Transferring out of the Oakland School District

Parent Q&A

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Interdistrict transfer OUSD to BHS for IB program?
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Aug 15, 2024

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

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!

Aug 20, 2024

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.

Aug 20, 2024
Transferring to PUSD from OUSD for Kindergarten
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Jan 10, 2024

Hello! We're in the process of applying for Kindergarten for our kiddo and live just over the border from PUSD in OUSD. Does anyone have recent experience transferring across? I think I understand the process, but I couldn't figure out whether we would lose our OUSD selection if we applied to Piedmont. And how likely it is that there will be spaces available for local families outside the boundary who don't have any familial connection within Piedmont. I tried reaching out to PUSD, but understandably haven't head back.

Thanks!

Lucy.

Jan 10, 2024

No, you don't lose your OUSD spot if you apply for an interdistrict transfer--in fact, transfer applications aren't even processed until later in the spring, so you likely won't hear back until after you are assigned to an OUSD school. (I also imagine PUSD won't know if they have spots until after their own enrollment process runs.) However, you mention that you don't have any familial connection to Piedmont--to meet the transfer requirements for elementary, you need to either work full-time in Piedmont or have your child care provider (whether that's family or a daycare that continues to school-age) located in Piedmont. The Alameda County Office of Education now processes interdistrict transfer applications for all of the school districts in the county, so you would apply to them. The OUSD website has information on which documents you need to submit to verify that you meet the transfer requirements.

Jan 17, 2024

The response you received is inaccurate. All school districts in Alameda County must the transfer application form created by the Alameda County Office of Education. The application is submitted to your district of residence along with any required supporting documents. If approved, the application is submitted to Piedmont (PUSD) for consideration. Per an agreement between all school districts in Alameda County, today was the first day applications could be submitted for the 2o24-25 school year. Check PUSD’s non-resident transfer page for information on their process and how applications are prioritized. The current policy gives priority to PUSD employees and City of Piedmont government employees, but no others.
If you have any questions after reading the page, contact Sylvia Eggert in the Superintendent’s Office at 510-594-2614. I hope this helps.

Mar 1, 2024

It's worth clarifying that the previous responses to this question are talking about two different things: the criteria for being released from OUSD (for elementary, a parent must work in Piedmont or the family's childcare must be based in Piedmont) and the process that PUSD uses to determine which of the students who have been released from their home districts will then be accepted into PUSD (applying criteria that prioritizes groups like children of city employees and grandchildren of Piedmont residents over other applicants). You must first meet the criteria to be released from OUSD through the interdistrict transfer process before the PUSD priorities come into play. At that point, if there are more approved transfer applicants than spots, the priorities for which students get those seats kick in--release from your home district doesn't guarantee acceptance into your preferred district. The OUSD website outlines the requirements for being released from OUSD, and the PUSD website outlines the priorities for accepting transfers into the district. The Alameda County Office of Education now manages the application process for all districts within the county, so you would start there.

Mar 13, 2024

Since we just went through this process, I'll add that we did hear back pretty quickly from OUSD once we submitted our transfer request. The next step is to forward the signed form to Piedmont Unified. It was unclear if that would happen automatically, so I did it "just in case" following these instructions on PUSD site: https://www.piedmont.k12.ca.us/about/enrolling/transfers
Last step is to wait for PUSD to make their decision -- as others mentioned, it might not be for a while so you'll need to accept your OUSD assignment in the meantime.

Mar 13, 2024
Interdistrict transfer from Oakland to Piedmont elementary
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Dec 12, 2023

Looking to learn about anyone’s recent (the past 2-3 years) experience with the interdistrict transfer process from Oakland to Piedmont public schools for kindergarten, e.g. filling out the required forms, when you heard from OUSD and PUSD, etc.

Dec 12, 2023

The timing is hard because you have to be released by OUSD before Piedmont will process your application. I tried to transfer from OUSD to Piedmont for 2nd grade. I sent our application to the enroll@ account OUSD on March 1 this year, which was first day they would accept applications. I followed the procedure that was then listed on their website. OUSD NEVER RESPONDED. NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER. I can see from their current website instructions (ousd.org/enroll/transfer/outgoing-interdistrict-transfers) that they changed their policy on March 1 to require applications be filled out via an online form, which was not their posted policy when I thoughtfully prepared my application and a supporting letter explaining why we wanted the transfer last February. I never got an email saying "we have a new process" or "can you resubmit." The process is quite clearly broken, so be prepared to follow-up and advocate for yourself. We moved to private school and are very happy.

Dec 13, 2023

From what I have heard OUSD will not release you. OUSD has lost so many kids due to COVID, etc. that they aren't releasing Oakland residents. We had a neighbor just move to get her daughter into Piedmont High School.

