Can my daughter go to ES in the district where her grandma lives?

[tomoko528]

We are parents who work full time and live in Silver Spring. We just started thinking about ES for our 3-year-old daughter. Her grandmother lives in Potomac. So we want our daughter to go to ES in her grandma's district so that her grandma can pick her up after school and stay with her until we come back from work. Is it possible? And how can we do that? When should we start the application to the schools?

I'm from Japan so I'm not very familiar with school system here.....Your advice would be very appreciated. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Have you called the school and asked them?

[Anonymous]

You could have to apply for a hardship transfer and the principal would have to approve it. I don't think your chances are high especially if the Potomac school is over crowded (and it probably is). I am not sure where you work but having to drive to Potomac every day to pick up and drop off is a big commitment. Check before and aftercare options at your local school.

[Anonymous]

Search for COSA (change of school assignment) on the MCPS site (and on these boards) for lots of info.

[tomoko528]

Thank you very much for the response. First I will try to talk to the school and see if there is any chance. Are there good schools in Silver Spring?

[Anonymous]

I've known several people who got COSA's due to the location of the child's afterschool caregiver, so you probably have a good chance.

[Anonymous]

Search on this forum for COSA and you will see the mixed results. You can go here to find your assigned school: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/ and then come back for feedback about that specfic school. Silver Spring is huge and there is a wide range of quality. Some are excellent, some are not (and my kids go to ES in Silver Spring).

Your child has to be 5 years old by the first day of kindergarten--you should start the registration process in the spring of that year.

[Anonymous]

tomoko528 wrote:Thank you very much for the response. First I will try to talk to the school and see if there is any chance. Are there good schools in Silver Spring?

You have to provide proof of residency for whatever school you attend. The school will give you a list of what's acceptable, but it's the parents residence that matters. Like another PP, I've known some kids who got hardship transfers due to afterschool care issues.

[Anonymous]

My kids attend ES in 2 schools in Potomac. Many of their classmates did not live in the neighborhood zone. I think you have an excellent chance if you present your case. We understand the hardship of 2 hard working parents that are not around. Your child is lucky to have a grand parent around in the neighborhood. Investigate, read all the rules carefully and good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Search on this forum for COSA and you will see the mixed results. You can go here to find your assigned school: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/ and then come back for feedback about that specfic school. Silver Spring is huge and there is a wide range of quality. Some are excellent, some are not (and my kids go to ES in Silver Spring).

Your child has to be 5 years old by the first day of kindergarten--you should start the registration process in the spring of that year.

Thank you very much for the information. I checked the school assignment and it seems that we are in the district of Sligo Creek ES. I found many comments about French program of the school but since my daughter is already learning Japanese and Spanish from her parents I don't think it's a good idea for her to learn French (and it seems that there is a long waiting list for the program anyways). I haven't found enough reviews of the school itself.

So my understanding so far is that if we want to try school assignment change on the ground of "hardships," first we need to register to a local school in the spring of the year my daughter turns 5 and then ask for the assignment change?

Sorry for many questions...I don't have many mommy friends here. And in Japan, kids are automatically enrolled to a local school and there are not much difference among public elementary schools...

[Anonymous]

Your daughter would not be enrolled in the French immersion program at her home school unless you apply and win a spot - it is a very competitive lottery. Otherwise she would simply be doing the regular MCPS curriculum at Sligo. People do try to cheat the residency system with relatives; our next door neighbors had their granddaughter at least PT and enrolled her in our Chevy Chase elementary school for a few years. The other thing to consider is that at least one of the Potomac elementaries is under construction now; kids are being bussed to another school for the next year or two, one which is 10 miles away. Sorry I forget which one, but if you do apply for a COSA you should be sure to investigate this aspect. The stories on this board about parents applying for COSA based on proximity to child care suggest you shouldn't bank on the prospect of getting an application approved.

[Anonymous]

Beverly Farms is the elementary school currently under construction in Potomac. I believe it is supposed to open sometime in 2013.

[Anonymous]

So my understanding so far is that if we want to try school assignment change on the ground of "hardships," first we need to register to a local school in the spring of the year my daughter turns 5 and then ask for the assignment change?

Kindergarten enrollment/registration takes place in April/May, depending on the school, but check the paperwork for the COSA. You might need to have the assignment changed first, but it all happens the spring of that year. There are a lot of strong opinions on this board about changing a child's school assignment, but the bottom line is, you do what is best for your child and your family. State your case on the form, and if you're denied, appeal it and see what happens.

[Anonymous]

Before you go to the trouble trying to get your kid in the Potomac E.S, make that drive from SS to Potomac twice a day for 2 weeks and see how you like it. I grew up in Potomac, live in Silver Spring and it took me 40 minutes one way to drive to my parents house on a weekday 15 years ago before they sold it. I have heard good things about Sligo Creek Elementary School.

You need to be realistic about your time. If you already work hard and long jobs, do you really have the time at the beginning and end of the day to make that drive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Thank you very much for the information. I checked the school assignment and it seems that we are in the district of Sligo Creek ES. I found many comments about French program of the school but since my daughter is already learning Japanese and Spanish from her parents I don't think it's a good idea for her to learn French (and it seems that there is a long waiting list for the program anyways). I haven't found enough reviews of the school itself.

So my understanding so far is that if we want to try school assignment change on the ground of "hardships," first we need to register to a local school in the spring of the year my daughter turns 5 and then ask for the assignment change?

Sorry for many questions...I don't have many mommy friends here. And in Japan, kids are automatically enrolled to a local school and there are not much difference among public elementary schools...

They don't differ that much here either. And children are automatically enrolled in a local school here as well. You don't need to send your child across town.