High School Recommendations

[Wintermomma]

I really wouldn't suggest living in Oakland...really wouldn't. I am sure their are areas which are okay, but being from out of the area would make me worry about identifying them. Find a cheaper South Bay or Peninsula living situation and go private before you live there for the charter schools. IMHO, it seems there are not a lot of charter schools here (compared to SoCal), and not in the upper grades. I actually don't know of any, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. We also opted for the nicer neighborhood with the undesirable schools (which keeps the prices down) and elect for private instead. I have heard more about Elementary Charters. Have you checked greatschools.net ? I wouldn't use it as your only source of information and opinions but it works as a good "directory" and some of the data can give you things to use to read between the lines.

Good Luck.

[SiliconWriter]

I raised my kids in the Fremont Union High School District, which encompasses areas of Cupertino, Saratoga, San Jose, and Sunnyvale. The top schools in the district are Lynbrook and Monte Vista, my kids attended Homestead and we mostly loved it. Saratoga High School gets high marks as does Leland High School in Almaden Valley. I think most schools have AP classes for top students. Another option is to look into enroll in an International Bacceaulareate (sp.) program that is offered within a public high school. Many options for good school. Good Luck.

[SportyandMisty]

There is yet another option to consider (just doing due diligence in all the alternatives): Attend "Middle College" for high school.

See Middle College Program - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and
Fremont Union High School District: Middle College

Most people are not familiar with the program, and it definitely is not for everyone. In this program, the student is a student in the public school system, but never sets foot on high school campus. Instead, the student takes classes at De Anza College (a community college). On the college campus, there is a separate classroom with a high school teacher - students show up in the morning for "home room", take a specialized class to fulfill state requirements (probably a combo of history & English Lit), and then all their electives are De Anza college classes. There are a few restrictions, IIRC, such as the "middle college" student cannot take a massage class, a para-legal class, and maybe something else (real estate?). It is only for students who excel, who are quite independent, are capable of handling college level academics, etc, and perhaps don't quite fit into the normal high school environment.

I'm not suggesting this, but it is something you may wish to research just to complete your understanding of everything.

Note that 2014-15 registration is closed according to the website, but sometimes slots open up ...

[SiliconWriter]

Middle college is a great idea. I know they have it at Foothill College also.

[Raffig]

great suggestions, thank you; SportyandMysty and SiliconWriter!

I have a local friend who also recommended Cupertino HS and Fremont HS, both which are within the FUHSD. I was not aware of the Middle College, definitely worth investigating, thanks again for the great suggestions!

Any recommendations or observations regarding the following HS:
1) KIPP San Jose Collegiate School
2) Impact Academy of Arts & Technology HS in Hayward, and in SF
3) CITY Arts & Technology HS in SF
4) Lowell High School in SF
5) Asawa (Ruth) San Francisco School of the Arts, A Public School in SF