Which OUSD Transitional Kindergarten?

Parent Q&A

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  • Are there any parents here who have put their children through the TK program at Manzanita SEED or Melrose Leadership Academy that can share their experience? My husband and I are starting to consider what schools we want to try and send our daughter to next year. She is eligible for TK in 2024 and while she currently goes to a bilingual Spanish preschool, her Spanish isn't great. My husband's first language was Spanish and his mother (and most of his family) doesn't speak English. Because my Spanish isn't great, my husband often forgets to speak Spanish when we're all together. Having our children learn Spanish is important to us so they can have a meaningful relationship with my husband's side of the family. Long story short, we really want to try and get her into a public Spanish-English dual immersion Elementary school. My preliminary research shows that Manzanita SEED and MLA look like they could be a good fit, although they are a bit of a drive for us. We live in Oakland but on the Piedmont border and we've also considered trying to transfer into the Piedmont school system and make more of an effort to incorporate Spanish into our children's lives however we can. Private school isn't an option, otherwise, we'd consider EBI. We do make good money but we do not have any disposable income after we pay our rent and bills. 

    Happy to chat - my daughter has been to both schools and is currently at MLA. One of the big distinctions is that MLA starts at 90% Spanish and 10% English and goes to 50/50 at about 4th grade, whereas SEED starts at 50/50. We are not a Spanish-speaking family so the 90/10 model was key in ramping up my daughter's Spanish skills. 

    I hope you'll get some answers from folks at those schools but I would also encourage a wider look at OUSD Spanish immersion schools. We're at Greenleaf but that would probably be too far for you. (Our kids preschool is best Peidm and it's is a slog to get them up there.) Also their TK is in English with Spanish enrichment and a class full of primary Spanish speaking students, though the rest of the years at the school are Spanish immersion. International Community School is also a great option though last time I checked they don't have a TK. But they would be closer to you probably. 

    To transfer into Piedmont, one parent needs to work full-time there or your childcare must be located there (with proof of enrollment required). OUSD has gotten much stricter about enforcing these rules in recent years, so if one of those doesn't apply, it may be easy to take that option out of the mix. OUSD has a number of dual immersion schools, although MLA and Manzanita SEED are likely the closest to you. It might be worth looking at the others too, though. We have friends who've had good experiences at both of those schools, and also at Greenleaf. And it could be worth applying to EBI to see what kind of aid they offer--you never know.

  • TK - Sankofa vs Prescott

    Jul 11, 2023

    Hello! Any parents of students at Sankofa or Prescott willing to connect or comment about their recent experience at Prescott or Sankofa with younger kids (TK, K, 1st). I am getting a super late start or selecting my son's school for next year. Prescott is closer geographically, Sankofa intregues me based on the limited info/reviews I have read. Was unforch not able to attend any open houses/tours so we are kind of going in blind. Any and all advise welcome! Because he is an older sibling I feel like this is a big decision as it could possibly "lock us in" somewhere for the next 7 years. Thanks in advance. 

    Can't speak to Sankofa, but Prescott has a fabulous TK teacher, Ms. Simba (https://www.instagram.com/p/CrT4CoMAdxK/?img_index=1).

    Hey!! My name is Zazzi with a 2nd grader and We are a current Prescott family here and love it!! Ms. Simba the TK teacher is absolutely amazing. We almost switched my daughter to Sankofa several times but choose to stay at Prescott and love it. Even if I would have switched my daughter to sankofa I would have still sent my son who is in PreK now to Prescott to be in TK with Ms. Simba. Please feel free to message me if you would like more info about ms. Simba, TK or Prescott. 

    I would ask these questions when you make contact with families/staff at either school

    How does the school help kids who are having big feelings find a positive outlet so that they can get their needs met and also so that other kids can have a calm peaceful learning environment? How does the school work with kids who have different learning styles so they can be supported? What are the school wide behavior expectations and how does staff help hold those up? How does the school support English language learners so they can be an integrated part of the school community?

    Wishing you the best!

    -Eli

    Good day Parent! I am a Prescott parent and have one son going into the 1st grade. We absolutely love Prescott and advise any parent to enroll their young child into this loving school house. Our son's TK/K teacher was Ms. Simba. Ms. Simba is an excellent teacher, one of the best in all of OUSD, and as a parent I felt totally blessed to have her teach our son in his first year of school. She is super caring, supportive and knowledgeable. At the beginning of the school year we shared that we had a reading goal for our son, at the time could only read three letter words. At the end of the school year he was reading at a 2nd grade level! How wonderful! 
    The school has a garden/play area specifically for the little ones, has an active PTA, has an onsite garden teacher for the whole school, is culturally conscience, and so much more. We absolutely love our small school and would welcome a more robust conversation if you'd like. I hope you choose Prescott for your little one, I'm sure you all would love it too!

