What to do after ES charter?

[Anonymous]

At the moment, our kids are in a ES charter that we like. Our IB ES is not so good and neither is our IB MS. Looking forward to MS, we plan to apply to the "good" MS charters. But what to do if we don't get into one of them? Have you been in this situation? Did you move? Did you try your IB MS? Did you go private? TIA!

[Anonymous]

If they are of the age, you could switch them to a charter that offers MS.

[Anonymous]

More charters

[Anonymous]

That's the plan but what if we don't get into a charter?

[Anonymous]

I would play the charter lottery in the entry year (for grade 5, even though most ES go through 5) and if I didn't get in would move in-boundary for Deal or another acceptable middle school. (We are years away from this, so I'm hoping that there will be more acceptable public options.) Another option would be to transfer to a WOTP elementary for 5th grade that feeds to Deal if you don't get into any good charters. (5th grade is an easier entry year at a lot of the schools.)

[Anonymous]

Several good charters go thru 8th (e.g., Two Rivers) or 12th (Cap City, Haynes). Others are forming feeder upper schools like DCI. And, within a few years, there may be more DCPS options. Worst case: move or go private using the money you saved getting your kid a free PS-5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's the plan but what if we don't get into a charter?

This is a valid concern, but I suspect that the MS lotteries are not quite as competitive than those in ES entry grades at popular schools. Given attrition, there are some excellent Tier 1 MS charters (DC Prep, KIPP, Chavez Prep, Capital City, EL Haynes) which have 4th, 5th, 6th grade open seats. DC Prep had a 100% 8th grade Math proficiency rate, must be some kind of learning occuring there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's the plan but what if we don't get into a charter?

Unless you are able to pay for private, apply to charters and OOB schools that feed a MS choice you are comfortable with now even if your child is in a school you like.

I have seen a few families faced with the choice - move or go to a school they were not comfortable with b/c they wanted their child to finish up in the school they were in with their classmates.

[Anonymous]

IT is opening 6th grade next year as the first year in its middle school.

[Anonymous]

I would move to Loudon County after elementary school. Would not take any chances.

[Anonymous]

DH and I were just discussing this over dinner. We hope to lottery for Latin and Hardy if that doesn't work out we don't know. We both looked at each other with the confused face.

[Anonymous]

Would not risk it. Just move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's the plan but what if we don't get into a charter?

Unless you are able to pay for private, apply to charters and OOB schools that feed a MS choice you are comfortable with now even if your child is in a school you like.

I have seen a few families faced with the choice - move or go to a school they were not comfortable with b/c they wanted their child to finish up in the school they were in with their classmates.

I would NOT move to a DCPS elementary assuming the right to continue to the feeder middle will still be in place in 3+ years. I think that may change with the boundary realignment.

[Anonymous]

DCI is accepting applications from outside of its feeder schools too. dcinternationalschool.org/apply

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's the plan but what if we don't get into a charter?

This is a valid concern, but I suspect that the MS lotteries are not quite as competitive than those in ES entry grades at popular schools. Given attrition, there are some excellent Tier 1 MS charters (DC Prep, KIPP, Chavez Prep, Capital City, EL Haynes) which have 4th, 5th, 6th grade open seats. DC Prep had a 100% 8th grade Math proficiency rate, must be some kind of learning occuring there.

Impossible PP. There are far too many minority and low-SES children attending that school for this to be true. You know in DCUM world only the high SES and white children can excel.