Interdistrict transfer OUSD to BHS for IB program?
Does anyone have experience applying for a transfer out of Oakland and into Berkeley for 9th grade, under a special program qualification, specifically IB (ie BIHS)?
Given that BIHS doesn't start util 10th grade and isn't a guaranteed placement, I'm having trouble discerning whether it's actually possible to base a transfer request on it. It looks like for a special program request, you need to have the director of the program at your desired school sign paperwork indicating your student would be able to participate, but of course BHS doesn't sift students into learning communities until into their first year. However, OUSD does not offer an IB program...
Thoughts? Thanks for your help!
Aug 15, 2024
Parent Replies
Considering that not even every bhs freshman who wants ib can get into ib I’d say it’s a real long shot they would allow students out of Berkeley to transfer in for that reason. Additionally bhs uses a lottery not gpa to determine who gets into IB. It was a sad realization last year that my 9th grader with straight A’s and an interest in college study abroad could not get in to IB.
We went through this process in 2023. We were zoned for Oakland Tech, but our 8th grader is an accomplished Spanish speaker who was interested in the IB program at BHS. We had heard that the year before (2022), 9th graders who applied to transfer to BHS for the IB program were told they had to wait until 10th grade. But we applied anyway, and to our surprise OUSD released us immediately. BHS was also more than happy to fill out the paperwork for us, even though they couldn't guarantee our child a spot in the IB program. That part was easy.
Chatting with other families who did the same thing this past summer, OUSD let them all go too. So... I don't know what's going on or why things shifted?? I also don't know if that will happen next year or not. It's deeply confusing. Best of luck to you!