Lafayette PK4 lottery- Bumped down!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its probably not people moving in boundary that is bumping OP down the waitlist, but older kids with siblings getting in off the waitlist.

My eldest has been offered spots at a couple of charter schools this summer and each time, his younger brother moves to the #1 spot on the waitlist for that particular school.

No, because older kids don't lottery into Lafayette unless they are OOB, in which case their younger siblings would not move ahead of OP's IB kid.

What I'm not sure about: if people with an older kid and a PKer move IB, they could enroll their older kid, but if they hadn't played the lottery for PK, would they still be able to get their younger one on the waitlist ahead of people who lotteried? I would think not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its probably not people moving in boundary that is bumping OP down the waitlist, but older kids with siblings getting in off the waitlist.

My eldest has been offered spots at a couple of charter schools this summer and each time, his younger brother moves to the #1 spot on the waitlist for that particular school.

No, because older kids don't lottery into Lafayette unless they are OOB, in which case their younger siblings would not move ahead of OP's IB kid.

What I'm not sure about: if people with an older kid and a PKer move IB, they could enroll their older kid, but if they hadn't played the lottery for PK, would they still be able to get their younger one on the waitlist ahead of people who lotteried? I would think not.

Yes, if they are IB with a sibling they will jump ahead of all of the regular IB kids without siblings regardless of when they lottery. In other words, a family with two kids can move in in August and their younger kid jumps to the top of the waitlist above anyone without a sibling.
- PP with lots of experience with this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its probably not people moving in boundary that is bumping OP down the waitlist, but older kids with siblings getting in off the waitlist.

My eldest has been offered spots at a couple of charter schools this summer and each time, his younger brother moves to the #1 spot on the waitlist for that particular school.

No, because older kids don't lottery into Lafayette unless they are OOB, in which case their younger siblings would not move ahead of OP's IB kid.

What I'm not sure about: if people with an older kid and a PKer move IB, they could enroll their older kid, but if they hadn't played the lottery for PK, would they still be able to get their younger one on the waitlist ahead of people who lotteried? I would think not.

Yes, if they are IB with a sibling they will jump ahead of all of the regular IB kids without siblings regardless of when they lottery. In other words, a family with two kids can move in in August and their younger kid jumps to the top of the waitlist above anyone without a sibling.
- PP with lots of experience with this

But how can this be, given that IB families HAVE to lottery for PK? When the lottery is closed, isn't it closed to everybody? How can someone who hasn't played the lottery jump ahead of someone who did?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its probably not people moving in boundary that is bumping OP down the waitlist, but older kids with siblings getting in off the waitlist.

My eldest has been offered spots at a couple of charter schools this summer and each time, his younger brother moves to the #1 spot on the waitlist for that particular school.

No, because older kids don't lottery into Lafayette unless they are OOB, in which case their younger siblings would not move ahead of OP's IB kid.

What I'm not sure about: if people with an older kid and a PKer move IB, they could enroll their older kid, but if they hadn't played the lottery for PK, would they still be able to get their younger one on the waitlist ahead of people who lotteried? I would think not.

Yes, if they are IB with a sibling they will jump ahead of all of the regular IB kids without siblings regardless of when they lottery. In other words, a family with two kids can move in in August and their younger kid jumps to the top of the waitlist above anyone without a sibling.
- PP with lots of experience with this

But how can this be, given that IB families HAVE to lottery for PK? When the lottery is closed, isn't it closed to everybody? How can someone who hasn't played the lottery jump ahead of someone who did?

I think that even if you enter the lottery now, you jump to your new placement. But also, these folks may have entered the lottery OOB and gotten ranked 500th; now their rank gets updated to reflect their newly acquired preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its probably not people moving in boundary that is bumping OP down the waitlist, but older kids with siblings getting in off the waitlist.

My eldest has been offered spots at a couple of charter schools this summer and each time, his younger brother moves to the #1 spot on the waitlist for that particular school.

No, because older kids don't lottery into Lafayette unless they are OOB, in which case their younger siblings would not move ahead of OP's IB kid.

What I'm not sure about: if people with an older kid and a PKer move IB, they could enroll their older kid, but if they hadn't played the lottery for PK, would they still be able to get their younger one on the waitlist ahead of people who lotteried? I would think not.

