Frequently Asked Questions
- Age Requirements
- Transitional Kindergarten (TK) in SFUSD
- Twins and Multiples
- Tie-Breakers
- Attendance Area
- City-Wide Schools & Programs
- Special Education
- Transportation
Age Requirements
What are the age requirements?
California law now requires that a child must be five years old on or before October 1, 2013 to be legally eligible for Kindergarten and six years old on or before October 1, 2013 to be legally eligible for first grade.
Students who will have their fifth birthday between October 2 and December 2, 2013 are eligible for a Transitional Kindergarten program for the 2013-2014 school year. Transitional Kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate.
Note: If you sign and submit the enrollment application, and your child meets the age eligibility for Transitional Kindergarten, your child will be enrolled in a Transitional K program for the 2013-14 school year and will continue into Kindergarten for the 2014-15 school year.
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) in SFUSD
SFUSD offers TK to students who are born between October 2 and December 2, 2008 at 8 Early Education Schools:
- Argonne EES, 750 - 16th Avenue, 94118 (Inner Richmond), (415) 750-8617
- Havard, Leola EES, 1520 Oakdale Avenue, 94124 (Bayview), (415) 695-5660
- McLaren, John EES, 2055 Sunnydale Avenue, 94134 (Visitacion Valley), 469-4519
- Noriega EES, 1775 - 44th Avenue, 94122 (Outer Sunset), (415) 759-2853
- Rodriguez, Zaida T. EES, 421 Bartlett St, 94110 (Mission), (415) 695-5844
- Serra, Junipero Annex EES, 155 Appleton St, 94110 (Bernal Heights), (415) 920-5138
- Stockton, Commodore EES, 1 Trenton St, 94108 (Chinatown), (415) 291-7932
- Tule Elk Park EES, 2110 Greenwich, 94123 (Marina), (415) 749-3551
How do I apply to place my child in TK?
Parents who are interested in Transitional Kindergarten should complete a general application form. That form and supporting documents should be submitted to the Educational Placement Center at 555 Franklin St., Rm. 100, San Francisco, CA 94102.
How will the district make assignments to TK schools if there is more demand than seats available at a particular school?
Students who are eligible and are requesting Transitional Kindergarten will be assigned to their highest ranked request as long as there is space at the school. If there are more students applying than there are openings at a school, choice assignments will be made by looking to all the possible combinations of tie-breakers in the following hierarchical order:
Students who have been enrolled in a pre-K program in the 2012-13 school year where TK will be offered in 2013-14 will receive this tiebreaker for their current school.
In an effort to support families with siblings, the TK student will have a tiebreaker for the site where a younger sibling is already attending a pre-K program. Siblings are defined as students with the same parent/guardian and living at the same address.
Students who live in areas of the city with the lowest average test scores.
Students who do not have a tie-breaker.
If these tie-breakers do not resolve ties, then ties will be resolved by random lottery.
Twins and Multiples
If placement into the same school is desired for twins, triplets and multiples, each application should indicate the same school choices in the same order.
The parent/guardian must indicate on the enrollment application check box that they wish to have their twins or multiples placed in the same school. When one twin is assigned to a choice school, the student assignment process will seek to place the other twin into the same school if space is available. If an assignment cannot be offered to one of the requested schools, then the twins will be assigned together into the school closest to home with openings as space allows.
If you choose ‘No’ on the check box, then twins, triplets or multiples will go into the assignment process as individual students. In the event that multiples are separated in the assignment process, a sibling tie-breaker will be assigned to the sibling requesting placement into the other sibling’s school for any subsequent placement period.
What happens if I check the “Yes” box on the enrollment application to have my twins assigned together?
If you check the “yes” box, indicating that you want your twins to be assigned together, then the student assignment process will treat them initially as individual students in the computerized process. Once one twin receives a tentative assignment, the other twin will be linked with the sibling and the process will seek to assign the sibling to the school if space allows. If there is no space for the second twin, then neither twin will be assigned. If neither twin receives an assignment to any choice school, then both twins will be assigned to the school closest to home with two openings.
What happens if I don’t check the “Yes” box on the enrollment application to have my twins assigned together?
