My two children went to SF public schools and fortunately they were able to get into a good public high school, and they've now graduated from college. Some schools are better than others, and I think that's true even in other cities. It used to be that SF students are assigned to the school near where they live but that has changed.

Thu May 8 2008, 15:31

My son just got assigned to Malcolm X Academy in Hunter's Point last month. Gun shots caused school to be shut down second day of school, code Blue lockdown. I saw police officers walking down the halls and I wasn't allowed to leave the school. Also, my son was first Caucasian in history of school to be assigned, so not diversified at all, although they are trying (starting with us). I give credit that the school and its staff are trying in a neighborhood that has been so disadvantaged, but neighborhood is full of daytime gang violence and weapons. Pulled my son out of the school after that second day, and am writing a letter today to SFUSD, as was refused another school assignment when requested. Also, program and teacher weren't even in place on my son's first day of school (they put in a substitute teacher). What a mess the SFUSD is in and extremely callous when I complained that the school wasn't safe and my son would be a target, and the program wasn't even in place (my son has high functioning autism). I've never yet met another parent who had anything good to say about the schools here. Everyone tells me the names of the private schools their kids go to, but my mother-in-law is a believer in public schools, so we thought we would try that. My son who was to represent the only diversity at the school (as only Caucasion), and that just doesn't work. SFUSD set my son up (also special needs) to become a target for an unfortunate event.

UPS just delivered our moving boxes today, and I am packing up our home and moving down on peninsula to San Mateo County (looking into Linda Mar neighborhood of Pacifica, near to SF, where all the schools are newly renovated, with low crime, and diversified population, and much better SARC reports). It's cheaper for us to move than pay $50,000+ a year for both our kids to go to private schools in the city. Also, I spoke with some kids in Pacifica on the playground, who said they used to go to SF schools, and several of them said that SF schools had bullies, and they don't experience that kind treatment in Pacifica schools.

Thu May 8 2008, 15:10

Dante,
My kids have gone through SF schools. I am also very familiar with the school selection process. I've written about it on my blog shown below. I have clients that whose daughter is entering kindergarten next year and just went through the process.
Some schools are better than others. SFUSD has but more emphasis on having the schools be attractive to the parents so there are all kinds of focal points to chose from.
I am a firm believer in eduacatiing your children here rather than in any of the suburban areas mentioned by jakalope. The children raised in the City are more sophiisticated and open than kids raised in the burbs.
My experience has been that kids are under much less per pressure when schooled in a diverse setting just because there is an acceptance of difference that allows kids to make indiviual choices and be themselves.

Wed May 7 2008, 11:43

SF public schools are on a lottery system, no one goes to neighborhood schools unless you get your top choice in the lottery (highly unusual).

Friends with 2+ kids often have to take their kids to more than one school, usually on opposite sides of town. While schools say they try to accomodate siblings, it doesn't tend to work out that way unfortunately.

Frustrating? Yes, certainly, though when faced with a $10 - $25k/year private school tuition, many people do it.

If you're looking for a great school system, you may want to consider Marin, Burlingame, Lafayette, etc. While there are some great schools and teachers in SF proper, whether or not you get in is really just chance.

I'm facing the same dilemma though - but good luck!

Mon May 5 2008, 19:32