What were your 6 picks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is a link to the FAQs, which has a pretty good breakdown of the process: http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Files/downloads/Learn-About-Schools/Preschool%20and%20Pre-K/2013%20PSPK%20Lottery%20FAQ_.pdf.

To reiterate, ranking a school #1 does not mean you are only competing against others who ranked in #1, and conversely, ranking a school #6 does not destroy your chances of getting in. Here is a quick example. The process is automated, but this is a step by step breakdown of what happens:

Let's say your picks were as follows:

Janney
Murch
Mann
Lafayette
Key
Barnard (IB)

I intentionally chose the first five as schools that will only admit IB students in the initial lottery. Random numbers are generated for your child at each school as follows:

Janney - 5
Murch - 200
Mann - 3
Lafayette - 19
Key - 7
Barnard (IB) - 84

Hooray! Things are looking pretty good…until you consider that anyone with a preference will be placed first. Even though you had great numbers at Janney, Mann, Lafayette and Key, you will inevitably be pushed out by those with preference, who get placed first. Your good numbers will help get you good spots on the waitlist, but won’t get you in, and wouldn’t have no matter how you had ranked the schools. Even though your child was #84 at Barnard, only three children ahead of him (#1-83) had IB preference. Therefore, he ends up being #4 on the Barnard accepted list. He gets waitlisted at the first five schools based on his original lottery numbers. The process is automated, and you don't see all the steps above - you just get notification that he is waitlisted at the first five and admitted at Barnard.

Alternatively, if you had ranked Barnard as #1, he would have been #4 on the Barnard accepted list and that would have been it.

Very helpful, thank you. My overall impression was that the ranking order did not affect one's waitlist position, but it's helpful to see how it works in action.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The change in waitlist procedure will have the effect of more students who end up attending their IB school...Which im sure is a calculated decision by DCPS. In previous years families would have ranked their IB last because they knew they could count on a top waitlist number based on IB status. No more. So more families will now rank their IB first for fear of losing the most logistically convienient option. I know that's our case...we're IB for Barnard so we ranked it first. So unless we get into a charter we want more we'll likely be at Barnard this fall. However, I do not think DCPS did a good job advertising this very significant change in waitlist procedure and for this first year I think there will be many families who will be dismayed after the fact that their IB safety option is not available to them.

I think the Crisis Line will be getting so many calls of parents wondering why they didn't at least get into their IB school and now what are they supposed to do. There are enough incorrect comments on DCUM (in other words, tech savvy, literate, involved parents) that astound me about the lottery, and I don't know if the change has been made clear enough. Let's see what the fallout is. Could be that if people don't get into their IB because the lottery was unclear, they'll fall straight into the arms of the charters... Not sure if DCPS intended that or not, but it will remain to be seen what happens.

[Anonymous]

Parents might be upset at not having a shot at their IB "safety" school because of the ranking/waitlist changes, but on the flipside, that means they DID get in somewhere else (assuming they ranked the IB school #6). So that answer from the Crisis Line would be they are supposed to go with the option they chose ahead of their IB school if they want to enroll in DCPS. It's true the rule changes weren't advertised in neon and flashing lights, but it's not as if parents are going to suddenly have no school, unless they failed to list their IB school altogether.

If there are people who assume their children will be able to go to their IB school for PS-3 without going through the lottery system, that's just ignorance and failure to do your research. The new system has not changed the fact that you need to play the lottery, even for your IB school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The change in waitlist procedure will have the effect of more students who end up attending their IB school...Which im sure is a calculated decision by DCPS. In previous years families would have ranked their IB last because they knew they could count on a top waitlist number based on IB status. No more. So more families will now rank their IB first for fear of losing the most logistically convienient option. I know that's our case...we're IB for Barnard so we ranked it first. So unless we get into a charter we want more we'll likely be at Barnard this fall. However, I do not think DCPS did a good job advertising this very significant change in waitlist procedure and for this first year I think there will be many families who will be dismayed after the fact that their IB safety option is not available to them.

I think the Crisis Line will be getting so many calls of parents wondering why they didn't at least get into their IB school and now what are they supposed to do. There are enough incorrect comments on DCUM (in other words, tech savvy, literate, involved parents) that astound me about the lottery, and I don't know if the change has been made clear enough. Let's see what the fallout is. Could be that if people don't get into their IB because the lottery was unclear, they'll fall straight into the arms of the charters... Not sure if DCPS intended that or not, but it will remain to be seen what happens.

