Sibling Preference and Withdrawal

[Anonymous]

What happens if I withdraw my child after his younger sister got in thru sibling preference. Will the school kick out the new sibling since the sibling that got her in will no longer be going to that school? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the school and how well they reconcile such things, or if they like you, or if they have a healthy waitlist.

If it's a public charter, check the rules for sibling preference on the DC Public charter site. A few years ago the rules were vague enough that the school could have kept the younger sibling enrolled if they wanted to, but in our case, we were booted. They were going to have no problem filling our spots.

I hope you have a better outcome!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks. Were you booted after the newer sibling had already started school there or before? This school will definitely have no problems filling the space.

[Anonymous]

Our DCPS school allowed the sibling in which wasn't fair. I thought it was a little sketchy of the parents to do it.

[Anonymous]

Two Rivers boots you.

[Anonymous]

MV says they will boot you.

[Anonymous]

Um why would you do this??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um why would you do this??

To get a younger child in to a competitive school, in a competitive class.

I'm not encouraging it mind you, but I completely understand it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Older sibling has been at this school for a while but space just opened up at another school that is a better fit. Unfortunately, the younger sibling is too young for a spot at the new school.

[Anonymous]

16:15 here. School had not yet started. We were in a situation where we could not sacrifice the older child's safety and education just so our youngest could have a nice time in preschool. I don't know if there is any other way we could have played our cards, but I certainly don't regret moving on.

[studiojmm]

This has me confused about the way sibling preference works, because I thought it is also granted to siblings of alums of a school (though i can see this varying by charter). If the child got in, why wouldn't they still be in if their older sibling left?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on the school and how well they reconcile such things, or if they like you, or if they have a healthy waitlist.

If it's a public charter, check the rules for sibling preference on the DC Public charter site. A few years ago the rules were vague enough that the school could have kept the younger sibling enrolled if they wanted to, but in our case, we were booted. They were going to have no problem filling our spots.

I hope you have a better outcome!

In my opinion, that is the correct outcome. Schools shouldn't allow parents to manipulate the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on the school and how well they reconcile such things, or if they like you, or if they have a healthy waitlist.

If it's a public charter, check the rules for sibling preference on the DC Public charter site. A few years ago the rules were vague enough that the school could have kept the younger sibling enrolled if they wanted to, but in our case, we were booted. They were going to have no problem filling our spots.

I hope you have a better outcome!

In my opinion, that is the correct outcome. Schools shouldn't allow parents to manipulate the system.

Would your opinion change if the older sibling has been at the school for about two years but is now leaving because another school (which cannot take the younger sibling) is a better fit?

[Anonymous]

Would your opinion change if the older sibling has been at the school for about two years but is now leaving because another school (which cannot take the younger sibling) is a better fit?

Not at all. You have one kid attending the school - the younger one. You're using the older one to circumvent the lottery, then moving him. Why should your younger kid get preference over all the other kids who are in the exact same situation as he is - the only one in their family at the school?

(My opinion would be different if the younger kid was already in school for a year before the older one left. That's not an admissions question.)

If anything, charters should be vigilant about making sure these abuses don't occur. These are the kind of shennanigans that routinely happen in desirable DCPS elementaries. Charters should aspire to a higher standard.

[Anonymous]

studiojmm wrote:This has me confused about the way sibling preference works, because I thought it is also granted to siblings of alums of a school (though i can see this varying by charter). If the child got in, why wouldn't they still be in if their older sibling left?

You are granted sibling preference if your child has an older sibling who has graduated (within 2 years) from the school - last year that's what the forms stated (and I know one family for whom this worked, even though the elder sibling had moved onto middle school 2 years before. Note, this was DCPS's lottery form, not sure what charters do.