Peralta Elementary School

Community Subscriber

Oakland

Public School

operated by Oakland Unified School District

Language(s):

English

Grades:

K-5

Capacity:

360 students

Website:

http://www.peraltaschool.org

Phone:

(510) 654-7365

Address:

460 63rd St, Oakland, CA 94609

15 parent questions ▼

5 parent reviews ▼

Archived Q&A and reviews ▼

Parent Q&A

Select any title to view the full question and replies.

Peralta TK?
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Nov 22, 2023
Hello,

We are considering enrolling our kiddo in the Peralta TK program next year at the Kaiser campus. (We are zoned for Peralta). We attended the parent info session which had little information on TK (was designed for rising kinder and the tk program is new this year)… could any current parents share insights into the following, which the info sessions couldn’t answer?

how many kids are in the Peralta TK program this year

ease of getting into the tk aftercare program (we understand TK has its own aftercare at the same campus?)

Teacher/student student ratio

any other insights that would be helpful

Nov 22, 2023
TK at the high demand schools tends to be full, so expect 24 kids, the maximum TK class size for 2024-25. The current staff-to-student ratio is 1:12, which in OUSD is one teacher with one aide. Hopefully some current Kaiser campus families can help with the aftercare details!

Nov 29, 2023

my kiddo is at Peralta TK this year, we love it! Yes the classes are larger (24 kids, 1 primary teacher & 1 assistant teacher) but the kids are well cared for and the school itself is small, principal seems to know every kid by name. The focus is on social/emotional development so there is a focus on sharing, jobs, and inclusive play. They work on math and reading through the inquiry based learning they do. After care is onsite and not difficult to get into. EBAC runs aftercare and the teachers are very sweet, the structure seems to be circle time, snack, craft, outside play, motor room play. Sometimes they do show movies (minimum week days) which I am not a big fan of, but small beans. I just heard that Peralta is having their own onsite TK next year (not at Kaiser?) so this info may be irrelevant?

Dec 6, 2023

It was just announced to the Peralta community that TK will be at the 63rd Street campus next year (24-25) school year. I think this is reflected in the ousd enrollment portal but not necessarily on the rest of the OUSD site. From what I understand, they are still working through a number of things that you have questions about (including aftercare) but I would recommend applying now and hopefully you’ll get the answers you need before you need to sign another pre-school contract (if that’s what you’re contemplating).

Dec 7, 2023
Afterschool program for Peralta TK (at Kaiser ECE)
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Aug 11, 2023

Hello,

My son should be eligible for OUSD TK next year (2024-2025), and we are zoned for Peralta elementary.

I am debating whether we should try to send him to the Peralta TK located at Kaiser ECE. Aside from physically getting there the main issue for us is: do they offer after-school programs? My wife and I both work full time so an optional 5.30pm/6pm pickup time is a must have. I couldn't find this information elsewhere...

I realize these classes (TK for Peralta and Chabot @ Kaiser ECE) literally just opened but I'd be happy to hear some feedback from parents with children enrolled there.

Thank you

Aug 11, 2023

Hi! Our littlest just started Peralta TK at Kaiser and is 3 days into aftercare there, which *does* exist (hoorah!) until 5:30pm. Information online is scant from what we could tell, but once you enroll there's much more communication via email.

You're welcome to check in with me in a few weeks if you want a more detailed assessment of what we think, but so far so ok!

Aug 16, 2023

My child is at Kaiser and I can confirm there is an after care program. It goes to 5:30pm.

Aug 18, 2023

Thank you both!

And yes @Mama Bear I will definitely check in with you in a while about what you think of the program :)

Aug 23, 2023
Advice on Peralta Elementary from current parents
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Mar 16, 2023

Hello,

We were assigned Peralta Elementary in the Oakland Public School lottery and would love to connect with any current or very recent parents to hear about their experience at the school. Our son will be going into Kindergarten. We are moving back to the Bay Area after a couple years in Southern California and unfortunately can't visit the school in person at the moment, so any thoughts from parents would be really helpful! Thanks so much!

Mar 16, 2023

My daughter graduated from Peralta last year. We had spent a few years in the middle of elementary school in private school and in the end regretted the choice to leave Peralta. No school is perfect, but Peralta has an amazing arts program, a really strong parent group, and some really wonderful teachers. It will likely not be as academically rigorous as some private schools, but they do a good job of meeting kids where they are at and meeting standards. We also had a positive experience with Special Ed resources. From what I can tell, the biggest challenge has been turnover in principals and I don't know anything about the current principal. It is a smaller school and some of the classrooms are portables. They have an amazing garden and a sweet homey vibe which makes up for the lack of spaciousness in my opinion. Feel free to message me. I was not heavily involved there as a parent, but obviously I have good feelings about it!

Mar 22, 2023

We have a current first grader in Peralta and an incoming kindergartener next year. We've been very happy with the school. The teachers are great and they have gardening, music, and an art program. We've been really fortunate to have an awesome parent committee that raises the funds to cover these programs since OUSD doesn't cover them, so the success of the school extracurriculars is largely dependent on parent donations and volunteering. They also do community events which have allowed us to get to know a lot of the other parents, such as monthly weekend gardening work parties, monthly coffee/bagels at drop off, and a welcome party/potluck at the start of each year.

Mar 22, 2023

My daughter goes to Peralta and has had a lovely experience! It's a great school, amazing teachers, but has had changes in principals quite a bit. They have a great PTA which helps fund many activities and give a lot of the families resources. It's a smaller school in a great neighborhood. I've had great experiences so far! I'd recommend it!

Apr 17, 2023
TK at Kaiser ECE vs Sankofa for future Peralta student?
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Jan 3, 2023

Hi BPN,

my son is eligible for OUSD TK next fall, and we are zoned for Peralta elementary for regular kindergarten... We are trying to decide if it would be best to send him to the Peralta feeder TK program, which is at Kaiser ECE and quite far from home, or go to Sankofa for TK (walking distance) but then need to reapply for Kinder at Peralta. Is the trek worth it to get to know the kids and families who we will eventually see for elementary? Does it not matter, because the school is so big, he won't see the TK kids next year (Peralta)? Do any other kids attend Sankofa for TK, but then go to Peralta? We know quite a few neighbors of ours will go to Sankofa and we really like that community, but we hear Peralta is an amazing school with arts, gardening etc... My son is very sweet and friendly but definitely more shy, slow to warm up, and not a rough house/ jump into the action kind of kid, if that helps?

Jan 3, 2023

Both Peralta and Sankofa are small schools, so certainly he will see TK classmates the following year if he continues at either. One wondering--and not one I know the answer to--is whether you are considered to be enrolled at Peralta by virtue of being in the Peralta TK, and therefore won't need to reapply for kinder. If that's the case, it's probably wise to do that if you definitely want to be in Peralta long term, since there's no guarantee that there will be enough kinder seats for all neighborhood families if the TK kids and siblings have priority. But we know families who love Sankofa too so if you do opt for their TK and then don't get into Peralta, you could consider just staying there. This will be the first year Peralta has offered TK (and only the second for Sankofa, I think), so hard to know what the enrollment patterns will be. Personally when we looked at schools, I wasn't willing to drive up to Kaiser (which was then an elementary school) and prioritized schools closer to home.

