Dumb lottery question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you. I guess I'm also wondering...has anyone else been in this situation, left a beloved Title I for a school that's among the highest performing in the city?

Were you glad you switched? Did you stay or switch back?

We were in a very similar position a couple years ago and left a Title 1 school with a lot of good qualities for a more "sought-after" school. It was for the K year too. The decision wasn't easy, but I haven't regretted it once. Our kid is happy and their school day is much more well-rounded so I'm happier too. Integrating into the school as an OOB family hasn't been a big deal. The relief of having a strong feeder path through middle/high school (and not having to keep doing the lottery each year!) cannot be underestimated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is husband willing to do pickup every day? (Not dropoff bc drop off is easier) if so then switch.

He is not! Again, are you a fly on my wall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is husband willing to do pickup every day? (Not dropoff bc drop off is easier) if so then switch.

Haha this is the promise from my husband that finally made me excited to try a new school. Drop offs are definitely easier, traffic goes to shit all over town for evening commutes. An unexpected bonus to it though is they get more one on one time and it’s deepened their bond.

You might also find carpool friends at the new school as well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You put it higher on your list for a reason. Just move.

I'm sure your kid loves their school but they'll also love their other school.

Also, how white could the new school be? There are no lily white schools at all in the district, that I know of.

Yes, i agree with this -- this is not a reason to stay. When I was considering this choice and was reluctant to move my happy kid, one of my friends said "a happy kid will be happy anywhere." It sort of shifted something in me and it also turned out to be true. He's equally happy but now he's learning more in a more peaceful environment.

[Anonymous]

I didn't experience this but my kids attended a sought-after school, where it turned out that if a kid was not doing well, their parents paid for private tutoring, so the overall academic reputation was much better than deserved. Just something to consider when making the decision to switch. But yes, you can CERTAINLY return to your original school if you don't like the new one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't experience this but my kids attended a sought-after school, where it turned out that if a kid was not doing well, their parents paid for private tutoring, so the overall academic reputation was much better than deserved. Just something to consider when making the decision to switch. But yes, you can CERTAINLY return to your original school if you don't like the new one.

OP here. Thinker emoji.

I hadn't even considered this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You put it higher on your list for a reason. Just move.

I'm sure your kid loves their school but they'll also love their other school.

Also, how white could the new school be? There are no lily white schools at all in the district, that I know of.

Same poster. Also, if it's that white it's DCPS and feeds to Jackson Reed. That is huge. That is a path all the way to high school. You should take the spot for that reason alone.

OP here. This may give away both schools but Highly Sought After does not feed JR or McArthur. The schools that do are too far for us.

I am good with the middle from what I know of it - pretty good reputation for a non Deal/Hardy. I am def NOT okay with the high school. Yes, if feeder pattern changed, mental math would be different.

On behavior at Hidden Gem..it frankly doesn't seem like a problem per other parents, even in the upper grades. Academics also seem strong - lots of kids from Hidden Gem enroll at Basis and do well there, for what that's worth, but I am guessing the academics at Highly Sought After are at least as strong or stronger.

Are you taking educated guesses? Payne to SWS is mine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't experience this but my kids attended a sought-after school, where it turned out that if a kid was not doing well, their parents paid for private tutoring, so the overall academic reputation was much better than deserved. Just something to consider when making the decision to switch. But yes, you can CERTAINLY return to your original school if you don't like the new one.

OP here. Thinker emoji.

I hadn't even considered this!

But there are of course parents supplementing at lower performing schools too. And sometimes parents stick with a lower performing school because their kid is naturally really smart so they have good stats anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You put it higher on your list for a reason. Just move.

I'm sure your kid loves their school but they'll also love their other school.

Also, how white could the new school be? There are no lily white schools at all in the district, that I know of.

Same poster. Also, if it's that white it's DCPS and feeds to Jackson Reed. That is huge. That is a path all the way to high school. You should take the spot for that reason alone.

