Lottery/school despair

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And there are plenty of people who have moved to supposedly great school districts in the burbs and been disappointed. Or boundaried out. Or ended up really unhappy at Deal. Or whatever.

And there are very very few people who stayed IB for low performing MS and even fewer for HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, hon. You are *much* more in control of this than you think. You *can* stay in your home, if you are willing to open your mind to more schools. It's a choice that you are making. Lots of people attend schools like Langley, Seaton, Burroughs, Miner, etc., and they like it! If that's not what you want, fine. But it's a thing that lots of real people are doing all over the city. You're choosing not to be open-minded and do what you need to do to make a lower-performing school work for your family. But it's a choice. And you'll feel less in despair about this if you recognize that it is a choice.

Oh please. It’s a choice that is no longer tenable in MS.

Lots of people stay for MS. And since OP's child is entering 1st, OP has lots of time to ponder her strategy and figure something out. Right now, she is *choosing* to be unhappy with schools that other people find acceptable. That's her choice, but it's a choice. The self-pity is not necessary.

As the mom of a 5th grader I can tell you MS arrives before you know it. And if OP doesn’t like her IB ES she is not going to like the IB MS. Self-pity isn’t necessary, but neither is delusion or learned helplessness. OP should move and maximize the benefits of moving now.

OP needs to figure out what she actually really wants. To stay the course in DC hoping to get in somewhere better (knowing that "better" is Latin, ITS, BASIS, or Stuart-Hobsons, or a Hardy/Deal feeder with a bad commute), or to move elsewhere to something she can afford, which is probably not going to be really that great either. In my experience people do get into ITS and Ludlow-Taylor and Watkins if they try repeatedly, so it's not unreasonable to write this year off as bad luck and try again for 2nd.

It's still unclear to me why OP cannot go to Watkins right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I get people have different standards and maybe some people think my standards are unreasonable.

But one point to consider is that my child is currently at a school that gets pushed as an "acceptable" option on here, and that I think many of you seem to think is fine, but we are very unhappy there after having a decent to above-average experience in PK. The reality of K and up at the school is just not for us and we are watching family after family leave in just the last year and a half (including families leaving midyear specifically because they are unhappy with the school). So if I seem dismissive of certain options, that is why. We are currently at an option like that, which was very much billed to us as "good enough" and "up and coming" and "lots of people are happy there" and that has simply not reflected the reality.

I believe some people are happy at those schools. I know there are people happy at our school. It may just be a fit issue, a question of specific child or family needs, or just an issue of expectations. I grew up going to pretty mediocre-to-bad public schools and some of my expectations have to do with a clear understanding of how those schools failed to prepare me in fundamental ways, as well as some ways that school culture made my childhood miserable in some ways, so that influences my perception and expectations for my own child.

I believe you and that is why I don’t trust DCUM’s advice with the low Performing schools. My experience IRL is the opposite of what I read here.

However, I think you will probably get in one the schools by the end of the summer.

This. There is a reason the schools are low performing and loses lots of families K and in. Also lots of boosters on here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, hon. You are *much* more in control of this than you think. You *can* stay in your home, if you are willing to open your mind to more schools. It's a choice that you are making. Lots of people attend schools like Langley, Seaton, Burroughs, Miner, etc., and they like it! If that's not what you want, fine. But it's a thing that lots of real people are doing all over the city. You're choosing not to be open-minded and do what you need to do to make a lower-performing school work for your family. But it's a choice. And you'll feel less in despair about this if you recognize that it is a choice.

Oh please. It’s a choice that is no longer tenable in MS.

Lots of people stay for MS. And since OP's child is entering 1st, OP has lots of time to ponder her strategy and figure something out. Right now, she is *choosing* to be unhappy with schools that other people find acceptable. That's her choice, but it's a choice. The self-pity is not necessary.

No the overwhelming majority of middle class families going to the schools above are not staying in the upper grades much less tracking to the middle schools that they feed into.

OP’s standards are higher than families who choose to stay in schools above. At least you have that part right.