Jan 3, 2023

So a few things, if your child goes to the Peralta TK, they are considered to be enrolled at Peralta and guaranteed a spot at the school going forward. (Same for Sankofa). Peralta has moved from having 2 Kinder classes to 3 Kinder classes, so really “should” have spots for all interested neighborhood families (again tricky to forecast, but odds I would be willing to take). They are both small sweet schools, so no wrong choice. (There are definitely Peralta families looking at Sankofa TK because it’s walkable). Which school gives you the better commute for K-5?

Jan 4, 2023
Waitlisted #3 at Peralta what are our chances?
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Mar 12, 2020

We just found out that we got placed 3rd on the waitlist for Peralta in the OUSD 2020 lottery. We would love for our son to go to kindergarten there this fall and are super anxious about our chance of getting in. On one hand, #3 on the waitlist sounds promising (?) but we are also aware that Peralta is a small and pretty highly impacted/sought-after school.

Does anyone have any idea what our chances of getting in might be or what the waitlist movement at Peralta is like? Any insight or information regarding this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much in advance!!!

Mar 12, 2020

We’re #6 so following closely!😊

Mar 18, 2020

I'd say decently good! I know a number of folks, as they prepared to start kinder in fall, re-evaluate living in such an expensive place, especially if they were renting, and moved before the school year started, to avoid that transition with their kids during elementary years. This is also a highly-transient area, with many folks in the tech industry changing jobs every 2-3 years - you never know who will get a great offer in Seattle or Austin, or just down in Palo Alto and not want to do an East Bay-South Bay commute if they were only going to SF before. As someone who used to work in elementary schools, I'd stay on the list past school year start too. There are always a couple no-shows on the first week - parents who forget to close the loop of un-enrolling their child when they move, folks who got off the waitlist somewhere else, etc.

Mar 18, 2020
Peralta Elementary versus Private School?
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Feb 16, 2019

I’m very interested in hearing about how the private school experience compares to Peralta. Are there any families out there who moved from Peralta to a private school (or vice versa) and can speak to this? Or maybe you’re a Peralta parent comparing notes with friends who have kids in private schools? Thanks for any thoughts you may have.

Feb 16, 2019

Our oldest attended Park Day (private school) for Kindergarten last year and is now attending Peralta for 1st grade this year. There are certainly differences between private and public school. We left Park Day for financial reasons we would have loved to stay but considering we had another child who would also be attending Park day the following year we knew we couldn't afford both in private school. Park Day has a very nurturing caring environment, the advantage is their class sizes are less than 18 which is ideal for kids who may prefer the smaller size. Typically private schools require a lot of parent involvement which was required at Park Day (25 hours for 1 child, 50 hours for 2 kids) if you didn't meet the requirement you had to pay for every hour that you had to make up. We were able to meet the volunteers hours but it did require a lot on our end of taking time off from work to do this which can be difficult for some parents. Peralta has a great community of parents, teachers, and students. There is a lot of parent involvement but the difference is you don't feel the pressure as you would in private school. Given it's location compared to other Oakland public schools Peralta has the advantage of more parent involvement and can raise a ton of money to support the school. My daughter does miss Park day and the friendships that she has developed but she has adjusted well to public school life. If you have additional questions just email me directly.

Feb 20, 2019

Our daughter was in Peralta from KG through 5th grade, and we and she loved it. We'll always remember our days at Peralta. Our son, who's two years older, was also in Peralta .. in his case from KG through 3rd grade. Then, though it was a very, very tough decision, because we and he were happy, we were convinced to try out the Pacific Boychoir day school where our son was already in the after-school program. We never looked back. It (PBA day school/singing/performing/touring/academics/teachers) was an outrageously amazing experience. But we and he never forgot Peralta. We stayed connected to his friends, play dates, after school activities. It all worked out really nicely for him -- wouldn't change a thing! He's now in high school.

Feb 21, 2019
Peralta (or other schools) for bright, sensitive child
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Dec 10, 2018

Parents,

We are lucky enough to have Peralta as our neighborhood school and are hoping our daughter gets a spot there for K next year. That said, we’re wondering how she will do there (or at other OUSD schools). She is bright (e.g., taught herself to read at 3, has been reading chapter books since 4, etc.) and also sensitive with big feelings. She can get overwhelmed in noisy, chaotic environments and can take time to warm up in new situations. She also tends to worry about some things (we think it’s because she spends so much time thinking). She is doing great in her preschool, but we wonder what real school will be like for her — both in terms of whether she’ll be academically challenged and how she’ll be supported emotionally. Any Peralta (or OUSD) parents with similar kids have thoughts? Should we be looking for private schools with better teacher/student ratios?

Thanks in advance!

Dec 10, 2018

Peralta is our neighborhood school as well. My daughter attended kindergarten there and we left for a small independent Montessori school many reasons. She does have some sensory issues and anxiety, both of which can lead to big emotions and make her very distractable. She also did fine in preschool, although she has always had trouble following directions. She has not been tested for being gifted, but her doctor and several education professionals have said that they believe she is (she has not been precocious academically, but learns quickly). Her sensory issues and anxiety seem to be improving with age (she's almost 8), therapy, and with a smaller class where she has more flexibility, more choice/control, and fewer distractions.

Peralta has lots of extras and some specialists, including someone that visits each class once per week (I think) to do social-emotional topics and I think the teachers generally do a good job on that level. The principal is new so I cannot comment on how discipline is currently being handled. We were very disappointed in the academics. I volunteered in the classroom half a dozen times, and I saw lots of "busy work." Many of the more advanced kids flew right through it, but because they were not challenged might be sloppy. Other kids struggled with the same work and may not have completed it. When more interesting ways of learning were presented (such as games), it seemed that the classroom just didn't have the resources to support them.

We did not feel it was the right school for our family and we know several other "neurodivergent" students that have left for similar reasons. My daughter knew other kids that attended Peralta and really wanted to go there. We didn't have a good alternative lined up and were okay to try it for the year. In retrospect I wish she had gone to her current school for Kindergarten so that she could have had one less transition.

Dec 12, 2018

If you are lucky enough to get a spot at Peralta, I think it is worth a try. Your daughter may be well ahead of other kids in the class in terms of academics but it sounds like there are other key areas where she could really grow there, and it is a super sweet environment to do so. We found it to be a nice change from her preschool where there were not as many kids coming from various backgrounds. That being said, my daughter did have a hard time adjusting to being with some other kids she found to be distracting and frustrated by trying to filter through that when she was trying to learn or focus on a task. The K teachers are wonderful, creative, and very thoughtful in how they approach learning and she has been challenged and inspired in so many other ways that we found it to be a great fit.

Dec 12, 2018

My son sounds similar to your daughter....he taught himself to read at 3 is very sensitive and thinks a lot! If you are interested in private schools, I suggest you check out The Academy in Berkeley. The school is academically advanced with small class size. My son is happy there.

Dec 13, 2018
How does the Sankofa/Peralta shared zone work?
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Mar 18, 2018

I'm thinking of moving into a house in the Sankofa/Peralta shared zone. How does enrollment work for this zone?

I understand that in OUSD, being in a school's neighborhood boundary gets one priority placement (behind siblings, but before the lotter). I'm curious how this works for the shared zone. Will I (a) get priority at both Peralta and Sankofa? Or instead (b) will I only get priority at one school (possibly the one that has lesser demand).