If you do not check the “yes” box indicating that you want your twins assigned together, they will go into the assignment process as individual students for the entire process. There will be a possibility that they may be separated in this process.
What are my options if the twins are separated?
The parent may submit an amended application form for the May or August Placement Periods for one twin to join the other. The twin will receive a sibling priority in the assignment process to join their sibling for any future openings. The assignment of a sibling is a higher priority after appeals, but can only be offered if there are openings at the school and program. There cannot be a guarantee that there will be openings to accommodate siblings.
I want my twins assigned together, but I am concerned about getting a lower choice school, what are my options?
Parents of twins and multiples must make a decision regarding how they want the twins’ assignment to work. Linking them together will ensure that they will be assigned together, but the trade-off will be that they both may be assigned to a lower choice or non-choice school.
Having twins treated separately in the process may result in, but not guaranteed of, one or the other twin receiving an offer to a higher choice school.
My twins are in a non-transitional grade (not K, 6th or 9th) but I would like to transfer them both to another school. What are my options?
Applying for and receiving an assignment into a school and program in a non-transitional grade is only limited to available openings since students presently attending are expected to promote to the next grade.
It is recommended that parents of twins who want to transfer to another school or program check the “yes” box on the enrollment application so that the twins will only transfer if there are two seats available. Otherwise, there is a risk that one twin may be assigned and the other not. Once a twin receives a new assignment, they relinquish the former placement and there may be no opportunity to return.
Tie-Breakers
What is a tie-breaker?
Tie-breakers are preferences used to help place students in a requested school when the number of requests for a school is greater than the number of spaces available.
What are the tie-breakers for your elementary school choice?
Students requesting General Education Programs will be assigned to their highest ranked request as long as there is space at the school. If there are more students applying than there are openings at a school, choice assignments will be made by looking to all the possible combinations of tie-breakers in the following hierarchical order:
Younger siblings of students who are enrolled in and will be attending the school during the year for which the younger sibling requests attendance.
Students who live in the attendance area of the school and are also attending an SFUSD PreK program in the same attendance area.
Students who attend a Program Improvement or Open Enrollment school as identified by State and Federal guidelines.
Students who live in areas of the city with the lowest average test scores.
Students who live in the attendance area of the school.
Students who do not have a tie-breaker.
Assignments are made to a requested school by looking to all the possible combinations of tie-breakers in hierarchical order. For example, a request with sibling, SFUSD PreK, and low test score area tie-breakers will be ranked higher than a request with only a sibling tie-breaker. Higher-ranked tie-breakers always trump any combination of lower ranked tie-breakers. For example, a request with a sibling tie-breaker is ranked higher than a request with a SFUSD PreK and low test score area tie-breaker.
If these tie-breakers do not resolve ties, then ties will be resolved by random lottery.
What are the tie-breakers for your middle school choice?
Students will be assigned to their highest ranked request as long as there is space at the school. If there are more students applying than there are openings at a school, choice assignments will be made by looking to all the possible combinations of tie-breakers in the following hierarchical order:
Younger siblings of students who are enrolled in and will be attending the school during the year for which the younger sibling requests attendance.
Requests from students enrolled in an elementary school that feeds into the requested middle school.
Students who attend a Program Improvement or Open Enrollment school as identified by State and Federal guidelines.
Students who live in areas of the city with the lowest average test scores.
Students who do not have a tie-breaker.
If these tie-breakers do not resolve ties, then ties will be resolved by random lottery.
This phase in process will be effective for the 2012-2016 school years. Beginning in 2017, the process will change to an initial assignment into the feeder middle school.
What are the tie-breakers for your high school choice?
Students will be assigned to their highest ranked request as long as there is space at the school. If there are more students applying than there are openings at a school, choice assignments will be made by looking to all the possible combinations of tie-breakers in the following hierarchical order:
Siblings younger siblings of students who are enrolled in and will be attending the school during the year for which the younger sibling requests attendance.
Students who attend a Program Improvement or Open Enrollment school as identified by State and Federal guidelines.
Students who live in areas of the city with the lowest average test scores.
Students who do not have a tie-breaker.
If these tie-breakers do not resolve ties, then ties will be resolved by random lottery.
Tie-breakers do not apply to Lowell High School or the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts. Lowell High School uses academic admission criteria, and Ruth Asawa School of the Arts has an audition process.
