Relocating to the San Francisco area and need your help!

[tennis368fan]

San Leandro used to be a good city. However, I am not so sure that it is a good place to raise a family anymore.

In recent years, the schools have not been so highly-rated, with the exception of Roosevelt Elementary. When your children enter middle school and high school, you will need to move out or send them to private schools. If you are lucky enough to move to the part of San Leandro under Arroyo High School in the San Lorenzo Unified School District, however, you could stay and allow your children to go to that high school. Even so, Arroyo is not a top performer and cannot compare to Burlingame's high school in terms of state testing performance. It's just better than San Leandro High, that's all.

As for San Leandro High, as far as I recall from what the locals said, they had some form of security personnel and security cameras on the campus of San Leandro High. It is NOT true that all high schools have cameras or security personnel. Alameda High School is an example as they do fine without both, though they do have hall monitors that make sure students do not leave campus during class.

You are probably better off in the Tri-Valley area (Dublin/Pleasanton/Livermore) or the Lamorinda area (Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda) using BART to commute. Those areas are safe and have excellent schools. Alameda is also good if you choose the East End or Bay Farm Island. If you choose the West End, stay on or south of Pacific Avenue to attend Paden Elementary or near Franklin Park to attend Franklin Elementary, making sure that your children do very well so you can send them to Alameda Community Learning Center (a charter school) for middle school and high school.

[tennis368fan]

By the way, in which city or cities will you and your spouse be working in the Bay Area?

How long will you be willing to commute by car? By commuter rail and bus? Some areas have luxury commuter bus services, or at least commuter bus lines that utilize travel buses with wireless internet access that can make commuting more enjoyable.

How long will you be renting?

Are your children in elementary, middle, or high school? Some areas have excellent elementary schools and/or middle schools, but not-so-good high schools, and vice versa.

Would you like to live in a city that is very diverse, or would you prefer a more traditional city? Does it not matter?

There is much information to be had, but it needs to be narrowed down!

Also, I will suggest cities that may be of interest in regards to the subject of buying a home depending on your responses to the questions above.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by Peninsula gal

- Big apartment complex there with easy city public transportation right there. Next to San Francisco State College. Most southern part of the city but weather is foggy a lot of the year.

I believe you're confusing Lake Merritt with Lake Merced, which is in fact near SF State (and I actually used to live in that huge complex - called Parkmerced). Lake Merritt, which the OP asked about, is a pretty nice neighborhood in west Oakland.