighborhoods, like those funneling to Crocker, Joaquin Miller, Chabot, etc., to get their kids into their local school? Do neighbors living in the area by the application deadline ever (or routinely) lose places to applicants from other areas? One of the reasons we're thinking of moving from SF is to get away from the uncertainty of the SFUSD's assignment system and we'd hate to move into Oakland only to face the same. Thanks for any insight -- and any recommendations on elementary schools!
East Bay bound?

In good schools there are good teachers. They teach great under Open Court or any other system, with lots of support from parents, and lots of school support (including individualized) for high-performing children, of which in good schools there are very many. maria

Second -- if you're going to move to Oakland for the schools, you might want to read some BPN reviews on the middle and high schools here. Your child will not be in elementary school forever. Obviously, opinions on the grade 6-12 options here vary, but unless you're SURE you want to move again in 6 years, I think you ought to at least think about the schools beyond elementary. You may or may not find them acceptable, but I think it's worth at least thinking about. Good luck! Diane

One thing to do if you find yourself in this situation is to go through the recent OUSD ''Options'' process -- results of this will be out in March -- and if you receive none of the choices that you requested, appeal and get your child on a waiting list at one of your school choices. Then, you have to wait it out, sometimes until August, or even the first week of school. People do this and it is risky but possible. (Note that for PI kids who don't get their choice of school, appealing the Options outcome is an excellent strategy -- the PI kids are put on a waitlist that is entirely separate from the non-PI kids' waitlist. In other words, the PI waitlist must be exhausted before any non-PI kids are taken.)

The other thing to do is to think about what would make you comfortable sending your child to your neighborhood school, even if it's not a ''10'', or even a ''7''. What if there were an active PTA, and several other neighborhood families that were open to sending their kids to the school? Or what if you don't feel comfortable with your immediate neighborhood school, but you've heard that there are some good things happening at another school close by -- would you consider sending your child there for kindergarten, knowing that you could try for a transfer again at 1st or 2nd grade if things didn't work out? If in March, PI or non-PI, you find yourself with a difficult decision to make, please consider Piedmont Avenue Elementary School. There is a new-ish, very active PTA doing some good fundraising; there are neighborhood families sending their kids to the school as well as lots of Oakland families who've transferred into the school because of some of the good things going on there; and the school's physical facility is excellent, unlike some OUSD schools -- no portables, well heated and maintained building, safe neighborhood, and lots of garden and playground improvement in the works. If you'd like to hear more about the school, or would like to follow its progress, please sign up for our Yahoo group -- send an e-mail to walktoschoolPANSA-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Thanks for your interest, Philippa

Do I have any legal right to enroll in the school that is in my neighborhood?

I recently decided to enroll my daughter in public kindergarten instead of continuing with her private school. When I called the school to inquire about registering, I was told that the school is full and that I should call Oakland Unified to get assigned to a school with space available. This is our neighborhood school, btw, not one we were hoping to transfer into. Has anyone else had this happen? What stategies did you use to get your child enrolled? Do I have any legal right to enroll in the school that is in my neighborhood? Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

The first thing you should do is schedule a meeting with the principal to learn about the waiting list process. OUSD schools don't have an actual enrollment count until around the third week of the school year, so there usually are unanticipated openings. Sometimes people move away during the summer and don't notify the school; sometimes parents get accepted to private schools... there are a myriad of reasons that create last-minute openings.

Rather than pursuing any type of legal action, which may or may not get you the desired result (and likely leave a foul taste), you would be better off to work with the principal and show your willingness to be involved with the school and an active and positive member of the school community. Principals have more pull than one might think. I know of at least one case in our high-demand local school where the principal went out of the way to enroll a transfer kindergarten student simply because his parents were so enthusiastic about being part of the community and it was clear that their unabashed involvement (which was not, I might add, financial) would make a great addition to the school. As it turned out, there was an opening to accomodate him anyway, but the principal added him without knowing that because of the perserverance and enthusiasm of the parents. Also, be willing to have some flexibility to enroll in another Oakland public school in hopes that something will come up at your neighborhood school. Chances are better than one would think that even at the highest-demand public schools, there will be an opening at some point (even a few days before the school year). Yes, it can be frustrating and stressful for you and your child. However, I would be willing to bet good money that if you stay on top of things, are patient and work in partnership with the principal and can be flexible right up till the end, that you will be able to enroll your child at your neighborhood public school. Patience, pathos and perserverance will pay off. Knows whereof I speak

I know this is after the fact in your case, but,a word of caution to others: If you think there's even a slim chance you'll use your neighborhood school, register your child early. You can always call the school and tell them you won't be attending. The logistics of assembling classes is mind boggling. The schools have no choice but to set limits for the good of all children. OUSD parent

My neighborhood school is full - don't I have priority over transfer students?

