Is H-B Woodlawn really a lottery?

[Anonymous]

Everyone knows that HB uses the lottery system, but for many years I've noticed only a certain type of kid gets admitted. I have 3 kids, all of whom attended local public elementary schools. For each of their 6th grade entry years, we applied them. However, the closest any of my kids has gotten is 7th on the waitlist. I also applied them all periodically in other years, just to take the shot. None of my smart, well-rounded kids ever get in. But the kids who went to HB out of our local elementary school (and subsequent MS) all share similar characteristics: artsy, theatre kid type, not necessarily mainstream, an older sibling also goes, etc. Interestingly enough, HB has a strong theatre program but no sports. Many of our neighborhood friends and their kids also apply and notice the same pattern. Why could this be? Is HB a true lottery?

[Anonymous]

Oh for the love of Pete, this again?

Just because the kids you know are artsy, you think there is some giant secret conspiracy in APS to carefully examine each 6th grader who applies and only let in the ones that are deemed to be artsy or theatery enough?

Well, congrats, you figured it out. There in fact IS a giant conspiracy against well rounded sporty smart kids like yours.

[Anonymous]

Nope.

The reason the kids seem artsy is that in Arlington the wealthy families aren’t all pre-professional tiger parents, so their kids have the luxury to imagine a career in a creative field.

It’s not the student being selected; it’s the parents

[Anonymous]

I think I've seen this thread before!

Was it last year?

The year before?

"I didn't win, it's rigged."

242 replies incoming

[Anonymous]

"This is the worst kind of conspiracy! The one against me!"

[Anonymous]

More artsy type kids apply so more get in. FWIW I work at an elementary school and the kids who got in from our school last year did not seem like “HB” kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More artsy type kids apply so more get in. FWIW I work at an elementary school and the kids who got in from our school last year did not seem like “HB” kids

The 3 kids that went from our elementary school last year were also not "artsy" either. I know one that was high on the waitlist who was "artsy" who tried to get those 3 to bow out so she could take their spot, lol

[Anonymous]

It’s a real lottery. I had one kid get in and another kid repeatedly drew a terrible lottery number. Turns out the local school is also good so it’s fine.

[Anonymous]

It’s a real lottery, but I know for a fact that there have been a couple kids over the years who have been accepted due to special circumstances where it was handled more like a transfer than acceptance. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a real lottery. I had one kid get in and another kid repeatedly drew a terrible lottery number. Turns out the local school is also good so it’s fine.

What about when every kid from one family gets it? Seems unlikely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a real lottery. I had one kid get in and another kid repeatedly drew a terrible lottery number. Turns out the local school is also good so it’s fine.

What about when every kid from one family gets it? Seems unlikely.

What about the majority of families with only one kid at HB?

[Anonymous]

There seem to be an excessive amount of kids from my neighborhood who got in. None are artsy. Most play one or two sports at their home high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a real lottery. I had one kid get in and another kid repeatedly drew a terrible lottery number. Turns out the local school is also good so it’s fine.

What about when every kid from one family gets it? Seems unlikely.

Families who have one kid there are more likely to apply for the subsequent kids. I know a family who won the lottery twice, but they’re from the South Arlington school. We’re not a ton of kids supply and their kids are quite far apart in age. I don’t think there’s anything nefarious about it. Over the years I’ve entered a lot of lottery and have been offered spots at three different schools (only took one obviously) not an Hb family for what it’s worth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a real lottery. I had one kid get in and another kid repeatedly drew a terrible lottery number. Turns out the local school is also good so it’s fine.

What about when every kid from one family gets it? Seems unlikely.

Families who have one kid there are more likely to apply for the subsequent kids. I know a family who won the lottery twice, but they’re from the South Arlington school. We’re not a ton of kids supply and their kids are quite far apart in age. I don’t think there’s anything nefarious about it. Over the years I’ve entered a lot of lottery and have been offered spots at three different schools (only took one obviously) not an Hb family for what it’s worth

*where not a ton of kids apply, guess I shouldn’t use speech to text

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More artsy type kids apply so more get in. FWIW I work at an elementary school and the kids who got in from our school last year did not seem like “HB” kids

The 3 kids that went from our elementary school last year were also not "artsy" either. I know one that was high on the waitlist who was "artsy" who tried to get those 3 to bow out so she could take their spot, lol

Including my kid, the three that got in from our school that year were not at all artsy. My kid is neither artsy nor sporty. The next year had 2 extremely sporty kids and one artsy one. The middle school elective offerings skew artistic, which are likely a big draw, and the lack of sports teams is a detractor for many. The self (family)-selection aspect is real.

Sorry that none of OP's "smart, well-rounded kids" didn't get in. If they had, she would surely be here defending their lottery win as completely fair – especially if they all got in.

This happens every damn year. It's not a magnet school. It's a lottery school.