Key Elementary - was there a lottery this year for out-of-boundary students?

[Anonymous]

Arlington resident here -- no kids at Key or any other elementary school at this point (our kids our older). But I did want to point out that there is now a second immersion school, Claremont. We have friends with kids in both schools, and they are all happy. If they continue in immersion, they all end up in the same middle school. Anyway, just more info in the event you didn't know. Good luck!

[Cdub81]

We applied to Key last year for our DS. We were accepted and it sounds like most if not all people in the lottery got in. From what I understand they just expanded the school (with trailers).

[Anonymous]

I would definitely move within their attending zone. last night at back to school night we were told the school now has a population of 670. That is about 150 more student than when we started there a few years ago. Also, some of the parents I saw there last night looked very fancy, like they belong in a private school setting, which is unlike before. A lot has changed during the past two years.

[Anonymous]

I was at Key's back to school night also...what are you talking about "fancy" people? Key has a mix that's what makes it diverse and good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at Key's back to school night also...what are you talking about "fancy" people? Key has a mix that's what makes it diverse and good.

What I meant is fancier than say, 8 yeas ago when we first stated there. I agree that key is diverse and I great school, but I can't help noticing that there's a noticeable change since during the last two years, at least to me. Obviously, Key is a lot more sought after now than in previous years.

[Anonymous]

Quick question for Key parents - is the limited parking a problem at drop off / pick up? Do you like the urban setting or does it not make any sort of difference?

[Anonymous]

You might want to look into Claremont, too - might be easier to get in, and the programs are very similar. Also, probably easier to find a decently priced home in the Claremont catchment area - real estate around Key is not cheap. (which is why the parents look "fancy" - a lot of them are in $1M+ homes.)

[Anonymous]

At 670 students, Key is now one of 4 largest elementary schools in the county. Only Taylor, Tuckahoe and Claremont is larger. This year Claremont is about 17% larger than last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at Key's back to school night also...what are you talking about "fancy" people? Key has a mix that's what makes it diverse and good.

What I meant is fancier than say, 8 yeas ago when we first stated there. I agree that key is diverse and I great school, but I can't help noticing that there's a noticeable change since during the last two years, at least to me. Obviously, Key is a lot more sought after now than in previous years.

I doubt that. It's not one of the schools mentioned when people talk about trying to get "into" Arlington schools. Not like ASFS or ATS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at Key's back to school night also...what are you talking about "fancy" people? Key has a mix that's what makes it diverse and good.

What I meant is fancier than say, 8 yeas ago when we first stated there. I agree that key is diverse and I great school, but I can't help noticing that there's a noticeable change since during the last two years, at least to me. Obviously, Key is a lot more sought after now than in previous years.

I doubt that. It's not one of the schools mentioned when people talk about trying to get "into" Arlington schools. Not like ASFS or ATS.

I guess you have not noticed the trailers outside.

[Anonymous]

Increased enrollment doesn't necessarily mean the school's popularity is increasing exponentially (although it seems like a great school and I hope to send my kids, so I'm biased towards thinking that immersion is, in fact, becoming more popular). The number of kids in the system is increasing, so just about every school is approaching or exceeding capacity, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Increased enrollment doesn't necessarily mean the school's popularity is increasing exponentially (although it seems like a great school and I hope to send my kids, so I'm biased towards thinking that immersion is, in fact, becoming more popular). The number of kids in the system is increasing, so just about every school is approaching or exceeding capacity, right?

Okay, so what do make of the fact that Claremont's population have increased by 17% this year? Claremont is now at 674, up from 578 last year and 528 from the year before. I think enrollment does mean the school's popularity has greatly increased. Claremont and Key are now 3rd and 4th largest schools in the county behind only Taylor and Tuckahoe. This level of increase in just 1 year is indicative of the popularity of the immersion program. And since Key is identical to Claremont, I'm betting some of the increases are from people who may have been priced out of the more pricey Key attendance area. Either way, the two schools are excellent. If I were someone trying to get into the immersion program in the next few years, I would not risk my chances by residing outside the attendance zone.

[Anonymous]

^^ I agree. But I also think a lot of the schools have experienced unanticipated upticks in enrollment across the board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Increased enrollment doesn't necessarily mean the school's popularity is increasing exponentially (although it seems like a great school and I hope to send my kids, so I'm biased towards thinking that immersion is, in fact, becoming more popular). The number of kids in the system is increasing, so just about every school is approaching or exceeding capacity, right?

Okay, so what do make of the fact that Claremont's population have increased by 17% this year? Claremont is now at 674, up from 578 last year and 528 from the year before. I think enrollment does mean the school's popularity has greatly increased. Claremont and Key are now 3rd and 4th largest schools in the county behind only Taylor and Tuckahoe. This level of increase in just 1 year is indicative of the popularity of the immersion program. And since Key is identical to Claremont, I'm betting some of the increases are from people who may have been priced out of the more pricey Key attendance area. Either way, the two schools are excellent. If I were someone trying to get into the immersion program in the next few years, I would not risk my chances by residing outside the attendance zone.

Due to overcrowding across the board in the county, elementary school boundary changes are happening (now completed for North Arlington, with the new elementary school zoned to Key) and admissions policies for county-wide schools including Claremont will change. Simply, the attendance zones will change. The APS website, More Seats for More Students, is the place to check on progress. This weeks school board meeting resumes the process...
http://www.apsva.us/cms/lib2/VA01000586/Centricity/Domain/110/Boundary%20decision%20timing.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Key parent & I have to say that I love the school.

For fall 2012 and fall 2011, everyone who applied to the lottery got in (but you still have to apply on time).

I don't know about school year that just started but I agree with PP who said to call & ask.

And there is no preference for native speakers.

School accomodates all (no english in home, bilingual homes, and english only homes).

Note: it is very important to apply in K - not later.

Principal says that she won't let kids in at 2nd grade up -- even if come from bilingual homes since all Key kids are learning to not just speak spanish but read it and write it.

Keep in mind that there are different lotteries. The people in the team have higher probabilities of getting in than do the people in the rest of Eastern Arlington. There are also different lotteries for English-primary and Spanish-primary speakers so the numbers balance. So, I don't know if this poster is right or just talking about her area.