If the answer is (a), that seems like the shared district gives more choice, which is nice. But if the answer is (b), there is less choice and getting assigned to Sankofa is a likely outcome.

Does anyone know how this works?

Mar 18, 2018

You get priority at both schools. That said, Peralta does not have room for all of the zoned students right now, so you may well get bumped to a lower ranked choice independent of priority. (You do keep your priority on the waitlist, though.)

Mar 20, 2018
Peralta Merging with Sankofa?
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Dec 3, 2017

A study commissioned by Oakland District 1 School Board Director Jody London offered the idea of a merger between Peralta (Great Schools rating: 8 out of 10) and Sankofa (Great Schools rating: 1 of out 10). The idea would be that Peralta would after 137 years no longer exist as a standalone, fully independent school but rather: "Peralta is space challenged and, because it is all on the ground floor, is ideally suited for the lowest grades of elementary school. Sankofa is only three blocks from Peralta and is chronically under enrolled. It was suggested that overcrowding could be relieved at Peralta by using the space for TK-2 classes for Sankof and Peralta students while Sankofa could host grades 3-5. Because the two schools were in July 2017 both undergoing searches for new principals, this could be an ideal time to rethink the programs at both schools." Source: https://www.ousd.org/cms/lib/CA01001176/Centricity/Domain/63/1_North%20…

This idea will be discussed at a meeting on December 6th, 2017, at 6:15pm, at Oakland Technical High School (Library), at 4351 Broadway, Oakland apparently.

Has anyone heard about this or know anything further about this? And is anyone willing to attend?

Dec 3, 2017

I heard this was a possibility while touring Sankofa last week and I think it could make a lot of sense to combine the schools for variety of reasons.

There are two Blueprint meeting tonight and there will be four others this week: https://www.ousd.org/domain/4820

Dec 6, 2017

I'm confused by your posting title referring to "closing" Peralta. Sounds like a merger that might make a lot of sense. I'm not sure what would change about being "fully independent." I live in the area and wish I could attend the meeting tonight. Thanks for bringing up the topic. I hope the issue will be addressed with open minds about how to serve all OUSD students whole will thrive.

Dec 6, 2017

At the meeting apparently, it was said that it was just an idea with no immediate plans for implementation, and that in any case Peralta would NOT be closed if it ever happened. This post was not too on-point. Sorry about that!!

Dec 11, 2017
Kaiser Elementary and Peralta recommendations
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Aug 17, 2017

Hi there. My son will be ready to start first grade in Fall 2018 and am starting to look at the different schools. Any parents out there with kids at Peralta or Kaiser Elementary? What do you love? What are areas the school needs to improve? What do you know now that you wish you knew before you applied?

Really appreciate all your thoughts!

Aug 17, 2017

My very positive experience is with Peralta, but I know families who adore Kaiser as well, so perhaps your decision should be based on what the commute is like for you. I take it neither school is your neighborhood school?

Aug 25, 2017

Hi, thanks for your reply. You're correct, neither is near my neighborhood. Can you tell me more about Peralta?

Aug 30, 2017

Well, I don't want to spend to much time raving about Peralta, because it's not too likely you'll get a spot there. I see you'll be looking for a 1st grade spot, which is slightly easier to come by than a kindy spot, but still difficult. Anyway, Peralta has a new principal this year, which feels very strange, but so far she has been well-received and appears to be lovely and capable. All of the teachers we've experienced thus far have been wonderful, though some do assign too much homework. There is art and music and a whole peace/love/tolerance/diversity feel to the school. Most everyone walks the walk. That said, Peralta is not terribly diverse anymore and that is a great loss. I think Kaiser beats Peralta hands down in this aspect. But I am forever grateful that my children are being educated at Peralta. However, you would probably be very happy at Kaiser or a number of other OUSD elementary schools also.

Sep 1, 2017
Peralta vs. Chabot Elementary
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Aug 2, 2017

Hi,

We are moving to Oakland from San Francisco and will be entering the OUSD lottery in Fall 2017. We are hoping to find a place in the Rockridge area and are trying to learn more about the differences, advantages/disadvantages of Peralta and Chabot. We welcome any insights and experiences you may have as we are new to Oakland schools and we are considering right now where to move to take advantage of the neighborhood priority!

Thank you!

Aug 2, 2017

I went to Chabot as a child (many years ago!) and my kids went to or are at Peralta. I think most people would agree that both are great schools with high test scores and very involved parent communities that do a lot of fundraising to provide extras (library, music, art) that are no longer covered by basic education funding. Both are great for walking to if you live in the neighborhood. Chabot has nicer facilities (some brand new and beautiful) and much more expansive grounds, while Peralta is small and intimate with colorful art and gardens. Chabot is larger, with 573 kids while Peralta has 329. I think Chabot currently has a much more affluent population, while Peralta is much more economically diverse. Peralta also seems more ethnically diverse, though it gets less so as the neighborhood continues to gentrify and as fewer out-of-district families are accepted due to more neighborhood families attending. I can't speak to specific programs at Chabot, but Peralta has a very intensive arts focus (including 2 artists-in-residence) that permeates most subjects (even science!), and that was a hugely positive aspect of Peralta for us. I loved Chabot as a kid and was initially bummed my kids were not in that district, but we have loved Peralta. Finally, Chabot's most-excellent principal of 9 years, Jonathan Mayer, left to be principal at Claremont Middle School 3 years ago (where, by the way, he is rocking it), and Peralta's rock-star principal of 20 years, Rosette Costello, just retired, so both schools are probably going to be experiencing some similar adjustments to new leadership. Overall, they're both great choices, but hopefully these details and what you glean from other responses will help you choose.

Aug 8, 2017

Congrats on your move to Oakland! We live in Rockridge, and our kids attend Chabot. We have a number of friends whose kids are at Peralta. I can tell you that Chabot only fills about 65 - 70% of its space with in-neighborhood families. So if you move into the neighborhood, you will definitely get in to Chabot. My understanding is that that has not been the case in recent years with Peralta. I have heard of neighborhood families failing to get in, because the school isn't big enough to accommodate everyone in the neighborhood. (Hopefully, some current Peralta parents will chime in with the latest intel, but that's what I heard as of two years ago.)

Chabot is a large school (~570 kids) with many fantastic programs - art, library, music, science, kindergarten Spanish (and optional, for-a-fee Spanish in grades 1-5). It has an incredibly dedicated community of parents. And I have been impressed with the way the current administration remains focused on in-classroom equity and on creating an inclusive community at the school. There are a number of truly excellent teachers at Chabot as well; I'm genuinely blown away by some of them. And ALL the teachers at Chabot are solid.

My one complaint about the school is that I wish there were more emphasis placed on social/emotional well-being on the yard. I think the school does a good job of this in the classroom, but our child has had some struggles on the yard, and I wish that there were more resources available so that we could have more caring adults on the yard at recess, tracking what's going on with the kids. (To be clear, the yard staff is great. They are just wildly outnumbered by the kids on the yard and can't really track everything that goes on.)

