From The San Francisco Standard · · 1m 40s
SFUSD Replaces Lottery with Neighborhood School Guarantee
SFUSD votes on kindergarten enrollment system: neighborhood school guarantee with choice or certainty.
In brief
SFUSD votes on kindergarten enrollment system: neighborhood school guarantee with choice or certainty. SFUSD will replace its kindergarten lottery with a neighborhood school guarantee system by 2028, offering either more school choice or guaranteed enrollment for late applicants. Originally reported by The San…
SFUSD replaces kindergarten lottery
SFUSD will replace its kindergarten lottery system starting fall 2028 with a neighborhood school guarantee.
Two enrollment options for families
Option B offers more school choice; Option C guarantees neighborhood school even if applying late.
Current lottery system
Families rank schools anywhere in the city, with CTIP1 giving priority to students from 20% of the city with historically low test scores.
Late applicants' seat situation
7 in 10 late applicants have low-risk schools; 2 in 10 live in seat-shortage areas; 1 in 10 have popular schools with room.
Stanford simulations show differences
Option C keeps 48% of students within half a mile of home versus 40% under Option B and 35% today.
Parent survey results
71% of surveyed families prefer Option B over Option C for meeting their needs.
Seat shortages by 2033
19 of 58 attendance areas will be short by 320 kindergarten seats combined by 2033.
Diversity impact
Black, Latino, and Pacific Islander students attending high-poverty schools would rise from 42% to 51% under Option C.
Timeline for new system
SFUSD will vote on Option B or C Tuesday, review draft policy in February, and vote on final policy April 13, 2.028-29 school year.
What happens next
First students affected apply in fall 2027 for the 2028-29 school year with current lottery system.
The bottom line
SFUSD will replace its kindergarten lottery with a neighborhood school guarantee system by 2028, offering either more school choice or guaranteed enrollment for late applicants.