Our child attends a private Kindergarten. We recently moved into the district of a desirable elementary school. When I went to register my child for Fall, 2005 in first grade, I was told that there would only be space if one of the current Kindergarteners didn't attend first grade at the school. I've learned that as many as one-quarter of these Kindergarteners are inter- or intra-district transfers. As we live in the neighborhood, doesn't our child have the right to attend the school, even if it means displacing a current transfer student? Trying to get an official statement out of the superintendent's office is challenging. Is there a written policy? Any advice would be welcome! Thanks, confused

Unhappy with School Assignment

Advice for OUSD appeals-didn't get into any of 6 choices

I read the postings about OUSD School Choice and Open Enrollment and I need advice for anyone who has recently gone through the options process and appeals. We did not get into any of our 6 choices, we are hoping to get in to the NOCCS, however we know it is not easy - the percentage for getting in is not great. My son is going to be 5 in October of this year and his pre-school said he is ready for kindergarden, however our neighborhood school is Santa Fe Elementary and this was our assignment. It is program improvement school and I'm afraid he will not do well in Santa Fe. Does anyone else have experience with Santa Fe or advice for what you would do. I hate to hold him back - we do not have money for private schools and I don't know if we can still get into another pre-school now that it is getting late. We had such a hard time just finding good daycares, that I'm not sure I will have time to find a good pre-school now. I don't know much about homeschooling, and my husband I both work full time, so I don't know if we would even have time to be home with him. any advice? Frustrated mom

At that time, Cleveland (near the lake) was fairly easy to get into (I believe this is no longer the case, but it still doesn't have the hype some other schools like Peralta and Chabot do). Our second kid is starting K in the fall and will go to our neighborhood school, Piedmont Ave. which we avoided 5 years ago. New principal and now it's a rising school. It will never have stratospheric test scores because of its demographics, but it's doing a fine job. I'm sure there are other schools that are similarly rising. Look around and be open minded. I also think it's possible that the Title 1 schools (more low-income kids) will not get hit as hard in next year's budget. It's going to bad for all the schools. (Of course, less ability to raise money from the parents so maybe its a wash.)

I suggest that you appeal first to get into a school you really want. But, start figuring out a rising school that you can easily get into. Also, lots of things shake out at the end of the summer (and even into the first weeks of school). Remember, every study says that a child's home situation is the predictor in school success, rather than the school. good luck!

I would advise you to pick a school you want to go to (but maybe isn't the most popular school you would send your kid to), get on that waitlist and wait it out. Also, if you can send him to a year of pre-k, keep that as a backup plan and if nothing comes through by the fall, wait another year and try again. That is what we did with our fall birthday boy in 2009. We were on the waitlist at Peralta for months and had given up hope of getting in, but in late October there was an opening and we took it! He started K on Nov 2, but it all worked out in the end. Openings that late are unusual, so you may only end up waiting until sometime in September.

We kept in touch with the principal and with the assignment office (Mike Bonino). In October we were offerred spots at Chabot or Kaiser, but we chose to wait for Peralta (we were prepared to wait another year). But it did show us that openings are often available once school starts and not being there at the beginning of the school year was a little disruptive, but totally worth it in the end. Remember also that class sizes are getting bigger in public schools because of the budget cuts and so waiting a year may not be so bad for a younger kid. There will probably be 27 kids in K, 28+ in 1st and 2nd grade. There just isn't enough teacher time to spend a lot of time on kids that need a little more help staying focused and following directions.

We were assigned our neighborhood school

I Did not get my child into an Elementary school of our choice, we put down all schools not including our neighborhood school, and got our neighboorhood school. We are not happy and going to make an appeal. How does the wait list work and how many appeals can you make?

I called a few of our schools of choice and they had not sent our their letters to the children they are offering spots to yet. I had hoped to get an idea which school I should put down so that we would get into any of our 6 choices, however, the schools were no help, because they have to wait for the children to register before they know the projected attendance apparently. Does anyone have any advice? Thank you please help

Overall, I urge parents not to freak out about low-performing schools. There are often complex reasons behind test scores that have nothing to do with your child's experience.

- visit the school. Start by coming in after school and poking around the kindergarten classrooms with your kid - less intimidating than doing a class visit. Meet some teachers. Ask questions. Caring teachers who can talk to parents make the biggest difference in a school.

- talk to parents. Talk to neighborhood parents. Ask them what best and worst experiences have been.

Here are some things I've learned about public schools:

- API can be decieving. Parents want to go to schools with the highest numbers, but that's only one part of the picture. For me, having my son be around people from different countries (who of course don't score as well - until they know the language) was more important to me than being around brainiacs. Parents are the greatest determinant of a child's success, so early on, have confidence that your child will do well in any school.

- Don't be afraid of black kids, brown kids, or poor kids at your school. Schools with a high number of kids on the lunch programs get funding for great programs. Their parents all want the best for their kids, too.

-Playgrounds are scary. Kids are so big and noisy, and thinking about putting our babies in the mix is horrifying. But I mean it when I say you can make a difference! Our school had a horrible playground when we started, now it's green and drought-resistant and welcoming!

- Character education is important. Ask parents and teachers if they have Second Step or Tribes or equivalent programs. See what p.e. and playground programs they have. Sports for Kids, for example, really creates a great playground dynamic a fabulous thing.

- Parents really make a difference! People were afraid of our neighborhood school until neighborhood parents got involved. They started a yahoo group, set up pre-k playdates, built a community, started a parent's group. Today's 'scary school' might become tomorrow's 'hot school' once the energy and direction builds. It feels really great to be part of that, WITH your kids.

If you decide to go with a school you're not crazy about...

- volunteer once a week in the kindergarten classroom and try to find 4 other parents as well. Kindergarten teachers really need help. It makes a big difference to the kids, and you get to know other parents and their kids.