Yes, if they are IB with a sibling they will jump ahead of all of the regular IB kids without siblings regardless of when they lottery. In other words, a family with two kids can move in in August and their younger kid jumps to the top of the waitlist above anyone without a sibling.
- PP with lots of experience with this

But how can this be, given that IB families HAVE to lottery for PK? When the lottery is closed, isn't it closed to everybody? How can someone who hasn't played the lottery jump ahead of someone who did?

You do a post lottery application and jump to your place within your “tier”, whether that be IB with sibling, IB or whatever. If you do post lottery, you are going to be at the bottom of the IB with sibling tier, but chances are there is no one ahead of you anyway since all the other siblings got in off the bat (few schools waitlist any IB with sibling kids).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its probably not people moving in boundary that is bumping OP down the waitlist, but older kids with siblings getting in off the waitlist.

My eldest has been offered spots at a couple of charter schools this summer and each time, his younger brother moves to the #1 spot on the waitlist for that particular school.

No, because older kids don't lottery into Lafayette unless they are OOB, in which case their younger siblings would not move ahead of OP's IB kid.

What I'm not sure about: if people with an older kid and a PKer move IB, they could enroll their older kid, but if they hadn't played the lottery for PK, would they still be able to get their younger one on the waitlist ahead of people who lotteried? I would think not.

Yes, if they are IB with a sibling they will jump ahead of all of the regular IB kids without siblings regardless of when they lottery. In other words, a family with two kids can move in in August and their younger kid jumps to the top of the waitlist above anyone without a sibling.
- PP with lots of experience with this

But how can this be, given that IB families HAVE to lottery for PK? When the lottery is closed, isn't it closed to everybody? How can someone who hasn't played the lottery jump ahead of someone who did?

You do a post lottery application and jump to your place within your “tier”, whether that be IB with sibling, IB or whatever. If you do post lottery, you are going to be at the bottom of the IB with sibling tier, but chances are there is no one ahead of you anyway since all the other siblings got in off the bat (few schools waitlist any IB with sibling kids).

Yeah, after thinking some more about this I figured this is how it works. Makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its probably not people moving in boundary that is bumping OP down the waitlist, but older kids with siblings getting in off the waitlist.

My eldest has been offered spots at a couple of charter schools this summer and each time, his younger brother moves to the #1 spot on the waitlist for that particular school.

No, because older kids don't lottery into Lafayette unless they are OOB, in which case their younger siblings would not move ahead of OP's IB kid.

What I'm not sure about: if people with an older kid and a PKer move IB, they could enroll their older kid, but if they hadn't played the lottery for PK, would they still be able to get their younger one on the waitlist ahead of people who lotteried? I would think not.

Yes, if they are IB with a sibling they will jump ahead of all of the regular IB kids without siblings regardless of when they lottery. In other words, a family with two kids can move in in August and their younger kid jumps to the top of the waitlist above anyone without a sibling.
- PP with lots of experience with this

But how can this be, given that IB families HAVE to lottery for PK? When the lottery is closed, isn't it closed to everybody? How can someone who hasn't played the lottery jump ahead of someone who did?

You do a post lottery application and jump to your place within your “tier”, whether that be IB with sibling, IB or whatever. If you do post lottery, you are going to be at the bottom of the IB with sibling tier, but chances are there is no one ahead of you anyway since all the other siblings got in off the bat (few schools waitlist any IB with sibling kids).

Yeah, after thinking some more about this I figured this is how it works. Makes sense.

It can also be families that lived IB - but recently decided to enroll at Lafayette. For example, maybe they lived in Glover Park - and moved to Chevy Chase 2 years ago. They kept their kids at Stodert through the school year and realized that their now PreKer would not clear the waitlist so decided to move all of their kids into their IB school.

Or they have a K child who went to private PreK last year since they did not clear the waitlist last year. This year decided to enroll at Lafayette and just got around to it.

There are lots of stories. The challenge is that now, many families are settled and you may not get the call until Sept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow. How about the kids who were below me on the wait list- #1 through 16? They just got lucky enough to squeeze in before the new people moved into the neighborhood. That's my only issue.

And you're lucky enough to afford a house in bounds for Lafayette and by next year you'll be guaranteed a spot there. You know who's really not lucky? People whose DCPS is failing by every measure and repeatedly get terrible lottery draws, so they don't get any decent charter as an alternative.

This too shall pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow. How about the kids who were below me on the wait list- #1 through 16? They just got lucky enough to squeeze in before the new people moved into the neighborhood. That's my only issue.