I'm not sure about that, actually. I mean, if they ranked their IB 6th and got in nowhere else, they are pretty likely to get in there. The scenario that is more likely is a family who ranked their IB last, won a spot at one of their higher choices but then the family has buyer's remorse and determines that they really would have prefered their IB school because their grand plan of driving across the city every day for the OOB school is just not realistic. But since they were offered a spot at that unrealisticly faraway school they no longer have a shot at their IB for PS/PK because the child's name appears nowhere on the waitlist. I think the new waitlist policies are smart and fair, but just poorly advertised and this first year is going to be rough when it all shakes out. I think this is a calculated plan to try and encourage people to pick their IB school in hopes that if a critical mass of middle class people send their kids they might actually stick it out beyond Kindergarten and thus create better neighborhood schools . But I agree that people will just leave for charters instead of being strongarmed into attending their IB schools if they aren't convinced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents might be upset at not having a shot at their IB "safety" school because of the ranking/waitlist changes, but on the flipside, that means they DID get in somewhere else (assuming they ranked the IB school #6). So that answer from the Crisis Line would be they are supposed to go with the option they chose ahead of their IB school if they want to enroll in DCPS. It's true the rule changes weren't advertised in neon and flashing lights, but it's not as if parents are going to suddenly have no school, unless they failed to list their IB school altogether.

If there are people who assume their children will be able to go to their IB school for PS-3 without going through the lottery system, that's just ignorance and failure to do your research. The new system has not changed the fact that you need to play the lottery, even for your IB school.

+100, thank you again. Some people are just not getting it and ready for an outcry. This is a good change, albeit small. If you didn't get into Barnard (IB) for PK because you got into Janey (not likely), what is your gripe?

[Anonymous]

You do kind of wonder if the process got really ugly about getting kicked off all waitlists below the school your kid gets in, whether DCPS could revive the way it worked last year if they HAD to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You do kind of wonder if the process got really ugly about getting kicked off all waitlists below the school your kid gets in, whether DCPS could revive the way it worked last year if they HAD to.

They can't play bait and switch with the rules unless they want to deal with lawsuits. Our family would have used a different strategy if the same waitlist procedures used in years past were used this year. But alas, we were made aware of the new rules and altered our strategy accordingly. So, while you might think DCPS would revert to the old rules in deference to complainers, there would be equal complaints from those of us who edcuated ourselves about the rules and played by them.

[Anonymous]

O.M.G. I'm sorry, but there would be just as much of an outcry if they CHANGED the process after the lottery results were distributed. What about all the people who followed the rules and put their IB school first just to ensure they would get in, even though they would have liked to have other options? No way they are changing it after the fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The change in waitlist procedure will have the effect of more students who end up attending their IB school...Which im sure is a calculated decision by DCPS. In previous years families would have ranked their IB last because they knew they could count on a top waitlist number based on IB status. No more. So more families will now rank their IB first for fear of losing the most logistically convienient option. I know that's our case...we're IB for Barnard so we ranked it first. So unless we get into a charter we want more we'll likely be at Barnard this fall. However, I do not think DCPS did a good job advertising this very significant change in waitlist procedure and for this first year I think there will be many families who will be dismayed after the fact that their IB safety option is not available to them.

I think the Crisis Line will be getting so many calls of parents wondering why they didn't at least get into their IB school and now what are they supposed to do. There are enough incorrect comments on DCUM (in other words, tech savvy, literate, involved parents) that astound me about the lottery, and I don't know if the change has been made clear enough. Let's see what the fallout is. Could be that if people don't get into their IB because the lottery was unclear, they'll fall straight into the arms of the charters... Not sure if DCPS intended that or not, but it will remain to be seen what happens.

