San Francisco school board ends lottery enrollment, shifts to neighborhood assignments
The San Francisco Unified school board voted Tuesday to eliminate its long-standing lottery-based enrollment system and place students in their local schools, leaving few alternatives for choosing other campuses. Superintendent Maria Su said families want a quality school near their home and that the neighborhood school should be a viable option.
The board’s decision ends a system that assigned students by lottery and replaces it with placements based on where they live. Under the change, families would have few ways to choose a campus outside their neighborhood. Superintendent Maria Su said families want a good school close to home and that the local school should be a workable option.
Families seeking schools outside their assigned neighborhood could find their choices limited, while those living near preferred campuses may gain closer placements. The policy’s broader social effect may depend on whether local schools are seen as comparable in quality. It could influence where families choose to live and how connected children feel to their neighborhoods, though outcomes would likely vary across the city.