Lottery question: what constitutes a safe pick?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hard to say, safe schools like Seaton or Bethune were used a lot last year and I bet will now have possible wait lists this year.

Bethune opted out of the common lottery this year (don't get me started on that...) so the upside will be that lots of people searching for language immersion on the myschoolsdc site won't find it. Probably a good safety for that reason.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know why Bethune opted out?

[Anonymous]

Bethune was in the lottery last year - I've heard second-hand about them wanting to be able to see their pool of applicants? I really don't get it.

[Anonymous]

Wish OP would just name her IB, so that families that are there can offer their opinions and experiences. I suspect that her IB is likely a good option for ps3 but it's easy to disregard it because the grass is always greener.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wish OP would just name her IB, so that families that are there can offer their opinions and experiences. I suspect that her IB is likely a good option for ps3 but it's easy to disregard it because the grass is always greener.

I dunno, it sounds like OP has done her homework on her IB and feels it's too in transition for her. If she knows the Principal is changing (or whatever "leadership changes" means), then maybe she's already decided that no matter what current families think, something is about to change and she wants to wait the change out? Not sure, but that's how I read OPs posts on her IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bethune was in the lottery last year - I've heard second-hand about them wanting to be able to see their pool of applicants? I really don't get it.

Interesting... has Bethune ever been suspected of being a little "extra selective" with their applicant pool? Why else would you want to not be part of the common lottery than wanting to have some kind of influence that's either allowed (like timestamp waitlists) or not allowed (like preference for language proficiency or other preferences not allowed)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wish OP would just name her IB, so that families that are there can offer their opinions and experiences. I suspect that her IB is likely a good option for ps3 but it's easy to disregard it because the grass is always greener.

I dunno, it sounds like OP has done her homework on her IB and feels it's too in transition for her. If she knows the Principal is changing (or whatever "leadership changes" means), then maybe she's already decided that no matter what current families think, something is about to change and she wants to wait the change out? Not sure, but that's how I read OPs posts on her IB.

OP here-- yes, I just want to have another safe option in case I don't feel good about the new admin and a few other issues with the PK program being a good fit for my child. It's Title I but not a bad school overall. If the current principal were staying, we would probably be just fine at that school. But I want another safe option on my list. Also, last year the IB school didn't get through its PK3 waitlist until later in the year, so there's a slim chance we wouldn't get in...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wish OP would just name her IB, so that families that are there can offer their opinions and experiences. I suspect that her IB is likely a good option for ps3 but it's easy to disregard it because the grass is always greener.

I dunno, it sounds like OP has done her homework on her IB and feels it's too in transition for her. If she knows the Principal is changing (or whatever "leadership changes" means), then maybe she's already decided that no matter what current families think, something is about to change and she wants to wait the change out? Not sure, but that's how I read OPs posts on her IB.

OP here-- yes, I just want to have another safe option in case I don't feel good about the new admin and a few other issues with the PK program being a good fit for my child. It's Title I but not a bad school overall. If the current principal were staying, we would probably be just fine at that school. But I want another safe option on my list. Also, last year the IB school didn't get through its PK3 waitlist until later in the year, so there's a slim chance we wouldn't get in...

But did they get through the IB kids on the waitlist? It makes a difference as far as whether something is a safety _for you_ vs. what it would be for someone else.

Still curious about the school!

[Anonymous]

OP if you give some idea of neighborhoods that could work for your commute, that would help narrow the field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
But did they get through the IB kids on the waitlist? It makes a difference as far as whether something is a safety _for you_ vs. what it would be for someone else.

Still curious about the school!

They did, but not until after the year began, and I think things will be even tighter this year, so we'll probably get in but I can't really count on it. But really, it isn't about the IB school, it's about how to pick safe lottery options. Thanks to everyone for their helpful input!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethune was in the lottery last year - I've heard second-hand about them wanting to be able to see their pool of applicants? I really don't get it.

Interesting... has Bethune ever been suspected of being a little "extra selective" with their applicant pool? Why else would you want to not be part of the common lottery than wanting to have some kind of influence that's either allowed (like timestamp waitlists) or not allowed (like preference for language proficiency or other preferences not allowed)?

Wow, really interesting about Bethune! They had one good year and now they are getting snotty? Good for you Bethune...

[Anonymous]

I assumed they were just switching to a later cutoff?

[Anonymous]

It is confusing, because on its website, Bethune says it is participating in the common lottery and links you there:

http://www.mmbethune.org/apply.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is confusing, because on its website, Bethune says it is participating in the common lottery and links you there:

http://www.mmbethune.org/apply.html

All the other information says for the 2015-2015 school year. They just haven't updated their website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But did they get through the IB kids on the waitlist? It makes a difference as far as whether something is a safety _for you_ vs. what it would be for someone else.

Still curious about the school!

They did, but not until after the year began, and I think things will be even tighter this year, so we'll probably get in but I can't really count on it. But really, it isn't about the IB school, it's about how to pick safe lottery options. Thanks to everyone for their helpful input!

The IB school is one of the safe lottery options, if all IB kids who wanted to go there were admitted and you are IB. That is kind of safe by definition. There are plenty of schools that admit large numbers of OOB kids and call people from the waitlist, but those schools may have the same profile as your IB school.