- know that you are doing a great thing for the greater good. The more you learn about how public education works, the more you realize it only works if people - especially educated people with some skills - participate. Kristen

I didn't get any of my 6 choices - what next?

I am a parent of an incoming Kinder and I completed the Options enrollment form for Oakland Unified Schools and was told at the options enrollment process meeting back in December to list 6 schools I would like to get into and I am guaranteed to at least get 1 of my choices. Well, I didn't get any of my choices. They assigned me to my neighborhood school.

After reading the Appeals process paperwork, I am told that I need only petition/appeal one school of my choice. The issue I have is that I have no idea which of my original 6 I would have a better chance of getting in at? Sorry (teachers) for ending my sentence with a preposition. :-)

Anywho, when I went to the tours and asked about potential class sizes and incoming neighborhood kids, siblings, and others, none of the principles or tour guides seem to have a clue about potential slots open for outsiders. I feel like I am shooting in the dark here. How am I supposed to put ALL my eggs in one school's basket without knowning my chances of getting in to that school?

Also, in terms of my appeal letter, does someone know on what grounds my appeal should be submitted? In other words, what situations or circumstances will make my appeal stronger for my son?

I am desperately seeking answers, if any of you parents have navigated this process, or you are a teacher, principle, or a OUSD employee, I would LOVE any feedback or insight you have.

Thank you so very much

We put down the schools we wanted on the Options form, listing Crocker Highlands first and our neighborhood school last. In late February or early March we got a letter that said we had been assigned to our neighborhood school. My husband went down to the School Assignment office the Monday after we received our assignment letter at 5:00 am to stand in line to appeal to Crocker. We were about 3rd or 4th in line. He filled out the appeal form. Some time in May we got another letter saying our appeal had been denied. My husband went down again to the School Assignment office and said we still wanted Crocker. About 2 weeks later we got a call from the office saying that our appeal to Crocker had been granted. A few notes:

1) Michael Bonino at the schools assignment office was very helpful. I don't know if he is still there, but try calling the office.

2) If you received the assignment letter a few weeks ago and missed the Monday morning line, I would still appeal to the school you want. Be peristent. Every time the office tells you your appeal has not been accepted, tell them you still want to go to the school of your choice.

3) One thing I appreciated about the interim principal of Crocker last year was that she was clear about how many appeals had gotten in. She told us all appeals the year before we started had been accepted but that the year before that, not all had. Some of the schools we looked at wouldn't give us any information about this. Ellen

Worried about our local school assignment

My son will attend our local grade school this fall, and I am already worried about it. We applied to a few private schools but got no financial help and so we are forced to go with the 'option' of our nearby school. My child will be in the minority - the school has 3% Caucasian kids; it is mostly working class, nice kids, but I feel a bit out of place. The teachers are long timers who do not like to have parents in the classroom, which makes me nervous; there are very few extras like art, music, computers, Spanish. I could do some things after school, but with the all day K I have been told not to schedule anything more for K year!! We are thinking if the Oakland school isn't adequate we will try to move. Any advice on where to go? Piedmont, Albany, Lafayette?? We love Oakland, but also love our kids, and want them to get a good education. Thanks...

during all this time, be in frequent contact with your preferred school. see if the principal has a ''list'' of his/her own of interested out of neighborhood families. go to volunteer days (garden/work days, festival, garage sale...), talk to current parents, talk to the principal, the secretary, the parent group/PTA...

i nearly gave up on my preferred school, and switched to the waiting list of a school i thought we'd stand more chance of getting into (one where the waiting list was shorter). two days later the principle of my preferred school called me and curtly said, ''i'm about to take everyone on the waiting list, and you are in my 'book,' but you are not on the waiting list. get on it.'' i quickly made a phone call and sent an email to OUSD to switch us back to our preferred school's list, and we got in that next day. the principals do not have the ability to pick and choose from the waiting list, but they DO want motivated families, and will help you though the process, if you show them you are willing to invest your time and energy in their school.
signed: learned to have nerves of steel

My son's kindergarden assignment sucks!

I am in the Oakland Unified School district..the elementary school my son has been assigned to is Santa Fe....unacceptable according to lots, including people who work for the district. I filled out an ''options'' form listing Peralta as my n8mber one choice...but we were turned down for everything...all six options. I filed an appeal, but was again turned down. I cannot afford a private school, didn't win the NOCCS lottery...I feel totally helpless. I cannot send him to a school that I would have considered a nightmare as a kid.. I went to all public schools in Berkeley...including continuation high school, so I'm no prude. anyone have any ideas? thanks, tresca tresca

Our neighborhood school was overenrolled - what can we do!?

I need advice on what tack to take to get my child into kindergarten at our local school, Hillcrest. Although we have lived in the area for years and registered on time, this year our child and several others were turned away. (The rumor is 25.) They have also decreased the class size by 10. I immediately got on the waiting list, but the district didn't give me any information about how that list works. The principal and staff are being evasive.

The school he was enrolled at is much farther from our house, and not what we want.

Can anyone tell me how we can find out how many children were turned away, how the waiting list works, whether the school has to at least go back to the class size it had last year to accomodate a few more children, whether it can use its large excess funds raised by the PTA(over 100K) to help accomodate displaced children? Does the school have any legal responsibilities to neighborhood children? Who in city government can advocate for us? Has anyone else been displaced from their local school in Oakland, and if so what did you do about it?

