Can my child attend a Berkeley Public School?
Children who reside in Berkeley may attend Berkeley Public Schools. In order to ensure placement for all Berkeley children, we need two proofs of residency to start the admission process. If your child does not reside in Berkeley you may request an inter-district transfer from your school district. Inter-district transfers are considered after Berkeley residents are placed.
What if I do not live in Berkeley and want my children to attend a BUSD school?
Non-Berkeley residents will be considered after all Berkeley residents are placed and if there is space available in the requested grade. Permission for an inter-district transfer must first be granted from the school district in the city where the child resides before being considered for placement in a Berkeley Public School.
What elementary school is my student going to attend?
Elementary schools are divided into three attendance zones and assignments are made through lottery:
Northwest Zone: Berkeley Arts Magnet, Ruth Acty, Rosa Parks and Thousand Oaks
Central Zone: Berkeley Arts Magnet, Cragmont, Malcolm X, Oxford and Washington
Southeast Zone: Emerson, John Muir, and Malcolm X
District-wide: Sylvia Mendez Two Way Immersion Elementary School (open to incoming kindergarten students from all Berkeley attendance zones)
Your child will be assigned to an elementary school in his/her attendance zone or Sylvia Mendez Elementary Two Way Immersion.
Where do I start with the admissions process?
Review our Enrollment page for detailed enrollment information.
What if I am unhappy with my student’s placement school? Is there an appeal process?
You may request to place your student on a waitlist for one or more schools. Should you have extraordinary circumstances, please provide them in writing in order for the admissions manager to review.
Is there sibling priority for school placement?
Yes. Assigning siblings to the same school is a priority for the District and all attempts are made to assign siblings to the same school. We want our families to be fully engaged in their school community.
What proof of Berkeley residency is required for admission?
Two approved proofs of Berkeley residency must be shown at the time of enrollment. Click here for details.
What if I have moved to a new address?
If moving within Berkeley, you must provide the Admissions Office with two proofs of Berkeley residency at your new address. If moving outside of Berkeley, submit an Inter District Permit.
If I don’t speak English, who can help me in admissions?
Spanish speaking staff are available in our office. In addition, a multi-lingual phone line is available to provide immediate interpretation in other languages.
How long does the process take for my student to be placed?
If an admissions application is made for Round 1 on or before the first Friday in February, your child’s school assignment letter will be sent home by mid-March. Please be sure to inform the Admissions Office of any change of address or phone number so you do not miss critical information about your child’s enrollment.
What if I enroll after the first deadline or late in the year? Is the process the same or are most spaces already filled?
School placement is always made within the confines of our student assignment policy.
Does my child need to enroll in Transitional Kindergarten?
The passage of California’s Senate Bill 1381 changed the age of children eligible to attend Kindergarten. Children turning 5 after September 1 are no longer eligible for Kindergarten in the Fall of that year.
If your child is 4 years old and will turn 5 between September 2nd and February 2nd, then they are eligible to enroll in Transitional Kindergarten. TK provides a blend of pre-K and Kindergarten curriculum to ease the transition to Kindergarten the following year. Families whose child participates in the Transitional Kindergarten Program must also apply for Kindergarten enrollment the following school year so they can be assigned to their K-5 school.
