Alameda County
Alameda County is located east of San Francisco across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. It is largely suburban and an important commercial and industrial area surrounded by rolling hills and numerous recreational parks. The Port of Oakland is the busiest on the Bay and the fourth-largest port on the West Coast. The University of California, Berkeley, is known for its innovations in business and technology as well as for its cultural contributions. The county is the seventh-largest in the state and Oakland is the county seat. For more information, visit
www.co.alameda.ca.us.
Education
There are 387 public and 33 charter schools within Alameda County with a total enrollment of 222,716 students supported by approximately 10,800 teachers. The county also supports three community college districts with an approximate student enrollment of 55,000.
For more information, visit:
Alameda County Office of Education
313 West Winton Ave.
Hayward, CA 94544-1136
510-887-0152
www.acoe.org
Community Colleges:
Chabot College, Hayward
510-723-6605
Las Positas College, Livermore
925-373-5800
Ohlone College, Fremont
510-659-6000
Berkeley City College, Berkeley
510-981-2800
College of Alameda, Alameda
510-522-7221
Laney College, Oakland
510-834-5740
Merritt College, Oakland
510-531-4911
Vista College, Berkeley
510-981-2800
Largest Cities in Alameda County
Oakland
As a major shipping port, the city’s Port of Oakland loads and discharges more than 99 percent of the containerized goods moving through Northern California, the nation's fourth largest metropolitan area. Oakland's cargo volume makes it the fourth busiest container port in the United States, and ranks San Francisco Bay among the three principal Pacific Coast gateways for U.S. containerized cargos.
Major employers in Oakland include Clorox, Kaiser Permanente, Cost Plus World Market, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Ask.com, FedEx, Waste Management and PG&E, among numerous others.
Oakland (population 397,067) has less expensive housing than San Francisco and easy access to BART for commuting to the city. Sports fans can enjoy a number of professional teams, including the NFL Raiders, baseball’s Oakland Athletics and the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
For fun and recreation there is Jack London Square, a favorite destination for residents and visitors alike that has restaurants, shops and a waterfront. At the nearby pier, you can take the ferry to San Francisco. Adjacent to downtown Oakland is Lake Merritt, a three-mile lagoon and bird sanctuary. The adjoining neighborhood offers a variety of housing options – from older apartment buildings, single-family homes and condos. Other popular areas in Oakland are the Montclair district, the Claremont Hills and Rockridge. For more information about Oakland, visit www.ci.oakland.ca.us or www.oaklandnet.com.
Another community that is surrounded by Oakland but is a city in itself is Piedmont. As one of the wealthiest communities in the East Bay, it is only 1.8 square miles, consisting of mansions, larges estates and nice homes. In addition, it has an excellent school district that attracts families to the area. One thing you won’t find here are apartments as there are none. Find out more at www.ci.piedmont.ca.us.
Berkeley
While Berkeley (population 101,555) may remind some of the radical days of the 1960s, today the city has mellowed and is home to people from all walks of life, a majority of whom consider the city an excellent place to live. The University of California (UC Berkeley) and the Lawrence Livermore laboratory are the city’s largest employers. UC Berkeley, with more than 33,000 undergraduate and graduate students, was founded in 1868 and is located between the downtown area and the Berkeley hills. Thanks to student life, there are many cafes, hundreds of restaurants, more than 30 movie theaters and 50 bookstores.
In the Berkeley hills, just north of the campus is Tilden Park. South Berkeley houses a mix of working-class and middle-income families and students who live in dorms, apartments, cooperatives and fraternity and sorority houses. Further south away from the campus is the neighborhood of Claremont, one of Berkeley’s grandest and most expensive areas. The Elmwood District is west of Claremont and is dotted with attractive family homes. North Berkeley is a comfortable enclave of shingled bungalows and low-rise apartments that boasts the shops and restaurants of the famed “Gourmet Ghetto.” For more information about Berkeley, visit
www.ci.berkeley.ca.us.
Alameda
The city of Alameda (population 70,699) is located south of Oakland and is mostly an island that sits alongside the East Bay. It connects to the mainland via a number of bridges and tunnels. In the late 1800s, Alameda was a popular resort for San Franciscans and Oaklanders who enjoyed the mild climate. The Alameda Naval Air Station was built during World War II and was an active base until it was decommissioned in 1997. The 800-acre site, now called Alameda Point, is undergoing a billion-dollar renovation, creating a mix of new residential neighborhoods, shopping areas, recreational facilities and business parks.