OP here. This may give away both schools but Highly Sought After does not feed JR or McArthur. The schools that do are too far for us.

I am good with the middle from what I know of it - pretty good reputation for a non Deal/Hardy. I am def NOT okay with the high school. Yes, if feeder pattern changed, mental math would be different.

On behavior at Hidden Gem..it frankly doesn't seem like a problem per other parents, even in the upper grades. Academics also seem strong - lots of kids from Hidden Gem enroll at Basis and do well there, for what that's worth, but I am guessing the academics at Highly Sought After are at least as strong or stronger.

Are you taking educated guesses? Payne to SWS is mine!

I am thinking more likely Amidon Bowen to Brent, but I also don't get the impression Brent is impossible to get into these days, but maybe I am wrong. These days Payne and SWS demographics are not the same, but they are not as light years apart as they used to be.

Either way - I don't think it's a dumb question, but I also think your kid will be fine either way. Each family is different so all of the other outside factors do matter, so commute and if your husband will be stressing/miserable for the next few years, that is relevant to making the decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You put it higher on your list for a reason. Just move.

I'm sure your kid loves their school but they'll also love their other school.

Also, how white could the new school be? There are no lily white schools at all in the district, that I know of.

Same poster. Also, if it's that white it's DCPS and feeds to Jackson Reed. That is huge. That is a path all the way to high school. You should take the spot for that reason alone.

OP here. This may give away both schools but Highly Sought After does not feed JR or McArthur. The schools that do are too far for us.

I am good with the middle from what I know of it - pretty good reputation for a non Deal/Hardy. I am def NOT okay with the high school. Yes, if feeder pattern changed, mental math would be different.

On behavior at Hidden Gem..it frankly doesn't seem like a problem per other parents, even in the upper grades. Academics also seem strong - lots of kids from Hidden Gem enroll at Basis and do well there, for what that's worth, but I am guessing the academics at Highly Sought After are at least as strong or stronger.

Are you taking educated guesses? Payne to SWS is mine!

OP here. Ha! I love DCUM sometimes (meant sincerely). That does fit the pattern, but nope! Brent and Amidon-Bowen is also wrong.

I kinda enjoy the guessing game...but should I just give it away, you guys? The reason I haven't said is that I don't want people to hate on my Hidden Gem Title I. It's great! We would only switch for Highly Sought After and maybe not even for that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You put it higher on your list for a reason. Just move.

I'm sure your kid loves their school but they'll also love their other school.

Also, how white could the new school be? There are no lily white schools at all in the district, that I know of.

Yes, i agree with this -- this is not a reason to stay. When I was considering this choice and was reluctant to move my happy kid, one of my friends said "a happy kid will be happy anywhere." It sort of shifted something in me and it also turned out to be true. He's equally happy but now he's learning more in a more peaceful environment.

+1

We were in the same boat as OP with a school decision. Our kid seemed happy and doing fine at the old school, which made us unsure. The thing is, we wouldn't have known she could be HAPPIER at a different school until we made the move and saw the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You put it higher on your list for a reason. Just move.

I'm sure your kid loves their school but they'll also love their other school.

Also, how white could the new school be? There are no lily white schools at all in the district, that I know of.

Same poster. Also, if it's that white it's DCPS and feeds to Jackson Reed. That is huge. That is a path all the way to high school. You should take the spot for that reason alone.

OP here. This may give away both schools but Highly Sought After does not feed JR or McArthur. The schools that do are too far for us.

I am good with the middle from what I know of it - pretty good reputation for a non Deal/Hardy. I am def NOT okay with the high school. Yes, if feeder pattern changed, mental math would be different.

On behavior at Hidden Gem..it frankly doesn't seem like a problem per other parents, even in the upper grades. Academics also seem strong - lots of kids from Hidden Gem enroll at Basis and do well there, for what that's worth, but I am guessing the academics at Highly Sought After are at least as strong or stronger.

Are you taking educated guesses? Payne to SWS is mine!

