Highly UNscientific proof that the common lottery worked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was matched with my #2 school and have made peace with that choice. To me it seems to have worked very well, because I am waitlisted in the top ten at my #1 choice, and have not yet received a call asking if I want that spot. This means that those who matched truly wanted those spots, and weren't just grabbing as many spots as they could.

You've got to be effing joking! You've "made peace" with your number 2 spot?????!! Do you know how many of us didn't even get the option of "making peace with" our NUMBER TWELVE choice?

In all fairness to the first poster I also got in my 2nd choice and have made "peace" with it, but trust me it's nowhere any of you would be jealous of.

Well why did you list it #2 then?

Was being realistic about my commuting options. Not all areas are filled with HRC schools.

[Anonymous]

I have always understood the word lottery to mean someon will win and someone will loose and definition two to be that if a lottery is neccessary it is a scarce good.

Lots and lots of reasons that high quality public education should not be based on a "lottery" but that has been the point of a lot of education reformers paradoxally both on the pro and anti-charter side.

The fact is that DC is now in the midst of one of the largest social experiments in American education system since mid-last century. Unlike many on these posts I can't quite decide if charters are saving us or dividing us, but they are facts on the ground and lot of us in borderline neighborhoods are going to have to reconcile ourselves to their impact and maybe get a lot more activist in our neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Hear hear! Let's all work on our neighborhood schools, whether we were lottery winners or losers! (I mean that earnestly; so much sarcasm here that I want to be clear.)

[Anonymous]

I kind of wish the lottery was first and then you attended open houses and picked your school. I wouldn't feel like I wasted 2 months attending open houses and getting my hopes up for schools where we stood no chance of getting in.

[Anonymous]

You've got to be effing joking! You've "made peace" with your number 2 spot?????!! Do you know how many of us didn't even get the option of "making peace with" our NUMBER TWELVE choice

I think you missed the whole point of my post. The lottery worked. I would have preferred my #1 choice, and am in the top 10 on their waitlist. In past years, being in the top ten would have guaranteed me a seat in my #1 choice because you'd have more people in the lottery who weren't serious about their choice, but just throwing their hat in anywhere they could.

and before you start shrieking at me about getting in to my #2 choice -- I was not one of your competitors in the PK lottery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You've got to be effing joking! You've "made peace" with your number 2 spot?????!! Do you know how many of us didn't even get the option of "making peace with" our NUMBER TWELVE choice

I think you missed the whole point of my post. The lottery worked. I would have preferred my #1 choice, and am in the top 10 on their waitlist. In past years, being in the top ten would have guaranteed me a seat in my #1 choice because you'd have more people in the lottery who weren't serious about their choice, but just throwing their hat in anywhere they could.

and before you start shrieking at me about getting in to my #2 choice -- I was not one of your competitors in the PK lottery

The lottery worked for you just like a lottery works for anyone who wins it - even if they don't win the big jackpot. For others, who play but don't win anything, the lottery doesn't work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was matched with my #2 school and have made peace with that choice. To me it seems to have worked very well, because I am waitlisted in the top ten at my #1 choice, and have not yet received a call asking if I want that spot. This means that those who matched truly wanted those spots, and weren't just grabbing as many spots as they could.

You've got to be effing joking! You've "made peace" with your number 2 spot?????!! Do you know how many of us didn't even get the option of "making peace with" our NUMBER TWELVE choice?

Calm down. There is no need to begrudge someone who got into their second choice with a chance to get into their first. This is they way it should work. When the 1st choice is offered the 2nd choice will be relinquished to the next person who was pulled in the lottery that ranked the school, but received a placement at a lower ranked school. This is exactly how a lottery system should work. When you enter a lottery "winning" is based purely on luck. I was completely shut out last year, but received two offers at the beginning of the school year. The offers were actually for schools where my waitlist number was in the 100s. I am certain the same thing will happen this year for those who were shut out if they are willing to place their child on waitlists for upcoming schools. There are quite a few hidden gems.

[Anonymous]

Yes let's all work on our neighborhood schools. And I am being serious about that too. With an added comment that I wish people would stop pitting neighborhood school against close-to-neighborhood school. Let each community do their work and applaud them for it.

