Berkeley Public Schools vs. Piedmont Public Schools

Hi,

I live in Piedmont and have a middle schooler.  Can't speak for Berkeley, but I also considered it an option when I moved to the Bay Area.

I ultimately chose Piedmont because of the ability for kids to roam with a high degree of independence, the convenience to the city, and the fact that because of its small size, all the schools are neighborhood schools so we wouldn't have to do a big shlep to get to school each day... which is important (particularly for single working parents).

 My sense is that the two experiences would differ significantly. Berkeley is a lot bigger, probably more well-rounded place to go to school; your child will have exposure to a lot more variety and opportunity across all dimensions (probably a wider selection of AP classes, for example, and a lot more kids across all walks of life), but the downside would be that it could be overwhelming.  Piedmont feels like a small town, with only about 200ish kids per graduating class. I've found it to be welcoming ... it is a small community and many of the kids know each other since they were tiny and root for each other to be successful in a way that is meaningful to them as individuals. Also, the degree of independence for kids is high. The downside is that there isn't as much economic diversity, not as much variety, the black population is under-represented, and you have to work hard to make sure your kid understands that some of the wealth they see displayed on a daily basis is not the norm for 99.99% of people.

I haven't had a problem with Oakland, personally.  It has its problems but I go out in Oakland all the time and think it's great. It has the same problems as San Francisco (challenging situations with un-housed people, car break-ins).   I definitely don't leave anything visible in my car, which can be a pain.  And pharmacies lock things up, so it can take longer to get your face wash.  But this is all the same for Berkeley.    

Hope this helps.

As a former Berkeley High student and an El Cerrito High school parent, I feel both were well rounded (good mix of academics, sports, clubs, arts). Neither I at BHS, nor my child at ECHS, felt that the environments were overly competitive. Students could push themselves, or not, there was no stigma. Unless you need to live in Berkeley or Piedmont for a specific reason, you may also want to check out the cities of El Cerrito, Albany, or Alameda, all of which are very walkable and have good high schools.

Without a doubt Piedmont. Look at the metrics but most importantly think of the context; Berkeley high is larger than most liberal arts colleges. Not exactly a cozy environment. And like any giant organization full of all sorts of people. In terms of going in and out through Oakland, I’m not sure what the statists say, but north Oakland feels about as safe (and occasionally, unsafe) as Berkeley. The areas of Oakland surrounding Piedmont are probably safer than most neighborhoods in Berkeley (maybe with the exception of the hills and Elmwood).

Generally, Piedmont High is considered more competitive than Berkeley High, and Berkeley High is larger and more diverse. Whether that makes one school or the other better for your child is a separate question, though, and one you may not be able to answer until he's older. They have different education models and course offerings, so it's worth looking at the programs at both. One difference at the middle school level is that Piedmont has only one middle school, while Berkeley has several and has a zoning system to assign students--so you aren't guaranteed a spot in a particular school, and may not be assigned to the school closest to your home. The Oakland neighborhoods that border Piedmont are filled with multi-million-dollar homes and arguably safer than some Berkeley neighborhoods, but it is true that the nearby commercial districts, restaurants, and even the library that serves Piedmont are all in Oakland, so if you aren't comfortable there, you may not enjoy living in Piedmont. You will find property crime in both Piedmont and Berkeley; violent crime is pretty rare in both cities. Piedmont is better resourced than Berkeley and far better resourced than Oakland on the public safety front, though, so they do respond quickly when there are issues. You may also want to consider Albany, which is a lower price point than Piedmont but similarly has a single middle and high school and a lot of the walkability that Piedmont offers. Each district has its own strengths and challenges, so a visit may help the most.

If your son is an advanced student, he should be fine in the Piedmont schools.  Many of the kids who are particularly bright tend to go to private schools for a more competitive environment. Piedmont has a large number of athletic programs, a beautiful theater and will soon have a new pool complex just across the street. It doesn't have the breadth of resources that Berkeley schools have, no student radio station for instance, but for a small community, it does well. Piedmont has virtually no low income families whereas Berkeley is far more diverse economically. In my opinion this is not a well-rounded experience. We constantly need to remind our children that driving a Tesla, going on safari in Africa and flying out to Scotland for the weekend to check out a college is not what most people do. My friend who has kids in the Berkeley public schools have classmates who belong to the Claremont country club but they also have classmates who are homeless. Those kids are all in the same classroom.

Piedmont's police responds to calls within minutes. There are cameras at all the streets that go in and out of Oakland from Piedmont tied into license plate readers. Most Piedmont residents do their shopping in the Piedmont Avenue, Rockridge and Montclair neighborhoods of Oakland which have far less shootings (not zero) than most of Oakland. Several of my neighbors drive to Orinda or Lafayette to shop. Those towns have virtually zero violent crime. If crime is a substantial issue, I'd probably look at Marin, the peninsula or east of the Caldecott tunnel.