What are the tie-breakers for your city-wide schools?
Students requesting General Education Programs at a city-wide school, will be assigned to their highest ranked request as long as there is space at the school. If there are more students applying than there are openings at a school, choice assignments will be made by looking to all the possible combinations of tie-breakers in the following hierarchical order:
Younger siblings of students who are enrolled in and will be attending the school during the year for which the younger sibling requests attendance.
Students enrolled in an SFUSD PreK program at the city-wide school.
Students who attend a Program Improvement or Open Enrollment school as identified by State and Federal guidelines.
Students who live in areas of the city with the lowest average test scores.
Students who do not have a tie-breaker.
If these tie-breakers do not resolve ties, then ties will be resolved by random lottery.
What are the tie-breakers for your elementary city-wide language programs?
If you’re applying for a city-wide program that has eligibility requirements, first the student must meet the eligibility requirements. Then we use the tie-breakers.
Students will be assigned to their highest ranked request as long as there is space at the school. If there are more students applying than there are openings at a school, choice assignments will be made by looking to all the possible combinations of tie-breakers in the following hierarchical order:
Requests from students who are currently enrolled in and wish to continue in the program AND who are the younger siblings of students who are enrolled in and will be enrolled in the program at the school at issue during the year for which the younger sibling requests attendance.
Requests from students who are enrolled in and wish to continue in the program.
Other younger siblings of students enrolled in the program (and who will be continuing).
Students enrolled in an SFUSD PreK program at the city-wide school.
Students who attend a Program Improvement or Open Enrollment school as identified by State and Federal guidelines.
Students who live in areas of the city with the lowest average test scores.
Students who do not have a tie-breaker.
If these tie-breakers do not resolve ties, then ties will be resolved by random lottery.
Are test scores a tie-breaker?
If you live in an area of the city that has low average test scores (the lowest 20 percent), this counts as a tie-breaker in school placement. The purpose of this policy is to expand opportunities for all San Francisco students.
Attendance Area
What is an attendance area?
Elementary attendance areas are geographic borders drawn around elementary schools throughout the district. Middle and high schools do not have attendance areas/geographical borders.
How does my attendance area affect school placement?
We create attendance areas so there can be a system of helping you get placement in your attendance area school if you wish. You are not required to choose your attendance area school, nor can you be guaranteed a placement at your attendance area school. Middle school students get an initial placement offer based on the elementary school they attend, regardless of where they live. If middle school students decide to choose different schools, they will get an attendance area tie-breaker based on where they live.
Does every elementary school have an attendance area?
No. City-wide schools and city-wide programs do not have an attendance area.
Attendance Area SFUSD PreK Tie-Breaker
How will the attendance area SFUSD PreK tie-breaker work?
This is an attendance area tie-breaker that will apply to students who live in an attendance area and attend an SFUSD preK in the attendance area.
Will this tie-breaker apply to me if I attend an SFUSD preK but do not live in the attendance area?
No. This is an attendance area tie-breaker that will only apply to students who live in an attendance area and attend an SFUSD preK in the attendance area.
City-Wide Schools & Programs
What does ‘city-wide’ mean?
City-wide means there is no attendance area, and as a result city-wide schools and programs do not provide a tie-breaker for students who live near the school.
Which schools are city-wide?
To discover more about these schools, take a look at the new enrollment guide.
What are examples of city-wide programs?
Newcomer programs are a great example. These serve students who have recently arrived in the US and help them learn English. Other city-wide programs are language programs listed as city-wide on the application form. These are language programs that are available only at a limited number of schools, and have a separate enrollment capacity.
Special Education
How is the assignment offer determined for students receiving special education services?
The Individual Education Program (“IEP”) team determines the appropriate services, settings, and placement options for each student receiving special education services. Although the majority of students receiving special education services may be served at any school and participate without restriction in the general enrollment process, certain highly specialized services for particular disabilities with low incidence rates are not available at all school sites. Detailed information on the enrollment process for all students with IEPs is provided on pages 78-81 of the Enrollment Guide and in the Special Education Supplemental Guide, which contains the list of intensive services offered at specific schools. Special Education counselors at the EPC are available to assist families with their applications; drop-in and scheduled appointments are available.