For recreational fun, there is the mile-and-a-half Robert Crown Memorial Beach, and golfers enjoy the Chuck Corica Golf Complex on Harbor Bay Island. You’ll find the most beautifully restored Victorian homes in the Bay Area in Alameda. For more information about the city of Alameda, visit
www.ci.alameda.ca.us.
Contra Costa County
Located on the eastern side of the East Bay hills is Contra Costa County, the ninth most populous county in California. The county is home to one of the fastest-growing workforces in the Bay Area region, driven primarily by the need to provide services to an increasing local population. Major employers headquartered in the county include Chevron, the county government, John Muir/Mt. Diablo Health System and Kaiser Permanente Medical Center.
Education
There are 258 public and five charter schools in Contra Costa County with 167,095 students supported by approximately 8,000 teachers. The student-to-teach ratio/class size is 20:9:1 and the average class consists of 26.4 students.
For more information, contact:
Contra Costa County Office of Education
77 Santa Barbara Rd.
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
925-942-3388
www.cccoe.k12.ca
Community Colleges:
Contra Costa College, San Pablo
510-235-7800
Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill
925-685-1230
San Ramon Valley Center, San Ramon
925-866-1822
Walnut Creek Center, Walnut Creek
925-906-9101
Los Medanos College, Pittsburg
925-439-2181
Largest Cities in Contra Costa County
Concord
Located 29 miles east of San Francisco, Concord (population 122,204) is adjacent to beautiful Mt. Diablo and is the largest city in Contra Costa County. In 2000, the city adopted the slogan "Concord, Where Families Come First" to bring attention to the many family-friendly events, activities, organizations and opportunities available in Concord. For more information, visit www.ci.concord.ca.us and
www.concordfirst.org.
Richmond
As the second-largest city in the county, Richmond (population 102,120) is a residential suburb and is transitioning its economy from heavy industry toward service and commercial activities. Richmond almost surrounds the city of San Pablo and the unicorporated areas of North Richmond, El Sobrante and East Richmond Heights. Oil company Chevron operates the Richmond refinery, one of the largest and oldest refineries on the West Coast. For more information about Richmond, visit www.ci.richmond.ca.us.
Walnut Creek
Considered one of the most desirable cities in Contra Costa County, Walnut Creek (population 63,701) has a lot of amenities to offer families. Voted in 1989 by the National Conference of Mayors as “the most livable small city in the nation,” recent downtown renovations have made Walnut Creek even nicer. There are plenty of parks, public gardens, an equestrian center and the Boundary Oak Golf Course. For more information, visit
www.ci.walnut-creek.ca.us.
San Ramon
With a population of 49,859, San Ramon is located in an area of natural beauty, moments away from the hiking trails of San Diablo, the area’s highest peak at 3,849. Hikers from all over the Bay Area visit the area for hiking, camping and horseback riding. On a clear day, it’s possible to see 35 of California’s 58 counties. San Ramon shares services with a wider area of cities including Pleasanton, Livermore and Danville. Every March, the nearby city of Dublin celebrates the Bay Area’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration. For more information, visit www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us.
Solano County
Located north of Contra Costa County, Solano County is halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento. As an agricultural area, more than 70 different commodities are grown and produced, including fruits, nuts, vegetables, grains, seed, nursery stock and livestock. The county operates 177 acres of Lake Solano Park in northern Solano County, 36 acres of Sandy Beach Park in Rio Vista and 10 acres of Belden’s Landing Water Access Facility located southeast of Suisun. For entertainment, more than 80 festivals and events take place in five cities. Each year since 1949, the Solano County Fair takes place to celebrate the wide variety of resources and activities available to the diverse community. For more information, visit www.co.solano.ca.us.
Education
There are 103 public and five charter schools in Solano County with a total enrollment of 70,766 students supported by approximately 3,400 teachers. County-wide, the pupil-teacher ratio is 20.4.
