Pk3.. Is there a point to try and lottery into "better" DCPS's from OOB?

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

Was checking out the PowerBI site for lottery results.. and most, if not all of the PK3's at the more popular schools, have been flush with inboundary and sibling preference apps for years.. as in most if not all in-demand Cap Hill ele's, any Ward 3, Ludlow etc.

Do most parents from oob either just attend their inbound at pk3, or try and start at a charter (is there a lottery data site for DC charters)? Is there a point to even list any other school(s) of interest on the lottery app?

[Anonymous]

That site doesn't show waitlist movement. Try here: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That site doesn't show waitlist movement. Try here: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Tell us what kind of schools you're interested in and we can be very helpful to you.

[Anonymous]

Of course there's a point--luck could tilt your way and you could get a spot. The lottery is free and gives you the option of ranking 12 schools...if there are 12 you like, why wouldn't you? Just rank in order of preference, and if you need a seat be sure to include some schools where your odds of getting in are excellent. You can re-rank after the lottery is drawn and add as many schools post-lottery as you like as well.

[Anonymous]

PK is very competitive. In Capitol Hill, your best chance at a spot is probably your IB PK or a somewhat less competitive charter, like AppleTree. But you should go ahead and include some longshots you're interested in too; you never know.

If you really want immersion, it's worth trying for a spot now. But for OOB DCPS, kindergarten is often an easier entry year.

Commute time is also an important factor. Really think about the difference a 5 min, 10 min, or 25 min commute would make for your family.

[Anonymous]

for preK3 pretty much yes its mostly IB, citywide, charters. going nearby for preK is nice and if you want go oob the lottery spots open up starting in K

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell us what kind of schools you're interested in and we can be very helpful to you.

Appreciate that! We havent made a definitive list yet, but were initially looking at schools like Ludlow, Garrison, Peabody, Francis, Hyde-Addison, essentially, any of the better rated PK3's. Looking at the data, lotterying in at PK3 seems fairly tough most places. Inbound for Oyster but there is no PK3 and it it appears that it isnt a real option for PK4 either unless its spanish dominant.

Any suggestions for neighborhood ECE's that may potentially be lotteryable? Also open to Charter recommendations, but havent researched much beyond YuYing.

[Anonymous]

Oh, are you the mom from the previous thread? If you are going to send your kid to oyster as soon as they get in, don't worry so much about pk. Decide if you want to prioritize Spanish immersion over commute or other things to better position your kid for success at oyster. If so, also look at the bilingual community based options, which are not in the lottery. If commute is more important than Spanish, consider apple tree Columbia heights...I think you would like the curriculum and the focus on prek. Military road would be another option...it is dcps but no boundaries, so your odds are as good as anyone's and families I know who went there were pleased to spend a few years at a school completely focused on the 3-5 year old crowd.

[Anonymous]

That would be a separate thread, but I will check it for insights. Dad here, learning and sorting through the various options. Much appreciate the writeup!

[Anonymous]

You may not be able to get a spot for pk 3 but I would also consider HD Cooke since it is nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us what kind of schools you're interested in and we can be very helpful to you.

Appreciate that! We havent made a definitive list yet, but were initially looking at schools like Ludlow, Garrison, Peabody, Francis, Hyde-Addison, essentially, any of the better rated PK3's. Looking at the data, lotterying in at PK3 seems fairly tough most places. Inbound for Oyster but there is no PK3 and it it appears that it isnt a real option for PK4 either unless its spanish dominant.

Any suggestions for neighborhood ECE's that may potentially be lotteryable? Also open to Charter recommendations, but havent researched much beyond YuYing.

Have you considered any of the CBOs? Basically still free PK but through an outside provider. Many around you are Spanish immersion. https://www.myschooldc.org/find-schools/school-options-outside-my-school-dc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all,

Was checking out the PowerBI site for lottery results.. and most, if not all of the PK3's at the more popular schools, have been flush with inboundary and sibling preference apps for years.. as in most if not all in-demand Cap Hill ele's, any Ward 3, Ludlow etc.

Do most parents from oob either just attend their inbound at pk3, or try and start at a charter (is there a lottery data site for DC charters)? Is there a point to even list any other school(s) of interest on the lottery app?

Longtime parent -- no, I dont think so. But there are always spots in K, and PK is good at all the DCPS schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You may not be able to get a spot for pk 3 but I would also consider HD Cooke since it is nearby.

This! Cooke will be full of Oyster kids in prek. Nice way to start making neighborhood friends.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t bother. For example, getting into Maury as an OOB PK3er is a mathematical impossibility so I left it off my list despite living nearby. For PK3 I just put a few charters where the competition was more wide open (although you look at even some of those like Stokes Brookland and realize more than half of their seats for PK3 historically go to kids with preference) and contented myself with my IB PK3, which is fortunately Early Action. Now, though, one of my kids is going into K and I will be listing a full 12 schools including some safeties, with much better odds generally.