We cannot afford private school, and really didn't think would would have to.
disenfranchised

To be honest, I wish families who don't want to go to our school could transfer out to their first choice school. Instead of working hard to create the school experience they wish for, some dissatified parents just discourage and sap the energy of the rest of us. Even the best schools aren't perfect.

I know a lot of us don't want to upset our Kindergartners by enrolling them at the last minute or moving them after they get settled somewhere. But you can work to prepare your child for that eventuality if you think your first choice school is the best place for child to attend. When we didn't get the Kindergarten assignment we had hoped for, I chose to keep my child at her assigned school. It's actually worked out very well for us. But I know others who have transferred and it's worked out well for them, too. Even a mid-year transfer can make sense if you think your child will attend the school of your choice for many years. A child could be at their elementary school for six years. So several months out of so many years may not be that significant for many children.

I think you deserve to send to your child to your neighborhood school. (I read in Tuesday's Oakland Tribune that a family who did not get into their neighborhood school was told it was a mistake by the the District Assignment Office and assured that their child would be re-assigned. So you might find it easy to get your child re-assigned.) But where ever your child ends up going, I hope you can make it a great experience for your child. OUSD Mom

Did not get your public school choice in Oakland?

March 2006

A group of North Oakland/Temsecal parents who did not get their Oakland school lottery choices are attempting to join forces to make Emerson Elementary School (located in the vibrant Temescal neighborhood) a viable option for our prospective kindergarteners. (Emerson is the neighborhood school for most of us; my daugher's local school is Santa Fe). We would love to hear from any other Oakland parents in or out of the neighborhood (the school is currently underenrolled) who would like to help us make Emerson a vital school. You can email me, or better yet, show your interest at EmersonSchoolNeighbors[AT]yahoogroups.com. Thanks

In previous years, parents registered at the local school so you knew where your child would attend elementary school, and it was a given that the open enrollment period to change schools would result in only a few available spaces at the coveted schools. My feeling is that the new central registration process has given parents false hope that there are suddenly more spaces available at the top rates schools, leading people to believe that there was a better chance of getting in than in previous years. From what I see, this isn't the case. Montclair and Rockridge are full of little kids (''baby boomlet''?) and, as the cost of private education and life in the bay area gets more expensive, more people in these areas will send their kids to public school. For the first time in several years, Joaquin Miller has 3 kindergarten and 3 first grade classes. Mom and supporter of Oakland schools

We also applied to a charter school, only to find ourselves competing (unsuccessfully) with 74 other families, for 5 kindergarten spots! To me, it seems pretty clear that we will not be able to transfer to an already excellent public school outside of the neighborhood, this year or in the near future. Therefore, I am hoping to feel comfortable sending my child to our neighborhood school next year -- we're doing 1 more year of preschool, for a number of reasons. For those who live in the Piedmont Avenue Elementary School neighborhood, and are thinking some of these same thoughts, I hope that you will sign up for the Yahoo group I started. Here's the information: Group name: walktoschool Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/walktoschool Let's talk about what we can do together so that our kids really can walk to an excellent Oakland elementary school. Piedmont Ave parent

Desperate for alternatives to our assigned school

I have several friends and acquaintances who have children starting kindergarten in the fall. They put in intradistrict transfers, since their assigned school was considered really awful by most measures. None of them got accepted to any of the schools they listed on the intradistrict transfer forms. I also have a daughter starting kindergarten this fall, and I put in my forms for transfer as well, but can probably kiss that (already mediocre) solution goodbye, as I didn't even make the open enrollment deadline. I have also applied to three different charter schools in the area, all three of which have admitted that they have received around 100 applications for anywhere from 5 to 15 spaces, with decisions made by lottery. I have even looked at numerous private schools, though I cannot afford them. I am overwhelmed, stressed, and full of anxiety about what my daughter's education will hold for her next year. As a single, working parent, options are limited, so the really wonderful cooperative schools and homeschooling are, unfortunately, out of the question for now. But I am desperate not to put my daughter in our assigned school, (Emerson Elementary), which I've heard horrible things about. A couple of people have mentioned being in similar circumstances. What is the possibility of forming a small group of parents to hire a kindergarten teacher? Has anyone heard of anyone doing this kind of thing? Or does anyone have any other advice for me? I could really use any information anyone can offer! Thanks!

OUSD Options - Requesting a Non-Neighborhood School

If we move to another zone, can we keep our school?

Hello: My family is a recent transplant to the east bay so hoping someone can help. We're currently renting in oakland with our older son enrolled in a K program we're very happy with. However, our lease is up in the winter and we're looking for a house. Until now, we've been focused on other homes in our very small zone, and frankly there just isn't much out there. I believe I understand from the Ousd website that once enrolled, we could move my son out of zone and he could remain enrolled at his current school. Has anyone done this? Similarly, if we moved to Berkeley, could we keep him in an oakland school? Any help is appreciated! Thanks

OUDS Options 2012 -- How'd it go?