For more information, contact:
Solano County Office of Education
5100 Business Center Dr.
Fairfield, CA 94534
707-399-4400
www.solanocoe.k12.ca.us
Community Colleges:
Solano Community College,
Fairfield
707-864-7000;
Vallejo Center, Vallejo
707-642-8188
Vacaville Center, Vacaville
707-446-2900
Largest Cities in Solano County
Vallejo
Vallejo (population 116,844), founded in 1844, originated as an important shipping and naval center. Today, it is the largest city in Solano County and is best known for being the home to Six Flags Marine World, an outdoor theme and animal park. The Mare Island Shipyards closed in 1996 and now the city is converting the 5,000 plus acres to civilian use. Just 35 minutes from San Francisco and 15 minutes from Napa and the Sonoma wine countries, Vallejo is considered the gateway to the wine country, a mere 15 minutes to the north. For more information, visit
www.ci.vallejo.ca.us
Fairfield
In 2003, Fairfield (population 104,897) celebrated its 100th anniversary. The city’s location, natural amenities and affordable homes are some of the attributes that make Fairfield a great place to live. The city and surrounding areas are expected to continue to flourish as one of the most desirable urban growth centers in the Bay Area. For more information, visit
www.ci.fairfield.ca.us.
Vacaville
Considered by residents as a “small town at heart,” Vacaville is located in northern Solano County, midway between San Francisco and Sacramento. The city was incorporated in 1892 and currently comprises just under 27 square miles, has a beautiful setting bordered by rolling hillsides, fruit orchards and fertile farmland. The city’s rich history has transformed the community from a small agricultural town into a thriving and progressive city; now a diverse population of 96,735 residents call Vacaville home. For more information, visit
www.ci.vacaville.ca.us.
Select Private Schools -
Alameda County
Alameda Christian School
2226 Pacific Ave.
Alameda, CA 94501
510-523-1000
www.alamedachristianschool.com
Child Unique Montessori School
2226 Encinal Ave.
Alameda, CA 94501
510-521-9227
www.childunique.org
Golden Gate Apple School
2050 Lincoln Ave.
Alameda, CA 94501
510-748-0428
www.ggappleschool.com
Peter Pan School
2100 Mariner Square Dr.
Alameda, CA 94501
510-521-2711
www.peterpanschools.com
Rising Star Montessori School
1421 High St.
Alameda, CA 94501
510-865-4536
www.risingstarschool.org
St. Barnabas School
1400 Sixth St.
Alameda, CA 94501
510-521-0595
www.stbarnabas.pvt.k12.ca.us
St. Joseph Elementary School
1910 San Antonio Ave.
Alameda, CA 94501
510-522-4457
www.stjosephala.org
St. Joseph Notre Dame High School
1011 Chestnut St.
Alameda, CA 94501
510-523-1526
www.sjnd.org
St. Philip Neri School
1335 High St.
Alameda, Ca 94501
510-521-0787
www.spnalameda.org
Select Private Schools - Berkeley
Archway School
1940 Virginia St.
Berkeley, CA 94709
510-849-4747
www.archwayschool.org
Berkeley Montessori School
1310 University Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702
510-665-8800
www.bmsonline.org
Berkwood Hedge School
1809 Bancroft Way
Berkeley, CA 94703
510-883-6990
www.berkwood.org
Black Pine Circle Day School
2027 7th St.
