Is anybody actually freaking out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm freaking out but I'm playing the middle school lottery. If this past week is any predictor, I'm going to be having a lot of sleepless nights coming my way.

Good luck - I think angst at the middle school level is a lot more understandable and appropriate than for PK3 or 4 (fewer options, better sense of what will/won't work for your kid). But it's been a long time since I was parenting a preschooler.

Good luck! This is the main reason we are strongly considering moving out of DC.

[Anonymous]

There's no reason to freak out about PK3, at least not in Bloomingdale. Ask me later when DD is 8 and I've struck out 5 years in a row. But with this many rolls of the dice ahead of us, I think there's a reasonable chance we'd get a good enough number in one of those years.

[Anonymous]

Struck out for Pre-K 3 and went private due to neighborhood school being a non-starter. Stuck lottery gold for Pre-K 4 and literally got into our 1-5 choices. Chose LAMB and have been very happy for the past few years. Don't give up!

[Anonymous]

We struck out for PK3 last year, but had a back up this year. Lined up an affordable private (Catholic) for next year, as much more realistic about our chances this year.
Freaking out? Nah. It's totally out of anyone's control. I think everything really works out for the best, even if it doesn't appear so in the immediate future.
And I agree with PP about the value of preschool. It's preschool, I can't get that worked up about quality at this point.

[Anonymous]

It's preschool.

Freak out when you don't know whether or not to hope for a fifth grade placement to ensure middle and high school... Or hope you don't get one because your child is already happy.

Freak out when you've got friends bailing from their hrcs's for a dcps, and other friends at the same dcps trying to get into the same hrcs's.

[Anonymous]

Two years ago, we freaked out in April, in nowhere for PreK3. But by June, we were into one program, and by the start of school we were into two. By Count Day in October we were into no less than FIVE of our dozen. In my experience, sitting tight and being prepared to jump into a desirable program after school has started, if even it's a bit of a hike for you, works for almost everybody. Your problem is not going to be a decent PreK experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two years ago, we freaked out in April, in nowhere for PreK3. But by June, we were into one program, and by the start of school we were into two. By Count Day in October we were into no less than FIVE of our dozen. In my experience, sitting tight and being prepared to jump into a desirable program after school has started, if even it's a bit of a hike for you, works for almost everybody. Your problem is not going to be a decent PreK experience.

If your experience is pre common lottery it isn't that relevant. Much more WL movement back then - also much more shuffle and confusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two years ago, we freaked out in April, in nowhere for PreK3. But by June, we were into one program, and by the start of school we were into two. By Count Day in October we were into no less than FIVE of our dozen. In my experience, sitting tight and being prepared to jump into a desirable program after school has started, if even it's a bit of a hike for you, works for almost everybody. Your problem is not going to be a decent PreK experience.

If your experience is pre common lottery it isn't that relevant. Much more WL movement back then - also much more shuffle and confusion.

PP clearly says "2 years ago" and "of our dozen" = common lottery. Reading is fundamental.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm, not freaking out yet. We'll definitely get into at least our inbounds school, which is fine for at least a couple of years and probably longer. As long as we also get into aftercare. Now, if we only get into our inbounds school, but don't get an aftercare slot, then I will be freaking out. But I suppose we could cobble together some college student sitters for aftercare. Not ideal, but not the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm freaking out. We ended up at our IB for PK3 and it has been fine. PK4 there will also be fine but we are seriously concerned about K and up. I know we have 2 shots at the lottery before we have to make some hard choices but I really really really don't want to have to move to the suburbs! I think the fact that we have been through the lottery once and didn't get the results we were hoping for is putting even more pressure on the results this year.

We had terrible luck in PK3 and PK4, then got our #1 choice in K. It *does* happen, just might take a few tries. I kept the faith and you should too! Though I admit the weeks efore he K results I'd started browsing Moco real estate listings and feeling despair....

NP here - Were you ever worried your #1 would disappoint? I think that's my bigger fear. What is the 1 or 2 schools we've been wanting don't work out, then we have to switch yet again.

Yes, of course I worried about that. But I recognize that no school is perfect, and while I miss some things about our IB that my kid attended for PK3 and PK4, I did my rankings very carefully and have been mostly happy with how the #1 has worked out. And when I'm not happy, I remind myself that it's just elementary school. The real freaking out is going to take place when middle school looms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm freaking out. We ended up at our IB for PK3 and it has been fine. PK4 there will also be fine but we are seriously concerned about K and up. I know we have 2 shots at the lottery before we have to make some hard choices but I really really really don't want to have to move to the suburbs! I think the fact that we have been through the lottery once and didn't get the results we were hoping for is putting even more pressure on the results this year.

We had terrible luck in PK3 and PK4, then got our #1 choice in K. It *does* happen, just might take a few tries. I kept the faith and you should too! Though I admit the weeks efore he K results I'd started browsing Moco real estate listings and feeling despair....

NP here - Were you ever worried your #1 would disappoint? I think that's my bigger fear. What is the 1 or 2 schools we've been wanting don't work out, then we have to switch yet again.

Yes, of course I worried about that. But I recognize that no school is perfect, and while I miss some things about our IB that my kid attended for PK3 and PK4, I did my rankings very carefully and have been mostly happy with how the #1 has worked out. And when I'm not happy, I remind myself that it's just elementary school. The real freaking out is going to take place when middle school looms.

NP. The other thing thta can and does happen is that even if #1 is a strong school, it turns out to be the wrong school for your particular child. It's tough to predict learning style, personality and so forth when they are 2.5-3 yo. Best laid plans and all that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm freaking out. We ended up at our IB for PK3 and it has been fine. PK4 there will also be fine but we are seriously concerned about K and up. I know we have 2 shots at the lottery before we have to make some hard choices but I really really really don't want to have to move to the suburbs! I think the fact that we have been through the lottery once and didn't get the results we were hoping for is putting even more pressure on the results this year.

