Then 2023 Lottery disappointment thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Straight A student at Deal. Waitlisted at privates, waitlisted at walls, number too high to get in. Headed to Jackson Reed and so disappointed. DC is so bored and unchallenged at Deal and I worry it’ll be more of the same at JR. I feel like we failed DC. We are willing to make the financial sacrifice for private but I feel like that whole process was a waste of time and that system is rigged against kids coming from DCPS unless they are a star athlete or have another “hook”.

Thank you for letting me join the pity party.

Almost identical situation. Kid didn’t even really want Walls, until today. 🙄 The saddest part is that he’s taking all of these waitlist decisions personally. I get it…it does FEEL personal if the whole decision is based on a 5 minute interview. But we keep emphasizing that there is much randomness in this process that it just boils down to luck. And he wasn’t particularly lucky this time.

Also, GDS accepted 12 students (some of those 12 as siblings), so that’s not a thing to feel badly about either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straight A student at Deal. Waitlisted at privates, waitlisted at walls, number too high to get in. Headed to Jackson Reed and so disappointed. DC is so bored and unchallenged at Deal and I worry it’ll be more of the same at JR. I feel like we failed DC. We are willing to make the financial sacrifice for private but I feel like that whole process was a waste of time and that system is rigged against kids coming from DCPS unless they are a star athlete or have another “hook”.

Thank you for letting me join the pity party.

What number waitlist at Walls? FWIW it really sounds like JR has lots of good options for high flyers - and a strong cohort at that level. I don't think your kid will be bored there!

Agree. My son loves Jackson Reed. He's in 11th now and loves spending his time on that campus. There are so many caring, talented teachers. Seemingly limitless extracurriculars. And generally a positive vibe in my experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straight A student at Deal. Waitlisted at privates, waitlisted at walls, number too high to get in. Headed to Jackson Reed and so disappointed. DC is so bored and unchallenged at Deal and I worry it’ll be more of the same at JR. I feel like we failed DC. We are willing to make the financial sacrifice for private but I feel like that whole process was a waste of time and that system is rigged against kids coming from DCPS unless they are a star athlete or have another “hook”.

Thank you for letting me join the pity party.

Almost identical situation. Kid didn’t even really want Walls, until today. 🙄 The saddest part is that he’s taking all of these waitlist decisions personally. I get it…it does FEEL personal if the whole decision is based on a 5 minute interview. But we keep emphasizing that there is much randomness in this process that it just boils down to luck. And he wasn’t particularly lucky this time.

Also, GDS accepted 12 students (some of those 12 as siblings), so that’s not a thing to feel badly about either.

I bet our kids know each other. Yeah, DC knows it’s random but it still sucks and they are so unenthused about JR. DC understands the GDS situation but if we knew ahead of time we would have put other schools on our list. And DC knows they are an as good if not better student than the siblings that got in, so that’s also hard (but further explains the randomness and that it has nothing to do with DC).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straight A student at Deal. Waitlisted at privates, waitlisted at walls, number too high to get in. Headed to Jackson Reed and so disappointed. DC is so bored and unchallenged at Deal and I worry it’ll be more of the same at JR. I feel like we failed DC. We are willing to make the financial sacrifice for private but I feel like that whole process was a waste of time and that system is rigged against kids coming from DCPS unless they are a star athlete or have another “hook”.

Thank you for letting me join the pity party.

Almost identical situation. Kid didn’t even really want Walls, until today. 🙄 The saddest part is that he’s taking all of these waitlist decisions personally. I get it…it does FEEL personal if the whole decision is based on a 5 minute interview. But we keep emphasizing that there is much randomness in this process that it just boils down to luck. And he wasn’t particularly lucky this time.

Also, GDS accepted 12 students (some of those 12 as siblings), so that’s not a thing to feel badly about either.

I bet our kids know each other. Yeah, DC knows it’s random but it still sucks and they are so unenthused about JR. DC understands the GDS situation but if we knew ahead of time we would have put other schools on our list. And DC knows they are an as good if not better student than the siblings that got in, so that’s also hard (but further explains the randomness and that it has nothing to do with DC).

Honest question: for parents who have kids who are "unenthused about JR" why do you think that is? Could it be that you as parents have given the impression that it's a bad school? It's not.

[Anonymous]

We are really upset at how much we got locked out of any good options for middle school. We don't know what to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are really upset at how much we got locked out of any good options for middle school. We don't know what to do.