Berkeley, CA 94710
Upper School: 510-644-1023
Lower School: 510-845-0876
Extended Care: 510-644-1093
www.bpcweb.net
Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley
1009 Heinz Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94710
510-549-3867
www.eb.org
Maybeck High School
2362 Bancroft Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
510-841-8489
www.maybeckhs.org
Montessori Family School
1850 Scenic Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94709
510-848-2322
www.montessorifamily.com
St. Joseph the Worker School
2125 Jefferson Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94703
510-845-6266
www.sjtws.org
St. Mary’s College High School
1294 Albina Ave., Peralta Park
Berkeley, CA 94706
510-526-9242
www.saintmaryschs.org
School of the Madeleine
1225 Milvia St.
Berkeley, CA 94709
510-526-4744
www.themadeleine.com
Shelton’s Primary Education Center
3339 Martin Luther Jr Way
Berkeley, CA 94703
510-652-6132
www.sheltonsprimary.net
Shu Ren International School
2163 Meeker Ave., #149
Berkeley, CA 94804
510-375-8056
http://shureninternationalschool.com
The Abelian Group Math School
Strawberry Creek Design Center
1250 Addison, Studio H
Berkeley, CA 94702
510-841-0784
www.abeliangroup.com
The Academy School
2722 Benvenue Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705
510-549-0605
www.academyk-8.com
The Crowden School and Music Center
1475 Rose St.
Berkeley, CA 94702
510-559-6910
www.crowden.org
Walden Center and School
2446 McKinley Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94703
510-841-7248
www.walden-school.net
Select Private Schools -
Fremont
Alsion Montessori Middle/High School
155 Washington Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94539
510-445-1127
www.alsion.org
An-Noor Islamic Institute
3330 Peace Terrace
Fremont, CA 94555
510-477-9946
Christian Community School
39700 Mission Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94539
510-651-5437
Creative Knowledge School
42969 Nido Ct.
Fremont, CA 94539
510-490-5211
www.creativeknowledge.net
Fremont Christian School
4760 Thornton Ave.
Fremont, CA 94536
Preschool: 510-744-2260
Elementary: 510-744-2270
Secondary: 510-744-2280
www.fremontchristian.com
Holy Spirit School
3930 Parish Ave.
Fremont, CA 94536
510-793-3553
www.holyspiritfmt.com
Mission Hills SDA Christian School
225 Driscoll Rd.
Fremont, CA 94539
510-490-7709
www.tagnet.org/fremont/page8.html
Mission Peak Baptist School
41354 Roberts Ave.
Fremont, CA 94538
510-656-5311
www.missionpeakbaptist.org/school.html
Montessori School of Fremont
155 Washington Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94539
510-490-0919
www.montessori-fremont.com
Our Lady of Guadalupe School
40374 Fremont Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94538
510-657-1674
www.guadalupe-school.com
Prince of Peace Lutheran School
38451 Fremont Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94536
510-793-3366
www.popfremont.org/school.htm
St. Joseph School
43222 Mission Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94539
510-656-6525
www.sjsmsj.org
Stratford School
5301 Curtis St.
Fremont, CA 94538
510-438-9745
www.stratfordschools.com
Select Private Schools -
Hayward
All Saints Catholic School
22870 Second St.
Hayward, CA 94541
510-582-1910
www.all-saints-school.org
American Heritage School
425 Gresel St.
Hayward, CA 94544
510-471-1010
Bayside SDA School
26400 Gading Rd.
Hayward, CA 94544
510-785-1313
Cornerstone Christian Academy
24150 Hesperian Blvd.
Hayward, CA 94545
510-786-4281
Lea’s Christian School
26236 Adrian Ave.
Hayward, CA 94545
510-785-3058
www.leaschristianschool.org
Moreau Catholic High School
27170 Mission Blvd.
Hayward, CA 94544
510-881-4300
www.moreaucatholic.org
St. Bede School
26910 Patrick Ave.
Hayward, CA 94544
510-782-3444
www.stbedehay.com
St. Clement School
790 Calhoun St.
Hayward, CA 94544
510-538-5885
www.sclement.org
St. Joachim School
21250 Hesperian Blvd.
Hayward, CA 94541
510-783-3177
www.stjoachimschool.org
Woodroe Woods School
22502 Woodroe Ave.
Hayward, CA 94541
510-582-3273
Select Private Schools -
Oakland
Acts Christian Academy
1034 66th Ave.
Oakland, CA 94621
510-568-3333
www.actsfullgospel.org/
actschristianacademy.htm
Archway School
250 41st St.
Oakland, CA 94611
510-547-4747
www.archwayschool.org
ASA Academy and Community
Science Center
2811 Adeline St.
Oakland, CA 94608
510-645-5917
www.asacsc.org
Aurora School
40 Dulwich Rd.
Oakland, CA 94618
510-428-2606
www.auroraschool.org
Beacon School
2101 Livingston St.
Oakland, CA 94606
510-437-2311
www.beaconschools.org
Bentley School
1 Hiller Dr.
Oakland, CA 94618
510-843-2512
www.bentleyschool.net
Bishop O’Dowd High School
9500 Stearns Ave.
Oakland, CA 94605
510-577-9100
www.bishopodowd.org
Clara Mohammed School
1652 47th Ave.
