Moving to the East Bay with Kids - Logistics Question (Oakland: to rent, house)

[snarkadoodle]

Well, we spent a few days in Oakland and Berkeley this week, and have decided to take the leap and move our family in July or August! We are sad to leave Seattle, but excited about this new opportunity.

So...our oldest will finish the 2nd grade here, but since we won't be renting in the area until this summer, I'm worried about getting him placed in a school that isn't super far from our house (or questionable in quality). We are either going to rent in Rockridge or Berkeley (Thousand Oaks, Elmwood, or Gourmet Ghetto area). I hear most of the Berkeley elementaries are strong, so I'm not as worried about quality as I am about proximity. We currently walk our child to school and would like to avoid driving all over the place on a daily basis. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Natural510]

Well, you're main consideration should be the fact you're moving to Berkeley during the student rush for housing, so your options will already be limited there. From there I suppose you'd consider each available rental's distance from schools...not sure what else you're asking here.

[snarkadoodle]

Hmmmm...I hadn't thought of that, actually. Will we really be competing with students if we're looking for a 3+ bedroom in a more residential, family-centric area?

My main question is how to deal with getting my son into a school when we won't have an address until the summer, but I think I'd probably best just call BUSD. thanks!

[jaypee]

Enrolling New Elementary School Students | Berkeley Unified School District

You won't be able to enroll until you've established residence (see link) after which you'll be given first priority in enrolling to your neighborhood's designated school.

[snarkadoodle]

Thanks for the link, jaypee. I am starting to think we are totally screwed. Either we yank our kid out of school now in order to establish residency in Berkeley in time for the lottery, or we literally get the last spot in the district for next year. Is there a silver lining to this situation, or am I correct in my assumptions?

[jaypee]

I'm not sure what you mean by "the lottery"?
If Berkeley Unified operates the same way as San Mateo Unified where I'm at, then it's very likely you would be able to get into your assigned neighborhood school -- you'd be shooting to the head of the line, in fact.
It's a different story if you live in one neighborhood and want to xfer to a school in another neighborhood.

[snarkadoodle]

Berkeley has three attendance zones, within which you pick your top school choices and are assigned a school based on when your application is received and the luck of the draw (they do a lottery system for K). I'm concerned because my son will be entering the 3rd grade, and I assume there are fewer open spots at this point. You are not automatically guaranteed your top choice or neighborhood school for sure.