SWW@Francis-Stevens Waitlist Movement

[Anonymous]

1503, your post was really helpful. I wonder why schools match a lower number of seats than what they know to have for capacity. That's interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I too am eager to hear about waitlist movement. It appears there's a smug population of already-in-school people who can't believe that we would place schools like SWW-FS, Powell, Thomson, etc in our top 12 choices in the city if our inbounds isn't an option. What do they propose otherwise?

I think some of the smugness for SWW@F-S also comes from high school parents, who cannot believe that the lower/middle school is improving and think we must be crazy or not know that the school does not feed to the high school.

But I agree, the smugness of those who are in-boundary for ward 3 schools or got into top picks is worse.

Hey now--the high school parents I know have no reason to want the lower/middle school to fail--they just don't want their program compromised, or to have DCPS use their "brand" in order to boost another school at the expense of the high school. It really sound like Mr. Trogisch is making some good changes at FS, which is fine. The high school would simply like a principal who can focus all of his/her attention on their school and whose focus will not be split between two schools.

[Anonymous]

PP is 100% correct. The HS also does not want the junior class split up and have half sent to FS. That's in addition to wanting their own principal. Right now the principal has little to no support in the HS community.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I understand why high school parents are frustrated, but I would really appreciate it if this thread could focus on waitlist movement at the elementary/middle school. There is an entire other thread that is examining the issues on the merger from the high school parents' perspective. For those of us who are trying to get into the early childhood/elementary program, we're just trying to figure out how much movement we can expect. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious to both posters here...are you clear that SWWFS will not automatically feed to SWW high school? just asking because there have been other posts about some parents mistakenly thinking that FS is a feeder school to the high school. They did not seem to be aware that FS 8th graders will have to apply and test into the school just like all other DCPS middle schoolers...

I am OP and yes, I know. They were very clear about it in the open house. I still really liked the school and the principal/assistant principal/teachers/parents I met. Unfortunately, with a number as high as mine, I really doubt that my kid will be able to attend next year. I am in-boundary for a school that is MUCH worse than SWW@F-S, and if we got in there we would intend to stay through 8th grade and then figure out high school after that. (We are currently in-boundary for Wilson, but just barely, so I assume that will change with the boundary review.)

Have you tried calling the school? I have some pretty crappy waitlist numbers, but I thought I would take a shot and give the school a call to see how far down the waitlist they have gone in the past. I was surprised to learn that they went pretty far down. It wouldn't hurt giving them a call. BTW - did you put in for you IB school as bad as it is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I understand why high school parents are frustrated, but I would really appreciate it if this thread could focus on waitlist movement at the elementary/middle school. There is an entire other thread that is examining the issues on the merger from the high school parents' perspective. For those of us who are trying to get into the early childhood/elementary program, we're just trying to figure out how much movement we can expect. Thanks.

Thanks. That's a great idea and will call. Our IB school, like many EOTP, is fine for PK and K and then really changes after that, so I did put it down and got in. (That is a benefit of having a very unpopular IB school with PK3.) We will accept the spot but try to get another spot prior to the school year start. We would even move in the middle of the school year if something opened up. If we have to, we will move in a year or two so we can attend a better school starting in K or 1.

[Anonymous]

It appears there is a tremendous interest/need for additional PK3 and PK schools. Further, it sounds like FS could be full if it offered more slots for these programs and did away with the middle school which currently has very few students. Has this been proposed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It appears there is a tremendous interest/need for additional PK3 and PK schools. Further, it sounds like FS could be full if it offered more slots for these programs and did away with the middle school which currently has very few students. Has this been proposed?

One of the attractions of SWW@F-S is that it has a middle school. For many, the alternative is Cardozo. I would not want to see the middle school go away (and I am OP, applying for PK3 and have almost no shot based on my wait list # in 110s).