San Diego unified school district (under which Scripps Ranch falls) offers “choice” program wherein students can apply to a school different from what is assigned to them by their place of residence. (Details here. http://old.sandi.net/enrollmentoptions/oeochoice.html )
In my opinion this system is good. It keeps good schools in the district full, while ensuring that the students filling these schools come from motivated families, who really want to attend these schools. Thus I don’t think it results into any degradation of school quality.
This should not be confused with “busing”, which San Diego unified does not have. The busing (which in my opinion, a ridiculous solution thought of by courts) forcefully moves children around the school district randomly to achieve racial balance in schools. However it is in decline all over USA and I see no reason why it will ever be imposed on SDUSD in the next 10-20 years.