My other complaint about Chabot is really a complaint about OUSD as a whole: it is not as diverse as I would like. (I think Peralta is pretty similar in demographic terms. Possibly even less diverse than Chabot these days. You can check numbers on OUSD's website.) Oakland has never truly integrated its schools, and it's pretty shocking to me that in this day and age, our schools are so segregated, by both race and class. To be honest, if I had to do it all over again, I would probably live in Berkeley, where the schools are all socioeconomically integrated, and the elementary class sizes are smaller. Sure, you may or may not get into your closest school in Berkeley, but they won't send you all the way across town either. We have lots of friends in Berkeley, and their public schools sound great. In terms of neighborhood, we are talking about a difference of a few blocks from Rockridge into Berkeley. Maybe worth considering?

Feel free to get in touch if you have specific questions about Chabot. I have been a very involved parent at the school and don't mind sharing what I've learned over the past few years. Thanks.

Aug 9, 2017

My daughter was at Peralta last year and I had a foster daughter at Chabot a number of years ago. if you are in the Peralta neighborhood, you do have priority, but you are not guaranteed to get in. Chabot is considered easier to get into. During the first weeks of school, historically, most parents on the waiting list have been able to get into Peralta, it is just that many aren't willing to make the switch so late in the game.

The biggest difference between the schools, from what I can tell, is that Peralta is a much smaller school. Of course, there are positives an minuses that go along with that. We made a lot of friends easily at Peralta, but it is a smaller pool of kids. There is a serious focus on art and the gardens at Peralta, which we loved. By the way, Peralta's principal of, I think 20 years, did leave this year so there is some transition.

The advantages of the schools are engaged parent volunteers and lots of extras-like art, music. Some disadvantages of both schools are that the socio-economic diversity is limited and neither are the most progressive of schools. They both have a "culture of homework" and there is more worksheet/rote learning than I expected.

Aug 9, 2017
Late enrollment at OUSD (Peralta)
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May 8, 2017

Hi. Moving to Oakland in mid-July and will be zoned for Peralta. We are obviously well past the enrollment deadline and are nervous we won't get our 1st grade son in due to overcrowding. Has anyone experienced something like this and how did you handle?

I called OUSD and got almost no information other than an emphasis on how no spot was guaranteed. ("You can live across the street and not get in!")

Is there a database anywhere as to how many zoned kids got into a particular school? Thanks so much for any guidance.

May 8, 2017

Go to Peralta and talk to the principal, Rosette Costello. If anyone can give you info, it's her. She's an amazing principal.

May 10, 2017
Peralta Kindergarten
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Mar 30, 2017

I'm curious if anyone else zoned for Peralta did not get in. Are they very oversubscribed this year? Any information or experiences with this year's options process would be very helpful. Thank you!

Mar 30, 2017

Yes, they have been oversubscribed for the past several years and did not take all neighborhood families in the first round this year. (Same story at Redwood Heights.) If you want to attend, hopefully you already submitted an appeal; you keep your neighborhood preference in the appeals process and will be at the top of the waitlist (in a random order with other neighborhood families who did not get in). The list does move. Good luck!

Apr 5, 2017
Getting into Peralta Elementary mid-year or if you've missed the application deadline
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Jan 21, 2017

Hi BPN

we are planning on moving to an area of Oakland that is served by Peralta in a couple of months. If we try to transfer our kindergartener in March or April, would we get in? Are our odds of enrolling him into Peralta any better for the fall even if we will have missed the application deadline? We are trying to determine what type of experiences people have had since this must be a common event. Any insight would be helpful. thanks!

Jan 21, 2017

This is what I was told on my school tour last year, maybe someone with more direct knowledge will have different information: With the exception of 2015-2016, every year any family that is within the Peralta district has gotten in, although they don't always get in on the first round. I have heard of families being offered spots a month or a week before school starts (and by that time, some of those families have already put payments down on private school). For 2015-2016, they created an extra K/1 class, but that many of the families who said they wanted spots did not take one. This year, my daughter is in K and there was a lot of movement into Peralta by families out of district within the first few weeks. I do not know whether missing the application deadline versus being within the district would effect your place on the waitlist for the fall spots, but the school or district admissions office may be able to answer that. I think by March or April, you would have to get very lucky to get a spot.

Jan 25, 2017
Should I be concerned about Peralta over-enrollment?
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Nov 10, 2016

Hi,

We're currently renting in North Oakland, and considering purchasing a home nearby. One of the obvious considerations is schools, which is not an issue now but will be in 4 years. The specific home we're considering is in the Peralta district. How concerned do I need to be that, a few years from now, the school will be over-enrolled and families in the neighborhood will be turned away? How often does that actually happen?

Any info/advice would be much appreciated!

Nov 10, 2016

Hi there. We moved away from Oakland a while back, but both our kids went to our local highly-sought-after elementary school. Maybe someone has more current info, but I am pretty sure that it is Hillcrest that is the only school where a few neighborhood kids are turned away because it is full. And that is mostly because it goes beyond 5th grade. Chabot might be a little that way now with the new campus, anybody know? But pretty much any other school, if you live within the boundaries for that school, is where your kids will go. It is not the horrendous cross-town nightmare that SF has. But here is the thing: if you have your heart set on a particular school, be very, very mindful about exactly where the boundaries lie, house by house, for that school. A colleague of mine and her husband bought a house that was 1 block from the school they wanted and their realtor had told them it was in that school zone. But, it was actually part of a different school zone which they did not find out about until after they bought. They fought for 2 years to get their daughter in the school 1 block from their house, unsuccessfully. Also, in the Montclair district, the kids who are 3 homes down from Thornhill Elementary school are zoned for Montclair Elementary, and they end up walking about 4 blocks to the other school. So, be careful about the zone the house you are looking at is in. And with the housing market the way that it is, it is very hard to be that picky about location. We moved 2 years ago, after first selling our house to have money for the down payment on the new one, and after living in AirB&Bs for many months while putting out bids, we ended up buying in a neighborhood that we had never considered because it was the only place that we could afford the overbidding wars. But we are super happy now and glad that we did. Best to you guys.

Nov 16, 2016

Regarding Peralta overenrollment, it's happened at least twice in the last 3-4 years and that won't change. However, if you're in the neighborhood the odds are very, very good you'll get a spot. I believe there are only a handful of kindergartners who don't. The odds are certainly in your favor, though not a guarantee.

Nov 18, 2016

My daughter is a kindergartener at Peralta, we are in the joint district of Peralta and Sankofa. The other poster is correct, this has been a concern since we moved here 13 years ago. We were told when applying that the previous year (2015-16) was the first year that kids from the neighborhood didn't get in and they ended up creating an additional class. It was a K/1 mixed class that ended up being quite small because so few Kindergarteners took them up on their offer of a spot. I can't promise this is true, but that is what I was told. This year, I can tell you that a number of families from outside of the district got in during the first week of school.

You also may want to consider that the enrollment policies of the OUSD may not be the same in 4 years. Inequities in Oakland schools is a hot topic right now.

Nov 23, 2016

Thanks everyone for the info. Super helpful.

Dec 3, 2016

Parent Reviews

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RE:

Arts-focused Public Elementary School recommendations (Apr 9, 2024)

For public elementary school in Oakland, Peralta Elementary in Oakland has strong arts program. Its website states that it is a designated Arts Demonstration School in OUSD. The neighborhood that includes Peralta feeds into Claremont Middle and Oakland Tech High which are considered top schools in Oakland. The only potential issue is that in some years, Peralta has not been able to accommodate all neighborhood kids especially for K, due to the number of rising siblings of current Peralta students who get the first priority. The neighborhood children get the 2nd priority after the siblings of current students. You might want to inquire for the specific grades for your kids.

