Waitlists not moving at all in August

[Anonymous]

We are on a number of waitlists for a broad variety of schools (DCPS and charter, Title 1 and not, well known dcum favorites and schools I never see or hear mentioned here or elsewhere). This is for middle elementary when I was told that there's way more movement as fewer families actually want to change schools at this point.

We are within spitting distance of an offer at a few schools and expected to see some movement in August. But not one of those waitlists have moved. At all. Not even in the wrong direction (say with siblings jumping the line thanks to a kid getting an offer in another grade).

It's just not what I was expecting. I didn't necessarily think we'd have an offer by now but I'm surprised to see that our numbers haven't moved at all. I guess maybe things don't move until after school starts. I'm particularly surprised by a couple schools that have historically cleared their waitlists and we have sub-5 numbers to just see them standing pat.

Any insight is welcome. Are others seeing the same thing. I know PK is of course different. But we'd been reassured by many (IRL and online) that if we cast a wide net and were open to waiting until the last minute we'd for sure get something and at least as of today with less than a week before school starting that is not the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are on a number of waitlists for a broad variety of schools (DCPS and charter, Title 1 and not, well known dcum favorites and schools I never see or hear mentioned here or elsewhere). This is for middle elementary when I was told that there's way more movement as fewer families actually want to change schools at this point.

We are within spitting distance of an offer at a few schools and expected to see some movement in August. But not one of those waitlists have moved. At all. Not even in the wrong direction (say with siblings jumping the line thanks to a kid getting an offer in another grade).

It's just not what I was expecting. I didn't necessarily think we'd have an offer by now but I'm surprised to see that our numbers haven't moved at all. I guess maybe things don't move until after school starts. I'm particularly surprised by a couple schools that have historically cleared their waitlists and we have sub-5 numbers to just see them standing pat.

Any insight is welcome. Are others seeing the same thing. I know PK is of course different. But we'd been reassured by many (IRL and online) that if we cast a wide net and were open to waiting until the last minute we'd for sure get something and at least as of today with less than a week before school starting that is not the case.

It has been several years, but my experience with the kind of waitlists you're talking about was that they don't move until either right before or after school starts. My kiddo transferred to Eaton for 4th grade, but she didn't get offered the spot until after school had already started. If I remember correctly, it was after Labor Day. If the lists have not moved at all, my guess is that the class sizes are stable and they're not pulling anyone else of the waitlist until after school starts.

Good luck. It's such a frustrating process.

[Anonymous]

My waitlists for 6th grade are also really stalled out. I think there's less churn in the school system generally now, compared to how it was pre-covid. People are less enamored of trading up unless they think it'll be significantly better.

A few things to know-- when you get close to getting an offer, things tend to move really slowly. What you experience when you're at the back end of a waitlist is due to people leaving the list, it's not real offers.

DCPS hasn't started yet, and DCPS schools tend to see who shows up on the first day, call any no-shows that they were expecting to have, and only then decide to make some offers. It's after that point that things start to move. So I think by the end of next week you might see some results.

I'm also not sure when ASPEN rolls over (if that's even a thing anymore), but in the few days when the enrollment system is offline to refresh for the year, schools can't see data of who's enrolled elsewhere, so they tend not to make offers.

[Anonymous]

Aspen reopened from the rollover yesterday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My waitlists for 6th grade are also really stalled out. I think there's less churn in the school system generally now, compared to how it was pre-covid. People are less enamored of trading up unless they think it'll be significantly better.

A few things to know-- when you get close to getting an offer, things tend to move really slowly. What you experience when you're at the back end of a waitlist is due to people leaving the list, it's not real offers.

DCPS hasn't started yet, and DCPS schools tend to see who shows up on the first day, call any no-shows that they were expecting to have, and only then decide to make some offers. It's after that point that things start to move. So I think by the end of next week you might see some results.

I'm also not sure when ASPEN rolls over (if that's even a thing anymore), but in the few days when the enrollment system is offline to refresh for the year, schools can't see data of who's enrolled elsewhere, so they tend not to make offers.

This is helpful to know thank you.

We are #3 on a waitlist for a school that has never NOT cleared it's waitlist for 3rd grade and we would take a spot if offered so it's really frustrating to sit in limbo and have to prepare to start at a different school wondering if we are going to get that offer this week or next week or potentially not until September. I hate putting my kid in this situation too.

[Anonymous]

We got a call for a 5th grade slot at Shepherd in September a couple years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aspen reopened from the rollover yesterday

Oh, then they're probably assessing and starting to make offers, and in a few days OP may see some movement.

[Anonymous]

My experience is that August calls are few and far between. Your chances of getting a spot are much higher in the first two weeks of September. Some people moved but didn't tell the school. Some kids won't be the right fit for this school or that school and won't know it until after the first few days.

That said, don't count on anything. But know which schools you'll move for and which you won't.

[Anonymous]

Ugh another day of no progress!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh another day of no progress!

Same here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My waitlists for 6th grade are also really stalled out. I think there's less churn in the school system generally now, compared to how it was pre-covid. People are less enamored of trading up unless they think it'll be significantly better.

A few things to know-- when you get close to getting an offer, things tend to move really slowly. What you experience when you're at the back end of a waitlist is due to people leaving the list, it's not real offers.

DCPS hasn't started yet, and DCPS schools tend to see who shows up on the first day, call any no-shows that they were expecting to have, and only then decide to make some offers. It's after that point that things start to move. So I think by the end of next week you might see some results.

I'm also not sure when ASPEN rolls over (if that's even a thing anymore), but in the few days when the enrollment system is offline to refresh for the year, schools can't see data of who's enrolled elsewhere, so they tend not to make offers.

This is helpful to know thank you.

We are #3 on a waitlist for a school that has never NOT cleared it's waitlist for 3rd grade and we would take a spot if offered so it's really frustrating to sit in limbo and have to prepare to start at a different school wondering if we are going to get that offer this week or next week or potentially not until September. I hate putting my kid in this situation too.

FWIW my kid and several others I know roll with the change in September if the right seat becomes available. Not ideal, but if you try to minimize the frustration your kid will likely roll with it ok. We had a day of anxiety that was quickly assuaged once she started the new place. good luck!

[Anonymous]

there is a post-first day ripple effect that charters can't control for in August -- many won't know until after DCPS starts next week how many of their enrolled students may be moving/accepting a spot at a DCPS. It's hard to plan for as a parent, but it's not something done with malintent. Every school wants as many seats filled as quickly as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there is a post-first day ripple effect that charters can't control for in August -- many won't know until after DCPS starts next week how many of their enrolled students may be moving/accepting a spot at a DCPS. It's hard to plan for as a parent, but it's not something done with malintent. Every school wants as many seats filled as quickly as possible.

Yes. And DCPS doesn't know until the first day of school how many by-right students they will be serving. Just hang in there, this stuff is more stressful for adults than kids sometimes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh another day of no progress!

Same here.

Think about what would need to happen to make a change.
A child who was enrolled yesterday informed the school that they would not be enrolling.

The situations where this would happen would be:
someone enrolled in EL Haynes (the only school I know that opened this week)
someone enrolled in a school that had spaces (I believe Cap City has PreK3 spaces if anyone is looking)
some parent finally got around after previously enrolling their child - to unenroll their child (Move or private school)

Next week when kids do not show up in spaces they enrolled in is when lists will move.

[Anonymous]

At least you are not enrolled in Eagle Academy and looking for a place