Anyone else disillusioned with the whole process?

[Anonymous]

I always find it interesting DC uses "school choice and lottery" as a selling point. If people really knew how many desirable spots there were, they'd laugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I’m in the same boat but just starting with PK3. We are AA as well and your concerns are in line with ours. I’ve had to come to the realization that a move outside to neighboring counties might just be what happens with us in a few years.

We are also AA and planning to de-camp to Howard County before 3rd grade.

My DC had terrible lottery numbers 3 years in a row. We had the same plan to flee when he was a toddler. Fortunately that third year there was a lot of waitlist movement and we finally lucked into a school that has been fantastic for my DC by every measure. As early as 1st grade the school did pullouts for children that were ahead academically. He has other opportunities that I never had growing up. Also there are children who look like him that are also succeeding and push him to work even harder. I played the lottery for 1st and 2nd (because I’m paranoid like that) and did get into several of our former top choices both years. Turned them down and my oldest will be in 4th next year. Who knows, we still may head to the suburbs, but frankly most suburban schools haven’t exactly mastered achievement gap issues either.

It’s tough and this process sucks, but just wanted to give you guys some hope.

[Anonymous]

IMO,
HRCS are Overrated with unexperienced, young teachers that have no classroom management. At first parents are happy to see a room of diverse faces but it quickly crumbles when parents have high demands and teachers don't have the tools to communicate or truly differentiate in the classroom. If you talk to anyone in detail at a HRCS, you will find a disgruntled, unfilled parent and school experience.

My advice is to find schools with a solid teaching staff. In Elementary, your child will flourish in most any environment - solid teachers are the key. In Middle school, you need to look at their peers. Teachers probably have less of an influence because of their peers so choose wisely.

For now pick a school where your children will be cared for and plan carefully for Middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello all,

Sorry to be a debbie downer. But, I have become disillusioned with the lottery process. For the last two years, I've attended open houses and informational sessions and agonized about rankings, and which schools to list. Both years, however, I haven't exactly struck the lottery. Now my DC is going to K and I just picked a few schools that I liked, said a quick prayer and pressed submit.

I know I should feel like this, but I'm so concerned that my DC won't end up in the right place. DC is fairly advanced and I want whatever school she attends to continue to extend her learning. DC is AA so I'm also concerned about her falling in with the wrong peer group and I've heard that AA students can sometimes just get lumped in and fall in with the wrong crowd despite the individual characteristics of that child and her background.

That said, I believe in public schools. I attended public schools for K-12 in a large city, but I went to magnets with GT curriculums and DC doesn't offer this.

You say disillusioned; I say realistic. I did exactly what you did when our first was in the lottery for PK3. However, after looking at the non-IB placement numbers, I realized just how much of a lottery this is: i.e., small chance for a big reward.

Since that initial lottery submission (for our first and subsequent child), my process has been 1 night of "research" and submitting.

[Anonymous]

OP, as a parent to another early elementary AA child and lottery veteran, I empathize. What school is your child in now, and what general area do you live in? Based on this, perhaps we could give some realistic suggestions.

[Anonymous]

The lack of GT programs is a big problem. AA parents need to group together and demand change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, as a parent to another early elementary AA child and lottery veteran, I empathize. What school is your child in now, and what general area do you live in? Based on this, perhaps we could give some realistic suggestions.

DC is at Appletree. PK3, we didn't love it--it was a little too rigid and we felt like it stifled DC a bit. It may have been partly due to the teachers and partly due to the Appletree model being a bit too much for a 3 year old. This year, however, DC has had excellent teachers and it's been much more age appropriate in our view.

We live Petworth/Brightwood Park. I work downtown and DH works in MoCo so we would love Shepherd. I just don't know if its realistic with so few spots. I would also love Inspired Teaching, but honestly who wouldn't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The lack of GT programs is a big problem. AA parents need to group together and demand change.

I agree. It's absurd. DC misses out on the opportunity to foster the intelligence and creativity of its best and brightest earlier. Honestly if there were GT programs, I would be more willing to send DD to her neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I’m in the same boat but just starting with PK3. We are AA as well and your concerns are in line with ours. I’ve had to come to the realization that a move outside to neighboring counties might just be what happens with us in a few years.

