Alameda: Schools & Attendance Zones

Alameda Unified School District generally uses a neighborhood school system, meaning most students are assigned to a public school based on their home address. Transfers to another AUSD school depend on district procedures and available space. Alameda Science and Technology Institute follows a separate application process, while private schools maintain their own admissions requirements.

📝 Introduction

Alameda offers public neighborhood schools, specialized public programs, an Early College high school, and private education. School enrollment can work differently depending on the program. Most AUSD students attend schools associated with their residential address, while programs such as Alameda Science and Technology Institute use a separate application process. Private schools also maintain independent admissions procedures. Buyers and sellers researching Alameda real estate can review school information alongside transportation, property characteristics, parks, services, and other address specific considerations.

🏫 Alameda Science and Technology Institute

Grades: 9 through 12

• Achievements: Alameda Science and Technology Institute, commonly called ASTI, is a public magnet high school operated by Alameda Unified School District in partnership with the Peralta Community College District and College of Alameda. The Early College program allows students to complete high school requirements while taking college coursework.
• Fun Fact: During grades 11 and 12, ASTI students can enroll in three or more college courses per semester while continuing their high school coursework. Students may work toward transferable college credits, general education requirements, or an associate degree.
• Brief History: ASTI was founded in 2004 through a partnership between Alameda Unified School District and the Peralta Community College District.
• 📍 Address: 555 Ralph Appezzatto Memorial Parkway, Portable 1, Alameda, CA 94501
• 📞 Phone: 510-748-4021
• 🌐 Website: asti.alamedaunified.org
• Real Estate Insight: ASTI does not operate as a standard neighborhood high school assignment. Applicants follow the school's application procedures, and if applications exceed available ninth grade spaces, ASTI uses a lottery and waitlist process. Property proximity should not be treated as guaranteed admission.

🏫 Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School

Grades: 9 through 12

• Achievements: Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School offers college preparatory coursework along with Advanced Placement classes, engineering, biomedical sciences, visual and performing arts, athletics, counseling, leadership activities, and student clubs.
• Fun Fact: The school's current pathway programs include Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts, with several areas of concentration available within the arts program.
• Brief History: The school traces its history to 1881 and continues to operate from its Chestnut Street campus in Alameda.
• 📍 Address: 1011 Chestnut Street, Alameda, CA 94501
• 📞 Phone: 510-523-1526
• 🌐 Website: sjnd.org
• Real Estate Insight: Saint Joseph Notre Dame is a private school with its own application, testing, recommendation, and admissions procedures. Living nearby does not establish admission eligibility.

🏫 Amelia Earhart Elementary School

Grades: Transitional Kindergarten through Grade 5

• Achievements: Amelia Earhart Elementary provides instruction in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, along with grade specific learning activities and student support programs. The school's Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports program received a Silver Award from the California PBIS State Coalition in 2025.
• Fun Fact: Earhart's early elementary curriculum includes engineering and science activities, while older grades incorporate laboratory work and additional science investigations.
• Brief History: Amelia Earhart Elementary is an AUSD public school located on Bay Farm Island and currently serves transitional kindergarten through grade 5.
• 📍 Address: 400 Packet Landing Road, Alameda, CA 94502
• 📞 Phone: 510-748-4003
• 🌐 Website: earhart.alamedaunified.org
• Real Estate Insight: AUSD generally assigns students to a resident school according to the home address. Buyers should use the district's current School Finder rather than relying only on proximity to Earhart. Transfer requests to another AUSD school are subject to district procedures and available space.

