Bad Lottery Number

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friendship Armstrong is what I’m considering to be our true safety. Based on last year’s waitlist movement, I think Shining Stars is as well.

Shining Stars is my safety. The commute works, the aftercare is affordable, and their PreK classrooms don't seem to have as many issues as their upper grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who got a bad lottery number— high 100 and 200s waitlist numbers at schools 1-11 and matched at 12th school— I would say expect and prepare for the worst. If you do not have a viable private option for PK3, take the time to find some safer bets to put in your list but ONLY put them on your list if you can truly see yourself being ok with sending your child there. I was not mentally prepared for a worst case scenario and felt as though we had no options even though we got matched somewhere because at the end of the day, I wasn’t actually comfortable with our 12th school. If you can find twelve schools that you can actually see your DC attending, you will feel so much more at ease leading up to results day. I know that’s easier said than done, but try to fully wrap your head around ending up at even your lowest ranked schools. Don’t put a school as a safety just to tell yourself you have some safeties. Assume that they will end up at school number 12. Of you can’t actually see your child there, find a solid private/daycare option so that you are able to only play your hand at schools you actually want to attend.

It is so hard to avoid the anxiety, frustration, jealousy that this system perpetuates. But I can say from my own experience, it will be ok and even if you don’t end up at a school you think you want now, your family will end up at the right school eventually and will ultimately thrive. I will also say that many of my friends that matched with those highly sought after charter schools we all think we want ended up being disappointed and those who felt they “lost” were so pleasantly surprised by the school they ended up at.

You will get through this and your child will be ok. They clearly have parents who are deeply invested in their education and overall well-being and that’s worth much more than any one school’s test scores or buzz or convenience.

It’s obvious you don’t mean us. We are very happy at our charter and many families we know also are happy. Our neighbor who was not as lucky went to our IB school. She pulled her child out after a year.

So depends at which charter and which IB school. Your blank statement in 2nd paragraph doesn’t apply to all.

[Anonymous]

/\ Which IB was this, PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who got a bad lottery number— high 100 and 200s waitlist numbers at schools 1-11 and matched at 12th school— I would say expect and prepare for the worst. If you do not have a viable private option for PK3, take the time to find some safer bets to put in your list but ONLY put them on your list if you can truly see yourself being ok with sending your child there. I was not mentally prepared for a worst case scenario and felt as though we had no options even though we got matched somewhere because at the end of the day, I wasn’t actually comfortable with our 12th school. If you can find twelve schools that you can actually see your DC attending, you will feel so much more at ease leading up to results day. I know that’s easier said than done, but try to fully wrap your head around ending up at even your lowest ranked schools. Don’t put a school as a safety just to tell yourself you have some safeties. Assume that they will end up at school number 12. Of you can’t actually see your child there, find a solid private/daycare option so that you are able to only play your hand at schools you actually want to attend.

It is so hard to avoid the anxiety, frustration, jealousy that this system perpetuates. But I can say from my own experience, it will be ok and even if you don’t end up at a school you think you want now, your family will end up at the right school eventually and will ultimately thrive. I will also say that many of my friends that matched with those highly sought after charter schools we all think we want ended up being disappointed and those who felt they “lost” were so pleasantly surprised by the school they ended up at.

You will get through this and your child will be ok. They clearly have parents who are deeply invested in their education and overall well-being and that’s worth much more than any one school’s test scores or buzz or convenience.

It’s obvious you don’t mean us. We are very happy at our charter and many families we know also are happy. Our neighbor who was not as lucky went to our IB school. She pulled her child out after a year.

So depends at which charter and which IB school. Your blank statement in 2nd paragraph doesn’t apply to all.

I was not trying to imply that this is always true. I was simply offering an alternate narrative to the one that seems to dominate lottery discussions. Getting into an HRCS does not always mean you’ve “won” the lottery and ending up at your IB does not inherently mean you have “lost.” Many people are very happy at these harder to get into charters but in my experience, I also have encountered more than a few families who end up feeling that those schools don’t live up to their hype. All I am trying to do is reassure families that the grass is not always greener and that there are many DCPS elementary schools that might be flying under the radar but are doing great things. My intent was not to suggest one objective truth but to reassure families that there can be silver linings to getting a “bad” lottery number.

