Confirm my lottery understanding is accurate

[Anonymous]

Can someone experienced just confirm all my assumptions and understanding of how the lottery works are accurate and I am not missing anything?

Rising PK3-er. We live in bounds for a school that is an "early action" school for PK3 (Langley). Am I correct in understanding that as long as we rank Langley somewhere on our list, we will get a spot at Langley as long as we don't get a spot somewhere higher on our list? We can rank Langley as low as we want, it doesn't have to be in a certain position higher on our list? AKA we can rank truly based on real preference?

My other question is this-- by Kinder, I can choose to send my kid to our inbounds school at any point regardless of lottery correct? So for example, we could lottery into a school we like for PK3/PK4 but we could, if we wanted, still send him to our inbounds for Kinder (or 1st), without needing to "win" the lottery, because it is our inbounds? There are options we are considering because they feel right for him for preschool (namely, Montessori charters that offer 1pm pickup.) He currently only goes to school til 1pm only and only 3 days per week. The kid still comes home and naps for 3 full hours or more. He will still be 2 years old when he begins PK3 as he has a late Sept bday. So considering one of the montessoris that offer 1pm pickup for pk3 and pk4 and then moving to our inbounds later so he can be with other kids from our neighborhood.

Are any of my understandings of this process incorrect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone experienced just confirm all my assumptions and understanding of how the lottery works are accurate and I am not missing anything?

Rising PK3-er. We live in bounds for a school that is an "early action" school for PK3 (Langley). Am I correct in understanding that as long as we rank Langley somewhere on our list, we will get a spot at Langley as long as we don't get a spot somewhere higher on our list? We can rank Langley as low as we want, it doesn't have to be in a certain position higher on our list? AKA we can rank truly based on real preference?

My other question is this-- by Kinder, I can choose to send my kid to our inbounds school at any point regardless of lottery correct? So for example, we could lottery into a school we like for PK3/PK4 but we could, if we wanted, still send him to our inbounds for Kinder (or 1st), without needing to "win" the lottery, because it is our inbounds? There are options we are considering because they feel right for him for preschool (namely, Montessori charters that offer 1pm pickup.) He currently only goes to school til 1pm only and only 3 days per week. The kid still comes home and naps for 3 full hours or more. He will still be 2 years old when he begins PK3 as he has a late Sept bday. So considering one of the montessoris that offer 1pm pickup for pk3 and pk4 and then moving to our inbounds later so he can be with other kids from our neighborhood.

Are any of my understandings of this process incorrect?

- If you are inbounds for an Early Action school, you are guaranteed a PK spot, as long as you have it on your list (at any rank) and don't match somewhere else that you ranked above it. The only caveat is that you won't stay on any waitlisted schools ranked below it. So yes, true preference. No need to game it. https://www.myschooldc.org/apply/applying-to-PK

- Once your child reaches K, they have the right to go your in-bound school at any time. You could theoretically switch midyear if you wanted to.

[Anonymous]

Awesome, thank you so much for confirming!

[Anonymous]

Hello neighbor! Yes, your understanding of both questions is correct. You can rank Langley lowest and still have the Early Action if you don't match with anything you ranked higher. You do not need to lottery at all to attend your inbounds starting in K. You just fill out the enrollment paper and you have the right to enroll at your inbound at any time of year.

I do know that Langley will work with you on early pickups for the littlest kids. And if you review the DCPS schedule you will see that there are various half days and off days. I hope that provides some comfort should you not match with a Montessori.

The one thing you cannot do is come to your inbound seeking a PK3 or PK4 spot after you've matched somewhere else. The Early Action rule no longer applies once you've matched (not enrolled, *matched*) elsewhere. So if you should, for example, enroll at Shining Stars and then decide it's a hot disorganized mess that's failing financially and has atrocious test scores, you wouldn't be entitled to a spot at Langley just because you're in-bounds. You'd have to join the post-lottery wait-list where you would get an in-boundary preference, but it isn't a guarantee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello neighbor! Yes, your understanding of both questions is correct. You can rank Langley lowest and still have the Early Action if you don't match with anything you ranked higher. You do not need to lottery at all to attend your inbounds starting in K. You just fill out the enrollment paper and you have the right to enroll at your inbound at any time of year.

I do know that Langley will work with you on early pickups for the littlest kids. And if you review the DCPS schedule you will see that there are various half days and off days. I hope that provides some comfort should you not match with a Montessori.

The one thing you cannot do is come to your inbound seeking a PK3 or PK4 spot after you've matched somewhere else. The Early Action rule no longer applies once you've matched (not enrolled, *matched*) elsewhere. So if you should, for example, enroll at Shining Stars and then decide it's a hot disorganized mess that's failing financially and has atrocious test scores, you wouldn't be entitled to a spot at Langley just because you're in-bounds. You'd have to join the post-lottery wait-list where you would get an in-boundary preference, but it isn't a guarantee.