Right, most are not but some are. And the total of high-SES people who are staying *in DC but not at Deal/Hardy* for middle school is pretty high. I would consider switching to any EOTP middle school, DCPS or charter, to be "staying" even if it isn't the feeder.

And yes it's a choice. There's no need to act so powerless. Look, I'd love to have a nice big yard like country folk do, and I can't have that on the Hill. Am I powerless? No, I'm choosing to live on the Hill.

BS. The total percentage of high SES families going to middle schools besides Deal/Hardy is NOT high,

I don’t know what kool aid you are drinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, hon. You are *much* more in control of this than you think. You *can* stay in your home, if you are willing to open your mind to more schools. It's a choice that you are making. Lots of people attend schools like Langley, Seaton, Burroughs, Miner, etc., and they like it! If that's not what you want, fine. But it's a thing that lots of real people are doing all over the city. You're choosing not to be open-minded and do what you need to do to make a lower-performing school work for your family. But it's a choice. And you'll feel less in despair about this if you recognize that it is a choice.

Oh please. It’s a choice that is no longer tenable in MS.

Lots of people stay for MS. And since OP's child is entering 1st, OP has lots of time to ponder her strategy and figure something out. Right now, she is *choosing* to be unhappy with schools that other people find acceptable. That's her choice, but it's a choice. The self-pity is not necessary.

No the overwhelming majority of middle class families going to the schools above are not staying in the upper grades much less tracking to the middle schools that they feed into.

OP’s standards are higher than families who choose to stay in schools above. At least you have that part right.

Right, most are not but some are. And the total of high-SES people who are staying *in DC but not at Deal/Hardy* for middle school is pretty high. I would consider switching to any EOTP middle school, DCPS or charter, to be "staying" even if it isn't the feeder.

And yes it's a choice. There's no need to act so powerless. Look, I'd love to have a nice big yard like country folk do, and I can't have that on the Hill. Am I powerless? No, I'm choosing to live on the Hill.

BS. The total percentage of high SES families going to middle schools besides Deal/Hardy is NOT high,

I don’t know what kool aid you are drinking.

I'm not sure about percentages, but to say there aren't a bunch of high-SES families if you add up Stuart-Hobson, Eliot-Hine and Jefferson, BASIS, Latin, Latin, Inspired Teaching, and let's not forget DCI, plus miscellaneous others at smaller schools, it's a lot of people in total.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, hon. You are *much* more in control of this than you think. You *can* stay in your home, if you are willing to open your mind to more schools. It's a choice that you are making. Lots of people attend schools like Langley, Seaton, Burroughs, Miner, etc., and they like it! If that's not what you want, fine. But it's a thing that lots of real people are doing all over the city. You're choosing not to be open-minded and do what you need to do to make a lower-performing school work for your family. But it's a choice. And you'll feel less in despair about this if you recognize that it is a choice.

Oh please. It’s a choice that is no longer tenable in MS.

Lots of people stay for MS. And since OP's child is entering 1st, OP has lots of time to ponder her strategy and figure something out. Right now, she is *choosing* to be unhappy with schools that other people find acceptable. That's her choice, but it's a choice. The self-pity is not necessary.

No the overwhelming majority of middle class families going to the schools above are not staying in the upper grades much less tracking to the middle schools that they feed into.

OP’s standards are higher than families who choose to stay in schools above. At least you have that part right.

Right, most are not but some are. And the total of high-SES people who are staying *in DC but not at Deal/Hardy* for middle school is pretty high. I would consider switching to any EOTP middle school, DCPS or charter, to be "staying" even if it isn't the feeder.

And yes it's a choice. There's no need to act so powerless. Look, I'd love to have a nice big yard like country folk do, and I can't have that on the Hill. Am I powerless? No, I'm choosing to live on the Hill.

BS. The total percentage of high SES families going to middle schools besides Deal/Hardy is NOT high,

I don’t know what kool aid you are drinking.

I'm not sure about percentages, but to say there aren't a bunch of high-SES families if you add up Stuart-Hobson, Eliot-Hine and Jefferson, BASIS, Latin, Latin, Inspired Teaching, and let's not forget DCI, plus miscellaneous others at smaller schools, it's a lot of people in total.