🏫 Edison Elementary School

Grades: Kindergarten through Grade 5

• Achievements: Edison Elementary provides public elementary instruction through AUSD and has received several documented recognitions, including California Distinguished School recognition, California Green Ribbon recognition, a United States Department of Education Green Ribbon award, and PBIS recognition.
• Fun Fact: The site that became Edison School was previously known as Versailles School. The current school building opened in 1942 after a construction process affected by funding, labor issues, weather, and the beginning of World War II.
• Brief History: Edison opened under its current name in 1942 and today operates as an AUSD public elementary school serving kindergarten through grade 5.
• 📍 Address: 2700 Buena Vista Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501
• 📞 Phone: 510-748-4002
• 🌐 Website: edison.alamedaunified.org
• Real Estate Insight: Edison is part of AUSD's neighborhood school system. Buyers should confirm the resident elementary school for a specific property through the district's current address based school locator.

🏫 Franklin Elementary School

Grades: Kindergarten through Grade 5

• Achievements: Franklin Elementary provides instruction in English language arts, mathematics, science, and history and social science. The school also operates Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports and offers additional student activities and support programs.
• Fun Fact: Franklin includes an Art Docent program in which volunteers assist with classroom art instruction.
• Brief History: Franklin is an AUSD public elementary school serving kindergarten through grade 5 from its San Antonio Avenue campus.
• 📍 Address: 1433 San Antonio Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501
• 📞 Phone: 510-748-4004
• 🌐 Website: franklin.alamedaunified.org
• Real Estate Insight: Franklin operates within AUSD's neighborhood school system. The applicable school should be confirmed for the exact property address, and requests to attend a different AUSD school are handled through the district's transfer process.

📊 School Enrollment and Property Research

Alameda Unified School District describes itself as a neighborhood school system. In most cases, students are assigned to schools zoned for their home address. AUSD provides a School Finder for determining the resident school, while requests for another district school are handled through the intra district transfer process and depend on factors that include available space.

Some programs work differently. ASTI uses a separate application process and can use a lottery when qualified applications exceed available spaces. Private schools such as Saint Joseph Notre Dame maintain separate admissions requirements. These distinctions are important when researching school information connected with an Alameda property.

✅ What Can You Do?

For Buyers

• Use AUSD's School Finder to confirm the resident public school for the exact property address.
• Do not rely only on the distance between a home and a school campus.
• Review AUSD transfer procedures separately if considering a school outside the property's resident attendance zone.
• Research ASTI's application and lottery procedures separately from standard AUSD neighborhood enrollment.
• Review private school admissions directly with the individual school.

For Sellers

• Verify the property's current AUSD attendance zone before including school information in listing materials.
• Describe a school as the resident school only after confirming the address with current district information.
• Do not imply that proximity to ASTI or a private school provides admission.
• Present academic programs and school information factually without connecting them to guaranteed appreciation, buyer demand, or sales performance.
• Provide current school and district resources so buyers can independently verify enrollment information.

❓ FAQ

Q: Does every Alameda address have an assigned public school?

A: In most cases, yes. AUSD describes its system as a neighborhood school system and assigns resident schools according to the home address. The district's School Finder should be used for current property specific information.

Q: Is ASTI assigned according to a property's neighborhood?

A: No. ASTI is a public magnet high school with a separate application process. The school can use a lottery if the number of eligible applicants exceeds available spaces.

Q: Can an Alameda resident request a different AUSD school?

A: Yes. AUSD allows intra district transfer requests for students seeking a district school other than their resident school. Approval depends on district procedures and available space.

🔚 Conclusion

School information can be one part of researching Alameda real estate. Understanding AUSD attendance zones, transfer procedures, ASTI's Early College application process, private school admissions, campus locations, transportation, and property specific characteristics can provide useful context when reviewing a home. Buyers should confirm current public school assignments directly with Alameda Unified School District and private admissions directly with the applicable school before making real estate decisions based on educational information.

This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, investment, or professional advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making any decisions based on this content. School information including addresses, phone numbers, and emails was accurate as of the blog’s published date but may change without notice. Please verify directly with the school or institution. This content is provided “as is,” without warranties of any kind. If you are currently under an exclusive agreement with another real estate broker, this blog is not intended as a solicitation.