Dec 20, 2023
In Berkeley but moving to Oakland - can stay in BUSD?
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Mar 17, 2022

We live in a rental in Berkeley and have two daughters in first grade in a BUSD elementary school. Our landlady has put pressure on us to vacate the property, and so we have begun to look around for housing. (I know our rights as tenants, but this is a different issue.) My sense is that we are probably priced out of Berkeley and will need to move to Oakland. What happens if we want to keep our daughters in their current school? What is the process like? How soon do we have to notify BUSD if we move to Oakland? My understanding is that we would have to apply for an out-of-district transfer for the following school year, but what about the current one? What is the likelihood we can keep our kids in their current school through the end of elementary?

Any advice appreciated!

Mar 17, 2022

You would apply for an interdistrict transfer--for this to be permitted, OUSD has to release you and BUSD has to accept you. Continuing in an existing school is a reason that a transfer can be requested and approved, so your chances are solid (but no guarantee). For the current school year you should have no trouble; the gamble might be to keep the transfer for the upcoming year, but it is definitely something both districts have approved for families in the past. I would also consider where you might move to and how convenient (or not) the commute would be, though.

Mar 23, 2022

Hi, I do not have direct experience with the inter-district transfer process, but I can tell you that right now enrollment is low, so I don't think it will be very hard to get one for the next few years. I also believe that they would try to keep your kids in through elementary, at least, for continuity's sake. Best of luck!

Mar 23, 2022

The next time you have to actually prove residency with Berkeley would be middle school. Maybe you can get a PO Box for temporary while you look. I think once you're in a current school you are OK but dont know for sure. You just want to make sure you're getting mail from the school, so even a friend's Berkeley address might work. But for middle school you definitely would want a real Berkeley address or transfer. We actually live in Berkeley and they did a home check. Good luck!

Mar 23, 2022

Our experience is that Oakland is more expensive than Berkeley.

Mar 24, 2022
OUSD to Piedmont Transfer
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Feb 11, 2022

Hi there, has anyone successfully applied for and received a transfer out of OUSD to Piedmont public schools without one of the acceptable reasons that OUSD lists on their website? I could possibly use the child care reason, but it's not strong. We live three houses from the Piedmont border and already part of the community and since Piedmont needs students, this seems like an excellent options for us, but need OUSD to release us first. FWIW, my child attends private school and has not been enrolled at OUSD and we are not considering enrolling at OUSD, so it's not like OUSD will be losing government funding by approving the transfer. Thank you in advance.

Feb 11, 2022

Our experience transferring from OUSD to Piedmont was that the OUSD approval was very quick and easy, coming within a day or so of submitting the paperwork. The main hurdle was getting Piedmont to approve the transfer in (which was a numbers game). The recognized reasons for transferring out sound intimidating, but you don't need anything ironclad. In addition to whatever you can say about childcare being more convenient, you can just sayin something along the lines of Piedmont provides better programs (whether that be art, music, a particular language, general academics). My kids were in the grandparent-resident preference category and we cited childcare and Piedmont's better academics (without being quite that direct). Now that Piedmont is actively soliciting transfers and there may be a lot more applications to transfer out, I don't know if OUSD will change its tune, but hopefully you don't have any trouble with that piece of the process. Good luck!

Feb 16, 2022

Do you know if you lose your potential spot for OUSD schools if you get approval and then apply (and wait) for acceptance at Piedmont?The deadline to apply for a transfer is coming up fast, before OUSD sends out school assignments.

Feb 24, 2022

I asked Piedmont that question and they thought "no, you didn't lose your spot", but she didn't know for sure.

Feb 28, 2022
Info on the OUSD inter-district transfer to Piedmont schools
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Nov 19, 2021

Hi there,

We live in Oakland, just across the street from Piedmont and two homes down from the district line. Our closest school is actually Wildwood but we are zoned for OUSD. Does anyone have experience applying for the OUSD inter-district transfer to a Piedmont school? When I looked into this process (https://www.ousd.org/Page/11633), it seems like it's a very high hurdle to transfer out from OUSD (e.g., you need to work in the other city, require a specialized specialized program that is only available in that new district, etc.) and a high hurdle to transfer into Piedmont public schools (e.g., remodeling a home in Piedmont, children of employees, grandchildren of residents, and the last category "other" for a lottery system).

I would love to find out whether it's worth a shot for us given the high hurdles.

Thank you!

Dany

Nov 19, 2021

We know a family that got their kinder into Piedmont very easily this year. Could be Covid has effected enrollment.

