Can you choose what high school your child attends in California?

Question

In other words, if you live in Hollywood and don't want your child going to Hollywood High, can you just enroll them in Beverly Hills High (as long as you can provide transportation?) I was having a conversation with a friend who insisted that you can choose your child's high school and don't have to send them to the one closest to where you live - I don't think that is the way it works, but I'd like to hear from anyone who might know or any teachers/CA high school administrators who could shed some light. Thanks!

Answer 1

You can go to a private school of choice no matter where it is located. Some of these have on-campus accommodations. So if you can afford the tuition, go for it.

Public schools are a different matter. You have to live within the school's boundaries or have a parent that works at your school of choice that would be financially or otherwise handicapped by sending you to your local school rather than the school in which he or she works.

Some parents circumvent the rules by documenting fake addresses for themselves and their children, or perhaps the child is sent to live with a relative of choice within the school district of choice.

Know that, depending on the state and local transfer regulations, a student transferring into a new district might have to Waite a year before they become eligible to play competitive sports at their school of choice. This helps to prevent coaches from recruiting out-of-district athletes.

There are some districts that allow inter-district transfers to a school of choice. So if you do not like the school you will be attending, always check on your district's transfer policy. There may be a chance of going where you want to go.

Answer 2

I lived in Topanga Canyon when I went to high school there in California, Topanga Canyon is 4 miles from Malibu and 4 miles from Santa Monica. I went to Canoga Park High in Canoga Park in the San Fernando Valley and then went to Venice High in Venice. But that was in 1955, 1956 and 1957 ? I do believe in the LA area you have to go to the schools that are in that District ie; the one you live in at the time. Things may have changed since i went to school there I'm not sure? But wanted to answer this question and try and help.

Answer 3

Basically, a minor has to comply with the orders of a judge. A good judge will listen to the child, a bad judge is why so many kids are injured or killed by their "parents" each year and why so many wind up running away.

Answer 4

I lived in Silicon Valley (Cupertino, CA to be exact) for three years, and from my experience, my answer to that question would be NO.

I cannot speak for the Los Angeles area, but in my area, you were REQUIRED to live in the catchment area if you chose to attend a public school. School authorities would conduct regular spot-checks to ensure that every student lives at his/her registered address. In fact, around 140 students were expelled from my school due to "address fraud" (the district's term for not actually living at your registered address).

A horrid system, in my opinion. But it was true that demand for places at my school greatly exceeded budget.

(Personally, I would favour abolishing catchment area boundaries, and instead setting up entrance exams or interviews for admission to better public schools... well, mine was one, which explains the demand for places. But then, with entrance exams, you'd get a whole new layer of controversy with debates over affirmative action and discrimination and whatnot. So very annoying >.<)

Answer 5

you would have to pay money to send them to "beverly Hills High" thats all also they need transportation

Answer 6

you are suppost to go to the publie school in your area or go through something like school of choice or send them to privite or charter or something like that :p