ATS and Science Focus lotteries

[Anonymous]

When is the lotterydone for these 2 schools for K? And then when do parents find out and have to decide?

[Anonymous]

I didn't realize they actually conducted a science focus lottery any more. I thought it was 100% in-boundary admittance only. I probably read these boards too much!

[Anonymous]

For ATS it's usually around April 15. Letters are sent home after that. I called to find out, after someone else told me that she had called. I think they give you a couple of weeks -- but you can always pull your kid out and go back to your neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

Science Focus really doesn't have a 'lottery'. Unlike ATS, it has a neighborhood zone. Due to kid population in that zone---there are very few spots left for people outside the 'team'. You have to be in Jamestown/Key/Taylor zones to lottery in. If you live in Key--you get automatic entry into ASF because they can't force any family to do immersion. I think there were only 1 or 2 spots last year available for kids not living in the neighborhood zone.

ATS is a county-wide school. This is COMPLETELY different than ASF. It has not in-boundary. It is a true lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize they actually conducted a science focus lottery any more. I thought it was 100% in-boundary admittance only. I probably read these boards too much!

You are correct. You can get on the 'waitlist' if you live in one of the team school zones, e.g., Taylor or Jamestown. If you live in any other zone you cannot attend.

[Anonymous]

you can also attend the ATS lottery to find out right away

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you can also attend the ATS lottery to find out right away

Really? Do you know when it is? Wouldn't it take forever with 250-300 applications?

[Anonymous]

call the school to find out the date/time/location (the library?). at the tour the principal said it usually takes about an hour. i figure 5 sec each drawing so 300 draws / 5 seconds = 60 mins.

you could be out of there in five seconds, you know

[Anonymous]

I hear that Vanna White comes to draw the names from the fishbowl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear that Vanna White comes to draw the names from the fishbowl.

that's is why ATS is so awesome.

[Anonymous]

Haha. I called and they said they do not call out the names as they go. But you can come up and ask afterward. Said it's usually 90 minutes to go through all the apps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Science Focus really doesn't have a 'lottery'. Unlike ATS, it has a neighborhood zone. Due to kid population in that zone---there are very few spots left for people outside the 'team'. You have to be in Jamestown/Key/Taylor zones to lottery in. If you live in Key--you get automatic entry into ASF because they can't force any family to do immersion. I think there were only 1 or 2 spots last year available for kids not living in the neighborhood zone.

ATS is a county-wide school. This is COMPLETELY different than ASF. It has not in-boundary. It is a true lottery.

Ok so correctiom -- when do familes get notified about results of the ATS countywide lottery and when do families from the Jamestown/taylor cluster find out if they get off the waitlist? And once notifed, how long do you have to decide?

[Anonymous]

Best to just call the schools and ask. They aren't scary - really. From my own experience, the ATS front office staff are very nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Science Focus really doesn't have a 'lottery'. Unlike ATS, it has a neighborhood zone. Due to kid population in that zone---there are very few spots left for people outside the 'team'. You have to be in Jamestown/Key/Taylor zones to lottery in. If you live in Key--you get automatic entry into ASF because they can't force any family to do immersion. I think there were only 1 or 2 spots last year available for kids not living in the neighborhood zone.

ATS is a county-wide school. This is COMPLETELY different than ASF. It has not in-boundary. It is a true lottery.

Ok so correctiom -- when do familes get notified about results of the ATS countywide lottery and when do families from the Jamestown/taylor cluster find out if they get off the waitlist? And once notifed, how long do you have to decide?

What is wrong with Jamestown/Taylor? If I were in that cluster I wouldn't bother trying to get into ATS or ASF.

I am an ASF parent, btw. If the school is good--pick the one closest to home and the one the neighborhood kids attend. It will make your life much easier.

Let me guess---you read the recent Post article highlighting these schools....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Science Focus really doesn't have a 'lottery'. Unlike ATS, it has a neighborhood zone. Due to kid population in that zone---there are very few spots left for people outside the 'team'. You have to be in Jamestown/Key/Taylor zones to lottery in. If you live in Key--you get automatic entry into ASF because they can't force any family to do immersion. I think there were only 1 or 2 spots last year available for kids not living in the neighborhood zone.

ATS is a county-wide school. This is COMPLETELY different than ASF. It has not in-boundary. It is a true lottery.

Ok so correctiom -- when do familes get notified about results of the ATS countywide lottery and when do families from the Jamestown/taylor cluster find out if they get off the waitlist? And once notifed, how long do you have to decide?

What is wrong with Jamestown/Taylor? If I were in that cluster I wouldn't bother trying to get into ATS or ASF.

I am an ASF parent, btw. If the school is good--pick the one closest to home and the one the neighborhood kids attend. It will make your life much easier.

Let me guess---you read the recent Post article highlighting these schools....

I should add---because I live in Key/ASF zone. I'm not knocking my kids' school. I'm just stating that all of those elementary schools are equivalent.