And you're lucky enough to afford a house in bounds for Lafayette and by next year you'll be guaranteed a spot there. You know who's really not lucky? People whose DCPS is failing by every measure and repeatedly get terrible lottery draws, so they don't get any decent charter as an alternative.

This too shall pass.

This. OP, if free preschool were so important to you, you could have bought in any number of school zones. You didn't. And I'm guessing there is a reason for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow. How about the kids who were below me on the wait list- #1 through 16? They just got lucky enough to squeeze in before the new people moved into the neighborhood. That's my only issue.

And you're lucky enough to afford a house in bounds for Lafayette and by next year you'll be guaranteed a spot there. You know who's really not lucky? People whose DCPS is failing by every measure and repeatedly get terrible lottery draws, so they don't get any decent charter as an alternative.

This too shall pass.

This. OP, if free preschool were so important to you, you could have bought in any number of school zones. You didn't. And I'm guessing there is a reason for that.

Or put some realistic options on your list of schools, for the event that you get a bad master number.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow. How about the kids who were below me on the wait list- #1 through 16? They just got lucky enough to squeeze in before the new people moved into the neighborhood. That's my only issue.

And you're lucky enough to afford a house in bounds for Lafayette and by next year you'll be guaranteed a spot there. You know who's really not lucky? People whose DCPS is failing by every measure and repeatedly get terrible lottery draws, so they don't get any decent charter as an alternative.

This too shall pass.

This. OP, if free preschool were so important to you, you could have bought in any number of school zones. You didn't. And I'm guessing there is a reason for that.

Or put some realistic options on your list of schools, for the event that you get a bad master number.

Everyone knows you have 0 chance at Oyster for PreK unless your are Spanish Speaking. Why would you even waste a spot on your lottery card for it if your 1st choice is your neighborhood school. You can whine that you did not get in anywhere - but it is like only applying to the IVYs with average marks and saying you were shut out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow. How about the kids who were below me on the wait list- #1 through 16? They just got lucky enough to squeeze in before the new people moved into the neighborhood. That's my only issue.

And you're lucky enough to afford a house in bounds for Lafayette and by next year you'll be guaranteed a spot there. You know who's really not lucky? People whose DCPS is failing by every measure and repeatedly get terrible lottery draws, so they don't get any decent charter as an alternative.

This too shall pass.

This. OP, if free preschool were so important to you, you could have bought in any number of school zones. You didn't. And I'm guessing there is a reason for that.

Or put some realistic options on your list of schools, for the event that you get a bad master number.

Everyone knows you have 0 chance at Oyster for PreK unless your are Spanish Speaking. Why would you even waste a spot on your lottery card for it if your 1st choice is your neighborhood school. You can whine that you did not get in anywhere - but it is like only applying to the IVYs with average marks and saying you were shut out.

This. OP, you could have put real safety schools if you wanted to. Take Military Road for a few miles east and you'd have options.

[Anonymous]

OP just wanted to vent. Good grief. OP, I can imagine that your situation is frustrating. I hope that everything works out better than you expect it to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow. How about the kids who were below me on the wait list- #1 through 16? They just got lucky enough to squeeze in before the new people moved into the neighborhood. That's my only issue.

And you're lucky enough to afford a house in bounds for Lafayette and by next year you'll be guaranteed a spot there. You know who's really not lucky? People whose DCPS is failing by every measure and repeatedly get terrible lottery draws, so they don't get any decent charter as an alternative.

This too shall pass.

This. OP, if free preschool were so important to you, you could have bought in any number of school zones. You didn't. And I'm guessing there is a reason for that.

Or put some realistic options on your list of schools, for the event that you get a bad master number.

Everyone knows you have 0 chance at Oyster for PreK unless your are Spanish Speaking. Why would you even waste a spot on your lottery card for it if your 1st choice is your neighborhood school. You can whine that you did not get in anywhere - but it is like only applying to the IVYs with average marks and saying you were shut out.

Wait, does listing a school you won't get in (Oyster) above your inbounds school decrease your chances for the inbound school?!?!?

Serious question. I have looked hard to find info about the algorithm - and haven't been able to answer this question.

[Anonymous]

That is how the cookie crumbles, OP. We were in the same place as you last year but our number was almost double yours and we are inbound. The going up and down made me crazy, but there is fluctuation. We finally did get in well after the school year started, but by that time we paid in full to our private preschool. So we will be starting Lafayette K with lots of others. There are worse things. Most places don’t have universal preschool; you shouldn’t feel entitled to this.