APS Lottery

[Anonymous]

We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I have a son entering Kindergarten in August. I applied for the lottery because Arlington Traditional was my first choice. I had to apply to both ATS and Campbell because I do not want my son to go to Carlin Springs where we live. I did not realize that the lottery was this hard. We are spot #114 for ATS and #13 for Campbell. Any chance that he may get into Campbell?

I really wish I could have found somewhere in the Arlington Science Focus boundary but I had to move quickly due to a divorce so now I'm really worried. Worse come to worse are there any diverse private schools that parents recommend?

Thank you!

As far as I know all of the independent schools had application deadlines in January. I would be surprised if parochial school was even an option at this point. If you want to try for private in first grade, pay attn to the fall admissions events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

I don't but this surprises me. I could have sworn in past years people claimed all Spanish speakers were accepted and there was no wait list. Last year the number of Claremont Kindergarten classes was reduced from 6 to 4 supposedly to better align with demand, i.e. there wasn't enough demand to support continuing to have 6. Also, I think Key was moved to a smaller building this past year. However, if there are wait lists, especially for Spanish speakers...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

I don't but this surprises me. I could have sworn in past years people claimed all Spanish speakers were accepted and there was no wait list. Last year the number of Claremont Kindergarten classes was reduced from 6 to 4 supposedly to better align with demand, i.e. there wasn't enough demand to support continuing to have 6. Also, I think Key was moved to a smaller building this past year. However, if there are wait lists, especially for Spanish speakers...

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

Last year by June there was 1 Spanish speaker on the waitlist for Claremont and 6 Spanish speakers on the list for Key, even with the number of classes reduced to 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

I don't but this surprises me. I could have sworn in past years people claimed all Spanish speakers were accepted and there was no wait list. Last year the number of Claremont Kindergarten classes was reduced from 6 to 4 supposedly to better align with demand, i.e. there wasn't enough demand to support continuing to have 6. Also, I think Key was moved to a smaller building this past year. However, if there are wait lists, especially for Spanish speakers...

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

Last year by June there was 1 Spanish speaker on the waitlist for Claremont and 6 Spanish speakers on the list for Key, even with the number of classes reduced to 4.

Thank you for sharing the data! Interesting that PP is a Spanish speaker and #27 on this year's Key waitlist. That would be enough Spanish speaking kids for two classes. IMO that's a big change from last year!

For anyone interested in last year's non-Spanish speaking waitlist, there were 22 non-Spanish speakers on the Claremont waitlist and 36 non-Spanish speakers on the Key waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

I don't but this surprises me. I could have sworn in past years people claimed all Spanish speakers were accepted and there was no wait list. Last year the number of Claremont Kindergarten classes was reduced from 6 to 4 supposedly to better align with demand, i.e. there wasn't enough demand to support continuing to have 6. Also, I think Key was moved to a smaller building this past year. However, if there are wait lists, especially for Spanish speakers...

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

Last year by June there was 1 Spanish speaker on the waitlist for Claremont and 6 Spanish speakers on the list for Key, even with the number of classes reduced to 4.

I already replied to you but just realized something else about the data. The waitlist numbers alone may be paint a complete picture of demand. The numbers on the wait list PLUS the number admitted are LESS than the total number who applied. I'm open to other suggestions here but the only explanation I can think of is that some Spanish speaking kids were offered spots at other option schools and took that withOUT being offered a spot at an immersion school. That doesn't mean they didn't want immersion, they may not have had the choice. Am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

In the past, everyone got off the waitlist at Key. But since they moved us to a smaller building, we only have 4 K classes rather than 6. As for Claremont, my understanding is that they reduced the number of K classes not due to lack of demand, but due to overcrowding. I don’t know for sure, though.
All that said, I think PP’s kid is still likely to get a spot at Key as a Spanish speaker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

I don't but this surprises me. I could have sworn in past years people claimed all Spanish speakers were accepted and there was no wait list. Last year the number of Claremont Kindergarten classes was reduced from 6 to 4 supposedly to better align with demand, i.e. there wasn't enough demand to support continuing to have 6. Also, I think Key was moved to a smaller building this past year. However, if there are wait lists, especially for Spanish speakers...