[Anonymous]

Free Pre-K lol, you get what you pay for. It is like watching a bunch of hungry people fight over cake.

Why not just pay for some small group instructional early learning center that fits well with your kids personality? That way you avoid the whole puppy-mil construct that is DCPS pre-K. My neighbors do the rat race and drive their kid halfway across town all for the privilege of saving a few dollars a day. People are cheap

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Free Pre-K lol, you get what you pay for. It is like watching a bunch of hungry people fight over cake.

Why not just pay for some small group instructional early learning center that fits well with your kids personality? That way you avoid the whole puppy-mil construct that is DCPS pre-K. My neighbors do the rat race and drive their kid halfway across town all for the privilege of saving a few dollars a day. People are cheap

You 1,000% missed a key concept. You stress about pre-k because that can be the easiest entry years into elementary schools and if you get lucky, middle and high schools. There are PLENTY of options I would be good with for pre-k, but I worried my first year (and still worry, though less) about not ever getting a good enough lottery draw to have a decent elementary option. Plus you are in your elementary school starting in pre-k, then that's one (or two or three) fewer transitions you have to put your kid through instead of switching schools every few years. People who are in bounds for Deal feeders are not stressing this way, it's those of us in not so great DCPS zones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who got a bad lottery number— high 100 and 200s waitlist numbers at schools 1-11 and matched at 12th school— I would say expect and prepare for the worst. If you do not have a viable private option for PK3, take the time to find some safer bets to put in your list but ONLY put them on your list if you can truly see yourself being ok with sending your child there. I was not mentally prepared for a worst case scenario and felt as though we had no options even though we got matched somewhere because at the end of the day, I wasn’t actually comfortable with our 12th school. If you can find twelve schools that you can actually see your DC attending, you will feel so much more at ease leading up to results day. I know that’s easier said than done, but try to fully wrap your head around ending up at even your lowest ranked schools. Don’t put a school as a safety just to tell yourself you have some safeties. Assume that they will end up at school number 12. Of you can’t actually see your child there, find a solid private/daycare option so that you are able to only play your hand at schools you actually want to attend.

It is so hard to avoid the anxiety, frustration, jealousy that this system perpetuates. But I can say from my own experience, it will be ok and even if you don’t end up at a school you think you want now, your family will end up at the right school eventually and will ultimately thrive. I will also say that many of my friends that matched with those highly sought after charter schools we all think we want ended up being disappointed and those who felt they “lost” were so pleasantly surprised by the school they ended up at.

You will get through this and your child will be ok. They clearly have parents who are deeply invested in their education and overall well-being and that’s worth much more than any one school’s test scores or buzz or convenience.

It’s obvious you don’t mean us. We are very happy at our charter and many families we know also are happy. Our neighbor who was not as lucky went to our IB school. She pulled her child out after a year.

So depends at which charter and which IB school. Your blank statement in 2nd paragraph doesn’t apply to all.

I was not trying to imply that this is always true. I was simply offering an alternate narrative to the one that seems to dominate lottery discussions. Getting into an HRCS does not always mean you’ve “won” the lottery and ending up at your IB does not inherently mean you have “lost.” Many people are very happy at these harder to get into charters but in my experience, I also have encountered more than a few families who end up feeling that those schools don’t live up to their hype. All I am trying to do is reassure families that the grass is not always greener and that there are many DCPS elementary schools that might be flying under the radar but are doing great things. My intent was not to suggest one objective truth but to reassure families that there can be silver linings to getting a “bad” lottery number.

I agree with this! We're having a great experience at an "under the radar" school and parents in upper grades in the HRCS have similar concerns as the upper grade parents at my school. Reputation, and especially DCUM criticism, should be taken with a grain of salt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free Pre-K lol, you get what you pay for. It is like watching a bunch of hungry people fight over cake.

Why not just pay for some small group instructional early learning center that fits well with your kids personality? That way you avoid the whole puppy-mil construct that is DCPS pre-K. My neighbors do the rat race and drive their kid halfway across town all for the privilege of saving a few dollars a day. People are cheap

You 1,000% missed a key concept. You stress about pre-k because that can be the easiest entry years into elementary schools and if you get lucky, middle and high schools. There are PLENTY of options I would be good with for pre-k, but I worried my first year (and still worry, though less) about not ever getting a good enough lottery draw to have a decent elementary option. Plus you are in your elementary school starting in pre-k, then that's one (or two or three) fewer transitions you have to put your kid through instead of switching schools every few years. People who are in bounds for Deal feeders are not stressing this way, it's those of us in not so great DCPS zones.