We are talking DCPS middle schools. Try to stay on topic here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, hon. You are *much* more in control of this than you think. You *can* stay in your home, if you are willing to open your mind to more schools. It's a choice that you are making. Lots of people attend schools like Langley, Seaton, Burroughs, Miner, etc., and they like it! If that's not what you want, fine. But it's a thing that lots of real people are doing all over the city. You're choosing not to be open-minded and do what you need to do to make a lower-performing school work for your family. But it's a choice. And you'll feel less in despair about this if you recognize that it is a choice.

Oh please. It’s a choice that is no longer tenable in MS.

Lots of people stay for MS. And since OP's child is entering 1st, OP has lots of time to ponder her strategy and figure something out. Right now, she is *choosing* to be unhappy with schools that other people find acceptable. That's her choice, but it's a choice. The self-pity is not necessary.

No the overwhelming majority of middle class families going to the schools above are not staying in the upper grades much less tracking to the middle schools that they feed into.

OP’s standards are higher than families who choose to stay in schools above. At least you have that part right.

Right, most are not but some are. And the total of high-SES people who are staying *in DC but not at Deal/Hardy* for middle school is pretty high. I would consider switching to any EOTP middle school, DCPS or charter, to be "staying" even if it isn't the feeder.

And yes it's a choice. There's no need to act so powerless. Look, I'd love to have a nice big yard like country folk do, and I can't have that on the Hill. Am I powerless? No, I'm choosing to live on the Hill.

BS. The total percentage of high SES families going to middle schools besides Deal/Hardy is NOT high,

I don’t know what kool aid you are drinking.

I'm not sure about percentages, but to say there aren't a bunch of high-SES families if you add up Stuart-Hobson, Eliot-Hine and Jefferson, BASIS, Latin, Latin, Inspired Teaching, and let's not forget DCI, plus miscellaneous others at smaller schools, it's a lot of people in total.

We are talking DCPS middle schools. Try to stay on topic here.

No, we are not. We're talking about OP's options, which includes charter middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, hon. You are *much* more in control of this than you think. You *can* stay in your home, if you are willing to open your mind to more schools. It's a choice that you are making. Lots of people attend schools like Langley, Seaton, Burroughs, Miner, etc., and they like it! If that's not what you want, fine. But it's a thing that lots of real people are doing all over the city. You're choosing not to be open-minded and do what you need to do to make a lower-performing school work for your family. But it's a choice. And you'll feel less in despair about this if you recognize that it is a choice.

Oh please. It’s a choice that is no longer tenable in MS.

Lots of people stay for MS. And since OP's child is entering 1st, OP has lots of time to ponder her strategy and figure something out. Right now, she is *choosing* to be unhappy with schools that other people find acceptable. That's her choice, but it's a choice. The self-pity is not necessary.

No the overwhelming majority of middle class families going to the schools above are not staying in the upper grades much less tracking to the middle schools that they feed into.

OP’s standards are higher than families who choose to stay in schools above. At least you have that part right.

Right, most are not but some are. And the total of high-SES people who are staying *in DC but not at Deal/Hardy* for middle school is pretty high. I would consider switching to any EOTP middle school, DCPS or charter, to be "staying" even if it isn't the feeder.

And yes it's a choice. There's no need to act so powerless. Look, I'd love to have a nice big yard like country folk do, and I can't have that on the Hill. Am I powerless? No, I'm choosing to live on the Hill.

BS. The total percentage of high SES families going to middle schools besides Deal/Hardy is NOT high,

I don’t know what kool aid you are drinking.

I'm not sure about percentages, but to say there aren't a bunch of high-SES families if you add up Stuart-Hobson, Eliot-Hine and Jefferson, BASIS, Latin, Latin, Inspired Teaching, and let's not forget DCI, plus miscellaneous others at smaller schools, it's a lot of people in total.

We are talking DCPS middle schools. Try to stay on topic here.

