School Tours for 2017-18 Enrollment

Ryan Turner | December 5, 2016

Oakland’s public school enrollment season for the 2017-2018 school year is now open and will close on Jan. 20 for district schools and Feb. 17 for Enroll Oakland charter schools. In case you missed it, OUSD has launched several new tools that make it easier than ever to find and apply to the right school for your student. Check out our post on how you can use these tools.

Once you’ve found a school that meets your student’s needs, consider attending a school tour. Visiting a school in person and talking with administrators and teachers can provide valuable insights that you can’t get from just reading about a school online.

Below is a table we’ve put together with school tour dates and times. We’ll continue updating as more schools set dates for tours. If you don’t see the school you’re interested in now, be sure to check back later. You should also feel free to contact a school directly to see about possible times to visit.

Here are some tips on how you can make the most out of your school tour:

School tour tips

• As you take your school tour, watch how kids interact with teachers, other educators, and each other.
• Are the kids having fun? Are the kids engaged?
• If you have a student with special needs, ask if the school has the programs that fit your child’s needs (physical, emotional social, etc). Also ask how the program is staffed.
• Ask whether the school has a family liaison, Parent Teacher Association (PTA), School Site Council (SSC) or other parent groups.
• Ask how behavior problems are handled in the classroom and school wide.
• Is the school demographically representative of Oakland? If not, ask what efforts the school is making to be more diverse, both racially and socio-economically.

School Tours and Open Houses