Kindergarten enrollment in Oakland - is it too late?
Hi, I'm looking at kindergarten enrollment for the fall. Is it too late to find a place? I know I can get on waitlists, but had anyone had any luck getting in off of waitlists after joining the waitlist this late? Are there any kindergartens that still have openings? We'd thought we were going to keep my kiddo in another year of preschool, but now we think that kindergarten would be the better route. We're in Oakland, and we're open to public, charter, or private schools. Thanks!
Jun 19, 2018
Parent Replies
It's definitely late in the game if you want one of the in-demand OUSD or charter schools, but you still have some options. First, if you live in a neighborhood zoned to the school you want, you will bump up the list even as a late applicant, so that's the first place I'd look. If your neighborhood school isn't a good fit, you may want to consider waiting to apply until September to see what's open at that point. The waitlists (which are lengthy) only go through the second week of school; after that they dissolve and new applicants are placed wherever there is space. Your other option would be private school; almost all will have spots for late applicants if you don't need financial aid (and some may still be able to provide aid, too). That might not be a bad option for a child on the cusp of being ready, since class sizes are smaller and at the end of the year you could assess where things stand and decide whether to move onto first or repeat kinder at a new school (and would be able to apply on time for public spots). Good luck!
Hi Betsy,
I think the school my kids attend has openings for Kindergarten. It is a great Montessori school with a very strong immersion program in Spanish and French. There is an open house in July 14th. Check the website:www.therenaissanceschool.org
Good luck,
Gaby