We live in Oakland, so I'm not as familiar with public schools in other districts.

Apr 11, 2024

Recommended:

Peralta Elementary School

RE:

Before School Care Options for Oakland Unified (Jan 11, 2019)

Hi there - our school, Peralta Elementary, offers pre-care via the PPTG (Parent Teacher Group) Maybe something to talk to the PTG at your school about ?

Jan 16, 2019

Recommended:

Peralta Elementary School

RE:

Any current Chabot, Hillcrest, Peralta or BUSD Southeast (Emerson, Le Conte, John Muir, Malcolm X) parents? (Mar 13, 2018)

We're in our 10th year at Peralta and it's been the most amazing experience, notwithstanding what is true for all public schools, which is that parents are tasked with a high degree of seemingly endless fundraising. Peralta is arts-oriented and it permeates most instruction, which has been great for our kids. The community is small and welcoming, the teachers are excellent, administration is new but so far great. I can't say enough good things, it's just unique and special. It's true that there is always a wait list, so I would talk to the principal to see if she knows whether there will be 1st grade spots next year. I've been surprised by the number of new kids year to year, so there must be turnover. Good luck.

Mar 14, 2018

Recommended:

Peralta Elementary School

RE:

Diverse East Bay Areas for Muslim/Hispanic mixed children (May 19, 2017)

We're in Rockridge and our kids are at Peralta Elementary and Claremont Middle School. There have been a fair number of Muslim kids at both schools throughout our time there (9 years at Peralta, 3 at Claremont). The school communities are pretty diverse, both ethnically and economically (more so at Claremont than Peralta, but I'm aware of more Muslim families at Peralta than Claremont), and I would be shocked at kids in either school commenting on your kids' religion - most of the people we know at both schools either aren't religious at all, or if they are they tend to be liberal Jews or Christians. I think you can still get a house in the $1.5 mil range in the Peralta/Claremont districts. Good luck!

May 24, 2017

Recommended:

Peralta Elementary School,

Claremont Middle School

RE:

OUSD TK Options - Sankofa or Emerson? (Nov 18, 2016)

We know families that have gone to Emerson for TK then Peralta for K. I live less than a block from Sankofa and our daughter is at Peralta.

Last year OUSD discouraged any family outside of the Peralta district from putting it as their first choice. I don't know of any new families outside of the district that got in on the first pass, but I know many that got in from the waiting list over the summer or in the first week of school.

Nov 23, 2016

Recommended:

Peralta Elementary School,

Emerson Elementary School (OUSD)

Archived Q&A and Reviews

Feeder Preschools for Peralta?

Oct 2015

We're researching preschools for next Fall. My daughter will (hopefully) go to Peralta for kindergarten, and I'm wondering what preschools are feeder schools for Peralta. It'd be nice to start forming relationships with those families now.

Thanks!

Future Peralta Parent

Rockridge Little School! Our preschooler is so happy there. Wonderful teachers and amazing parent community! Many kids went on to Peralta from there this year. happy RLS parent

I don't know that there are specific preschools that ''feed'' into Peralta, but picking ones in the neighborhood ups the likelihood of overlap. Giggles, Rockridge Little School, My Own Montessori (by Trader Joe's) are all good choices. Also, a Peralta dad has started a home daycare called Mini Marvels - you could check that out. Honestly, we made enough connections just hanging out at Colby Park and being friendly with neighbors to feel like there were familiar faces going in. Plus, Peralta does serious community-building (multiple incoming-K playdates over the summer) to make sure kids feel grounded and comfortable on their first day of K. Don't stress - just pick what works for you right now.

Most of the closest preschools to Peralta ''feed'' Peralta, like Claremont Day Nursery, Giggles, etc. When my daughter entered kindy at Peralta, she came in with at least 5 other kids from The Model School. Some of those girls continue to be her closest friends. I heartily recommend The Model School anyway, even if there were no Peralta connection! Oakland mom

Oct 2015

RE: Disappointed with Oakland public kindergarten experience

We have been at Peralta for many years and while we also have to deal with large class sizes, what you describe at recess (everyone taking a knee for 10 minutes because of a few students' transgressions) would NEVER happen there. So be careful of lumping all OUSD schools together. We certainly have teachers and other adults who speak sternly and are considered ''strict,'' but the overall feeling at Peralta is one of warmth and caring. But I'm not trying to sell Peralta because I think you can address this situation at Chabot and improve it for everyone. Chabot has lots and lots going for it (we know several families there) and it seems to me this is a one-off situation that the administration at Chabot would want to work out. ''Throwing the baby out with the bathwater'' is the phrase that comes to mind--leaving a perfectly good school because of one negative aspect. Certainly other schools can offer smaller class sizes, but there are downsides to all schools, whether it be price tag, commute, lack of offerings, or class size. So my advice is to stick with Chabot, where you know your child will receive a good education, and let the administration know you will not tolerate the punitive atmosphere. Large classrooms can be successful without yelling and punishment and it happens every day at the school that I'm not trying to sell you. Oakland mom

Oct 2014

Re: Schools that offer 3-D printing classes

Peralta Elementary uses them for after school enrichment. An awesome Peralta mom of a 3rd grade girl created a week-long, all-girl summer camp, entitled, Scientific Adventures for Girls, at Curiosity Hacked this past August that my daughter still raves about. It was a first for a camp like this, and quite successful. Check out Curiosity Hacked and see if might pique your daughter's interest. Definitely keep the camp on file for next summer! Mom of Geeky Wannabe Girl Scientist

Questions about Peralta Elementary

Sept 2014

We'd like to send our daughter to Peralta Elementary school in Oakland, and are lucky enough to live close by. I do have a few concerns though for current and former Peralta families: To what extent does the school encourage creative thinking and foster a love of learning? Do you find that the teachers have to ''teach to the test?'' Are the class sizes unmanageably large? Does Peralta prepare children well for private middle schools? Any regrets about sending your child to Peralta? What do you love about Peralta? Thanks everyone for your responses. Concerned Mom

First of all, you may be worrying about the wrong school! Just because you're close to Peralta, doesn't mean that's where the zone lines are. There's a very simple map/address gadget on the OUSD website so you can identify your zoned school. I would encourage you to check what school you're zoned for before worrying.

I have both a kid who's a Peralta alumni and a current student. Here's what I learned from the families that we joined so many years ago in Peralta kindergarten: the families with grave concerns going in continued to have concerns. Parents who had already decided that they felt class sizes or testing or not enough GATE (well before their kids were identified for GATE), etc, continued to be concerned or dissatisfied. Many of them left.

Parents who entered expecting to learn about elementary school alongside their kids had a great experience. Peralta offers many opportunities for family engagement. Kids are happy and love their school. They embrace their music classes (starting in K, and continuing straight through to 5th). They have an extraordinary art teacher (who also teaches after school classes -- not just art, also cooking -- so popular that kids enroll in after school just to take her classes). They have really, really good teachers. The support staff (is the principal considered support staff? she seems to believe her role is to support the teachers and kids) is extraordinary, warm, engaged, loving. One benefit of a small school is that everyone knows every kid. If you are in the neighborhood, going to the neighborhood school is pretty awesome. You know the kids on your block. Playdates are easy. Community is fostered by proximity.