Oakland, CA 94601
510-436-7755
College Preparatory School
6100 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94618
510-652-0111
www.college-prep.org
Escuela Bilingue Internacional
410 Alcatraz Ave.
Oakland, CA 94609
510-653-3324
www.ebinternacional.org
Golden Gate SDA Academy
3800 Mountain Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94619
510-531-0110
www.tagnet.org/gga
Grand Lake Montessori School
466 Chetwood St.
Oakland, CA 94610
510-836-4313
www.grandlakemontessori.com
Head-Royce School
4315 Lincoln Ave.
Oakland, CA 94602
510-531-1300
www.headroyce.org
Holy Names High School
4660 Harbord Dr.
Oakland, CA 94618
510-450-1110
www.hnhsoakland.org
Julia Morgan School for Girls
5000 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94613
510-632-6000
www.juliamorganschool.org
Mills College Children’s School
5000 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94613
510-430-2255
www.mills.edu/campus_life/childrens_school
Oakland Hebrew Day School
5500 Redwood Rd.
Oakland, CA 94619
510-531-8686
www.ohds.org
Park Day School
370 43rd St.
Oakland, CA 94609
510-653-0317
www.parkdayschool.org
Patten Academy of Christian Education
2433 Coolidge Ave.
Oakland, CA 94601
510-533-9381
www.pattenacademy.org
Redwood Day School
3245 Sheffield Ave.
Oakland, CA 94602
510-534-0800
www.rdschool.org
St. Elizabeth High School
1530 34th Ave.
Oakland, CA 94601
510-532-8947
www.saintelizabethhighschool.com
St. Lawrence O’Toole School
3695 High St.
Oakland, CA 94619
510-530-0266
www.stlawrenceotoole.com
St. Paul’s Episcopal School
116b Montecito Ave.
Oakland, CA 94610
510-285-9600
www.spes.org
The Renaissance School
3668 Dimond Ave.
Oakland, CA 94602
510-531-8566
www.therenaissanceschool.org
Select Private Schools -
San Leandro
Assumption School
1851 136th Ave.
San Leandro, CA 94578
510-357-8772
www.assumptionschool-sl.org
Chinese Christian Schools
750 Fargo Ave.
San Leandro, CA 94579
510-351-4957
www.ccs-rams.org
Community Christian School
562 Lewelling Blvd.
San Leandro, CA 94579
510-351-3684
www.communitychristianschool.org
Montessori School of San Leandro
16492 Foothill Blvd.
San Leandro, CA 94578
510-278-1371
www.montessorica.com/sanleandroelem
The Principled Academy
2305 A Washington Ave.
San Leandro, CA 94577
510-351-6400
www.principledacademy.org
St. Felicitas School
1650 Manor Blvd.
San Leandro, CA 94579
510-357-2530
www.stfelicitas-school.org
St. Leander School
451 Davis St.
San Leandro, CA 94577
510-351-4144
Select Private Schools -
Solano County
Calvary Baptist Christian School
600 Gregory Lane
Fairfield, CA 94533
707-422-7037
www.cbcf.net/school.htm
Community United Methodist School
1875 Fairfield Ave.
Fairfield, CA 94533
707-425-9310
www.fairfieldcommunity.net/cumcschool.htm
Holy Spirit School
1050 North Texas St.
Fairfield, CA 94533
707-422-5016
www.hsschool.org
Solano Christian Academy
2200 Fairfield Ave.
Fairfield, CA 94533
707-425-7715
www.christianacademy.org
Trinity Lutheran School
2075 Dover Ave.
Fairfield, CA 94533
707-435-1123
http://trinitylc.ctsmemberconnect.net/
home-ctrl.do
Select Private Schools - Vacaville
Faith Academy
490 Brown St.
Vacaville, CA 95688
707-446-8684
Vacaville Christian Schools
1117 Davis St.
Vacaville, CA 95687
707-446-1776
www.go-vcs.com
Select Private Schools -
Vallejo
College Road Preparatory School
400 Contra Costa St.
Vallejo, CA 94590
707-642-7737
Hilltop Christian School
210 Locust Dr.
Vallejo, California 94591
707-643-1726
Reignierd School
380 Contra Costa St.
Vallejo, CA 94590
707-644-0447
St. Basil School
1230 Nebraska St.
Vallejo, CA 94590
707-642-7629
www.stbasilschool.org
St. Catherine of Siena School
3460 Tennessee St.
Vallejo, CA 94591
707-643-6691
www.scstars.net
St. Patrick St. Vincent High School
1500 Benicia Rd.
Vallejo, CA 94591
707-644-4425
www.spsv.org
St. Vincent Ferrer Elementary School
42 Florida St.
Vallejo, CA 94590
707-642-4311