I'm curious as to how the OUSD options process went this year. I heard about Crocker being over-subscribed and neighborhood kids getting turned away. Did this happen for any other schools (beside the usual suspects -- Hillcrest, Thornhill, Redwood Heights)? I'm curious about Glenview, Montclair and Peralta mostly. Did all the neighborhood kids get into these schools? Did any non-neighborhood kids get in? In general, did parents get the assignments they were hoping for, or were there a lot of disappointed families? Thank you. Adams' Point Mama

After researching the OUSD options process, we knew it would be pointless to try for Hillcrest, Thornhill, even Redwood Heights, so we ruled out those schools & researched lots of others and found Sequoia to be the best fit for our family. With all the school closures, we were expecting to go through the appeals process, but it didn't come to that. It may have been due to the fact that they were opening a 4th kindergarten class, which we found out at an open house. Good luck! Melissa

How to choose in OUSD options?

I know there are a million different ways of looking at this and a thousand different opinions, but what are people doing? Should I try for a competitive well reputed school where there are 30 kids per class starting in 1st grade (my dtr's year) or one that has more resources and smaller class sizes, but was totally underwhelming when I toured? Is it worth it to try to get into Thornhill being outside the neighborhood, especially as schools are being closed and kids are being moved in (increasing competition for those precious few 1st grade spots in any good school). I'm thinking of Thornhill, Joaquin Miller, RedwoodHts, Sequoia (my neighborhood school) Glenview, Crocker. Any ideas?

Thornhill is our neighborhood school (and our first choice) but I don't think it is out of reach for you -- even if it's full after the options process, things will change as time goes on (people opt for private school or change their minds, move, etc.) You only need ONE spot so stick with it and be enthusiastic and persistent. The only school this doesn't apply to is Hillcrest -- not even room for those in the 'hood. Opinions, not insight!

Hidden Gems that Accept Transfers

Hello - We are looking to apply to transfer within Oakland. Our son starts Kindergarten in the fall. From what I can tell reading on BPN and talking to others it makes no sense at all to put schools in my application that are overcrowded as is (i.e. Chabot, Hillcrest, Thornhill). I know parents are happy with Kaiser and that they need to increase enrollment for the fall. What other schools do people feel are headed in a positive direction, have strong school leadership, and have a creative nurturing school environment? In other words...what are some other ''gems'' I should look at THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A PRAYER OF GETTING INTO??! Thank you! Sarah

First choice isn't our (great) neighborhood school

I realize this is a bit of an annoying question, but here goes. Our child will be entering kindergarten next fall and we live in the Crocker Highlands neighborhood. Our first choice is actually Chabot (for a number of reasons that I won't get into- I realize they're both great schools). My first thought was that we'd be safe with choosing Chabot first, Crocker second because we could be assured a space in the neighborhood school if we didn't get Chabot (a likely scenario given how popular Chabot is). Anyone know if we would be shooting ourselves in the foot with this plan? Do we give up our neighborhood slot by doing this? thanks anonymous

Oakland Options--What order to list schools?

In the Oakland School District Options program, we are supposed to list up to 6 schools in order of preference. Should we also take into consideration whatever information we can learn about which schools are likely to be full of neighborhood kids and not taking any, or few students through Options? For example, if I list ''The Perfect School'' as my first choice, but I don't get in, will I be at a disadvantage in getting into ''Pretty Good School'' that I listed as number two, since other people listed ''Pretty Good School'' as their number one?

Along these lines, can anyone tell me which schools are impossible to get into through the lottery? Oakland mom

Having been through the options process last year, though I have no proof, I absolutely believe that it puts you at a disadvantage to ''shoot for the moon'' with your top choices. Last year, it seemed that most people who filled up most or all of their choices with the most well-known and highly regarded schools did not get a single one of their choices and were assigned to their neighborhood schools, even if their own schools were program improvement (which last year gave you third priority after neighborhood kids and siblings). That said, our school is program improvement and we did put ultra-popular schools down as our first two choices--just to see if we could get in--but were assigned to our third choice school and are now very happy. After hearing other people's experiences, though, I felt that we really gambled in making our choices and were very, very lucky to even have been assigned to our third choice school. My advice to you is to think very carefully not only about the schools you choose, but about the order you put them in. And if you are not successful into getting in to a school that is acceptable to you, use the appeals process.

To answer your question about schools that are pretty much impossible to get in to via the options process, and often don't even have room for all neighborhood kids: Hillcrest, Thornhill, Redwood Heights, Montclair, and Joaquin Miller. I believe that Peralta is also now overenrolled.

Good luck in your search! Another Oakland Mom

Out-of-neighborhood school and twins

I am the parent of twins in Oakland who will enter K in 2009. We will not enroll our kids at the neighborhood school (yes, I have put in a lot of time looking into this school and am not blowing it off without consideration). My question is, how in particular does the Options process work for twins? We need them to be in the same school, so are we that much more disadvantaged because we need two spots instead of that one lucky spot? Do the forms even have something on them to take this into account (i.e., two siblings entering K who must be placed at same school)? -mama de gemelos

Second, because you can only target one school at a time to appeal to, and I needed two spots, I chose to focus my energy on a school I would be happy to send my kids to, that was a bit under most OUSD parents' radar (at least it was - that is changing), but where I thought I had the best chance of getting in.

Third, I went in a filed my appeal promptly, and treated the office staff very well.