I love their after school program. I only know a handful of other elementary schools so maybe it's not as uncommon as I think, but at Peralta, all the kids are together. There's no segregation based on economic class, as is common in schools with multiple options based on ability to pay. It's a tremendous equalizer to have all after school kids playing together rather than segregated. I love the after school program anyway -- great staff, lots of free time (although with supervision), including outside time, amazing enrichment (but my kid prefers ''Leisure Club'' which is hanging out and not doing much of anything). Maybe that's the lesson of parenting -- that kids don't necessarily want what we predetermine they will need -- I wanted him to take choir, chess, and origami.

I have to tell you that reading your post, where you've already decided that your child not yet entering kindergarten will be best served by private middle school and you have a list of concerns about the elementary school, I felt like I wanted to encourage you to consider something else. Maybe you'll be happiest in a school you have more confidence in. Don't worry. Peralta will fill your spot.

As to middle school, I found that first time parents worried a lot. Now, everyone is satisfied with where their kids are. No one has moved. Would they say the schools are perfect? No, but there's an understanding that it's middle school. None of them -- public or private -- are awesome and there comes a time where what the student gets out of a school is based on what they put in. From watching our friends who were applying to private middle schools, you might increase your kid's acceptance rate by sending them to an elementary school that doesn't send kids to private middle schools. Emerson, Piedmont Ave, Sankofa, off the top of my head. It's a long journey, no perfect decisions

It is my opinion that you cannot get a better elementary education in the East Bay than at Peralta (and that includes private schools). Seriously, top-notch. The only downside to Peralta is the large class size, but let me allay your fears about that. All of Peralta's teachers are immensely skilled at managing their classrooms. I have had three children come through Peralta (two still there) and every teacher we've had has either been good or excellent (most fall into the latter category). My kids are happy to go to school every single day. In fact, my daughter had such a magnificent 3rd grade year that she did not want summer vacation to start. Yes, the teachers must ''teach to the test,'' but this is true at all schools, because the higher test scores mean the schools get more autonomy (Peralta's scores are sky-high). This is true at private schools too; those kids are being trained to take standardized tests as well, to prepare for the ISEE/SAT/ACT. But there is plenty of extra time at school to learn and engage and get inspired. Are they panning for gold? They are. Are they taking water quality samples at Lake Merritt? They are. Are they going away for a week to MOSAIC to learn about social/emotional issues? They are. They are learning how to make quilts, play the clarinet, sing Nigerian protest songs, and doing it all with joy. My eldest went off to public middle school but many of his cohort went to private (BPC, HR, Park, etc). You can't go wrong with Peralta. I swear, they didn't pay me!

Aug 2013

Re: Are there any progressive PUBLIC schools?
I think you are describing Peralta Elementary, in north Oakland. Arts integration? Oh my gosh, yes! Social-emotional development? Yes! They use both Second Step and/or MOSAIC in all grades. Play? Yes, they all get three recesses a day, as well as free time in the classroom. Peralta has a strong sense of community, a diverse population (both ethnically and socio-economically), as well as sky-high test scores. The neighborhood is very walkable; we live about four blocks from Peralta and we have a walk-score of 96. The only downside to Peralta is that the class sizes are large; this is because it is a highly sought-after school, so OUSD packs them in. Not everybody who wants in, gets in, unfortunately. I heard that this year even some neighborhood kindergartners were denied spots, so if you want a spot for your son, it would be best to live in the neighborhood. But if your son gets a spot, then your daughter will be guaranteed admission. Best of luck to you. Public school mom

Peralta for new 2nd grade boy?

March 2013

My son will be in 2nd grade next year, and we just found out that he got into Peralta. There aren't a lot of recent posts, but i'm wondering how the school is for a quiet, sweet 7 yr old. Anon

Hi there and welcome to Peralta! We've been at Peralta for two years now and with the exception of a few concerns (no school is perfect), we are incredibly happy and impressed with the school and community. As I'm sure you already know, the parent community is very active. The leadership is solid and the teachers are experienced, dedicated, and provide an excellent curriculum. You mentioned your son is quiet and sweet. I'm assuming this means he might be a bit shy? I think Peralta being a very small school is great for a child like this. It never feels overwhelming on the school grounds to us and our kids have never complained of feeling crowded or scared. Honestly, there are so many, many positives to the school it's hard to even write our concerns but here they are: class size and homework. Right now both 1st and 2nd grade classes are around 27 kids. The incoming 2nd grade (which your son would be in), I believe is going to increase to 29-31 kids. Don't get me wrong, Peralta teachers are VERY strong and they do have TA's through 2nd grade. However, that's a lot of kids and depending on the child it can be a bit much. I'm not sure how homework is from 2nd grade up yet, but I've been disappointed with the amount of homework in K and 1st grade, meaning there's too much. I think it tires kids out and doesn't really advance them academically at this age. Overall, fantastic school and community! It is truly a great school and we've learned over time, no school will be perfect!! Good luck!! And again, welcome! Peralta Dad

Lucky you! I think you and your child will be thrilled with Peralta, as we are and have been for six years now. My kids are sweet and quiet also and they have made solid friends and been happy to go to school almost every day. Peralta is full of all different kinds of kids and I'm sure your child will fit right in. Congratulations! Pleased Peralta Parent

Jan 2013

Re: OUSD Elementary options for queer family

Peralta and Kaiser are the north Oakland schools that spring to mind when you say you want a queer-friendly environment. I have been a Peralta parent for several years and there are a number of same-sex parents at the school. I hope some of them will respond to you. Kaiser also touts themselves as LBGT-friendly (in fact, in this very same newsletter they announced a tour and listed this as one of their qualities). Two excellent schools--visit them both! Peralta parent

March 2012

Re: Bullied 4th Grader wants to be Homeschooled
There ARE schools in Oakland with zero tolerance for bullying. If 65th and San Pablo is in Oakland (not sure where the border between Oakland and Emeryville is), perhaps your son could transfer into Peralta. I have never seen a happier bunch of kids than at Peralta! I've never witnessed bullying there either. It would break my heart to see my kid so unhappy at school--I hope you can find a good match for your child.
Mom of happy kids at a happy school

Jan 2012

I saw a couple of posts talking about parents having their kids on a waiting list for Peralta Elementary. How do you get on a waiting list for a public school? What I have read so far seems to indicate that to get your child into an OUSD kindergarten you basically apply the December before your child turns 5 and then wait for a response... is there more to it than that? How early can you get on a waiting list? Do you have to live in the neighborhood? Preparing to send my toddler to school in a few years

The process for getting into Peralta is no different than any other elementary school in Oakland. You apply by January to begin school in August. If you live in the Peralta catchment area, you have a very good chance of going to Peralta. Right now Peralta is about half neighborhood kids, and half out-of-neighborhood kids. There is often a waiting list, but those on the list are usually from out of the catchment area. Last fall was an exception--there were some neighborhood families who didn't get a spot, but that was due to a complicated budgeting process whereby Peralta lost a teacher and had an empty classroom (OUSD at its finest). Peralta Peep

Aug 2011

Re: Peralta for a sabbatical
I have to say, as a Peralta parent, it is a fantastic school with a wonderful community of families. And yes, the art the children do is magnificent. I assume your 7 year-old is a 2nd-grader? I have no idea if there's an opening for a 2nd grader, but I do know that kindy has a long waiting list (even for neighborhood families). And as to your child doing a four-day week, no way. The school gets $$ every day your child is in school, $$ that they (we) desperately need. Missing 20% of the school week seems huge to me anyway--I don't think that would benefit your child at all. Anyway, if you get a spot at Peralta, congratulations and welcome--you will love it! Mom to two Peralta peeps

