You want to know the truth? Ok, here it is: Politics. Pure and simple politics. As much as people want to deny it, SLO is affluent, and many people who have children here have a lot of options. In SLO, there are many elementary schools but one two high schools (one is a private religious), and two middle schools (one is private religious), so the kids are destined to end up in the same place regardless.

Now the reason for the politics is plain simple comparative parenting. What probably happened is that little Johnny is slipping in Mandarin economics or complex algebra for for the gifted and Mom and Dad had a fit and went on great schools to really let the teachers have it. Also, Mom and Dad are probably not too pleased with non-native English speakers in class because reasons!

Here is some advice for you - Do not let school districts dictate where you want to buy a home, because parents can choose what school they want to register too, so districts mean NOTHING! Buy a home in a neighborhood you want to live in

Also, I see you didn’t follow my advice on visiting the area. Why? If you are dead set on moving your life here, make sure you know what the area is like, and unfortunately reddit is not enough. Case in point, SLO doesn’t have crime, or really even a “bad” or “rough” part. But it does have neighborhoods with nothing but college students, and neighborhoods with nothing but retirees, neighborhoods with no great access, and fabulous neighborhoods with houses that will sell but will never hit the market online.

What’s the best neighborhood in SLO? It all depends on what you want. But you have to see for yourself what it is you want. I can’t describe the whole nuance of a place, and too many come here asking us too. Experience it for yourself; you might hate it.

I knew people who were from Indiana and dead set to move to Los Osos and never even saw the place. They rented for a year next door to me and then moved to San Francisco.