Fourth, I met with the principal to talk about the school and my family, and why we were so exicted to attend this school. Officially, the powers that be will tell you the principal has no influence over school assignments, but I think the fact that I got a call from the district the next day, and my twins were accepted to this school within 2 weeks of that meeting, is telling. I did not ask for assistance from the principal, just met with her, learned more about the school, and shared with her my family's situation. Lastly, be persistent -- persistent without being a pest, that is. Also, if you are willing to be hanging out until August not knowing where your kids will go to school, I've heard there can be a lot of last minute shuffling around that goes on right before school starts and even into the first few weeks. While not ideal, if you have your sights set on one of the more popular schools, it may be the only way to get in.

And yes, they will place both your kids at the same school. When you file your appeal (assuming you don't get your choice of schools right off - although that is a possibility), make sure you tell the office that you have twins. They will mark the front of each application accordingly. OUSD Twin Parent

Oakland School Lottery for 2008, how did it go?

We're gearing up for kindergarten and the Oakland Lottery for Fall 2009 and wanted to get your feedback on 2008.
- Did you get your first, 2nd or any choices on your list? So far, I've only heard of families getting their local schools.
- Is there anything you would do different?
- What school will you be attending in the fall?
Obviously we are nervous about the process, but hope for the best outcome possible. -Nervous Oakland Mom

Best schools to target for Oakland Lottery system

My son is zoned for a less than desirable public school in Oakland so I am going to try out the lottery system as we cannot afford a private school. I am looking at Montclair, Joaquin Miller, Sequoia & Redwood Elementary schools as they are close to where we live (near Joaquin Miller Park) and seem like pretty good schools from what I hear. I wanted to get some feedback from parents on:

-school recommendations
-how to approach the lottery system
-any ideas on how to improve my son's chances of getting into a
school (i.e. - joining the PTA of the school now)
-which schools afterschool programs are ok, good & great

The best quality schools to target through the open lottery are Kaiser and Glenview in my opinion. I know people who got into both schools through the open lottery this past spring. If you are denied initially, act quickly with an appeal and be persistant and patient. Good luck! Redwood Heights Parent

My child will not start kindergarten until next fall, but I have been involved with my neighborhood school, Sequoia, for several years now. Through volunteering and attending school events, I have found a wonderfully diverse and interesting family population, a very talented, stable staff, and an accessible, intelligent, energetic principal. The school has been designated an Alameda County Arts Anchor School, and you can see new art going up inside and out. There is a thriving garden program and an active Dads' Club, among other things. And two brand-new play structures were installed over the summer, which are getting a lot of use!

Sequoia does not have test scores as high as the other schools you mentioned, nor does it raise as much money as those schools. This may work in your favor as far as the lottery goes, as those seem to be the determining factors as far as which schools parents most frequently request. As a teacher myself, I believe there is more to a good school than test scores, and I like much of what I have found at Sequoia. I think Sequoia is one of the best-kept secrets in OUSD and feel lucky to have access to the school without having to try and get in via the lottery.

To find out more, you could check out www.sequoiaschool.net, or attend the Prospective Parents' Night at 7pm on Tuesday, November 13th. There are also very current posts from parents at www.greatschools.net.

Good luck with your search!

How does Oakland public school assignment work?

Hi, I thought that one's child was eligible to go to a particular Oakland public school based on home address, but I see BPN members talk about Oakland public school assignments, options, and being turned down on application forms. Can someone explain how the system works? Thanks. Rose

1. Children who currently reside in the neigborhood boundary of the school and who have siblings currently attending the school are admitted first.

2. If space remains after the children in (1) are admitted, other children who currently reside in the neighborhood are admitted next.

3. If there is not enough space for the children in (2), there is a lottery system to pick the names of the kids in category (2) who will receive the remaining spaces. The rest of the children under (2) are assigned to schools based on how they filled out the options form. If the parents of those children did not select another school option, the child is assigned to a nearby school in Oakland Unified.

4. If there is still space after the neighborhood children are assigned, the school will accept next siblings of students currently at the school but who do not live in the neighborhood.

5. After that, children who do not have a sibling at the school and who do not live in the neighborhood would be accepted. Children whose neighborhood school is a program improvement school would then have priority over other children whose neighborhood school is not a program improvement school. If you fill out the options form, your child is not assigned to your first choice, and you reside in the neighborhood, you can be placed on a waiting list in case someone who was admitted moves or chooses another school option. Admissions occur right up until school starts or even later.

If this year is any indication, there are several schools in Oakland that will likely have too many children seeking to enroll in kindergarten based on the spaces available for 2008/2009. This year that happened, but because the district could have done better at communicating with parents that they are not guaranteed their neighborhood school, the District has made accommodations this year for folks that were confused and that appealed their child's assignment.

It would be prudent for 2008/2009 for people to list other Oakland public schools that would be acceptable in case your neighborhood has a large entering K class and to consider applying to private schools also.

The good news is that even when other public school assignments are needed, the kids are generally placed together at a very nearby school (usually closer than the nearby private schools) so there remains the neighborhood feel and the ability to have playdates with kids from your class in the neighborhood and there is also diversity and broader experiences available. So the best advice is to fill out the form, visit all the schools that are nearby your home and consider all of your options! anon

We live just outside the Crocker district - how?

We live in Oakland a few blocks outside of the Crocker Highland Elementary School district line. Is there anyway to get our children into Crocker Highlands Elementary since we live so close without moving? If so, what is the process? Please let me know. Thank you!

