SWW@Francis-Stevens Waitlist Movement

[Anonymous]

I'm OOB and had a late draw number, waitlisted at this school in the 110s for PK3. Is there any hope? This was one of our top picks, so we are very disappointed. Does anyone know how far the list moved last year for PK3? (I know that it is unlikely to move as far this year, but it would still be good to know.) Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Hi - I have a waitlist number in the 20s and have a similar question? any chance in movement?

[Anonymous]

I would count on it for a number in the 20s. I can't imagine SWW topped many people's lists.

[Anonymous]

Just curious to both posters here...are you clear that SWWFS will not automatically feed to SWW high school? just asking because there have been other posts about some parents mistakenly thinking that FS is a feeder school to the high school. They did not seem to be aware that FS 8th graders will have to apply and test into the school just like all other DCPS middle schoolers...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious to both posters here...are you clear that SWWFS will not automatically feed to SWW high school? just asking because there have been other posts about some parents mistakenly thinking that FS is a feeder school to the high school. They did not seem to be aware that FS 8th graders will have to apply and test into the school just like all other DCPS middle schoolers...

I am OP and yes, I know. They were very clear about it in the open house. I still really liked the school and the principal/assistant principal/teachers/parents I met. Unfortunately, with a number as high as mine, I really doubt that my kid will be able to attend next year. I am in-boundary for a school that is MUCH worse than SWW@F-S, and if we got in there we would intend to stay through 8th grade and then figure out high school after that. (We are currently in-boundary for Wilson, but just barely, so I assume that will change with the boundary review.)

[Anonymous]

We were in low 30's last year and got called late summer, maybe one of the last?

[Anonymous]

Also attended an open house and have, sadly, a much higher # than the 20s (70s), but they were very clear about the connection between the two schools. They hoped that more FS students would be in a position to take the test and maybe attend, but that there was no feeder from MS to SWW.

[Anonymous]

I too am eager to hear about waitlist movement. It appears there's a smug population of already-in-school people who can't believe that we would place schools like SWW-FS, Powell, Thomson, etc in our top 12 choices in the city if our inbounds isn't an option. What do they propose otherwise?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I too am eager to hear about waitlist movement. It appears there's a smug population of already-in-school people who can't believe that we would place schools like SWW-FS, Powell, Thomson, etc in our top 12 choices in the city if our inbounds isn't an option. What do they propose otherwise?

I think some of the smugness for SWW@F-S also comes from high school parents, who cannot believe that the lower/middle school is improving and think we must be crazy or not know that the school does not feed to the high school.

But I agree, the smugness of those who are in-boundary for ward 3 schools or got into top picks is worse.

[Anonymous]

yes - the smugness is super irritating, and I'm glad to see there are others on this forum who are optimistic about the school and program.

[Anonymous]

I just got off the phone with the SWW-FS registrar and can offer the following information for prek 3 this fall:

24 children were matched, their waitlist is 120. 11 kids on the waitlist have sibling and/or proximity preference.

Hope others will find this helpful. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just got off the phone with the SWW-FS registrar and can offer the following information for prek 3 this fall:

24 children were matched, their waitlist is 120. 11 kids on the waitlist have sibling and/or proximity preference.

Hope others will find this helpful. Good luck!

When you say that 11 kids on the waitlist have some kind of preference, wasn't that all factored into the allgorithm? So I'm assuming that those 11 kids would be 1-11 on the waitlist. So if you have 105 as a waitlist number, it is not like one of the 11 kids with preference could have a worse WL number and jump up ahead of you because of preference. They should already be ahead of you, right? I'm just trying to understand the significance of preferences after the algorithm has ran, and my understanding is that it has no relevance at this point.

[Anonymous]

Not the poster who called, but you are almost certainly correct that the #1-11 are the ones with the preference. It is relevant to those of us farther down the line, because those with preferences may be more likely to take the slots than those without any connection to the school -- you want your kids together in one school or you want to go to a school close to your house.

[Anonymous]

Good question. I don't know the specifics of the algorithm but am also interested to know the answer to this.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, PP! Well, I don't have the last number, but close to the last. Does anyone know how deep into their waitlist they went last year?

I do know that in talking to the PTA they were expecting more seats to open up, since they usually have 32-38 PK3 spots but only had 24 match. I doubt they will be added right away, however, as I am sure they are trying to figure out their total capacity. That does give some of us hope, but probably not me (OP, in the 110s). Bummer, but I hope the rest of you get in! I really liked the school and think it is only going to improve.