Pacifica schools? Decent? (San Francisco: neighborhood, school district, moving to)

[grumpy_daddy]

We're moving to Pacifica soon with 2 young children, one of which is starting Kindergarten this fall. Based on word of mouth, it sounds like Pacifica public schools are above average. We also checked out Great Schools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community. The ratings & scores look well above average for California.

Anyone with recent experience care to share their thoughts about Ortega, Vallemar, or Cabrillo? My kids will probably go to Ortega.

We're coming from San Francisco where some schools are excellent (and others are not so excellent). How do Pacifica schools compare with SF unified?

[twins4lynn]

Pacifica School District is an open enrollment district where you apply to any one of 5 schools. The lottery system has been used in the past when requests for specific schools exceeded openings.

[ParlezVous]

When my daughter was going to elementary school in Pacifica 4 years ago she went to Vallemar and then switched to Cabrillo (both lottery schools). Back then, Cabrillo and Vallemar were considered the best of the bunch. I found the principal at Vallemar to be unresponsive to my concerns regarding my child so I moved her to Cabrillo where my concerns were addressed. I believe there is a different principal at Cabrillo now. Ortega is not a lottery school but the neighborhood school for the area. The best thing to do is to visit and tour the schools and decide which would be the best fit for your child.

[Doctor G in NY]

I too moved from SF to Pacifica 7 years ago. My sone was at Argonnne on 18th Avenua and Cabrillo. for several years we car pooled to SF and then I took Muni downtown.... What a mistake.

Inow wished I moved my son sooner to Pacifica. My Son went to Ortega and he fit right in. The only bad thing was that the school was a K-5 school. so after one yr there he is now at Ingrid B Lacy Middle School. I feel good having my son in Middle School in Pacifica. That was my biggest fear in SF..... the Elementary schools can be very good, but Middle School is SF Board of Ed. weak link.

My two younger children are at Cabrillo. The teachers are responsive, the parental involvement is very good, and most of all the academics are very good. Both children have learning issues and the schools are working with them. Dont fret, just move them over.