March 2011

We have our eye on Peralta and have toured. We are on the wait list at Peralta, but we must move to the zone to assure our spot. We LOVED this school, but worry about class size increase, too much academic pressure, homework and teaching to the test. Also the upcoming budget cuts are a major concern. Can the community please respond to let me know how you think Peralta handles this? Also, are Peralta parents pressured or montitored to be involved? Is it a stress if you cannot volunteer as much as another parent? ps...our daughter is VERY artistic. Peralta seems to have a strong arts program. Is this true? -planning ahead

I do not think you need to move to the Peralta district to attend the school. But be persistent? Yes. This is my family's 4rth year there and there must be at least 30% families from outside the Peralta zone. It is not uncommon at all. In terms of academic pressure or too much homework, we have not found either one to be a problem. Some teachers give more work than others however, but I have never heard of overburdening the students. Nor have I heard of or experienced academic pressure. I usually hear great stories of how teachers and principal band together to make sure no one falls through the cracks and give them all kinds of support, e.g. in reading. Teaching to the test - yes they do have testing as of 2nd grade, and the students spend some time practicing their test taking. This has never worried me, since I think test taking skills are extremely important. They don't go away. (Even 40 years later I still have to take high pressure exams for various licenses and certifications I apply for.)

What I love about Peralta (and there are many things) is that enrichment can be found all around. There are wonderful artists and musicians working at the school, and it's taken years for us to actually take stock of all the amazing things they are doing with the children. In addition, the students really LOVE these people. Watercolor, pastels, origami, Japanese calligraphy, paper making, 3-d constructions, cooking, mural painting and stop action animated films are just a sampling of some of the cool projects the children undertake each week for art. Re: volunteering, parents are not monitored to be involved, but the school is as great as it is because so many people are involved - many of them working parents. There are many opportunities to help on the weekends or evenings, either organizing things from home or working at a school function, and a spirit of initiative is greatly encouraged and appreciated. There are a lot of ways to help, and propel the school forward.

Everyone is concerned about the budget crisis and possibly packed classrooms. No one knows how this will shake down - might happen, might not and the school community is doing whatever it can to prevent it. But we have seen this school overcome crises in the past and have faith. -j

March 2011

Peralta or Kaiser?? Just got the results from OUSD options and our twins were placed apart: one at Peralta and one at Kaiser, which are are #1 and #2 choices. Ok, so I know these are two FABULOUS choices to have. I know we are spoilt for choice, so believe me we are very, very thankful. I think we only got this b/c of the Program Improvement status at our zoned school.

We toured both schools, loved both schools, etc. Just looking for some more current feedback on Kaiser vs. Peralta. Specifically how intense the academics are, homework, driving up the hill to Kaiser each day (Peralta is much closer to our home), safety of campus at Peralta, concerns with upcoming budget cuts, etc.

I know we get priority on the wait list for either school, but now I am very confused about how to proceed with appealing to one or the other, or both? We obviously want our twins placed together in the long run, but can wait into the first week of school or so until that happens. Thank you in advance!! Lucky!

Ha! Leave it to OUSD to assign twins to different schools! But you're right, you're in an enviable position getting to choose between Peralta and Kaiser. One major point in favor of Peralta is your morning commute--why drive up into the hills if you don't have to? Also, you ask about safety at Peralta and I'm not sure what you mean by that. Because of its proximity to Telegraph? We've been at Peralta for four years now and I've never felt unsafe AT ALL. Still totally in love with Peralta too...Anyway, choose your school (probably can't go wrong) and hopefully that poor parent who didn't get a spot at any of their six choices can get the spot you don't want! OUSD mom

Nov 2009

We need to move and since we have 2-year-olds we would like to move someplace we can stay for elementary school. I have heard good things about Peralta Elementary but the OUSD site doesn't show the boundaries for Peralta. What is an ''anchor'' school? Does it mean neighborhood families don't get any priority? We are also thinking of just moving to Berkeley to increase our chances of getting into a school we like. What are the chances of getting in to Peralta if we stay, and do we improve our chances if we move to the Peralta neighborhood? Lesley

Peralta is a GREAT school, my first grader is there and we all love it. It's an amazing environment that really stimulates kids' intellectual curiosity, not to mention the serious arts focus. My understanding is that priority is given to neighborhood families, then to siblings of current students who are out-of-district, then it's a lottery for out-of-district families. Call OUSD to see whether a property you're considering moving to is in the boundaries. I've heard that Oakland is considering a lottery system like Berkeley but don't know when or if that will really happen. Peralta fan

Answers about Peralta (yes, it is as great as you hear)...Here is a map of the Peralta area: http://mapstacker.ousd.k12.ca.us/HardCopy/145.pdf (if it doesn't show up, try typing in an address that you know is in the Peralta zone, like the address of the school, then you'll get the whole map). Right now, if you live in the zone, you are almost guaranteed to get a spot in the school. But since your kids are only 2, district policy could change in the next 3 years...still worth a try though. I have no idea what an anchor school is. Hope this helps. Pleased Peralta Parent

August 2009

There is a possibility that our child will be in the K/1 class in Peralta Elementary. Can any Peralta parents share information about this class (pros and cons, comparisons with regular K classes at Peralta ...) and about the teacher, Miss Thomas? The assignment process is a bit of a mystery to us, and we are not at all familiar with any of the Peralta KG teachers. But we're thrilled to be in Peralta and our child too is quite eager to begin KG.
Cautiously Excited Incoming Peralta Mother

Ms. Thomas' mixed k/1 class works out really well. Part of that is through Peralta's savvy placement. My sense is that she gets fewer behavior problems and academically stronger and more mature Kindergardeners.

She's a strong and experienced teacher, recruited to Peralta b/c of her impressive resume and credentials. She's very loving and runs a well-organized, calm classroom. The kids love her. When you hear a negative comment it's generally because of minor cultural differences with sterotypical Bay Area parents. (For example, she's mentioned God in the classroom -- not so you think she's proselytizing, just such a major part of her life that it was mentioned in passing. Now, my kids knows more Buddhists than Christians, so I'm happy for them to know that there are people who believe in God. Part of diversity and all that.)

When my second child is entering Kindergarten, I'll have my fingers crossed for an assignment (either for K or 1st) in Ms. Thomas' class (although I probably won't make an actual request - I trust the Peralta administration to make good decisions about these things.) Welcome to the Peralta community!

Sorry for the late reply, but we just returned from vacation. My son was in Mrs. Thomas' K/1 at Peralta two years ago. It was her first year at Peralta (though she's been teaching in OUSD for many, many years). There were growing pains in the beginning, for sure, but ultimately our family and most importantly, our son, grew to love Mrs. Thomas! I spent a bit of time in the classroom and could see how engaged the children were with her. My son was one of only 5 kindergarteners in her class that year, but I understand the split will be closer to 50/50 this year. He started the year barely able to write his name (despite being an older kindergartener), but ended the year reading above grade level. I don't have any direct experience with the other K teachers at Peralta, but I hear there are no bad teachers to be had there! Welcome to our school! Pleased Peralta Parent

March 2009

Our son got into Peralta Elementary (Oakland) starting in Fall 2009. We have favorable impressions from our school tour but not having had a chance to speak with parents with children in school right now (most comments are not so recent), we'd love to know how people feel about the school. Has the financial crisis impacted in any way? parent of pre-K boy

Congratulations on being accepted into Peralta! I have one child there now, and one on the way. We applied to several private schools and Peralta (we are out of the Peralta district), but ended up choosing Peralta, even after being accepted to the private schools. We felt our child would get the private school education - at a much better price - at Peralta. We have been so happy with our decision.