We had terrible luck in PK3 and PK4, then got our #1 choice in K. It *does* happen, just might take a few tries. I kept the faith and you should too! Though I admit the weeks efore he K results I'd started browsing Moco real estate listings and feeling despair....

NP here - Were you ever worried your #1 would disappoint? I think that's my bigger fear. What is the 1 or 2 schools we've been wanting don't work out, then we have to switch yet again.

Yes, of course I worried about that. But I recognize that no school is perfect, and while I miss some things about our IB that my kid attended for PK3 and PK4, I did my rankings very carefully and have been mostly happy with how the #1 has worked out. And when I'm not happy, I remind myself that it's just elementary school. The real freaking out is going to take place when middle school looms.

NP. The other thing thta can and does happen is that even if #1 is a strong school, it turns out to be the wrong school for your particular child. It's tough to predict learning style, personality and so forth when they are 2.5-3 yo. Best laid plans and all that.

True, this can happen anywhere. If you are stuck in the burbs your options are really limited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm freaking out. We ended up at our IB for PK3 and it has been fine. PK4 there will also be fine but we are seriously concerned about K and up. I know we have 2 shots at the lottery before we have to make some hard choices but I really really really don't want to have to move to the suburbs! I think the fact that we have been through the lottery once and didn't get the results we were hoping for is putting even more pressure on the results this year.

We had terrible luck in PK3 and PK4, then got our #1 choice in K. It *does* happen, just might take a few tries. I kept the faith and you should too! Though I admit the weeks efore he K results I'd started browsing Moco real estate listings and feeling despair....

NP here - Were you ever worried your #1 would disappoint? I think that's my bigger fear. What is the 1 or 2 schools we've been wanting don't work out, then we have to switch yet again.

Yes, of course I worried about that. But I recognize that no school is perfect, and while I miss some things about our IB that my kid attended for PK3 and PK4, I did my rankings very carefully and have been mostly happy with how the #1 has worked out. And when I'm not happy, I remind myself that it's just elementary school. The real freaking out is going to take place when middle school looms.

NP. The other thing thta can and does happen is that even if #1 is a strong school, it turns out to be the wrong school for your particular child. It's tough to predict learning style, personality and so forth when they are 2.5-3 yo. Best laid plans and all that.

This is an excellent point. With so many of these schools, I'm wondering what's the reality behind the slick marketing materials, particularly when it comes to some of the HRCS that I've visited...and of course, there is the learning style of my 4 yo, of which I'm not certain...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm freaking out. We ended up at our IB for PK3 and it has been fine. PK4 there will also be fine but we are seriously concerned about K and up. I know we have 2 shots at the lottery before we have to make some hard choices but I really really really don't want to have to move to the suburbs! I think the fact that we have been through the lottery once and didn't get the results we were hoping for is putting even more pressure on the results this year.

We had terrible luck in PK3 and PK4, then got our #1 choice in K. It *does* happen, just might take a few tries. I kept the faith and you should too! Though I admit the weeks efore he K results I'd started browsing Moco real estate listings and feeling despair....

NP here - Were you ever worried your #1 would disappoint? I think that's my bigger fear. What is the 1 or 2 schools we've been wanting don't work out, then we have to switch yet again.

Yes, of course I worried about that. But I recognize that no school is perfect, and while I miss some things about our IB that my kid attended for PK3 and PK4, I did my rankings very carefully and have been mostly happy with how the #1 has worked out. And when I'm not happy, I remind myself that it's just elementary school. The real freaking out is going to take place when middle school looms.

NP. The other thing thta can and does happen is that even if #1 is a strong school, it turns out to be the wrong school for your particular child. It's tough to predict learning style, personality and so forth when they are 2.5-3 yo. Best laid plans and all that.

True, this can happen anywhere. If you are stuck in the burbs your options are really limited.

Yes - in suburbs you could try for a magnet or go to a private school. At least in DC you have some choice between small school, large school etc. But choice is limited by availability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm freaking out. We ended up at our IB for PK3 and it has been fine. PK4 there will also be fine but we are seriously concerned about K and up. I know we have 2 shots at the lottery before we have to make some hard choices but I really really really don't want to have to move to the suburbs! I think the fact that we have been through the lottery once and didn't get the results we were hoping for is putting even more pressure on the results this year.

We had terrible luck in PK3 and PK4, then got our #1 choice in K. It *does* happen, just might take a few tries. I kept the faith and you should too! Though I admit the weeks efore he K results I'd started browsing Moco real estate listings and feeling despair....

NP here - Were you ever worried your #1 would disappoint? I think that's my bigger fear. What is the 1 or 2 schools we've been wanting don't work out, then we have to switch yet again.

Yes, of course I worried about that. But I recognize that no school is perfect, and while I miss some things about our IB that my kid attended for PK3 and PK4, I did my rankings very carefully and have been mostly happy with how the #1 has worked out. And when I'm not happy, I remind myself that it's just elementary school. The real freaking out is going to take place when middle school looms.

NP. The other thing thta can and does happen is that even if #1 is a strong school, it turns out to be the wrong school for your particular child. It's tough to predict learning style, personality and so forth when they are 2.5-3 yo. Best laid plans and all that.

This is an excellent point. With so many of these schools, I'm wondering what's the reality behind the slick marketing materials, particularly when it comes to some of the HRCS that I've visited...and of course, there is the learning style of my 4 yo, of which I'm not certain...

This assertion is getting so annoying. I don't know one person that eyes a HRCS because of marketing material. Maybe before a school opens. For the most part, people regard these schools highly after speaking to CURRENT families, attending school events, talking to teachers, and seeing classes in action.