Nov 24, 2021

My guess is that it's unlikely you will be able to transfer into Piedmont public schools. For AY2020-2021, there were 0 accepted transfers out of 41 applications from the "Other" category (of which I believe your situation describes). See page 4 of this memorandum:

https://www.piedmontcivic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IX_B_Backgroun…

Nov 24, 2021

We transferred both our kids in to PUSD from OUSD under the grandparent resident category, one about two years ago and the other about a year ago. Although OUSD's requirements for approving a transfer out sound like a high bar, in practice our experience was they rubberstamp it (we got approved almost immediately after submitting the paperwork). Anything you could come up with about why PUSD would offer something that OUSD doesn't would probably be fine.

PUSD is the real hurdle. It really depends on their enrollment numbers, and the number of spots open will vary by grade. A spot in our younger kid's grade did not open up until after the pandemic started. Not sure what the story would be today. I would recommend contacting the PUSD Superintendent's office, because staff there can probably give you a more realistic idea of what your chances would actually be. Good luck!

Nov 24, 2021

Hi there, Piedmont resident here. I've heard some discussion during PTA meetings around the interdistrict transfer process and my impression is that there were fewer lottery applicants than you might think. I can't speak to the Oakland side but from the Piedmont side I think it's worth a try!

Nov 24, 2021
Transferring to OUSD from a private school
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Apr 5, 2019

After being burned by the lottery I’m considering a serious career change so we can afford private school :/ In the case that we do enroll our kid in private for kindergarten, how difficult might it be to transfer back to OUSD mid year should an ideal opening pop up? What has been your experience transferring from private?

Apr 5, 2019

We know several families who've done this--it's generally not a big deal, as long as you understand that you will owe the private tuition for the year even if you leave. But yes, if you're open to doing it, there are certainly spots that open mid-year in the in-demand OUSD schools. Those we know who've done it have had positive experiences and I don't think any regret it--most had younger children coming up through the school system so eating the cost of a year of tuition was worth it to secure the public spot.

Apr 9, 2019

Archived Q&A and Reviews

Transferring from Oakland to Berkeley school district

March 2004

Can anyone give recent feedback on the process of getting permission for an interdistrict transfer from Oakland to Berkeley public schools for Kindergarten (and beyond)?

I read what is on the website but it is a few years old and some of the posts are conflicting. My oldest will be starting school in 2005 but we are looking at housing options now and wondering if the changes going on with OUSD will affect our ability to get permission to leave OUSD and how possible it is to get into the Berkeley system, should that end up being our best choice. Does anyone have recent experience or informed predictions?

I'm also curious if the changes at OUSD will reduce the ability to transfer within OUSD to Peralta - the closure of other nearby elementaries may mean Peralta is going to be more crowded?

I realize this is probably a gamble, but I'd like to at least know my odds!

I have a special needs child who went to OUSD from 2001-2003 - I was very happy with services offered through OUSD during that time. In 2003 I had very specific reasons why an interdistrict transfer would be necessary for my child. I was aware that in the past these were approved if the reasons were compelling. We went through the proper channels requesting the transfer and had doctors, teachers, etc. stating the transfer would be in the child's best interest. After numerous phone calls, letters and threating a lawsuit we received no response other than the same form letter that they are reviewing our request. (In the past response from the OUSD was immediate.) We began legal proceedings but decided that moving would be in our child's best interest. We were able to move into a new community one week before the start of the new school year. It was a stressful time but we definately made the right decision. Granted, our issues occured during the district shake-up, you may have more luck. Good luck. Sandy

I'm not sure how difficult it is to transfer systems and am not sure where you are located in Oakland. The Hillcrest School in Upper Rockridge is rated as one of the top elementary/middle schools in the district and is the only school in the district that rates similarly on a test score basis as Piedmont and Orinda schools. Over 60% of students' parents have masters degrees or higher level of education and there is a significant amount of private funding for the school. As a result the cuts in the Oakland school district have no effect on Hillcrest. The music, language, arts, and extra programs are all privately funded by local residents. I believe the schools raised over $500,000 this past year. Anyway you have to be a resident of Upper Rockridge to get into this school but if you are it is definitely an excellent program. Upper Rockridge Resident

I can't advise regarding inter-district transfers out of Oakland Unified School District, however, I do have some information regarding intra-district transfers from your neighborhood school to another school within the district.

During this past open enrollment for intra-district transfers, I found out that priority for granting requests for projected available space at schools within the district is given in the following order:

1. First priority is given to students requesting transfers from schools that have ''underperformed.'' This is in compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind Act. 2. Second priority is given to siblings of students already enrolled at the requested school. 3. Third priority is given to those children needing after- school care, since not all district schools have after-school programs. 4. If there is still space available at a requested school, then a traditional lottery is held.

I was advised that due to the No Child Left Behind Act, intra- district transfers are highly unlikely due to the enormous number of requests from parents with children attending these underperforming schools. That is not to say it is impossible, just highly unlikely. I was advised that the best alternative for having my child attend our school of choice would be to move into that neighborhood. Hope this helps, and good luck with your housing decision. Charlotte