  • Hi BPN families,

    We're hoping to send our son to an Oakland TK program this coming fall and the schools we're looking at only have one review each from 2021, all the rest are really out-dated - I understand that TK is recent for these schools and I can't imagine what a nightmare it was for parents last year. That being said, if any parents have current thoughts about the following schools, I'd love to hear! Full disclosure: we had no idea TK was a thing, only learned from a preschool parent 2 weeks after the OUSD deadline. So, I'm hustling to learn and hopefully choose by March 24 - I'd love to not pay $25/k for a 3rd year of preschool if possible!

    We're deciding between: Emerson Elementary, Sankofa or Manzanita SEED. 

    I'm not totally clear what we're looking for, but I think: focus on social/emotional development, little to no homework, passionate teachers that have been there for a bit, some creative element, diversity (ability, socio-economic, racial, etc.), commitment to anti-bullying, after school options, etc. We're not concerned about testing scores or the other things Great Schools website focuses on. Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated!

    Our son is a first grader at Sankofa and we are sending our daughter to Sankofa for TK this coming fall. It is the first year for TK at Sankofa so it will probably be hard to find reviews on the TK program specifically but we can comment on Sankofa as a school overall. We absolutely love the school and the teachers we’ve met so far. The principal is amazing and very communicative. Sankofa United is a blended community and that process has been done with a lot of attention to equity and inclusion. Diversity, social emotional learning and inclusion are highlighted in the schools mission and values. I believe there is a Saturday play date coming soon where you could tour the school and meet some families, which I highly recommend. 

    best of luck in your search!

    Sankofa is great

    Our son is in TK at emerson and we’ve been thrilled with his teacher (Ms. Sellers) and the school.  We’ve formed a really nice community as a TK class and the kids all seem really happy and sweet. Ms. Sellers manages the classroom beautifully and brings creativity, love and patience to the group. My son is learning so much and I believe will be well prepared for kindergarten from a social and academic standpoint.  He will be attending school at Emerson next year. Hope to see you there! PM me for more info.  Laura. 

    I have a son in 1st grade at SEED and another son entering K next year. SEED is really wonderful and my son had really flourished there this past year. I’m sure you know it’s a 50/50 Spanish/English immersion school, and it’s been quite amazing for my son. I speak Spanish at home, but my husband doesn’t, so my kids get a decent amount of exposure at home. That said, my son has greatly improved his Spanish and is ahead of the average benchmarks for non-native speakers. Like many kids, he started below grade level this school year because of the zoom hell that was last year, and is now at grade level. He’s really progressed a lot and it’s because the teachers are so great.  The principal is new this year, but seems engaged with the community. The TK teacher is new as well, but he was is also really great. We actually know him because he was a student teacher in my son’s kinder class last year. He’s very warm, brings lots of energy, and the kids this year seem to love him. I do find it to be rare to have a male teacher for such young kids, and so it’s a great opportunity to give your kids a strong and compassionate male role model at school. We’re really happy at SEED. Hope this helps! Happy to chat further if you’d like. 

  • Hello, I'm seeking recent feedback on experience with TK at Thornhill and Montclair elementary schools in Oakland. We're deciding between sending our daughter to TK or keeping her at preschool next year. Specifically looking for input on:

    • What did you like about TK that felt like a change from a preschool program?
    • What didn't you like about the program?
    • How academically rigorous is the program? Are kids learning to read and write? Trying to determine if TK is more academic than preschool.

    Thanks in advance for feedback!

    If finances allow you, I recommend considering pre-k program at a preschool instead of OUSD TK. It’s unclear whether OUSD will be able to open school in the fall and even if it does, it may be part time (maybe 2 days a week) or mornings or afternoons only. TK is what K used to be. It’s academic and structured. Zoom Schooling is terrible for little kids. One benefit is that if you get into TK, you are in the school. These schools have had to turn away neighborhood kids in some years.

  • We are just starting to tour and get ready to submit our Options paperwork to OUSD for TK 2017/18. We are zoned for Sankofa, but are looking into Emerson (the next walkable TK school), & a few other schools down hwy13 that are on our weekly commute route, and where we already have a large community of friends. I am drawn to the idea of a neighborhood school, saturating our efforts into our immediate community, and being able to walk. That's why we're making a go of an urban family life after all.

    I'm looking for recent Sankofa & Emerson parent and student experiences. PTO, TK, K & beyond. I've had a comfortable experience so far reaching out and getting encouraging information from Emerson. I can't say it's been positive or even organized with Sankofa. Am I missing something?

    Also, I'd love to hear any experience, advice or protocol for re-optioning for Kindergarten after a TK assignment, just in case that seem best for our family.

    Thank you.

    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.