I am currently looking at high schools for next year. My child is currently at Edna Brewer Middle School, an Oakland public school. He is very strong in math and science. Would someone let me know their experience choosing between Oakland Tech and a private high school such as Bishop O'Dowd. I know that Oakland Tech has a strong pre-engineering department starting in 10th grade. I am wondering how it compares with the private schools. For the parents of kids at Oakland Tech how was their 9th grade experience? Thanks Renee

I am loooking for a an Oakland Tech student who will do a shadow visit with my son who wants to visit the school. natalie

Do you have a child your daughter/son would like to shadow? If not, we can arrange one. To better match the children, please let us know their interests regarding sports, Academies ( Health and Bioscience, computers, education, engineering), AP Classes, Honors Classes, Resource Classes, General Classes, or whatever else. What school is your child currently attending and what grade are they in?

A major event for the Engineering Academy at Oakland Tech is the Bridge contest. The students spend their spring break building bridges. The contest tests their strength by being crushed with weights. It will be held April 18th 2-5PM in Room S4 (back of school, across from bleachers). You could observe the students interacting after school in a positive learning experience. It would also be an opportunity to meet Tech parents.

In addition, Ms. Wolfe, the head of the History Department, and Paideia Program will be available 2-4 for meetings in Room 103.

You can learn more about the school by attending a PTSA meeting. The next one is April 23rd at 7PM. Our calendar of events is at http://calendar.yahoo.com/oaklandtechinfo

Parents are a good source of information about the school and they attend sports events listed on the calendar. And not least of all the parents are having an auction on April 27th at 6PM. You could mingle with involved parents and contribute to a good cause.

If you want to hear the inner workings of Oakland Tech from the parents and not leave home, subscribe to the parents' yahoo group at: OaklandTechPTSA.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask a parent volunteer at 914-0270 or email oaklandtechinfo[at]yahoo.com http://www.oaklandtech.com Barbra

Our son is in 8th grade now and has been at a private school since kindergarten. We are considering high school options. I recently heard that the principal at Skyline was leaving or has already to take a job at Lick-Wilmerding. Does anyone have thoughts about how the last few years have been at Skyline (trending up or down?) and whether the change in principal is a concern? Also, there is also a choice system for enrollment I think. Could anyone help describe the differences between Tech and Skyline?

My daughter feels very safe at Tech and I feel more comfortable with her not being at a huge sprawling campus like Skyline. My daughter has a great group of friends at Tech who are very supportive. She studies in study groups for tests. This is encouraged at Tech. There is not an atmosphere there of cut throat competition like there can be at some private schools. In fact, cooperation and group study is actively encouraged by all of the teachers she has had.

My daughter has been on Tech's soccer team every year and ran cross country for a few years. She has not experienced any discrimination or exclusion (she is Caucasian) and has benefited greatly from going to school with kids of various nationalities and races and many of whom come from very different economic circumstances. You should look at Tech - it's been a great school for our daughter and for her many female and male friends.
anon

The key to flourishing in any large comprehensive school is figuring out ''who you are'' -- where you go when you have a break, who you are getting together with for extracurricular activity. Each school has its own particularly strong programs, so your choice may depend on your student's strongest interests. Skyline has a very strong, mature, and well known performing arts program. But Tech is in the middle of a very exciting rebirth of its performing arts programs with very strong parent support, so if you're interested in music (for example) you might want to go talk to both music teachers. Similarly, both schools have strong athletic programs, but if you're interested in a particular sport, you might talk to both coaches. Same with a Harvard bound kid (both AP government and AP English teachers) or a budding journalist (newspaper advisors) etc. etc. etc. There are obvious differences in the environment -- would your student prefer a wooded hilltop campus or easier access to public transportation, for example.

My boys graduated from Skyline. I am now in a position that lets me ''see inside'' Tech a little, and I'm impressed by the similarities between the two schools. Both will prepare your student to be a good citizen of the 21st century. But if you have a choice, I strongly urge you to visit both schools and try to make an appointment to see teachers in your special interest areas. Also go see performances, games, events, and see where you feel most at home.

And wherever you end up, I really urge you to get involved in parent groups and help support the school with any volunteer time and contributions you can spare. It will make the school better, and your own personal rewards will be great Kathy

Re: looking at high schools for my 8th grader
I can sympathize with your challenge of finding the right high school for your daughter. I am responding to your comment about Oakland Tech. You pose questions about all the other schools but preface your question about Tech with a second-hand comment about violence (high-level no less), which is an unfair and incorrect description. You could have just as easily asked, ''What has been your child's experience been at Oakland Tech?'' Too often negative comments are thrown out without substantiation and then we have to spend lots of time countering the falsehoods.