[Anonymous]

Curious what are hidden gems in your eyes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You've got to be effing joking! You've "made peace" with your number 2 spot?????!! Do you know how many of us didn't even get the option of "making peace with" our NUMBER TWELVE choice

I think you missed the whole point of my post. The lottery worked. I would have preferred my #1 choice, and am in the top 10 on their waitlist. In past years, being in the top ten would have guaranteed me a seat in my #1 choice because you'd have more people in the lottery who weren't serious about their choice, but just throwing their hat in anywhere they could.

and before you start shrieking at me about getting in to my #2 choice -- I was not one of your competitors in the PK lottery

I wasn't in the PK lottery so you may well have been my competitor. The lottery worked FOR YOU. It did not "work" for those of us shut out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was matched with my #2 school and have made peace with that choice. To me it seems to have worked very well, because I am waitlisted in the top ten at my #1 choice, and have not yet received a call asking if I want that spot. This means that those who matched truly wanted those spots, and weren't just grabbing as many spots as they could.

You've got to be effing joking! You've "made peace" with your number 2 spot?????!! Do you know how many of us didn't even get the option of "making peace with" our NUMBER TWELVE choice?

Calm down. There is no need to begrudge someone who got into their second choice with a chance to get into their first. This is they way it should work. When the 1st choice is offered the 2nd choice will be relinquished to the next person who was pulled in the lottery that ranked the school, but received a placement at a lower ranked school. This is exactly how a lottery system should work. When you enter a lottery "winning" is based purely on luck. I was completely shut out last year, but received two offers at the beginning of the school year. The offers were actually for schools where my waitlist number was in the 100s. I am certain the same thing will happen this year for those who were shut out if they are willing to place their child on waitlists for upcoming schools. There are quite a few hidden gems.

You're missing the point. Someone who get in to their 2nd choice is damn lucky. They need to appreciate that and not come in here and claim that they've "made peace" with second choice as if choice number two isn't winning the jackpot. It is.

And, yeah, I've been through this rodeo before. This is my third go around, so I know well how it works (this year and in past), but thanks for your explanation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The lottery is an advertisement for improving neighborhood by right schools.

Hmm, not really. I'm not going to my neighborhood school; I got into my #2 choice HRCS. I'm actually much happier than I would be if I got into my neighborhood school. I think your perspective depends on where you live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You've got to be effing joking! You've "made peace" with your number 2 spot?????!! Do you know how many of us didn't even get the option of "making peace with" our NUMBER TWELVE choice

I think you missed the whole point of my post. The lottery worked. I would have preferred my #1 choice, and am in the top 10 on their waitlist. In past years, being in the top ten would have guaranteed me a seat in my #1 choice because you'd have more people in the lottery who weren't serious about their choice, but just throwing their hat in anywhere they could.

and before you start shrieking at me about getting in to my #2 choice -- I was not one of your competitors in the PK lottery

I wasn't in the PK lottery so you may well have been my competitor. The lottery worked FOR YOU. It did not "work" for those of us shut out.

I think you're confusing "working" and "winning." If you didn't rank your IB school, or if you don't wish to attend it at K or above, you ran the risk of getting shut out. The lottery "works" when it maximizes use of seats and places the most people possible in schools they ranked highest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes let's all work on our neighborhood schools. And I am being serious about that too. With an added comment that I wish people would stop pitting neighborhood school against close-to-neighborhood school. Let each community do their work and applaud them for it.

The trouble is that your neighborhood school is not really "yours".

You and many others in your neighborhood will contribute to the success of your school. You'll give money to the PTA, chaperon field trips, lend a hand on beautification day, serve as a mystery reader, etc. Even before your DC gets to "your" school, you'll contribute by ensuring that DC is prepared to start K.

Years from now, however, when you school is successful, others will take your school away from you in the name of equity and social justice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes let's all work on our neighborhood schools. And I am being serious about that too. With an added comment that I wish people would stop pitting neighborhood school against close-to-neighborhood school. Let each community do their work and applaud them for it.

The trouble is that your neighborhood school is not really "yours".

You and many others in your neighborhood will contribute to the success of your school. You'll give money to the PTA, chaperon field trips, lend a hand on beautification day, serve as a mystery reader, etc. Even before your DC gets to "your" school, you'll contribute by ensuring that DC is prepared to start K.

Years from now, however, when you school is successful, others will take your school away from you in the name of equity and social justice.

And "diversity" -- watch for that word -- it's something most everyone thinks is good - like "choice" but I think DME will soon be using it work toward weakening neighborhood schools.