I'm not sure about that, actually. I mean, if they ranked their IB 6th and got in nowhere else, they are pretty likely to get in there. The scenario that is more likely is a family who ranked their IB last, won a spot at one of their higher choices but then the family has buyer's remorse and determines that they really would have prefered their IB school because their grand plan of driving across the city every day for the OOB school is just not realistic. But since they were offered a spot at that unrealisticly faraway school they no longer have a shot at their IB for PS/PK because the child's name appears nowhere on the waitlist. I think the new waitlist policies are smart and fair, but just poorly advertised and this first year is going to be rough when it all shakes out. I think this is a calculated plan to try and encourage people to pick their IB school in hopes that if a critical mass of middle class people send their kids they might actually stick it out beyond Kindergarten and thus create better neighborhood schools . But I agree that people will just leave for charters instead of being strongarmed into attending their IB schools if they aren't convinced.

I'm the PP you quoted directly above you. I think we agree. The issue is going to be those who get into the OOB but not their IB because of the lottery ranking choosing the first listed school that's an "in." And those who think they will get to make a choice as lists move or "play" the system as it's been done in the past are really in for a shock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The change in waitlist procedure will have the effect of more students who end up attending their IB school...Which im sure is a calculated decision by DCPS. In previous years families would have ranked their IB last because they knew they could count on a top waitlist number based on IB status. No more. So more families will now rank their IB first for fear of losing the most logistically convienient option. I know that's our case...we're IB for Barnard so we ranked it first. So unless we get into a charter we want more we'll likely be at Barnard this fall. However, I do not think DCPS did a good job advertising this very significant change in waitlist procedure and for this first year I think there will be many families who will be dismayed after the fact that their IB safety option is not available to them.

I think the Crisis Line will be getting so many calls of parents wondering why they didn't at least get into their IB school and now what are they supposed to do. There are enough incorrect comments on DCUM (in other words, tech savvy, literate, involved parents) that astound me about the lottery, and I don't know if the change has been made clear enough. Let's see what the fallout is. Could be that if people don't get into their IB because the lottery was unclear, they'll fall straight into the arms of the charters... Not sure if DCPS intended that or not, but it will remain to be seen what happens.

I'm not sure about that, actually. I mean, if they ranked their IB 6th and got in nowhere else, they are pretty likely to get in there. The scenario that is more likely is a family who ranked their IB last, won a spot at one of their higher choices but then the family has buyer's remorse and determines that they really would have prefered their IB school because their grand plan of driving across the city every day for the OOB school is just not realistic. But since they were offered a spot at that unrealisticly faraway school they no longer have a shot at their IB for PS/PK because the child's name appears nowhere on the waitlist. I think the new waitlist policies are smart and fair, but just poorly advertised and this first year is going to be rough when it all shakes out. I think this is a calculated plan to try and encourage people to pick their IB school in hopes that if a critical mass of middle class people send their kids they might actually stick it out beyond Kindergarten and thus create better neighborhood schools . But I agree that people will just leave for charters instead of being strongarmed into attending their IB schools if they aren't convinced.

I'm the PP you quoted directly above you. I think we agree. The issue is going to be those who get into the OOB but not their IB because of the lottery ranking choosing the first listed school that's an "in." And those who think they will get to make a choice as lists move or "play" the system as it's been done in the past are really in for a shock.

Right, but the answer from the Crisis Team to the caller you describe is, "Madame, it appears you were offered a spot at XXX Elem. which you ranked 2nd out of 6 so I'm not sure why you are asking why you didn't "at least" get into you IB school, because you did even better, you got into a school you wanted more. Any more questions? OK. Bye-bye."

[Anonymous]

For PreK-4
1. Eaton
2. Hearst
3. Murch
4. Stoddert
5. Hyde-Addison
6. Tubman

I know most of these are a long shot. We are fine staying at our private preschool if we don't get in (I'm not convinced DCPS is cheaper once we factor in after-care/after-care nanny and summer camp).

[Anonymous]

DCPS is definitely cheaper.

????

[Anonymous]

Powell (IB)
Barnard
West
Bancroft
Cleveland
Cap Hill Montessori

man did i learn a lot today. still cramming after all these years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS is definitely cheaper.

????

You're right, just did some quick back-of-the-envelope math, and depending on whether we use a babysitter v. after care, and how fancy the camp is, maybe we'd save a few thousand. But, since DC2 is still in daycare, we may decide we'd rather the extra expense to avoid having two drop-offs/pick-ups for another year, particularly if it is not a school that we are in love with.

[Anonymous]

OOB for all for PS3
Ross
Garrison
Marie Reed Dual
Marie Reed
Bancroft
H D Cooke

We'll move to our inbounds JKLM for PK4