OP here. Ha! I love DCUM sometimes (meant sincerely). That does fit the pattern, but nope! Brent and Amidon-Bowen is also wrong.

I kinda enjoy the guessing game...but should I just give it away, you guys? The reason I haven't said is that I don't want people to hate on my Hidden Gem Title I. It's great! We would only switch for Highly Sought After and maybe not even for that!

Like others have said, I think you could go either way on this. Hard to say much more than that without knowing the specific schools.

(My guess is JOW to Maury)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You put it higher on your list for a reason. Just move.

I'm sure your kid loves their school but they'll also love their other school.

Also, how white could the new school be? There are no lily white schools at all in the district, that I know of.

Same poster. Also, if it's that white it's DCPS and feeds to Jackson Reed. That is huge. That is a path all the way to high school. You should take the spot for that reason alone.

OP here. This may give away both schools but Highly Sought After does not feed JR or McArthur. The schools that do are too far for us.

I am good with the middle from what I know of it - pretty good reputation for a non Deal/Hardy. I am def NOT okay with the high school. Yes, if feeder pattern changed, mental math would be different.

On behavior at Hidden Gem..it frankly doesn't seem like a problem per other parents, even in the upper grades. Academics also seem strong - lots of kids from Hidden Gem enroll at Basis and do well there, for what that's worth, but I am guessing the academics at Highly Sought After are at least as strong or stronger.

Are you taking educated guesses? Payne to SWS is mine!

OP here. Ha! I love DCUM sometimes (meant sincerely). That does fit the pattern, but nope! Brent and Amidon-Bowen is also wrong.

I kinda enjoy the guessing game...but should I just give it away, you guys? The reason I haven't said is that I don't want people to hate on my Hidden Gem Title I. It's great! We would only switch for Highly Sought After and maybe not even for that!

Like others have said, I think you could go either way on this. Hard to say much more than that without knowing the specific schools.

(My guess is JOW to Maury)

Missed that it was same middle feeder. Miner to Maury? Or maybe Thomson to Ross?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You put it higher on your list for a reason. Just move.

I'm sure your kid loves their school but they'll also love their other school.

Also, how white could the new school be? There are no lily white schools at all in the district, that I know of.

Yes, i agree with this -- this is not a reason to stay. When I was considering this choice and was reluctant to move my happy kid, one of my friends said "a happy kid will be happy anywhere." It sort of shifted something in me and it also turned out to be true. He's equally happy but now he's learning more in a more peaceful environment.

This is not true always. A happy kid may be happy for many reasons and just assuming they will be happy elsewhere because they're happy now is wishful thinking. It may not be enough of a risk not to what you think is best but that's a pretty simplistic attitude towards kids emotional needs.

Honestly it doesn't seem like feeder pattern is a reason for moving OP's kid from a Title 1 to greener pastures and if it's simply about the building then honestly if it's up for modernization I'd wait. Lots of people have brought up good points about behavioral issues (though there's no small dose of frankly uncomfortable assumptions made in them), academics, and feeder patterns. However, OP.has basically said those aren't issues at their school or won't be solved down the line by the new school.

Our Title 1 has seen a lot of movement in from charters and the only kids that aren't really coming back or unhappy are WOTP and even then it's the parents that seem to think it's worth it more than the kids.

One thing that stuck with my in the opposite direction was a parent talking about how, by attending their local school, they had more time with their kids and to spend on activities their kids really wanted because they weren't racing all over town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't experience this but my kids attended a sought-after school, where it turned out that if a kid was not doing well, their parents paid for private tutoring, so the overall academic reputation was much better than deserved. Just something to consider when making the decision to switch. But yes, you can CERTAINLY return to your original school if you don't like the new one.

OP here. Thinker emoji.

I hadn't even considered this!

But there are of course parents supplementing at lower performing schools too. And sometimes parents stick with a lower performing school because their kid is naturally really smart so they have good stats anyway.

I mean this is not nearly is common because lower performing schools usually have a lot more kids who simply cannot afford the means to do this.