Where are you right now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straight A student at Deal. Waitlisted at privates, waitlisted at walls, number too high to get in. Headed to Jackson Reed and so disappointed. DC is so bored and unchallenged at Deal and I worry it’ll be more of the same at JR. I feel like we failed DC. We are willing to make the financial sacrifice for private but I feel like that whole process was a waste of time and that system is rigged against kids coming from DCPS unless they are a star athlete or have another “hook”.

Thank you for letting me join the pity party.

Almost identical situation. Kid didn’t even really want Walls, until today. 🙄 The saddest part is that he’s taking all of these waitlist decisions personally. I get it…it does FEEL personal if the whole decision is based on a 5 minute interview. But we keep emphasizing that there is much randomness in this process that it just boils down to luck. And he wasn’t particularly lucky this time.

Also, GDS accepted 12 students (some of those 12 as siblings), so that’s not a thing to feel badly about either.

I bet our kids know each other. Yeah, DC knows it’s random but it still sucks and they are so unenthused about JR. DC understands the GDS situation but if we knew ahead of time we would have put other schools on our list. And DC knows they are an as good if not better student than the siblings that got in, so that’s also hard (but further explains the randomness and that it has nothing to do with DC).

This year made very clear how strong the sibling hook is at GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straight A student at Deal. Waitlisted at privates, waitlisted at walls, number too high to get in. Headed to Jackson Reed and so disappointed. DC is so bored and unchallenged at Deal and I worry it’ll be more of the same at JR. I feel like we failed DC. We are willing to make the financial sacrifice for private but I feel like that whole process was a waste of time and that system is rigged against kids coming from DCPS unless they are a star athlete or have another “hook”.

Thank you for letting me join the pity party.

Almost identical situation. Kid didn’t even really want Walls, until today. 🙄 The saddest part is that he’s taking all of these waitlist decisions personally. I get it…it does FEEL personal if the whole decision is based on a 5 minute interview. But we keep emphasizing that there is much randomness in this process that it just boils down to luck. And he wasn’t particularly lucky this time.

Also, GDS accepted 12 students (some of those 12 as siblings), so that’s not a thing to feel badly about either.

I bet our kids know each other. Yeah, DC knows it’s random but it still sucks and they are so unenthused about JR. DC understands the GDS situation but if we knew ahead of time we would have put other schools on our list. And DC knows they are an as good if not better student than the siblings that got in, so that’s also hard (but further explains the randomness and that it has nothing to do with DC).

Honest question: for parents who have kids who are "unenthused about JR" why do you think that is? Could it be that you as parents have given the impression that it's a bad school? It's not.

I’m one of these PPs. My kid has been ambivalent about all of the schools, but I would assume that the process of applying to schools other than the high school you could go to by right implies that something might be better. Also, kids talk, and maybe parrot their parents and maybe some of those parrots are pretty down on J-R. For our family, our conversations about J-R have focused on the fact that it seems likely to continue some of what we have liked about and been disappointed about at Deal. My kid is smart, socially adept, and lazy. He’ll do just fine at J-R. My hope is that the rigor that I hear comes in later grades kicks his butt a little. I had thought maybe Walls or private could kick his butt a little sooner, but I am sure it will all work out fine for him. I realize that I am lucky to feel like this. I certainly wouldn’t feel this calm about it if we were talking about my other kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straight A student at Deal. Waitlisted at privates, waitlisted at walls, number too high to get in. Headed to Jackson Reed and so disappointed. DC is so bored and unchallenged at Deal and I worry it’ll be more of the same at JR. I feel like we failed DC. We are willing to make the financial sacrifice for private but I feel like that whole process was a waste of time and that system is rigged against kids coming from DCPS unless they are a star athlete or have another “hook”.

Thank you for letting me join the pity party.

Almost identical situation. Kid didn’t even really want Walls, until today. 🙄 The saddest part is that he’s taking all of these waitlist decisions personally. I get it…it does FEEL personal if the whole decision is based on a 5 minute interview. But we keep emphasizing that there is much randomness in this process that it just boils down to luck. And he wasn’t particularly lucky this time.

Also, GDS accepted 12 students (some of those 12 as siblings), so that’s not a thing to feel badly about either.

I bet our kids know each other. Yeah, DC knows it’s random but it still sucks and they are so unenthused about JR. DC understands the GDS situation but if we knew ahead of time we would have put other schools on our list. And DC knows they are an as good if not better student than the siblings that got in, so that’s also hard (but further explains the randomness and that it has nothing to do with DC).

Honest question: for parents who have kids who are "unenthused about JR" why do you think that is? Could it be that you as parents have given the impression that it's a bad school? It's not.