What public school CAN we lottery into in 2007?

Though we want to support our Oakland neighborhood school, we might want to attend someone else's Oakland neighborhood school. I want to make wise choices in the lottery, raising our chances rather than lowering them. I've heard enough negative stories, are their good stories? If we have to attend our neighborhood school, so be it, the system won't get better if we don't support it .

We live in the Chabot district - worried we may not get in

We live in the Chabot School District. But from reading various posts, I'm beginning to get concerned that my daughter may not get in, regardless. Is it possible that she won't get in even if we live in the district?? Anon

Oakland kindergarten intradistrict transfers

Can anyone give insight to what is happening to the Oakland Public School kindergarten transfers? All the letters seemed to have gone out after the 15th and most people I have talked to did not get any of their choices, but their neighborhood school they wanted to transfer out of. Was there an overwhelming amount of applicants or was it the new system? If anyone knows what happened your insights would be appreciated by many upset and frustrated parents. Thanks! Anon

Check out parent reviews for Seqoia at www.greatschools.net www.greatschools.net/modperl/parents/ca/256/?ref=membership A well educated mother of a well educated child... Susan Stoeffler, LMFT

States who prefer to include essay questions on their test which cannot be machine scored are forced to convert to bubble-in answer scheets because the feds want annual testing. And the people who largely benefit are for-profit test providers and for-profit Supplementary Service providers. I would rather spend less time on test prep, taking tests, and sweating test scores, and have more time for literature, dance, music, art, and science in public school classrooms. Maybe that's a fashionable view or just a cynical one but after 4 years as a public school parent, I see a few benefits from ''accountability'' but many troubling trends too.

Open enrollment: trying to enroll in a school outside my neighborhood

We went through open enrollment in the Oakland Unified School district this year and didn't get into any! of the six schools we applied to. What do we do now? Private school is simply not an option (due to lack of $), and I feel awful about sending him to our local school (Parker elementary). The school district said we can't reapply for any potential spaces in the fall unless he has a sibling that already attends the school we want. What have others done in this situation? If you ended up sending your child to your local school, did you regret it? I have to work full-time, so spending a lot of time in the classroom is not realistic for me. Does anyone have anything *good* to say about Parker? If you sent your child to private school, how did you come up with the $? Did you move to a better school district? Even if you haven't been in this exact situation, any words of advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated. -kindergarten blues

Sequoia Elementary School
3730 Lincoln Ave 
Oakland, CA 94602
(510) 879-1510

What are the chances I can transfer to a "good" school?

I am interested in learning what parent experiences have been with school district transfers within Oakland. I'm wondering particularly if it has been difficult to get kids into specific schools if you don't live in the school's district? We would consider buying a house in Oakland if we could send our kids to one of the better 8-9 elementary schools.

When we went through the process several years ago it was frustrating and unpleasant, I think they are trying to be a little more user-friendly now but don't expect much in the way of information or help from the district offices.

I suggest you try to buy in the district of those 8-9 schools that you would find acceptable. That is what we did and we are very happy with our neighborhood school, Joaquin Miller. an OUSD parent

Inter-district transfers in Oakland

I was just wondering if anyone has done an inter-district transfer (we have a 4-year-old heading off to kindergarten in Fall 2004)in the Oakland? We've heard about ''lotteries,'' but no response from the Oakland Unified, with which I left messages for a callback. Any input would be greatly appreciated!! Kathy

Did you know that you don't need a transfer to apply to a public Charter school? There are many in Oakland. My 12-year old goes to a terrific small school called Lighthouse Community Charter School in Downtown Oakland (on Telegraph at 19th St.) They only take new kindergardeners and 6th graders each year, and occassionally have a spot open in an existing class, but there may be a long waiting list for those. Lighthouse is very clean, safe, college-prep focused, Spanish, P.E., and art all included and they have an extended day/free afterschool program until 5:30pm 4 days a week.

I have heard good things about other charters also, like West Oakland Community Charter School, and Conservation Corps. To find more info about Charter Schools in Oakland (or anywhere for that matter) check the CANEC website (don't know if that is .org or .com...) The folks at the Oakland Public School District don't know much about the charter schools and if they did, they wouldn't tell you. They are under the mistaken belief that charter schools are bad. They are only bad for the district's highly paid administrators and teachers union. Great for parents and kids who want a small school/ safe school environment.

Good Luck! Mother of 3 in Oakland

Neighborhood Parents Network sponsors an annual forum/fair of North Oakland elementary schools, and this school year it will be held in January (date to be determined). It will be listed in the Berkeley Parents Network announcements digest as soon as we have a date.

We are hoping to get Randy Ward, the new state administrator in charge of the district, to speak, as well as a kindergarten teacher and others. We will also invite PTA representatives from as many schools as possible to take part in an effort to give incoming parents a chance to meet parents already at the school and get the ''low down''.