Transportation
What about transportation?
The District offers limited general education transportation services to a limited number of SFUSD’s elementary and middle schools. As school bus transportation service is not a mandate under California law, the following Board policy guidelines inform the strategic use of resources for limited general education school bus transportation services:
- Support choice in student assignment as a tactic for creating diversity
- Provide reasonable access to English Learner pathways, from CTIP 1 areas to city-wide schools and programs, and to attendance area school
- Support middle school feeder patterns
- Provide limited school bus transportation to after school programs if feasible and necessary to support the District’s vision for after school services
- Minimize the use of unrestricted general fund budget contributions for general education school bus transportation.
Over the past two years, we have reduced the fleet for general education services from 44 buses to 30 buses, and in 2013-14 we have to reduce another five buses from the fleet.
Limited Services in 2013-14
The specific routes for the 2013-14 school year will not be developed until November 2012 at the earliest. Once the routes are developed, the Transportation Department will send the information to schools, it will post the information on their web page (www.sfusd.edu/transportation) and it will disseminate information via the Educational Placement Center (555 Franklin Street).
Although the routes have not been developed, we anticipate providing limited transportation services to the following schools in 2013-14. This list of schools is subject to decrease if the level of state categorical resources specified for student transportation services decreases.
Elementary Schools (subject to change)
- ALVARADO
- CARMICHAEL K8
- CARVER/MALCOLM X
- CHIN
- CLARENDON
- DREW
- FAIRMOUNT
- FLYNN
- LAKESHORE
- LAWTON K-8
- LILIENTHAL K-8
- MEC
- MILK
- MUIR
- REVERE K-8
- ROOFTOP K-8
- SANCHEZ
- SF COMMUNITY
- SHERMAN
- SPRING VALLEY
- WEBSTER
- WEST PORTAL
- YU K-8
Middle Schools (subject to change)
- APTOS
- FRANCISCO
- GIANNINI
- HOOVER
- LICK
- MARINA
Enrollment Process for Transportation Services
If your child is enrolled in one of the SFUSD schools receiving general education services, they may participate in transportation services, subject to availability. To ensure equitable access to this limited resource, parents must request services on behalf of their child(ren). The Request for Services form for the 2013-14 school year will be issued by the Transportation Department in early spring 2013. The Transportation Department will provide an online version (www.sfusd.edu/transportation) and multilingual paper copies of the Request for Services form.
There is no guarantee that general education transportation services will be available, and all requests for service are subject to the Transportation Department’s review and approval. SFUSD reserves the right to change, reduce, allocate, or deny services or service routes, at any time, based on budgetary and other constraints.
Alternatives to Yellow Bus Transportation
Given the uncertainty regarding state categorical resources specified for student transportation, we strongly encourage all families to explore alternatives to yellow bus transportation services. Below are websites with community resources that provide alternatives to yellow bus transportation:- Safe Routes to School: www.sfsaferoutes.org
- Walking School Bus: jason@sfbike.org
- Family Biking: www.sfbike.org/family
- SchoolPool: www.WePool2School.org
- MUNI: www.sfmta.com
1000 Selby Street,
San Francisco, CA 94124
Tel: (415) 695-5505
Fax: (415) 695-5759
Click here to see the most recent update on the re-design on Transportation services for the 2013-2014 school year.
How does the student assignment policy relate to Lowell and Ruth Asawa SF SOTA high schools?
If you are applying to Lowell High School or the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, their admissions policies have not changed and the school placement policy does not apply. Lowell High School uses academic admission criteria, and Ruth Asawa School of the Arts has an audition process.
How does this policy affect students who are already in a school?
The policy will take several years to implement fully and will begin with students entering transitional grades in Fall 2012. All currently enrolled students may remain at their current school.
Can I transfer to a different school?
If you’re currently enrolled in a school and are interested in a transfer for any reason, you can submit a transfer request. We’ll process your transfer when feasible or where required by law.
How do we know if the assignment process is meeting the goals of the student assignment policy?
The SFUSD is developing specific criteria and many measurements for the success of the new student placement system. The Superintendent will conduct an annual assessment and develop an annual report that will be presented to the Board of Education by January of each year starting in 2012.
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