True, we are in part to blame. But I’ve never met a top student from JR who’s been excited to share their experience, and we’ve been asking families about their experiences at Wilson since DC was little. Please share your experience, that would be helpful, sincerely. DC’s experience at Deal hasn’t helped, with no teachers for months, English classes that never even finish a book, and no teaching of how to write. I look forward to being proven wrong. We will make the best of it and now have resources to supplement but have to figure out what that looks like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry OP, but I gotta ask: your kid is “miserable” in kindergarten and you’re blaming the school? That’s a lot to pin on a school.

Disagree. Lots of bad Ks out there--age-inappropriate expetactions, yelling teachers, kids with scary behaviors, etc.

+1

+1 more
It happens often

OP here and thank you. I don't just "blame the school" but yes -- it has been a rough year because there is very little joy in that classroom, lots of behavioral issues which leads to very strict rules and tons of class "punishments" that just suck all the pleasure out of what should actually not be a horrible chore (learning reading and other useful, basic skills in a classroom of peers). My kid is a happy kid generally but regularly says she hates school and doesn't want to go. She'll come home after school and I'll ask what the best and worst parts of her day were, and she often struggles to come up with a best. Often it's something like "when something bad happened, I didn't get too disappointed like I did last time." It's really hard to hear. She also complains about stuff a lot and while some of it is normal kid complaints where I'm like "that's just how life is" some of them are things that I actually do think are dumb rules that don't make sense. Like they regularly punish the kids by not letting them go out for recess. These kids are 5/6 years old and they are in a classroom all day. They need to run around. It is cutting off your nose to spite your face to use the small amount of free play/outdoor time they are allocated as a tool for punishment. It's just going to result in more bad behavior.

So yeah, I'm not enthusiastic about staying at this school another year. Maybe next year's teacher will be better.

OP, move. Short answer, hard decision. But honestly, that sounds like an awful place for a kid to be in. My middle schooler says some of these same things about her school, and we're switching them to private next year. Knowing what I know now, I would have moved to a good feeder pattern in the elementary school years.

[Anonymous]

24 at lamb
24 at shepherd

For pk4 - not changing schools this year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straight A student at Deal. Waitlisted at privates, waitlisted at walls, number too high to get in. Headed to Jackson Reed and so disappointed. DC is so bored and unchallenged at Deal and I worry it’ll be more of the same at JR. I feel like we failed DC. We are willing to make the financial sacrifice for private but I feel like that whole process was a waste of time and that system is rigged against kids coming from DCPS unless they are a star athlete or have another “hook”.

Thank you for letting me join the pity party.

What number waitlist at Walls? FWIW it really sounds like JR has lots of good options for high flyers - and a strong cohort at that level. I don't think your kid will be bored there!

+1

The Walls waitlist gets through pretty high numbers each year. And FWIW lots of kids at Walls wish they could go to their in boundary school or stayed at their charter school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straight A student at Deal. Waitlisted at privates, waitlisted at walls, number too high to get in. Headed to Jackson Reed and so disappointed. DC is so bored and unchallenged at Deal and I worry it’ll be more of the same at JR. I feel like we failed DC. We are willing to make the financial sacrifice for private but I feel like that whole process was a waste of time and that system is rigged against kids coming from DCPS unless they are a star athlete or have another “hook”.

Thank you for letting me join the pity party.

What number waitlist at Walls? FWIW it really sounds like JR has lots of good options for high flyers - and a strong cohort at that level. I don't think your kid will be bored there!

+1

The Walls waitlist gets through pretty high numbers each year. And FWIW lots of kids at Walls wish they could go to their in boundary school or stayed at their charter school.

Walls only went to 69 last year, and left 142 more on the waitlist. It’s entirely possible to have a number too high for hope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are really upset at how much we got locked out of any good options for middle school. We don't know what to do.

We’re currently at a MS which is not considered “good” on DCUM but we’re having a fantastic year. My son is it accelerated classes, they’re launching a 3-tier classroom model next year (accelerated work for the top, extra reinforcement for the bottom) in every classroom. Lots of clubs, sports. Be sure to talk to current families of schools you may hear are “not good.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are really upset at how much we got locked out of any good options for middle school. We don't know what to do.

We’re currently at a MS which is not considered “good” on DCUM but we’re having a fantastic year. My son is it accelerated classes, they’re launching a 3-tier classroom model next year (accelerated work for the top, extra reinforcement for the bottom) in every classroom. Lots of clubs, sports. Be sure to talk to current families of schools you may hear are “not good.”

What school is this?