Critique my list! (or give thoughts)
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Anonymous
Wells |
Anonymous
Right. Unlike last year, first time ever doing this anxiety - we are more than OK to strike out here and stay where we are and worry about the MS/HS feeder another year. This is muchhh less stressful for PK4 and assuming onward than it was last year. |
Anonymous
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Keep in mind that the Spanish DCI feeder schools now have a preference, not a guarantee. You may be of the opinion that a 60% chance is better than nothing, or you may not want to put all of your eggs in that year’s lottery results basket and want something with an actual guarantee locked in by mid-upper elementary. I wouldn’t want to deal with that scramble in sixth grade (especially since you wouldn’t have Latin and Basis as options anymore), but YMMV.
I’m guessing you’re somewhere like Sela and are lotterying primarily for the middle school. We’re in the same boat and are only lotterying for Hardy/Deal feeders. If we’re happy at our school now and only want to have to move once, then we’re just not interested in gambling on a preference. But again, YMMV. If I were you, I would list Shepherd first, then the rest of the JR feeders in order of commute and preference. Some are very overcrowded and have very different vibes from others. You have a zero percent shot at Bancroft and probably a few others, but if you have the spots, then can’t hurt. Then Yu Ying and LAMB (because it has the best odds out of the Spanish feeders), then the rest IF you are comfortable with the preference/guarantee situation. |
Anonymous
Everything below Lewis might as well not be on the list. I think this is a weird list, particularly for PK4, but if it's your true preference then there's no reason to rearrange it. If I were you I'd just lottery for the first 3, where an extra year makes sense because of the language requirement, and stick with Sela until K if you don't get the world's best lottery number. |
Anonymous
Lewis and below would be for the DCPS vibe, non charter (other than Cap) and a school setting unlike where he goes now (Sela). The MS/HS would be an issue but the culture versus where is he now may outweigh that short term. |
Anonymous
My point is you will get into Lewis before Whittier or Takoma, so all of those will fall off. It's fine to use all twelve spots just for the feel of a full list, but be aware of which ones are pulling their weight and which are just ink. |
Anonymous
Ahh, yeah. I get it. FWIW, I don't think we get into any of the 12 and that's OK. I like sharing the list on here for feedback. Years past it used to seem like there was a lot more list fun threads versus this year. I may move Shepherd to #1 based on the comment above with DCI not being as much of a guarantee anymore for LAMB/DCB.. |
Anonymous
I miss the lottery threads too, OP |
Anonymous
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I think LAMB is pretty much still a guarantee for DCI because it hasn't expanded.
DCB may not be a guarantee for DCI, but I would seriously consider if you prefer Spanish or Chinese as far as immersion. Although if your currently at Sela, you probably have a good idea at how your kid does with a new language. We were in bound at Lewis but opted for a charter, but the school is beautiful and I think parents are happy there. We re-added it to our list post lottery and still got an offer by mid-summer, although did have IB preference. Either way, I bet you get in. |
Anonymous
Ha, that was me, glad my (hard won) words of wisdom were helpful! One more thought - you may have terrible odds now, but you’ll have very good odds at Whittier, Takoma, Lewis, (and others that feed into Wells/MacFarland) starting in kindergarten or first. If you don’t see yourself at Sela through elementary (does it get small in upper grades because of the lack of feeder?), then I would spend this year REALLY getting to know your local elementary options. There are a lot of VERY solid, diverse DCPS elementary schools that a lot of non-competitive families happily send their kids to. Not to sound like a tool, but I’m not the only Ivy degree at our Title 1 DCPS by far. Lots of very smart, engaged, chill families who just didn’t buy into the lottery insanity. Many of us are lotterying for middle school options, but would happily stay through fifth if the perfect option doesn’t pan out. All of your neighborhood DCPS options have different strengths. Talk to parents in middle elementary grades, and really think about the commute. Being able to walk is AMAZING and in another year or two an easy walkable commute may be much higher value. Assuming all are within 1-1.5 walkable miles, I’d personally do Lewis (SEM and arts program), Takoma (DCYOP and Spanish aftercare), then Whittier (totally solid, but I don’t think has a “hook” like the others). But if one is significantly closer than the other, I’d rank that first and plan on Kindergarten or first being the year you make the move. |
Anonymous
LAMB is going to begin limited backfilling in elementary, so I don’t think the “effective” guarantee is as certain anymore. Still much better than other schools, but they won’t have planned attrition matching DCI seats like they do now. I would not do DCB over Powell if I could walk to Powell and had to do Riggs Rd to DCB every day. The reputation for weak academics really shows in the surprisingly low PARCC scores. I know more than one average to slightly above average DCB elementary student that seems to know less than I would expect for their grade and background. They just seem to care more about community and socio-emotional than academics. Powell doesn’t really wow me either, but DCB really underwhelms if you have a bright kid and aren’t super COVID cautious anymore. |
Anonymous
OP, list the Spanish immersion high with the feed to DCI than ones with no middle school feed. It’s 60% if every kid is going to go to DCI which they don’t so your chances are higher as some move out of the area, move out of DC, etc…. This especially if you don’t want to move out of the city. I would estimate more like 70-80% chance for DCI. Compare that with your IB school if MacFarland, it’s 0% in my book. That is a huge difference and then you won’t have to stress out every year worrying about middle school because the years go by fast. In addition you get the benefits or your kid knowing Spanish. Then you see how things shake out with the lottery for 6th with a very good chance for DCI. Your kid won’t even remember your current school 6-8 months into starting the new school. BTW if you are happy where you live, the commute to WOTP can be a big hassle for school and then going back with rush hour trying to get downtown. Not something to take lightly. |
Anonymous
LAMB is not a guarantee because they expanded at South Dakota but still very good chance for DCI like the other schools who expanded. |
Anonymous
Wells parent here. We’re having a great experience and I am happy to talk to you about it, even though it’s so many years away for you. If you’re happy at your charter and IB for Wells, no problem to just skip the lottery and enroll at Wells by right at that time. If you’re concerned about upper elementary for your charter, Whittier was really great for us and will be in a new building by the time you’re that age. |
Anonymous
| Insane to have LAMB but not stokes. |