Does anyone else plan to only apply to a few schools?

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Last year we only applied to two schools, both DCI feeders, mostly because we were relatively happy at our DCPS, though we doubted it would work long term. We got into one of them and it was a hard choice to take the spot but we did.[/quote]

This makes sense but it's such a shame that the middle school situation is pulling families out of good elementary school situations, an exodus that ensures that the MSs stay unattractive. A chicken and egg problem that hopefully the city can solve soon! [/quote]

K-8 schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If those are the only schools you could be happy with, then they're the only ones you should apply to. There's no reason to feel badly about that.

This is true. But please refrain from the hang-wringing about how you were "shut out" by the lottery next spring if it works out that way.

No hand-wringing. We just moved from a place with no free PK, so it never factored into our plans. I'd be delighted if it works out, but I am not prepared to clone myself or find a new husband whose job would allow him to take on either pick up or drop off to make an option outside my commuting route work.

It's not just about having free PK. You have to think about it strategically. PK is best opportunity to get into a school OOB if you're not happy with your IB. That is why I would not limit my choices to 2 or 3. That said, like a poster above, we got into our IB school, which we ranked pretty low. We really love it and don't plan to play the lottery this year. Another word of advice - don't believe the hype on DCUM. You'll hear a lot of negativity about your IB school. How it's full of FARMs and minorities, how your kid will not thrive in such a setting, etc. etc. If I bought into that without doing my own homework, I may not have put down our IB at all and would have missed out on a great school. It's so odd how so many on this forum want to see our IBs fail.

But if the logistics don't work for pre-k, they won't work any better for later grades.

[Anonymous]

We also only applied to four schools based on realistic logistics. I can not, would not and will not drive an hour across DC each way to have my child in a school that may or may not be a good fit for her. Logistics were the #1 criteria on our list.

And feel free to hand-wring away if you don't get into any of them. It's useless to feel like you would have had a better shot if you'd listed 12 and been stuck with a drastically reduced quality of life, schlepping across wards as a result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, only late-birthday schools.

What charters take late birthday kids? Does anyone have a current list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, only late-birthday schools.

What charters take late birthday kids? Does anyone have a current list?

I heard that Shibibg Stars is moving to the 9/30 cutoff, so I think it's just Imagine Hope Lamond.

[Anonymous]

I think that Sela moved to a later cut off but I can't remember for sure.