For those parents and students, who are part of the Oakland Tech community, such unsupported negative statements do a disservice to everyone. My daughter is in her third year at Tech. I am pleased and impressed with the education that she is receiving and the students she's meeting, and so is she. She is in some honor's classes--not all--so I can't address your request directly. The teachers are great, and I have no worries about her being at Tech. By the way, I shared your comment with my daughter. I'll spare you the exact words since she was bothered and defensive, but the sentiment was that that person obviously hadn't visited the school.

For families looking for a high school in Oakland, I encourage you to visit Oakland Tech and see for yourself. There will be an open house on November 14. For more information, go to www.oaklandtech.com

Re: looking at high schools for my 8th grader
I read your post about the dilemma of where to send your daughter to high school. Personally, I don't think you often get what you pay for in private school. Two of our children attended for a time a very well known, well respected private school in Oakland. One went to the middle school and the other to the high school. Our younger daughter has been at Tech for high school for four years and it has been a great experience for her. She has a great group of friends, a great education and has not experienced any violence ever at Tech. In fact, although there may be an occasional fight, I believe that happens at practically any school. There were some scary violent things even at the private school. Our daugher has gotten an outstanding education at Tech. Better in many respects than what was given to our other child at the private high school. If your daughter is willing to do the work, she will find that she will learn and do things that she might otherwise never have dreamed she could and she will have a peer group that will encourage her to do the same. There are kids in the Paideia program at Tech who have two moms and their families are active and involved parents whose kids have great friends and are doing fine. My older child found the level of cut throat competition and the airs that everyone was putting on at her private high school much scarier than anything my younger daughter has ever experienced at Tech. You should come to the upcoming Tech open house and give it a look for yourself. That's what my family did. We are very very happy that we investigated the school ourselves and that we sent our daughter to Tech Anon

hi, i would like feedback from parents who have children in the Engineering Academy at Oakland Tech High School. i am interested in your experiences academically, socially, sports- wise and in terms of safety at the school. i am also interested in hearing feedback from those parents who have children in the Paedea program, but not in any of the academies in terms of your experiences at the High School. we are thinking of sending our child there in fall of '06 and would appreciate any input. thank you.

The Engineering Test has become more competitive as more students want to be in the program. But even if you're not in an academy, you still take the same course, etc.. I think Tech is a hidden gem in Oakland. I encourage you to go to the Tech Web site, and join the Tech Yahoo site. Hope to see you at Tech next year. Doris

Hi! Could anyone give a perspective on Skyline and Oakland Tech highschools: every day courses and special programs, teachers, any advanced programs for gifted students, students social behavior, what does the district have in mind for the future... Thank you! Wondering about Oakland Highschools

Each time when there were issues I worked with the site principals and with the special education program supervisor. Everything didn't always get resolved as quickly as I would like but efforts were made. I believe that Chabot and Kaiser are magnet schools (Note: Kaiser is dropping the middle school aspect and only going K-5.). Most elementary children in my neighborhood attend Chabot.

His teachers at Tech are wonderful. I met them at Back to School Night. His English/history teacher calls. She was calling not because there was a problem but just to share information about him. No high school is perfect. There are problems that I hear from my son and from neighbors about fights, etc.). The principal and staff are working with parents and the community to improve the school.

I would visit with your child. My son and I did. It took a few tries because the elevator was out and we couldn't see beyond the ground floor classes. Good luck. Doreen

Are there parents on this list whose children go to Oakland Tech High school? I'd like to know both what to watch out for and what to look into, for a kid who is bright and imaginative but has no learning motivation and some learning difficulties. Thanks, Suzanne

There are also some great classes/programs for students who aren't interested in any of the academy programs but who want to be challenged academically. One is the Pideah (sp? sorry, senior moment) program or academy which I've heard a lot about from educational evaluators. They also who have a wonderful new principal who seems like he's going to be around for awhile. I have had a lot of experience with principals and I know a good one when I see one.

Parents who are interested should contact Carmelita Mills at Oakland Tech who is the liaison for the academies. Or, better yet, visit the school, meet the principal, check out the academies, inquire about the programs, and talk to academy directors (find out when their conference periods are or plan to meet with them around 3:30, after school is over. I would do it NOW because the various programs I mentioned are beginning their recruitment for next year. Anon.