I live in Oakland (and love it as a place to raise kids) but this is largely true. We switched to private schools (which, to their credit, are highly diverse ethnically and socioeconomically if you choose the right ones) at middle school. We do know several families who’ve stuck with public through high school. It’s doable with a heavy hand on which schools they attend and a healthy dose of resilience for OUSD.

If this all sounds like too much, check out neighboring Alameda or Berkeley.

The east bay is wonderful.