An Alameda Education

Photo by Lisle Boomer

California is one of seventeen states that require open enrollment policies within their school districts: that is, parents may choose to have their child attend any school within the district as long as there is room. Alameda residents have a number of schools to choose from. Each school, like each child, has a personality. Children who might be uninspired in one school setting may excel in another. So, how do Alameda parents choose the right school for their children?

The first step is to understand the Open Enrollment system, and what it means to your child. Being able to choose a school opens doors to a dizzying array of options. In Alameda County, there are eleven elementary schools in the public category alone. Choosing a school can be an overwhelming challenge to parents who are new to the system, but talking to other parents and discerning the reputation of the local schools can help.

It’s important for parents to understand that the Open Enrollment system is not a free-for-all in which parents can vie for the best spots in any school they wish. Each district has different policies about intradistrict transfers (transfers between schools within the district) and interdistrict transfers (transfers to another district.) Understanding the process, vocabulary  and the options is important, because there are strict deadlines for applying for transfers.

If you wish for your child to attend your neighborhood school, as many parents do, there is no need to make a choice. Children who are enrolled in the school in the neighborhood where they reside are given preference- that is, your child’s spot cannot be filled with an applicant from another neighborhood. If there is space left over once all the children residing in the school’s boundaries are enrolled, then the district may consider applicants from outside the boundaries.

Parents may wish to apply for intra- or interdistrict transfers for many reasons, such as needing services like bilingual education or services for a child with special needs. Since some districts may have more extensive services in some areas, there may be more applicants than there are openings. In this case, the school cannot discriminate based on academic performance, family income, race, or any other arbitrary criteria. The applicants must be entered into a lottery system and chosen at random. A school may, however, group applicants together based on special needs, or in consideration of racial diversity, and choose from those grouped applicants, excluding those who do not fit into the desired group.

Parents who wish to apply for a interdistrict or intradistrict transfer should be sure to contact their local school, and the school they wish to enroll into, early to be sure they understand the application process. School choice is just one more reason Alameda is a great place for families.