Will your child be guaranteed a spot at a DCPS if they are in boundary?

[Anonymous]

Just want to check this before we move to an area with an elementary school in mind.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

For neighborhoods schools, I think Pre-K is the only issue and that may be changing. We didn't get a Pre-K spot at our neighborhood school and had chosen private by the time K rolled around. Once Pre-K becomes universal, you should be guaranteed a slot, as you would be for other grades.

But note that not all DCPS schools are "neighborhood schools." Specialized programs (like Oyster) have their own admissions policies. I think being in boundary gives you an admissions advantage, but doesn't guarantee you a spot. Depends on slots available, language dominance, sibs of existing students, etc.

Also remember that the boundaries change. So if you're looking at a house that's on the edge of a boundary and you buy it years before your kids start school, you might end up at a different nearby school than the one you planned on.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who lived in boundary and the child did not get a spot at Hyde.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you very much for your response. We were actually considering moving to Woodley Park for Oyster, so that is very good to know!

[Anonymous]

What were they expected to do (the parents whose kid didn't get into Hyde)? It's a public school...it has to take anyone living in bounds. Oyster, also will take anyone living within it's boundaries. It is the kids applying to attend from outside the boundaries who may not gain a spot due to the factors mentioned. I think there may have been some misinformation in the previous postings.

[Anonymous]

Hyde found a spot for the child at another DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Living in Oyster's boundary absolutely guarantees a spot!!!! Usually, only Spanish-dominant out-of-boundary families are accepted, but everyone w/in the boundary is automatically in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you very much for your response. We were actually considering moving to Woodley Park for Oyster, so that is very good to know!

From kindergarten on - your child is guaranteed a spot at Oyster - and at ALL neighborhood schools. Prek is the only lottery year in DCPS.

As for the Hyde issue - Hyde has a magnet reading program - it is to this program that a child can be rejected - NOT from Hyde as a whole.

[Anonymous]

From Oyster's website: "Oyster enjoys an unusual dual status as a neighborhood school and as a school entirely devoted to a specialized program. Accordingly, all "in-boundary" children have a right to attend grades K-8, while "out-of-boundary" and pre-k applicants are admitted according to the school's selection criteria."