This is the hidden process that just isn't apparent to most folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free Pre-K lol, you get what you pay for. It is like watching a bunch of hungry people fight over cake.

Why not just pay for some small group instructional early learning center that fits well with your kids personality? That way you avoid the whole puppy-mil construct that is DCPS pre-K. My neighbors do the rat race and drive their kid halfway across town all for the privilege of saving a few dollars a day. People are cheap

You 1,000% missed a key concept. You stress about pre-k because that can be the easiest entry years into elementary schools and if you get lucky, middle and high schools. There are PLENTY of options I would be good with for pre-k, but I worried my first year (and still worry, though less) about not ever getting a good enough lottery draw to have a decent elementary option. Plus you are in your elementary school starting in pre-k, then that's one (or two or three) fewer transitions you have to put your kid through instead of switching schools every few years. People who are in bounds for Deal feeders are not stressing this way, it's those of us in not so great DCPS zones.

This is the hidden process that just isn't apparent to most folks.

Yep, get in ECE at your top school and if you continue to be happy smooth sailing thru elementary, middle, and maybe even high school. We got really lucky in the lottery and such a huge relief not having to ever hopefully play again.

Get into one of your bottom choices and every year it’s a big stress to play again and again to then uproot your kid for another school and another school, and so forth. It also creates stress and instability for your kid and the transition is harder as they get older.

[Anonymous]

Also if you think the lottery for elementary schools EOTP are not in your favor, wait till you get to middle school and then high school.

Your chances significantly decreases even more then. Be prepared to go private or move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free Pre-K lol, you get what you pay for. It is like watching a bunch of hungry people fight over cake.

Why not just pay for some small group instructional early learning center that fits well with your kids personality? That way you avoid the whole puppy-mil construct that is DCPS pre-K. My neighbors do the rat race and drive their kid halfway across town all for the privilege of saving a few dollars a day. People are cheap

You 1,000% missed a key concept. You stress about pre-k because that can be the easiest entry years into elementary schools and if you get lucky, middle and high schools. There are PLENTY of options I would be good with for pre-k, but I worried my first year (and still worry, though less) about not ever getting a good enough lottery draw to have a decent elementary option. Plus you are in your elementary school starting in pre-k, then that's one (or two or three) fewer transitions you have to put your kid through instead of switching schools every few years. People who are in bounds for Deal feeders are not stressing this way, it's those of us in not so great DCPS zones.

Seems like you also 1000% missed a key concept: you avoid that worry over schools by choosing to live at a DC address zoned for schools acceptable to you. That you freely chose to live at an address that doesn’t have solid assigned schools K - 12 means you have prioritized other factors. Commute, square footage, owning vs rent, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free Pre-K lol, you get what you pay for. It is like watching a bunch of hungry people fight over cake.

Why not just pay for some small group instructional early learning center that fits well with your kids personality? That way you avoid the whole puppy-mil construct that is DCPS pre-K. My neighbors do the rat race and drive their kid halfway across town all for the privilege of saving a few dollars a day. People are cheap

You 1,000% missed a key concept. You stress about pre-k because that can be the easiest entry years into elementary schools and if you get lucky, middle and high schools. There are PLENTY of options I would be good with for pre-k, but I worried my first year (and still worry, though less) about not ever getting a good enough lottery draw to have a decent elementary option. Plus you are in your elementary school starting in pre-k, then that's one (or two or three) fewer transitions you have to put your kid through instead of switching schools every few years. People who are in bounds for Deal feeders are not stressing this way, it's those of us in not so great DCPS zones.

Seems like you also 1000% missed a key concept: you avoid that worry over schools by choosing to live at a DC address zoned for schools acceptable to you. That you freely chose to live at an address that doesn’t have solid assigned schools K - 12 means you have prioritized other factors. Commute, square footage, owning vs rent, etc.

Food, heat, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free Pre-K lol, you get what you pay for. It is like watching a bunch of hungry people fight over cake.