We are also AA and planning to de-camp to Howard County before 3rd grade.

My DC had terrible lottery numbers 3 years in a row. We had the same plan to flee when he was a toddler. Fortunately that third year there was a lot of waitlist movement and we finally lucked into a school that has been fantastic for my DC by every measure. As early as 1st grade the school did pullouts for children that were ahead academically. He has other opportunities that I never had growing up. Also there are children who look like him that are also succeeding and push him to work even harder. I played the lottery for 1st and 2nd (because I’m paranoid like that) and did get into several of our former top choices both years. Turned them down and my oldest will be in 4th next year. Who knows, we still may head to the suburbs, but frankly most suburban schools haven’t exactly mastered achievement gap issues either.

It’s tough and this process sucks, but just wanted to give you guys some hope.

Thanks for this. I wish you and your fam the best. Hopefully, I strike the lottery (literally) in a few weeks.

[Anonymous]

I agree that it sucks. It has so many unintended consequences. It's not just the lottery but the "choice" system as a whole. We landed at a top choice at PK3 and yet wonder if something better is out there, worry about its appropriateness for our child over time, about the middle school option, etc. I am happy to have our child learning Spanish from age 3, which isn't common, but on the other hand the trade-offs for the system as a whole seem huge. I think all this energy could be better spent improving one school instead of switching schools frequently and pitting them against one another for students and resources. I can see how our neighborhood schools will never improve (unless they change, for instance GT or magnet programs), but I also value the unique methods of teaching and learning that are provided at the charters - for the select few, anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IMO,
HRCS are Overrated with unexperienced, young teachers that have no classroom management. At first parents are happy to see a room of diverse faces but it quickly crumbles when parents have high demands and teachers don't have the tools to communicate or truly differentiate in the classroom. If you talk to anyone in detail at a HRCS, you will find a disgruntled, unfilled parent and school experience.

My advice is to find schools with a solid teaching staff. In Elementary, your child will flourish in most any environment - solid teachers are the key. In Middle school, you need to look at their peers. Teachers probably have less of an influence because of their peers so choose wisely.

For now pick a school where your children will be cared for and plan carefully for Middle school.

I agree with this post but the middle school feeder patterns make it hard to not be worried in PK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, as a parent to another early elementary AA child and lottery veteran, I empathize. What school is your child in now, and what general area do you live in? Based on this, perhaps we could give some realistic suggestions.

DC is at Appletree. PK3, we didn't love it--it was a little too rigid and we felt like it stifled DC a bit. It may have been partly due to the teachers and partly due to the Appletree model being a bit too much for a 3 year old. This year, however, DC has had excellent teachers and it's been much more age appropriate in our view.

We live Petworth/Brightwood Park. I work downtown and DH works in MoCo so we would love Shepherd. I just don't know if its realistic with so few spots. I would also love Inspired Teaching, but honestly who wouldn't?

PP here--we actually really liked Appletree CH when we toured a few years ago--kids and staff seemed happy, and liked their evidence-based approach to educational outcomes. Ultimately, we ranked our IB (Shepherd) first. Actually, plenty of folks from your neighborhood send their kids to Shepherd, and there should be a few spaces available, so I'd list it for K. You never know. Sounds like it would work great for commutes, too.

As for ITS, I also liked their philosophy and we enjoyed that tour too. We have friends (also AA) that loved the school at first, but found that it didn't meet their kids' needs after a few years. Of course, this was a few years ago, so info is dated, and I would still list it--you can always do more research if your kids get in.

In addition to Shepherd, what else would people suggest as schools with a reasonable chance of getting in and good fit for OP--Takoma? West?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, as a parent to another early elementary AA child and lottery veteran, I empathize. What school is your child in now, and what general area do you live in? Based on this, perhaps we could give some realistic suggestions.

