Yu Ming Charter School

It's worth a try if you're interested in the school--last year I believe they did go through most (all?) of the waitlist since they added a kindergarten class (and will keep those additional kindergarten seats moving forward). It does not matter if your child knows Mandarin--it's now just an open lottery of all applicants, although you're correct that Alameda County residents do get preference. Good luck!

We live in the neighborhood where You Ming Charter is located, which means we got extra tickets for the lottery. We were 15th on the wait list and didn't get in. Our kid didn't speak Mandarin either. People from all over Alameda county apply for basically 50 spots with half taken by siblings who have first priority and children of teachers at the school. Half of left over spots go to Mandarin speakers and half to non-Mandarin speakers. Chances of getting in is small but why not try it. 

Having just gone through the lottery this past year with my now-kindergartener, the answer is yes, there are typically many more applicants than available spots. As an anecdotal story, my child was in the 80s on the wait list for 52 slots (at the time of the drawing there were only 2 kindergarten classes - now 3) and my child's father and I basically wrote off YM as a pipe dream. While touring other mandarin immersion schools we met parents whose child was in the 200s and 400s on the wait list and then promptly felt bad for being so down and out about our spot on the wait list. However, we got called shortly after school started to see if we still wanted the spot. There were a combination of factors at play: (1) Since YM uses the Oakland charter school application, many parents check YM as an option not realizing that it's a mandarin immersion school (i.e., they actually wanted a Spanish immersion) and (2) They opened a third kindergarten class shortly before school started. While we live in Alameda County (but not Oakland), there are a number of families in my child's class who commute in each day so I know that they made it through the lottery.

That said, I would encourage you to apply, but *only* if you know that you will be committed to commuting to/from school/Oakland everyday given the state of the traffic in the area and you are dedicated to the mandarin immersion program. The lottery application itself is quick and painless from a parents' time perspective but, in the event your child gets a spot, you change your mind for one of a number of reasons it's an administrative burden. The school is very lean administratively since so much of the budget is funneled back into the classrooms and student services. You would be doing a disservice to the administration and other families if you're not 100% on board. If you haven't done so already, I'd urge you to attend an open house that is going on now. There are parents of current students who will be there and available to speak with you. 

BTW, you didn't say where you live, but there is a new mandarin immersion program in the West Contra Costa School District (Richmond) for those residents. The principal is well-respected and experienced, in addition to being YM's president of the board. And, one in Fremont too.

Based on my recent visit to the school, my understanding is that you are correct. Priority is given to siblings of current students, then a certain number of spots are assigned to families receiving free lunch, then local neighborhood residents, then Alameda County residents, then everyone else. So, while your chances are definitely slim, it doesn't hurt to try! They did add another kindergarten class and the number of siblings of current students is dwindling due to the passage of time since the school opened. They also said a lot of people got in off the wait list last year. No prior knowledge of Mandarin is necessary for kindergarten. Good luck! 

Just making sure you know, since you said you live outside Alameda County, that if you are in West Contra Costa County, the district runs a new non-charter Mandarin elementary program and the application period is NOW. wccusd.net