Must be a busy time at the Oakland Unified School District–the word is that lots of Oakland parents aren’t sure what school their kids are assigned to for the fall, and that no one who answers the phones at the OUSD has a clue, either.
Put down the phone and try the brisk-and-accurate Oakland Unified School District’s School Finder tool, which allows you to type in an address and then click to find out what elementary, middle, and high school your area is pegged to. If you are within the boundaries for the school of your choice, you don’t have to go through the lottery system–unless the school is over-enrolled, which has been happening in some Oakland elementary schools.
Once you know what school your child is assigned to, calling the school directly to ask questions is generally much more efficient than bugging the overburdened OUSD. Getting in touch with the school’s parent association will net you even more good inside information.
Got other questions? The OUSD website isn’t bad. Visit webportal.ousd.k12.ca.us and click on the “Parents” tab to find out how to navigate the enrollment process. Most all the information is in PDF files (why do they do that?), but it’s still easier than calling. Trust me on that one.