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

Last year by June there was 1 Spanish speaker on the waitlist for Claremont and 6 Spanish speakers on the list for Key, even with the number of classes reduced to 4.

Thank you for sharing the data! Interesting that PP is a Spanish speaker and #27 on this year's Key waitlist. That would be enough Spanish speaking kids for two classes. IMO that's a big change from last year!

For anyone interested in last year's non-Spanish speaking waitlist, there were 22 non-Spanish speakers on the Claremont waitlist and 36 non-Spanish speakers on the Key waitlist.

Sorry, this may be a dumb question, but why are Spanish speakers given preference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

I don't but this surprises me. I could have sworn in past years people claimed all Spanish speakers were accepted and there was no wait list. Last year the number of Claremont Kindergarten classes was reduced from 6 to 4 supposedly to better align with demand, i.e. there wasn't enough demand to support continuing to have 6. Also, I think Key was moved to a smaller building this past year. However, if there are wait lists, especially for Spanish speakers...

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

Last year by June there was 1 Spanish speaker on the waitlist for Claremont and 6 Spanish speakers on the list for Key, even with the number of classes reduced to 4.

Thank you for sharing the data! Interesting that PP is a Spanish speaker and #27 on this year's Key waitlist. That would be enough Spanish speaking kids for two classes. IMO that's a big change from last year!

For anyone interested in last year's non-Spanish speaking waitlist, there were 22 non-Spanish speakers on the Claremont waitlist and 36 non-Spanish speakers on the Key waitlist.

Sorry, this may be a dumb question, but why are Spanish speakers given preference?

They aren’t but they have a separate lottery and historically all or most Spanish speakers were admitted since there was less demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

I don't but this surprises me. I could have sworn in past years people claimed all Spanish speakers were accepted and there was no wait list. Last year the number of Claremont Kindergarten classes was reduced from 6 to 4 supposedly to better align with demand, i.e. there wasn't enough demand to support continuing to have 6. Also, I think Key was moved to a smaller building this past year. However, if there are wait lists, especially for Spanish speakers...

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

Last year by June there was 1 Spanish speaker on the waitlist for Claremont and 6 Spanish speakers on the list for Key, even with the number of classes reduced to 4.

I already replied to you but just realized something else about the data. The waitlist numbers alone may be paint a complete picture of demand. The numbers on the wait list PLUS the number admitted are LESS than the total number who applied. I'm open to other suggestions here but the only explanation I can think of is that some Spanish speaking kids were offered spots at other option schools and took that withOUT being offered a spot at an immersion school. That doesn't mean they didn't want immersion, they may not have had the choice. Am I missing something?

Some people enter the lottery but are still undecided. We got a spot at Key a few years ago but went with our neighborhood school instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

I don't but this surprises me. I could have sworn in past years people claimed all Spanish speakers were accepted and there was no wait list. Last year the number of Claremont Kindergarten classes was reduced from 6 to 4 supposedly to better align with demand, i.e. there wasn't enough demand to support continuing to have 6. Also, I think Key was moved to a smaller building this past year. However, if there are wait lists, especially for Spanish speakers...

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

Last year by June there was 1 Spanish speaker on the waitlist for Claremont and 6 Spanish speakers on the list for Key, even with the number of classes reduced to 4.

Thank you for sharing the data! Interesting that PP is a Spanish speaker and #27 on this year's Key waitlist. That would be enough Spanish speaking kids for two classes. IMO that's a big change from last year!

For anyone interested in last year's non-Spanish speaking waitlist, there were 22 non-Spanish speakers on the Claremont waitlist and 36 non-Spanish speakers on the Key waitlist.

Sorry, this may be a dumb question, but why are Spanish speakers given preference?

They aren’t but they have a separate lottery and historically all or most Spanish speakers were admitted since there was less demand.

Separate lottery = preference, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

I don't but this surprises me. I could have sworn in past years people claimed all Spanish speakers were accepted and there was no wait list. Last year the number of Claremont Kindergarten classes was reduced from 6 to 4 supposedly to better align with demand, i.e. there wasn't enough demand to support continuing to have 6. Also, I think Key was moved to a smaller building this past year. However, if there are wait lists, especially for Spanish speakers...

