What's your Plan B if you are shut out

[Anonymous]

Is it mainly DCPS or PCS schools that allegedly don't follow the waiting list in order?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we're in a JKLM school for PK. If we get shut out of our local school and the other 5 we've applied to we'll hope for success at a charter. Last resort is paying for another year at our current preschool (13K).

Wait: Are you at a JKLM school or in private @ $13K? If you're at a JKLM, I'm curious: why aren't you staying put?

[Anonymous]

Mainly DCPS. Lots of talk at Hill playgrounds, "We were 97 on such and such DCPS waiting list and we talked to the principal and got in." Meanwhile, number 54 didn't get called and is on the other side of the playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we're in a JKLM school for PK. If we get shut out of our local school and the other 5 we've applied to we'll hope for success at a charter. Last resort is paying for another year at our current preschool (13K).

JKLM are public schools. They're free. To whom are you paying the $13K?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear frequent stories about schools not following the lists in order - definitely best to keep in touch

I have heard this about some DCPS schools, apparently it was the "old way" of doing things and may still be embedded in the culture at some schools. Haven't heard of it working at a charter though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we're in a JKLM school for PK. If we get shut out of our local school and the other 5 we've applied to we'll hope for success at a charter. Last resort is paying for another year at our current preschool (13K).

JKLM are public schools. They're free. To whom are you paying the $13K?

PS and PK are not guaranteed even in boundary. I read this as going for PK but maybe not getting in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we're in a JKLM school for PK. If we get shut out of our local school and the other 5 we've applied to we'll hope for success at a charter. Last resort is paying for another year at our current preschool (13K).

JKLM are public schools. They're free. To whom are you paying the $13K?

sorry----now realizing my post was confusing. We're in a JKLM area and hoping for PK. Currently in preschool and paying for it. Hoping to go to public for PK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mainly DCPS. Lots of talk at Hill playgrounds, "We were 97 on such and such DCPS waiting list and we talked to the principal and got in." Meanwhile, number 54 didn't get called and is on the other side of the playground.

So, if you get waitlisted, then "smooze" the principal, you can get in??? Tell me your secret just in case I need it on Friday, SERIOUSLY!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mainly DCPS. Lots of talk at Hill playgrounds, "We were 97 on such and such DCPS waiting list and we talked to the principal and got in." Meanwhile, number 54 didn't get called and is on the other side of the playground.

So, if you get waitlisted, then "smooze" the principal, you can get in??? Tell me your secret just in case I need it on Friday, SERIOUSLY!

Part of the secret is to be patient, persistent, but not annoying. So contacting the principal on Friday is likely a mistake. Wait until a week or so, write a polite e-mail. Then be back in touch shortly after the deadline for letter of intent (May 1, I think). There is unlikely to be any wait list movement until after the letters of intent are due. Then, the next deadline is for residency verification. Be in touch after that. But the real movement comes after school starts, and kids don't show up. Be calmly waiting and clear that your child would enroll, leaving the school he/she is at, with only the quickest phone call. . . . . always calm, never demanding. . . . . in touch about once a month. . . . .find out who the registrar is (usually the business manager) as they frequently make the decision / phone calls, not the principal. . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear frequent stories about schools not following the lists in order - definitely best to keep in touch

This year central office have to ability to monitor waitlist sttus at each school. I am not sure if they are going to monitor the list but at least this year they can check to see if school are pulling from the wait list as it is listed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mainly DCPS. Lots of talk at Hill playgrounds, "We were 97 on such and such DCPS waiting list and we talked to the principal and got in." Meanwhile, number 54 didn't get called and is on the other side of the playground.

So, if you get waitlisted, then "smooze" the principal, you can get in??? Tell me your secret just in case I need it on Friday, SERIOUSLY!

Part of the secret is to be patient, persistent, but not annoying. So contacting the principal on Friday is likely a mistake. Wait until a week or so, write a polite e-mail. Then be back in touch shortly after the deadline for letter of intent (May 1, I think). There is unlikely to be any wait list movement until after the letters of intent are due. Then, the next deadline is for residency verification. Be in touch after that. But the real movement comes after school starts, and kids don't show up. Be calmly waiting and clear that your child would enroll, leaving the school he/she is at, with only the quickest phone call. . . . . always calm, never demanding. . . . . in touch about once a month. . . . .find out who the registrar is (usually the business manager) as they frequently make the decision / phone calls, not the principal. . . .

Thanks, this is helpful, because I really have my heart set on one school, in particular.

[Anonymous]

Most schools call you once and only once. If you don't check your home voice mail (our particular malady), it makes sense to try to call to monitor waitlist movement. You never know - the phone may be answered at home by someone unreliable (babysitter, beleagured nanny / grandparent) & you never get the message. Makes sense to monitor more closely as your number draws nearer.

But, please don't bug or obliquely threaten the principal / business manager or complain if they don't call you back. They are swamped with phone calls from anxious parents at this time of year, and they're doing the best they can. Who you work for may fly at some schools, but at my school, that kind of attitude will not win you love.

[Anonymous]

"Part of the secret is to be patient, persistent, but not annoying. So contacting the principal on Friday is likely a mistake. Wait until a week or so, write a polite e-mail. Then be back in touch shortly after the deadline for letter of intent (May 1, I think). There is unlikely to be any wait list movement until after the letters of intent are due. Then, the next deadline is for residency verification. Be in touch after that. But the real movement comes after school starts, and kids don't show up. Be calmly waiting and clear that your child would enroll, leaving the school he/she is at, with only the quickest phone call. . . . . always calm, never demanding. . . . . in touch about once a month. . . . .find out who the registrar is (usually the business manager) as they frequently make the decision / phone calls, not the principal. ."

I would absolutely not call until after the letters of intent are due. There will be plenty of movement after that, but a lot of people apply for the lottery and then decide not to take a slot, and many don't make that decision until the letters of intent are due or even later. The principals won't know how things are going to look like until after that.

[Anonymous]

and there's a whole 'nother ball game going on with the privates as well, so people will be finding out about private schools and may have done OOB as insurance. They'll sort out on the private side and that will ripple over to DCPS and charters. Plus it'll move again as charters have their lotteries (typically in late March or April).

[Anonymous]

We will stay at Appletree, which is a good option.