Why not just pay for some small group instructional early learning center that fits well with your kids personality? That way you avoid the whole puppy-mil construct that is DCPS pre-K. My neighbors do the rat race and drive their kid halfway across town all for the privilege of saving a few dollars a day. People are cheap

You 1,000% missed a key concept. You stress about pre-k because that can be the easiest entry years into elementary schools and if you get lucky, middle and high schools. There are PLENTY of options I would be good with for pre-k, but I worried my first year (and still worry, though less) about not ever getting a good enough lottery draw to have a decent elementary option. Plus you are in your elementary school starting in pre-k, then that's one (or two or three) fewer transitions you have to put your kid through instead of switching schools every few years. People who are in bounds for Deal feeders are not stressing this way, it's those of us in not so great DCPS zones.

Seems like you also 1000% missed a key concept: you avoid that worry over schools by choosing to live at a DC address zoned for schools acceptable to you. That you freely chose to live at an address that doesn’t have solid assigned schools K - 12 means you have prioritized other factors. Commute, square footage, owning vs rent, etc.

Food, heat, etc.

+1

Sometimes, the trolls on this board with all the DC hate.....must be jealousy, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free Pre-K lol, you get what you pay for. It is like watching a bunch of hungry people fight over cake.

Why not just pay for some small group instructional early learning center that fits well with your kids personality? That way you avoid the whole puppy-mil construct that is DCPS pre-K. My neighbors do the rat race and drive their kid halfway across town all for the privilege of saving a few dollars a day. People are cheap

You 1,000% missed a key concept. You stress about pre-k because that can be the easiest entry years into elementary schools and if you get lucky, middle and high schools. There are PLENTY of options I would be good with for pre-k, but I worried my first year (and still worry, though less) about not ever getting a good enough lottery draw to have a decent elementary option. Plus you are in your elementary school starting in pre-k, then that's one (or two or three) fewer transitions you have to put your kid through instead of switching schools every few years. People who are in bounds for Deal feeders are not stressing this way, it's those of us in not so great DCPS zones.

Seems like you also 1000% missed a key concept: you avoid that worry over schools by choosing to live at a DC address zoned for schools acceptable to you. That you freely chose to live at an address that doesn’t have solid assigned schools K - 12 means you have prioritized other factors. Commute, square footage, owning vs rent, etc.

It’s obvious PP, on their high horse, seems to think all families can afford to live in the areas in DC where all the schools are acceptable which is a major flaw in their argument. Above point not based on economic realities at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who got a bad lottery number— high 100 and 200s waitlist numbers at schools 1-11 and matched at 12th school— I would say expect and prepare for the worst. If you do not have a viable private option for PK3, take the time to find some safer bets to put in your list but ONLY put them on your list if you can truly see yourself being ok with sending your child there. I was not mentally prepared for a worst case scenario and felt as though we had no options even though we got matched somewhere because at the end of the day, I wasn’t actually comfortable with our 12th school. If you can find twelve schools that you can actually see your DC attending, you will feel so much more at ease leading up to results day. I know that’s easier said than done, but try to fully wrap your head around ending up at even your lowest ranked schools. Don’t put a school as a safety just to tell yourself you have some safeties. Assume that they will end up at school number 12. Of you can’t actually see your child there, find a solid private/daycare option so that you are able to only play your hand at schools you actually want to attend.

It is so hard to avoid the anxiety, frustration, jealousy that this system perpetuates. But I can say from my own experience, it will be ok and even if you don’t end up at a school you think you want now, your family will end up at the right school eventually and will ultimately thrive. I will also say that many of my friends that matched with those highly sought after charter schools we all think we want ended up being disappointed and those who felt they “lost” were so pleasantly surprised by the school they ended up at.

You will get through this and your child will be ok. They clearly have parents who are deeply invested in their education and overall well-being and that’s worth much more than any one school’s test scores or buzz or convenience.

+1. Be prepared to continually assess whether or not your child's school is a good fit, and it might be a different answer for each kid. We're not happy with our HRC DCI feeder that people are vying for. It's fine if your child is very middle of the bell curve, but it's terrible for special needs or advanced kids.

It's very challenging making these ranking decisions that affect the whole educational trajectory for a 3 year old. It's too young to know what kind of learner they are. Even if you love your school, be prepared to make another move if it turns out to not be a good fit later on. We thought we were done once we got into our #1 pick in PreK, but it wasn't a good fit.