DC is at Appletree. PK3, we didn't love it--it was a little too rigid and we felt like it stifled DC a bit. It may have been partly due to the teachers and partly due to the Appletree model being a bit too much for a 3 year old. This year, however, DC has had excellent teachers and it's been much more age appropriate in our view.

We live Petworth/Brightwood Park. I work downtown and DH works in MoCo so we would love Shepherd. I just don't know if its realistic with so few spots. I would also love Inspired Teaching, but honestly who wouldn't?

PP here--we actually really liked Appletree CH when we toured a few years ago--kids and staff seemed happy, and liked their evidence-based approach to educational outcomes. Ultimately, we ranked our IB (Shepherd) first. Actually, plenty of folks from your neighborhood send their kids to Shepherd, and there should be a few spaces available, so I'd list it for K. You never know. Sounds like it would work great for commutes, too.

As for ITS, I also liked their philosophy and we enjoyed that tour too. We have friends (also AA) that loved the school at first, but found that it didn't meet their kids' needs after a few years. Of course, this was a few years ago, so info is dated, and I would still list it--you can always do more research if your kids get in.

In addition to Shepherd, what else would people suggest as schools with a reasonable chance of getting in and good fit for OP--Takoma? West?

PP again, and a couple more thoughts--would you consider language immersion schools if you can support it? Might be some additional options there.

Also, I know you said that you just selected a few options, but I would use all 12 options. Might as well maximize chances with a good mix of long shots and safeties, since it's your kid's third year in the lottery. I would want to give a college effort one last time before considering other options, like moving to a Deal/Hardy feeder, trying for private/parochial, or moving to MD.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Takoma is possible, because they are expanding now that 6th grade will be at New North. And because there are people there who get lucky in the lottery and leave after PK for what they think are better schools. Good building and the arts program is real -- I live nearby (older kids) and see children going to and from with string or brass instruments in tow.

Unproven middle school feed, but increasing energy about it from families in the neighborhood and of course OP's kid won't be ready for that for 6 years -- a lifetime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, as a parent to another early elementary AA child and lottery veteran, I empathize. What school is your child in now, and what general area do you live in? Based on this, perhaps we could give some realistic suggestions.

DC is at Appletree. PK3, we didn't love it--it was a little too rigid and we felt like it stifled DC a bit. It may have been partly due to the teachers and partly due to the Appletree model being a bit too much for a 3 year old. This year, however, DC has had excellent teachers and it's been much more age appropriate in our view.

We live Petworth/Brightwood Park. I work downtown and DH works in MoCo so we would love Shepherd. I just don't know if its realistic with so few spots. I would also love Inspired Teaching, but honestly who wouldn't?

PP here--we actually really liked Appletree CH when we toured a few years ago--kids and staff seemed happy, and liked their evidence-based approach to educational outcomes. Ultimately, we ranked our IB (Shepherd) first. Actually, plenty of folks from your neighborhood send their kids to Shepherd, and there should be a few spaces available, so I'd list it for K. You never know. Sounds like it would work great for commutes, too.

As for ITS, I also liked their philosophy and we enjoyed that tour too. We have friends (also AA) that loved the school at first, but found that it didn't meet their kids' needs after a few years. Of course, this was a few years ago, so info is dated, and I would still list it--you can always do more research if your kids get in.

In addition to Shepherd, what else would people suggest as schools with a reasonable chance of getting in and good fit for OP--Takoma? West?

PP again, and a couple more thoughts--would you consider language immersion schools if you can support it? Might be some additional options there.

Also, I know you said that you just selected a few options, but I would use all 12 options. Might as well maximize chances with a good mix of long shots and safeties, since it's your kid's third year in the lottery. I would want to give a college effort one last time before considering other options, like moving to a Deal/Hardy feeder, trying for private/parochial, or moving to MD.

Good luck!

OP here, I'm super risk averse when it comes to my kids education. So, I'm using all the 12 options. Here they are:

Mann
Eaton
Hyde Addison
Shepherd
Ludlow-Taylor
El Haynes
Yu Ying
Inspired Teaching
Two Rivers
Lee Montessori
Breakthrough
Mundo Verde at 8th