No, we are not. We're talking about OP's options, which includes charter middle schools.

We are talking about DCPS schools, especially those on the short lists and then posters mentioned the middle school feeds to these schools.

BTW your chances of getting into Basis or Latin decreases every year as more families come up the chain needing middle schools. Forget about DCI if you are not in a feeder.

Middle school seats are the most competitive in the city. If you think elementary was bad, you’ve seen nothing yet.

[Anonymous]

DCI French has already let in 30 kids and waitlisted 130, so that's nearly 20% chance of getting in right off the bat. Only 5 were siblings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, hon. You are *much* more in control of this than you think. You *can* stay in your home, if you are willing to open your mind to more schools. It's a choice that you are making. Lots of people attend schools like Langley, Seaton, Burroughs, Miner, etc., and they like it! If that's not what you want, fine. But it's a thing that lots of real people are doing all over the city. You're choosing not to be open-minded and do what you need to do to make a lower-performing school work for your family. But it's a choice. And you'll feel less in despair about this if you recognize that it is a choice.

Oh please. It’s a choice that is no longer tenable in MS.

Lots of people stay for MS. And since OP's child is entering 1st, OP has lots of time to ponder her strategy and figure something out. Right now, she is *choosing* to be unhappy with schools that other people find acceptable. That's her choice, but it's a choice. The self-pity is not necessary.

No the overwhelming majority of middle class families going to the schools above are not staying in the upper grades much less tracking to the middle schools that they feed into.

OP’s standards are higher than families who choose to stay in schools above. At least you have that part right.

Right, most are not but some are. And the total of high-SES people who are staying *in DC but not at Deal/Hardy* for middle school is pretty high. I would consider switching to any EOTP middle school, DCPS or charter, to be "staying" even if it isn't the feeder.

And yes it's a choice. There's no need to act so powerless. Look, I'd love to have a nice big yard like country folk do, and I can't have that on the Hill. Am I powerless? No, I'm choosing to live on the Hill.

BS. The total percentage of high SES families going to middle schools besides Deal/Hardy is NOT high,

I don’t know what kool aid you are drinking.

I'm not sure about percentages, but to say there aren't a bunch of high-SES families if you add up Stuart-Hobson, Eliot-Hine and Jefferson, BASIS, Latin, Latin, Inspired Teaching, and let's not forget DCI, plus miscellaneous others at smaller schools, it's a lot of people in total.

We are talking DCPS middle schools. Try to stay on topic here.

No, we are not. We're talking about OP's options, which includes charter middle schools.

We are talking about DCPS schools, especially those on the short lists and then posters mentioned the middle school feeds to these schools.

BTW your chances of getting into Basis or Latin decreases every year as more families come up the chain needing middle schools. Forget about DCI if you are not in a feeder.

Middle school seats are the most competitive in the city. If you think elementary was bad, you’ve seen nothing yet.

OP has been saying this whole time she would love to get into Inspired Teaching. And if you will actually look at the data, you will see that the acceptance rate for 5th graders *in the initial lottery* is over 50%. For non-siblings it's still over 45%. Then chances are pretty good for 6th as well. Last year ITS cleared, or nearly cleared, its 5th grade waitlist, and came close for 6th. So calm down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCI French has already let in 30 kids and waitlisted 130, so that's nearly 20% chance of getting in right off the bat. Only 5 were siblings.

So then you are down to 19%. Stokes has expanded so that number will be down to single digit percentages if that as more feeder kids go on.

Also you used to have kids not track to DCI but every year DCI gets more and more buY in and thise numbers are significantly down.

By the time OP applies to middle schools, she won’t have a chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCI French has already let in 30 kids and waitlisted 130, so that's nearly 20% chance of getting in right off the bat. Only 5 were siblings.

So then you are down to 19%. Stokes has expanded so that number will be down to single digit percentages if that as more feeder kids go on.

Also you used to have kids not track to DCI but every year DCI gets more and more buY in and thise numbers are significantly down.

By the time OP applies to middle schools, she won’t have a chance.

