Feeder system huh?

[Anonymous]

Can someone help me with this? We will be new to DC this summer. I have two boys heading into 4th and 5th grade at Janney. We are definitely renting this house for two years which means that one will be in Deal and one heading into Deal when our lease is up. I don't know if we will extend the lease or frankly have a clue beyond these two years but if we moved outside of the Deal boundaries (are there boundaries?), or outside of the Janney boundaries at that time will my boys still go to Deal? Is that how the feeder system works?

[Anonymous]

Here is link to boundary maps. http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Learn+About+Schools/Find+Your+Assigned+Schools

[Anonymous]

No, your boys would go to the school that is in bounds when you move. There is an out of bounds lottery every Feb. that will fill any spaces left after in bounds kids are admitted (a long shot at deal because it is so popular). Kids admitted out of bounds can stay even if they move.

[Anonymous]

No, the feeder system only applies to children who are out of bounds when they begin. They specifically exclude families who move in for a year or two, because they believe that is working the system. You would need to apply OOB.

[Anonymous]

Once you are in a DCPS seat and remain in the jurisdiction you have rights to follow the feeder pattern of that school without having to apply as an out of boundary student. Every school is issued a letter that explains this on a yearly basis. Therefore if your 4th and 5th grade students attend Janney this year, and your then next years students at 5th grade at Janney and 6th grade at Deal, your 5th grade student will still have rights to the Deal seat without having to apply OOB should you move mid year. However, you would also have the option to attend your in boundary school in your new neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

No, your have the right to move up that year as a 6th grader. As a 7th grader Deal will move you out. You are no longer in boundary.

[Anonymous]

As you can see, there are differences of opinion on this question. It's a subtle one. Right now, for many schools, it is a "don't ask, don't tell." Probably, for Deal especially, which is getting more popular with the in boundary students, it is likely that someone who is admitted as in boundary, and move OOB, will not be allowed to continue enrollment.

But the answer is subtle now, and unknowable for 2 years from now.

[Anonymous]

The "Feeder" System applies to In Boundary residents or students who gained on OOB spot. If you are no longer in-boundary, you must go through the lottery....regardless of the point in the school year when you move out of boundary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As you can see, there are differences of opinion on this question. It's a subtle one. Right now, for many schools, it is a "don't ask, don't tell." Probably, for Deal especially, which is getting more popular with the in boundary students, it is likely that someone who is admitted as in boundary, and move OOB, will not be allowed to continue enrollment.

But the answer is subtle now, and unknowable for 2 years from now.

The actual rules are not subtle or unknowable. It's pretty clear. As other posters correctly said, the feeder rules apply ONLY if you live in-boundary (and continue to live in-boundary), or if you get in through the out-of-boundary lottery. So if you start out in-boundary, and then move so you're out-of-boundary, you don't get to continue at that school (unless you get a spot through the out-of-boundary lottery).

However, whether the rules will actually get enforced is hard to predict. So that may be why 11:00 said it's unknowable.

[Anonymous]

NP here: Forgetting about the feeder scenario, what if you start a school in-boundary, e.g. Janney and move out of boundary the following year, do you get to continue at the school thru 5th grade and then go on to your new in-boundary middle school (e.g., not Deal)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here: Forgetting about the feeder scenario, what if you start a school in-boundary, e.g. Janney and move out of boundary the following year, do you get to continue at the school thru 5th grade and then go on to your new in-boundary middle school (e.g., not Deal)?

Official answer is no. However, principals have discretion to allow on a case by case basis. However, word is that more principals (WOTP) are not using their discretion to allow it due to overcrowding of in bound kids and preventing people work the system (move in bounds for a year for purpose of getting and then move back after enrollment).

[Anonymous]

No! It is not up to the Principal. If you move out of boundary, your child is not longer entitled to the spot. You would be eligible for a spot in your new neighborhood.

It is not that complicated. Check with your child's school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No! It is not up to the Principal. If you move out of boundary, your child is not longer entitled to the spot. You would be eligible for a spot in your new neighborhood.

It is not that complicated. Check with your child's school.

Wrong. Principals have all kinds of discretion. Just look at the waitlist management - you show up to "check" on your child's status enough times (making the *right* impression) and you will get in. Nobody monitors this. And once you are in a school and a valued member of the PTA? The school will do everything to keep you.

Yes.