Anyone know if there is an OOB process for non-District residents for charter schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here again. My child is in K now. It doesn't look like charter is going to be an option since the language programs are so popular. I'm going to focus my attention on other DCPS schools that offer language options, even some west of the park. Since all OOB applicants go into the same pool with DCPS, we have a better chance. Dropping off AND picking up anywhere in NW is going to be a challenge given where we live in MD, but I'll just throw the dice and see what happens.

I am not sure I understand what you mean by you have a better chance because "all OOB applicants go into the same pool" in DCPS. OOB applicants that live in DC have priority over OOB applicants from outside DC, the same as with the DC charter schools. I believe the only process advantage is that it is a centralized process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks for the information. To answer the question from the pp, I am a MD resident and the language immersion options are very limited here. I do not work in DC, but I am committed to my children learning a second language. But am I looking for the impossible in a school?

* academically rich
* racially & socioeconomically diverse
* engaged, friendly community of parents
* strong, decisive, communicative leadership
* "great" teachers

I know, I know, this is a topic for another thread altogether. But since I am just beginning this school journey, I am still shocked by the limited choices. Not looking for a fight, really, just thinking out loud.

Hi OP, I don't think you're asking for too much and it's a shame schools like you describe aren't readily available in more school districts. Fairfax County really is a national leader in immersion programs, with lots of options. Arlington has a few Spanish programs that are supposed to be good. DC has a number of immersion options (multiple Spanish options, French, and Mandarin) because charters are so strong here. It's funny how politics makes for strange bedfellows - charters were something that the Republican Congress pretty much shoved down DC's throat 10 years ago and yet they've become tremendously popular in the bluest-of-blue states (if you can call DC a state - not that I mean to pick a fight over that). Montgomery County appears to rest on its laurels in that there are some great schools in Bethesda, but the red/green school map really highlights where the weak spots are. And there really aren't the language choices available which the neighboring school districts seem to offer - for whatever reason. Good luck in your search and/or in the lotteries.

I'm a Republican and my child attends a charter in DC. Sounds like we owe those Republican throat shover downers a big thank you!

Indeed.

[Anonymous]

There might be an advantage since for the OOB lottery you can only select a certain number of schools (5?). In theory for charters you can go into the lottery for every charter in DC. But either way - for the desired schools for OOB the chances are slim that there will be availability - but stranger things happen. Depending on the grade sometimes there is an opening where no one expected one. Being in the right place / right time helps.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it varies from school to school, but our immersion charter school (LAMB) admits only DC residing students. We are required to provide proof of DC residency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it varies from school to school, but our immersion charter school (LAMB) admits only DC residing students. We are required to provide proof of DC residency.

I'm willing to bet that if LAMB went through its entire waitlist and still had vacancies it would accept non-residents. They'd just have to pay the DC tuition. Check your charter or with your board. It would be financially foolish NOT to fill up a slot and take the non-resident tuition $. It's the same amount of money as the per-pupil spending after all.

Here's the thing: LAMB's waitlist is so long that whereas it is hypothetically possible for a non-resident to get in, in the land of reality - that simply isn't going to happen.

As a PP pointed out however, it might be a more realistic possibility at Elsie Whitlow Stokes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here again. My child is in K now. It doesn't look like charter is going to be an option since the language programs are so popular. I'm going to focus my attention on other DCPS schools that offer language options, even some west of the park. Since all OOB applicants go into the same pool with DCPS, we have a better chance. Dropping off AND picking up anywhere in NW is going to be a challenge given where we live in MD, but I'll just throw the dice and see what happens.

I am not sure I understand what you mean by you have a better chance because "all OOB applicants go into the same pool" in DCPS. OOB applicants that live in DC have priority over OOB applicants from outside DC, the same as with the DC charter schools. I believe the only process advantage is that it is a centralized process.

Op here. PP, your statement is simply not true (see tempers flare right about now). My child is currently in a "popular language program" at a DCPS school, is not a DC resident and there are DC residents on the waiting list. I don't know what DCPS would state is their current policy (we started in PK), but I know we were selected in the lottery.

[Anonymous]

You are right. My temper is flaring. I am pleased for you OP, but this is so unfair for DC residents.

[Anonymous]

As a taxpaying DC resisdent, I think this is pretty outrageous. We should conatct Rhee's office to object.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here again. My child is in K now. It doesn't look like charter is going to be an option since the language programs are so popular. I'm going to focus my attention on other DCPS schools that offer language options, even some west of the park. Since all OOB applicants go into the same pool with DCPS, we have a better chance. Dropping off AND picking up anywhere in NW is going to be a challenge given where we live in MD, but I'll just throw the dice and see what happens.

I am not sure I understand what you mean by you have a better chance because "all OOB applicants go into the same pool" in DCPS. OOB applicants that live in DC have priority over OOB applicants from outside DC, the same as with the DC charter schools. I believe the only process advantage is that it is a centralized process.

Op here. PP, your statement is simply not true (see tempers flare right about now). My child is currently in a "popular language program" at a DCPS school, is not a DC resident and there are DC residents on the waiting list. I don't know what DCPS would state is their current policy (we started in PK), but I know we were selected in the lottery.

I call Shenanigans. The only DCPS school with an immersion program is Oyster and there's ZERO chance a non-resident is taking any of those spots.

[Anonymous]

Child of OP is currently in K. LAMB only takes students in the early grades, I believe preK3 and preK4. they feel students need to be in the Montessori educational approach by this time. So, unless the policy has changed, no new K, no new 1st, etc. I think they've had higher than expected drop out which means smaller classes in upper levels than anticipated.

[Anonymous]

It sounds as if OP's child got into the school prior to the centralized lottery that was done for the first time last spring. I am pretty sure the law is that non DC residents are admitted only if there is room after all DC resident children are admitted.

It may be that OP's school did not follow the rules doing its own lottery or that at the time of its lottery there were more slots than DC applicants. Once a student is in, they do not kick him/her out for a resident.

I also question the characterization of the DCPS her child is in as popular language program. Maybe it is, but there have been very few OOB spots of any kind in the desirable DCPS pre-K classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds as if OP's child got into the school prior to the centralized lottery that was done for the first time last spring. I am pretty sure the law is that non DC residents are admitted only if there is room after all DC resident children are admitted.

It may be that OP's school did not follow the rules doing its own lottery or that at the time of its lottery there were more slots than DC applicants. Once a student is in, they do not kick him/her out for a resident.

I also question the characterization of the DCPS her child is in as popular language program. Maybe it is, but there have been very few OOB spots of any kind in the desirable DCPS pre-K classrooms.

I do too. Other than Oyster, what else in DCPS is there? Do you suppose she means Thomson? I think they have an hour of Chinese FLES...

[Anonymous]

Tyler ES on the Hill has an immersion program. I think they are 90/10 (90% spanish, that is) in PS, PK and K. Then 50/50 thereafter or so I've heard.

[Anonymous]

Bancroft has a dual language program modeled after Oyster.
Half the day is in English and half in Spanish.
They also have 2 teachers in each classroom

[Anonymous]

Yeah. Temper flaring!

My mom has been complaining to me for some time about all people with MD plates pulling up to drop their kids off at Peabody elementary school. I always assumed these were people who lied about their addresses to get in, but you are telling me they might be there LEGALLY???