Aren't people always saying with no cite that DCI will replicate, though?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, hon. You are *much* more in control of this than you think. You *can* stay in your home, if you are willing to open your mind to more schools. It's a choice that you are making. Lots of people attend schools like Langley, Seaton, Burroughs, Miner, etc., and they like it! If that's not what you want, fine. But it's a thing that lots of real people are doing all over the city. You're choosing not to be open-minded and do what you need to do to make a lower-performing school work for your family. But it's a choice. And you'll feel less in despair about this if you recognize that it is a choice.

Oh please. It’s a choice that is no longer tenable in MS.

Lots of people stay for MS. And since OP's child is entering 1st, OP has lots of time to ponder her strategy and figure something out. Right now, she is *choosing* to be unhappy with schools that other people find acceptable. That's her choice, but it's a choice. The self-pity is not necessary.

No the overwhelming majority of middle class families going to the schools above are not staying in the upper grades much less tracking to the middle schools that they feed into.

OP’s standards are higher than families who choose to stay in schools above. At least you have that part right.

Right, most are not but some are. And the total of high-SES people who are staying *in DC but not at Deal/Hardy* for middle school is pretty high. I would consider switching to any EOTP middle school, DCPS or charter, to be "staying" even if it isn't the feeder.

And yes it's a choice. There's no need to act so powerless. Look, I'd love to have a nice big yard like country folk do, and I can't have that on the Hill. Am I powerless? No, I'm choosing to live on the Hill.

BS. The total percentage of high SES families going to middle schools besides Deal/Hardy is NOT high,

I don’t know what kool aid you are drinking.

I'm not sure about percentages, but to say there aren't a bunch of high-SES families if you add up Stuart-Hobson, Eliot-Hine and Jefferson, BASIS, Latin, Latin, Inspired Teaching, and let's not forget DCI, plus miscellaneous others at smaller schools, it's a lot of people in total.

We are talking DCPS middle schools. Try to stay on topic here.

No, we are not. We're talking about OP's options, which includes charter middle schools.

We are talking about DCPS schools, especially those on the short lists and then posters mentioned the middle school feeds to these schools.

BTW your chances of getting into Basis or Latin decreases every year as more families come up the chain needing middle schools. Forget about DCI if you are not in a feeder.

Middle school seats are the most competitive in the city. If you think elementary was bad, you’ve seen nothing yet.

OP has been saying this whole time she would love to get into Inspired Teaching. And if you will actually look at the data, you will see that the acceptance rate for 5th graders *in the initial lottery* is over 50%. For non-siblings it's still over 45%. Then chances are pretty good for 6th as well. Last year ITS cleared, or nearly cleared, its 5th grade waitlist, and came close for 6th. So calm down.

OP doesn’t need middle school for a few years and it will be much more competitive as ITS gets more interest downstream from families shut out of the other charters.

Frankly, I would just move now OP to solid pyramid so you get a good elementary and middle school. I’ve looked at ITS middle and crossed it off the list. There is a reason why many ITS families don’t send their kid to the middle school there. Nevertheless with supply and demand, it will get harder to get into ITS for middle school like I said as more families are shut out of everything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, lots of people were thrilled when they got into Mundo Verde and Two Rivers too. And look how that turned out. Did they get a better deal than you? I doubt it.

+100. We got into a charter school that we thought was going to be amazing, and the reality has been very different.

We experienced the same at a charter that everyone seems to love. My kids 2nd grade was a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCI French has already let in 30 kids and waitlisted 130, so that's nearly 20% chance of getting in right off the bat. Only 5 were siblings.

So then you are down to 19%. Stokes has expanded so that number will be down to single digit percentages if that as more feeder kids go on.

Also you used to have kids not track to DCI but every year DCI gets more and more buY in and thise numbers are significantly down.

By the time OP applies to middle schools, she won’t have a chance.

Aren't people always saying with no cite that DCI will replicate, though?

You can’t count on ifs and even if they do, the seats will go to the feeder kids first and foremost.

The issue is room. DCI would need to find a new building to expand which can be very challenging especially in NW and that area.