Another good source of information is http://www.schoolwisepress.com. You can buy profiles of individual schools for $6, compare different schools, and get good general information about testing, etc. Lysa

To clarify some things on the recent post about transfers: Under the No Child Left Behind Act, districts are obligated to provide options for parents wishing to transfer from schools that are Performance Improvement Schools 2 years in a row, and which receive Title I funds. PI schools are schools that have not met their API (now AYP) targets 3 years in a row. Districts should have sent out (sometimes vaguely worded) letters to this effect to ALL parents of PI schools that receive Title I funds (most PI schools do). Althought they are obligated to allow parents to move their children from these schools, there are few guarentees that districts in all actuality have places to move these children TO, particularly in grades K-3 receiving class size reduction funds. The Chronicle has done several articles recently about the difficulties districts are having meeting these Federal requirements. But if your school meets the requirements, they must send you a letter and allow you to move...somewhere. The API/ AYP will be posted on the California Department of Education website in October; past years are posted now.

A note about the comment on charter schools...check them out carefully. The state is closing charter schools more and more frequently, and for good reasons, notably fiscal mismanagement and failing to provide adequate instruction, often due to unprepared and uncredentialled teachers. I am a teacher in a non-OUSD district, and some of the students who have come to us from Oakland charter schools have been far below grade level in all academic areas, despite report cards to the contrary. educator

Househunting: How hard is it to get into a better Oakland school?

I have been househunting in oakland and am using the school district as one of the main requirements, so mainly we have been looking in Rockridge, Trestle Glen, upper oakmore, and montclair. And while there is nothing wrong with these neighborhoods I finds myself drawn to the lower price tags and level back yards of Piedmont ave, lower Oakmore, and Off Grand ave. Which are in the lakeview, and glenview school districts. (Though these may not be bad schools my main worry is that by the time our son is in school the great schools will just be okay, and the good ones will be terrible.)

So my question is considering our son is only 18 months old is basing our move on a school district unnecessary, and if we do decide to live in an okay school district (instead of a great one) how hard is it to transfer your child into a good one, if we decide to do so? Also since we are planning to have 3 kids if we do get into a better school district, are siblings allowed to follow? Thanks in advance

as a new stepmom our son (now in middle school) has suffered from young and naive parenting and his sister will undoubtedly be spared the mistakes we made.

the question and some of the responses refer to Lakeview Elementary... without a doubt one of the worst decisions we made was sending him to Lakeview elementary a couple years ago. i think sometimes being young and liberal clouded our heads a bit, as well as having to move at a time that was inopportune to thoroughly investigate private schools and other options. i think we thought our ''involved'' parenting would help buffer some of the less desirable aspects of the school.

but in the end, sending him there set him back academically and in other ways (socially, emotionally, developing good school habits and attitudes) a few years. i know it sounds harsh but i still feel bad for him about it.

i'm also not a supporter of test scores determining the goodness of a school - but if they are testing that poorly it does reflect much of what is or is not going on there. and our son was one of the top two kids test-wise in his class and his scores were pretty bad. he missed 18 out of 19 questions in some sections and did only around 50-65 percentile in the few sections he did well on.

also, when i would go over homework with him, i would find (several times) there were things that his teacher was telling him that were wrong. like when they were preparing for those darn tests, they went over the answers in class (after a practice) and he gave them the wrong answer. when i looked at the answer and talked with him about why it was wrong, he was confused because the teacher had done it with them! and it was the ''close'' answer, not the right answer, so i could see how ''someone'' would get it wrong, but not the teacher!

and, by the way, he had a great teacher who really cared and worked hard to create a good environment in the classroom. but the academics just weren't there (the teacher was young and had little mentorship resources). they were 5th graders going over math and reading - ONLY. they suspended the science and social studies because the kids were so far behind. they were still doing phonics - the class, not just the kids who needed it. i had a friend on the school board and asked him about that and he was astonished because they had even purchased new science books (which i saw in the class and the teacher thought it was funny since they weren't going to use them). so the communication between the district to the classroom is not working as it should be. and, he also said ''we just don't know what to do with lakeview.'' (!)

also, he had learned/witnessed very poor attitudes and behavior from some of the other kids who rarely or ever did their homework, did not do very good quality work and talked back to the teacher. i'm not saying these things to be judgemental, but it is hard to persuade your kid to do things way outside the ''norm'' of their environment. the district policy is also to call the police whenever a violent incident occurs and i saw the police there quite often when i passed by or stopped to drop something off at the school - i think this is to record each incident in the case of a lawsuit or something. but seeing an officer called because a 6 year old threw something at another boy, the boy crying and freaked out - (let alone a young boy of color having to deal w/ the police at such a young age) was just depressing.

i have friends who teach in the district and they wouldn't send their own kids to the schools they work in.

anyhow, now that we have him in a different public school the differences i see are astounding. however, the struggles we went through this past year - transitioning from low expectations/academics to high (from the school) - had a lot to do with his previous experience at lakeview - and lakeview doesn't even have ''underperforming'' or now deemed ''high need'' status because their scores are just above that threshold. at his new school we worked intensely with his teachers to get him on the right track. and part of our success was only due to the fact that he is a bit older now and maturity is starting to take hold, with a younger kid it may be much harder.

of course some of our circumstances are extreme or different because he had a difficult background up until recently , switching schools often etc. but regardless, i think our experience made us get our act together and made the school the number one priority for where we lived. (and we did try the transfer thing and there is very little likelihood of getting them, let alone the chase you have to go through to be denied anyway).

again the great problem is that good school areas have really high rent/housing costs. so you may consider living somewhere cheaper the first few years until your kid is ready for school and then move - because it is really expensive! good luck anon