PK3/4 Vent-who didn't get in to their IB school..

[Anonymous]

Waitlisted #8 IB at Ross. At least I can write it off and look elsewhere. We have no chance.

[Anonymous]

Thing are not as bad as they seem. Some of you will get off wait lists (maybe not IB, but a WL) late in the game, August, September. If you want to take your chances on somewhat promising seeming PreS3 WL numbers, consider lining up a babysitter for September if you both work. We did that a couple years ago, and wound up with two good offers off WLs in mid Sept. Our initial IB remained hopeless, but we had a good PreS3 experience elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone WOTP?

Yes. Didn't get into Janney. It sucks, not least because I'd really like to start meeting more neighborhood families with same age kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is the lottery determined?? I also did not get into my inbounds school even with sibling preference. Which makes me wonder- how on earth is this process determined exactly? Is it a true lottery system where people are picked randomly after the tiers are set in place? If you have applied and didn't get in previously, does that increase your chances this year? And then I also heard a rumor that there are seats being held for possible special needs students and if they don't fill them up it will go to the wait listed candidates. Is this true?

At our school (not any of the ones mentioned), in PK3 and PK4, 1 seat per class is held for Early Stages placement. That seat is not available in the lottery at all. It is kept open all year in case Early Stages needs to place a child in that particular school. Some schools have better facilities for children with some disabilities than others, and Early Stages takes into account the child's needs as well as proximity to the school. That placement can occur at any time, including in the middle of the year when a child turns 3.

I was told by our principal that VERY RARELY Early Stages will relinquish a seat if asked, but that it's unusual and that principals prefer not to ask (I suspect because it's kind of a jerk thing to ask). Our PK3 and PK4 classes have had those seats filled mid-year, but they have also had the seats remain empty all year.

I get that you are upset that you did not get a place, but do not take your frustration out on the lottery process or the Early Stages students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those that worry about not getting into PK3 and PK4 at IB schools, you'll get in for K, right? Is the worry schooling for the two preK years mainly?

Yes the worry is the massive cost of two years private preschool. Plus commute. Plus other IB kids building friendships and community that you aren't a part of.

Okay, the third is just silly. Kids coming into kindergarten aren't going to be locked out of friendships with kids who were there in preschool, and if they are all IB, they are your neighbors already. Cost and commute are real concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the lottery determined?? I also did not get into my inbounds school even with sibling preference. Which makes me wonder- how on earth is this process determined exactly? Is it a true lottery system where people are picked randomly after the tiers are set in place? If you have applied and didn't get in previously, does that increase your chances this year? And then I also heard a rumor that there are seats being held for possible special needs students and if they don't fill them up it will go to the wait listed candidates. Is this true?

At our school (not any of the ones mentioned), in PK3 and PK4, 1 seat per class is held for Early Stages placement. That seat is not available in the lottery at all. It is kept open all year in case Early Stages needs to place a child in that particular school. Some schools have better facilities for children with some disabilities than others, and Early Stages takes into account the child's needs as well as proximity to the school. That placement can occur at any time, including in the middle of the year when a child turns 3.

I was told by our principal that VERY RARELY Early Stages will relinquish a seat if asked, but that it's unusual and that principals prefer not to ask (I suspect because it's kind of a jerk thing to ask). Our PK3 and PK4 classes have had those seats filled mid-year, but they have also had the seats remain empty all year.

I get that you are upset that you did not get a place, but do not take your frustration out on the lottery process or the Early Stages students.

Early stages kids rights don't conform to the 3 by Sept 30 rule. If they turn 3 in January and qualify, DCPS has to start them in PK3 immediately. That's why those seats stay open. They can be filled as late as May or June, in theory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone WOTP?

Yes. Didn't get into Janney. It sucks, not least because I'd really like to start meeting more neighborhood families with same age kids.

Go to St. Columba's!
Much of the Janney class will originate there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone WOTP?

Yes. Didn't get into Janney. It sucks, not least because I'd really like to start meeting more neighborhood families with same age kids.

Go to St. Columba's!
Much of the Janney class will originate there.

Agree. My son didn't get into PK 2 years ago and went to st Columbas. It's a pretty seamless transition from one to the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone WOTP?

Yes. Didn't get into Janney. It sucks, not least because I'd really like to start meeting more neighborhood families with same age kids.

Go to St. Columba's!
Much of the Janney class will originate there.

Agree. My son didn't get into PK 2 years ago and went to st Columbas. It's a pretty seamless transition from one to the other.

We would love to, but can't afford it for twins. We'll be commuting EOTP for another year where we are in PK3. It's ok and I was prepared for that knowing they cut PK classes at Janney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone WOTP?

Yes. Didn't get into Janney. It sucks, not least because I'd really like to start meeting more neighborhood families with same age kids.

Go to St. Columba's!
Much of the Janney class will originate there.

Agree. My son didn't get into PK 2 years ago and went to st Columbas. It's a pretty seamless transition from one to the other.

We would love to, but can't afford it for twins. We'll be commuting EOTP for another year where we are in PK3. It's ok and I was prepared for that knowing they cut PK classes at Janney.

Ditto

[Anonymous]

We were wait listed at our IB school - Ross, but got a match at Sela. It is very far away, but we will attempt it. We were way up in the 200s on the other lists and I know there is no chance that Ross will move enough to get us off list. Anyone else considering Sela?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who didn't get into Maury or Brent, have you thought about Tyler for PreK?

We are a current Tyler prek3 family and my kid's teacher is really really amazing.

Yes we have definitely thought about it (we are IB for Brent and did not get in). However we are in the 60s on the Tyler WL so that doesn't look promising either.

[Anonymous]

Can someone bottom line a couple of numbers for me, please? No IB/sibling preferences but #69 at J.O. Wilson and #156 School Without Walls, for Pre-K 3.... I just can't wrap my head around it. I know it will go up and down, and things will shake out a bit, but am I dreaming to think we'll get our kid into either of these schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone bottom line a couple of numbers for me, please? No IB/sibling preferences but #69 at J.O. Wilson and #156 School Without Walls, for Pre-K 3.... I just can't wrap my head around it. I know it will go up and down, and things will shake out a bit, but am I dreaming to think we'll get our kid into either of these schools?

JO Wilson's waitlist will move but that is still a tough number, I'd say a very small chance you will get in late summer or after the school year starts...You will not get SWS with that number

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were wait listed at our IB school - Ross, but got a match at Sela. It is very far away, but we will attempt it. We were way up in the 200s on the other lists and I know there is no chance that Ross will move enough to get us off list. Anyone else considering Sela?

My friend's child goes to Sela this year for PK3 and loves it. Rough commute for you, though.