It's an amazing school: The community involvement, the small size, the excellent teachers, the diversity of the families, the amazing principal, the extra-curricular programs (first graders are working with the San Francisco Opera, for example), the wonderful gardens, the focus on the whole child and not just the Open Court curriculum. It's a gem in OUSD, and you should be thrilled that you will now be a part of such an amazing school.

Pleased Peralta Parent

April 2008

We are considering moving to the Rockridge area, and I'd love to know how people feel about Peralta Elementary School. I've seen postings, but they're pretty old. And some information I find about the Oakland schools makes me think there's a lottery system for school assignments. Is this the case? I checked out Peralta's website, but it hasn't been updated since December 2007 when they were dealing with a crisis and had to change locations. Is it back to the original school location now, and is all okay there? Any recommendations about other schools in the area? Thanks for any information! Carolyn

We are a neighborhood family that is absolutely in love with Peralta. Our son is in kindergarten now. Peralta has a warm community feel to it, the principal is always accessible, the teachers seem to really enjoy their work and the kids seem very happy there overall. Really the only improvements necessary would be for Peralta to secede from OUSD and also become K-8 (yes, I'm being a little tongue in cheek--neither of these are likely).

There was no crisis in December 2007 that I'm aware of, so I don't know how to respond to that. There was however an arson fire in March 2007 and the school finished out the school year at a different campus last year. (And you should have the seen the Peralta community in action the weekend before school started this year--getting the campus ready for students!).

As far as moving to Rockridge NOW, I'm not sure how the enrollment process works--everyone has already been assigned their school, so I don't know what new neighborhood kids are supposed to do. This would be a question for OUSD.

Good luck with your decision. You won't regret choosing Peralta. Proud and Pleased Peralta Parent

Peralta is simply a very special place. We are a strong community and we don't take ''no'' for an answer. Look around and it is evident that this is not your ordinary elementary school. Yes, there was a fire last year, but we are back on our old campus. We enjoy an amazingly dedicated principal and a caring, and hardworking staff. Our parent/caregiver community can move mountains. We have professional artists-in-residence in the following media - muralists, textiles, digital media, landscape design & choral and instrumental music. Our kids paint, sew, dye, quilt, make movies, garden, & sing everyday. We have a wonderful Gifted & Talented program run by our hardworking Librarian. We have an annual Math Olympics and a Science Fair (every student creates a science project, K-5). We have weekly social skills development, physical education and Spanish classes. We have a weekly organic farmer's market on campus. Our community has worked hard to create a combined afterschool program as well as various after school enrichment programs including, drama, Sera Science, digital media, Destiny Arts, comedy improv, guitar, basketball, drumming and more.

We are a truly diverse community, ethnically and socioeconomically. Our familes come in all kinds of flavors. We are a lucky bunch. If you have the chance you could be too. Make sure you are aware of OUSD admission policy. 100 families put Peralta as their first choice for elementary school. We only have spaces for 40 incoming Kindergarteners. Nicole

June 2006

I'm wondering how Peralta Elementary parents feel about the after school program there?
Looking Around

The Peralta afterschool program does not make a distinction between the kids in the subsidized afterschool (CDC) and the kids whose parents can afford to pay for care (Rainbow). Although it is administratively two programs, the kids are in aftercare together.

There are some lovely enrichments, especially for first grade and up (Kindergarteners are separated). The greatest advantage, from my perspective, is that kids are not segregated by family income. They get to know the other kids from their school. Everyone appears happy, engaged, and well-monitored. Some families (non-CDC) send their children to the JCC program, arguing that for about the same price, there are more enrichment opportunities. I would urge you to consider signing up for the program at the school. There may be less funding per- child but it does not impact the basic level of care. Sending your child away from your school does weaken the link to his/her school and classmates. To the extent s/he is with other Peralta kids at JCC, it's only the economically advantaged ones. Children form relationships, especially during the less structured time in afterschool. To me, it's not worth the occassional bells and whistles that may be available elsewhere. Thanks for your interest Anne

Dec 2005

I've been looking at both public and private schools for my daughter who will be starting kindergarten next year. Our neighborhood school is Peralta in North Oakland and it seems great--I can see no reason whatsoever to send her to a private school. Except that I'm a lesbian and the private schools, such as Berkwood Hedge and Park Day, sound really supportive of queer parents and their kids. It would be worth it to me to send her to private school if I thought she was going to get a hard time or teased in public school, or if the ciriculum at a private school was that much more ''alternative family- friendly''. Has anyone had any experience (good or bad) at Peralta that might help me figure this out?
Public School Fan

My son is in his third year at Peralta; I think ours may be the only 2 mom family currently at Peralta...at least among the 50 or so families who are active in our small school (240 kids). The staff is very open and welcoming and accepted us right away. You sound like you are familiar with the school so I won't give you the rave about all the positives. We are quite happy there. This is not to say that our son hasn't been teased a time or two about his family but it's so far been outweighed by kids who are jealous that he has two moms. All that said, it doesn't have the same gay positive approach of Berkwood Hedge, Park Day or Aurora have been able to cultivate as private schools. While we at Peralta generally compete with Chabot, I will give them hats off in this area...as they've started a lgbt families group and introduced the That's a Family curriculum. I'd like us to bring that curiculum to our school-- it would be great to have some partners in that project! I'd be happy to talk about more specifics with you. Marguerite

Oct 2004

Hello friends: I have a son starting kindergarten next year (Fall 2005) and I am planning to try intradistrict transfer. My question is for those of you out there who have considered intradistrict transfer to either Chabot or Peralta. Why did you choose one over the other? Are there pros and cons for each I should be aware of? Also, I'd appreciate any information about how you actually did the transfer process. Thanks-- Kate

I haven't sent my children to Peralta (we live too far and not in Oakland) but I definitely WOULD if I could. I worked at Peralta School for 2 years as an MFT intern, and was very impressed with the amazing, dedicated teachers and staff including their librarian who knows all the students and spends lots of time getting to know everyone. It is a lovely and cozy small school with excellent arts, music, and enrichment way beyond what I would expect at most public schools (they had quilting, various visiting artists, capoeria, and more, plus free onsite play therapy and support groups for children who needed extra support to be successful in school,) in large part due to the caring pricipal who makes sure they get every grant possible. Also one of the first grade teachers is an incredible gardener (go look at the school certainly if you haven't) and the result is a bright and blooming cheerful courtyard. Each of the teachers seemed to me to be doing an extraordinary job despite the enormous stress of working under state and district guidelines. Oh, and 2 male teachers and men on the afterschool staff who were fabulous with the kids, in my opinion that is another plus in an elementary school for both boys and girls to have exposure to male teachers. I don't have experience with Chabot so can't compare.... Chris