Helena F. v. West Contra Costa Unified School District

Plaintiffs/appellants Helena F. et al., through their guardians ad litem, appeal a judgment denying them injunctive and declaratory relief in their mandamus action (Code Civ. Proc., § 1085) against defendants/ respondents West Contra Costa Unified School District et al. (the district). They contend the district’s policy and practice concerning placement of students for whom space is unavailable at their school of residence constitutes an abuse of discretion and violates due process. We affirm.

Background

Each of the district’s 38 elementary schools has its own geographical “attendance zone.” The schools are grouped into three larger geographical areas called areas I, II, and III, each with its own director. Parents are required to enroll kindergarten or new-to-the-district students in their school of residence, i.e., the school situated in the attendance zone in which they reside. Students who cannot enroll in their school of residence due to lack of space are classified as displaced students, placed on the waiting list of their school of residence and given first priority for admission when space becomes available. In the interim the residence school’s principal or…