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

Last year by June there was 1 Spanish speaker on the waitlist for Claremont and 6 Spanish speakers on the list for Key, even with the number of classes reduced to 4.

Thank you for sharing the data! Interesting that PP is a Spanish speaker and #27 on this year's Key waitlist. That would be enough Spanish speaking kids for two classes. IMO that's a big change from last year!

For anyone interested in last year's non-Spanish speaking waitlist, there were 22 non-Spanish speakers on the Claremont waitlist and 36 non-Spanish speakers on the Key waitlist.

Sorry, this may be a dumb question, but why are Spanish speakers given preference?

They aren’t but they have a separate lottery and historically all or most Spanish speakers were admitted since there was less demand.

Separate lottery = preference, no?

We are at Claremont. Historically at least, not sure if it has changed since we started, they aimed to balance the classes with 50% native Spanish speakers and 50% native English speakers so that both sides could learn from each other and support the dual language model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

I don't but this surprises me. I could have sworn in past years people claimed all Spanish speakers were accepted and there was no wait list. Last year the number of Claremont Kindergarten classes was reduced from 6 to 4 supposedly to better align with demand, i.e. there wasn't enough demand to support continuing to have 6. Also, I think Key was moved to a smaller building this past year. However, if there are wait lists, especially for Spanish speakers...

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

Last year by June there was 1 Spanish speaker on the waitlist for Claremont and 6 Spanish speakers on the list for Key, even with the number of classes reduced to 4.

Thanks for sharing this - however this year there were only 28 slots for in the lottery for Spanish and 28 for non-Spanish for a total of 56 slots total (per the video that's online), as opposed to 48/each last year. Not sure what happened to the other 40 slots this year, I'm assuming they were held for siblings/VPI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

I don't but this surprises me. I could have sworn in past years people claimed all Spanish speakers were accepted and there was no wait list. Last year the number of Claremont Kindergarten classes was reduced from 6 to 4 supposedly to better align with demand, i.e. there wasn't enough demand to support continuing to have 6. Also, I think Key was moved to a smaller building this past year. However, if there are wait lists, especially for Spanish speakers...

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

Last year by June there was 1 Spanish speaker on the waitlist for Claremont and 6 Spanish speakers on the list for Key, even with the number of classes reduced to 4.

Thanks for sharing this - however this year there were only 28 slots for in the lottery for Spanish and 28 for non-Spanish for a total of 56 slots total (per the video that's online), as opposed to 48/each last year. Not sure what happened to the other 40 slots this year, I'm assuming they were held for siblings/VPI?

I should clarify this is for Key, Claremont still had the full 96 slots in the lottery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're #27 on the Key waitlist as a Spanish speaker, does anyone have a sense on how that waitlist will move?

I don't but this surprises me. I could have sworn in past years people claimed all Spanish speakers were accepted and there was no wait list. Last year the number of Claremont Kindergarten classes was reduced from 6 to 4 supposedly to better align with demand, i.e. there wasn't enough demand to support continuing to have 6. Also, I think Key was moved to a smaller building this past year. However, if there are wait lists, especially for Spanish speakers...

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

Last year by June there was 1 Spanish speaker on the waitlist for Claremont and 6 Spanish speakers on the list for Key, even with the number of classes reduced to 4.

Thank you for sharing the data! Interesting that PP is a Spanish speaker and #27 on this year's Key waitlist. That would be enough Spanish speaking kids for two classes. IMO that's a big change from last year!

For anyone interested in last year's non-Spanish speaking waitlist, there were 22 non-Spanish speakers on the Claremont waitlist and 36 non-Spanish speakers on the Key waitlist.

Sorry, this may be a dumb question, but why are Spanish speakers given preference?

They aren’t but they have a separate lottery and historically all or most Spanish speakers were admitted since there was less demand.

Separate lottery = preference, no?

We are at Claremont. Historically at least, not sure if it has changed since we started, they aimed to balance the classes with 50% native Spanish speakers and 50% native English speakers so that both sides could learn from each other and support the dual language model.

It looks like this was the case last year. 48 spanish slots and 48 non-spanish spots were offered at Claremont, the same numbers at Key.