Thanks neighbor! I do understand that aspect, once we match elsewhere we are no longer entitled to a spot for PK3 or 4 (unless we lottery again PK4). And sounds like you have some *thoughts* about Shining Stars. lol. It isn't on our list. Lee Brookland is where we are considering.

[Anonymous]

I know it does not seem like a lot of time between now and next school year, but kids grow and develop very quickly. I also have a late September kid and he did full day prek3 (plus after care). I was really worried about the nap but it was fine. He went to sleep so easily at night too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it does not seem like a lot of time between now and next school year, but kids grow and develop very quickly. I also have a late September kid and he did full day prek3 (plus after care). I was really worried about the nap but it was fine. He went to sleep so easily at night too!

Yes, I definitely hear you and know this is true! We are not 100% on trying to get him into a 1pm dismissal school. It is just something that is on our radar as a possibility as we consider our ranking list. But you are for sure correct, in all likelihood he will be completely fine going to school all day. Heck, literally like 3 weeks ago I was concerned about whether he would even be potty trained by august. This week he is basically trained. Things move fast with toddlers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello neighbor! Yes, your understanding of both questions is correct. You can rank Langley lowest and still have the Early Action if you don't match with anything you ranked higher. You do not need to lottery at all to attend your inbounds starting in K. You just fill out the enrollment paper and you have the right to enroll at your inbound at any time of year.

I do know that Langley will work with you on early pickups for the littlest kids. And if you review the DCPS schedule you will see that there are various half days and off days. I hope that provides some comfort should you not match with a Montessori.

The one thing you cannot do is come to your inbound seeking a PK3 or PK4 spot after you've matched somewhere else. The Early Action rule no longer applies once you've matched (not enrolled, *matched*) elsewhere. So if you should, for example, enroll at Shining Stars and then decide it's a hot disorganized mess that's failing financially and has atrocious test scores, you wouldn't be entitled to a spot at Langley just because you're in-bounds. You'd have to join the post-lottery wait-list where you would get an in-boundary preference, but it isn't a guarantee.

Thanks neighbor! I do understand that aspect, once we match elsewhere we are no longer entitled to a spot for PK3 or 4 (unless we lottery again PK4). And sounds like you have some *thoughts* about Shining Stars. lol. It isn't on our list. Lee Brookland is where we are considering.

Oh good. Lee is a good school. But you'd be lucky to get in, and hope is not a plan! It's really nice to have Early Action and room for all PK3s-- many neighborhoods are not so lucky.

[Anonymous]

I would advise against a Montessori school for PK3 and PK4 if you wouldn't want to be there for kindergarten and care about academics. That third year ties a lot of threads together from the earlier years.

[Anonymous]

Agree that staying in Montessori for kindergarden is really where you see the whole cycle tie together, especially for reading.

Also, we did early pick up for a September bday kid in PK3. We stopped after a few months because we realized she wasn't getting any of the social aspects of school. She did all the independent work in the morning, and then got picked up before lunch or recess. Our pick up was at 11:30, not 1, so maybe that's not an issue for you, but something to consider. It is nice that some schools have these options though, and you can stop them when you feel ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would advise against a Montessori school for PK3 and PK4 if you wouldn't want to be there for kindergarten and care about academics. That third year ties a lot of threads together from the earlier years.

Helpful to know, thank you! We would definitely be fine with not moving him until 1st, or whatever timing seems the best. He is in Montessori now and it seems like a model that is working well for him. Im just not sure about the things I read post-lower elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree that staying in Montessori for kindergarden is really where you see the whole cycle tie together, especially for reading.

Also, we did early pick up for a September bday kid in PK3. We stopped after a few months because we realized she wasn't getting any of the social aspects of school. She did all the independent work in the morning, and then got picked up before lunch or recess. Our pick up was at 11:30, not 1, so maybe that's not an issue for you, but something to consider. It is nice that some schools have these options though, and you can stop them when you feel ready.

Thank you for your perspective on early pickup, it is helpful! Definitely will consider.

[Anonymous]

Don't have anything to add, but also have a rising PreK3 in-bound Langley (late September birthday as well!) - this is super helpful! We are likely going to do the same - rank a couple schools in the area (Inspired, maybe Cleveland) above Langley.

If you're not attending the mixer tomorrow (Thurs 2/6) at Shaw Tavern at 8pm, check out the Bloomingdale Parents FB page.

[Anonymous]

You can still pick up your kid at 1pm from any school if you want.
School is only mandatory starting in kindergarten.