Shut out and really angry

[Anonymous]

Listen, friend. I am not 'rich' and still paying for preschool in DC, with my taxes. Why is this a 'rich' people thing.

[Anonymous]

I get that it is SUPER frustrating. But, you know, most places don't offer free public pre-k, even for 4-year-olds. You are still guaranteed admission for K at your in-bounds school, just as you would be elsewhere. My kids didn't go to DCPS pre-k 3. I still consider myself really lucky because, at K and 2nd, they are both at a fantastic DCPS three blocks from my house.

If free PK3 was important to you, presumably for financial reasons (nothing wrong with that; that's a big part of why public school is vital for us) you should have at least included some safety schools.

Tell me you aren't inbounds for Brent. If so, I can't imagine you didn't know about the insane IB waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am also annoyed. DCPS teacher and even I can't be guaranteed a spot.

If anything you should only be allowed preference at the school you work at... not any school. Do you live in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who say 'oh just keep doing what you're doing for another year', well that's fine and all but essentially by losing the lottery you're out about $15k. So maybe that's why OP is angry.

As has been pointed out, there will be spots someplace in town. Maybe not in the dream school or the super-fine location.

Thems the breaks when you feel like you just cannot pay for childcare another year like every other middle class parent in every single other city must do.

The vast majority of 3 year olds that I know in DC attend public schools. Anyone have those stats?

100% of the 3 yr olds I know attend non-public preschool, and have a nanny/sahm, or go to a commercial licensed daycare.

So now we have two anecdotes.

Everyone in your circle must make 6 figures or more....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My experience of PK3 in DC was complete garbage. The charter we went with looked great on paper, talked a big game during the tour, etc, but treated 3yo's like tiny military school recruits. The teachers could not handle a room of 25 preschoolers with varying degrees of social-emotional readiness for a full day program.

So stick with your private preschool and move on. Try again next year. Getting a spot in the lottery is no guarantee of anything.

Were you at Appletree? I've heard they very rigorous with learning - and that's always scared me a bit for a 3 yo. Can't a kid just be a kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The worst part for me about the lottery is that it pits neighbors against each other. That can only serve to break down community, not build it up. It does it at the citywide level too. It's a poisonous system.

Don't be ridiculous, if that's the type of animosity you have for someone else's good fortune, I would hate to be your neighbor. The government is not responsible for how you feel to about the people in your community that is your responsibility, granted you can be angry about the process.

+1. OP sounds really selfish. Nobody deserves a spot except her because she's lived here for 30 out of her 36 years. OK.

OP admitted to just venting. no where did he/she say no one deserved a spot.

i've been here since graduating college 15+ years ago, born and raised in md and its gotta be frustrating as hell to be basically a hometown resident forever and have to go thru this lottery only to lose. not saying its not as frustrating for us all.

Huh? Living here for a decade and a half doesn't make you a lifelong resident. You were born and raised in MD and AFAIK, MD schools still don't offer PK, much less high quality PK free of charge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who say 'oh just keep doing what you're doing for another year', well that's fine and all but essentially by losing the lottery you're out about $15k. So maybe that's why OP is angry.

As has been pointed out, there will be spots someplace in town. Maybe not in the dream school or the super-fine location.

Thems the breaks when you feel like you just cannot pay for childcare another year like every other middle class parent in every single other city must do.

The vast majority of 3 year olds that I know in DC attend public schools. Anyone have those stats?

100% of the 3 yr olds I know attend non-public preschool, and have a nanny/sahm, or go to a commercial licensed daycare.

So now we have two anecdotes.

Everyone in your circle must make 6 figures or more....

Ha, no kidding. PP never leaves Spring Valley, apparently

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Listen, friend. I am not 'rich' and still paying for preschool in DC, with my taxes. Why is this a 'rich' people thing.

The higher your income, the more taxes you pay.
The higher your income, the more you can afford to pay for housing--which leads to more property tax revenue.

Why is this a 'hard to understand for some' people thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My experience of PK3 in DC was complete garbage. The charter we went with looked great on paper, talked a big game during the tour, etc, but treated 3yo's like tiny military school recruits. The teachers could not handle a room of 25 preschoolers with varying degrees of social-emotional readiness for a full day program.

So stick with your private preschool and move on. Try again next year. Getting a spot in the lottery is no guarantee of anything.

Were you at Appletree? I've heard they very rigorous with learning - and that's always scared me a bit for a 3 yo. Can't a kid just be a kid?

Oh, this is just silly. My child was at Appletree and she was certainly allowed to "be a kid." Don't spread misinformation.

[Anonymous]

My son got shut out in Round 1 last year, but got called off the waiting list for Appletree before I could even figure out a Round 2 application. And I was already going into debt paying for a nanny share, so believe me I was sweating bullets about it.

I was upset too, thought it was unfair, but I controlled what I could and things ended up working out ok. Deep breaths, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Waitlist movement can be tracked through the My Schools site for the first time this year, so you don't have to sit by the phone. They also say that results can be via email.

How can you track waitlist movement through My School DC? Can you please be specific? I don't see a way to do that and thought I would need to keep calling the school. Thanks. (I'm not the OP.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My experience of PK3 in DC was complete garbage. The charter we went with looked great on paper, talked a big game during the tour, etc, but treated 3yo's like tiny military school recruits. The teachers could not handle a room of 25 preschoolers with varying degrees of social-emotional readiness for a full day program.

So stick with your private preschool and move on. Try again next year. Getting a spot in the lottery is no guarantee of anything.

Were you at Appletree? I've heard they very rigorous with learning - and that's always scared me a bit for a 3 yo. Can't a kid just be a kid?

Oh, this is just silly. My child was at Appletree and she was certainly allowed to "be a kid." Don't spread misinformation.

PP Here. Sorry, you're completely right. I've also heard from many happy parents and families there. Wish there was a delete button here sometimes.

[Anonymous]

PK3 isn't guaranteed in DCPS, so I'm confused about the premise of the OP altogether.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waitlist movement can be tracked through the My Schools site for the first time this year, so you don't have to sit by the phone. They also say that results can be via email.

How can you track waitlist movement through My School DC? Can you please be specific? I don't see a way to do that and thought I would need to keep calling the school. Thanks. (I'm not the OP.)

I'm guessing it will just change on your results page. So now your waitlists that read 101, 100, 99, and 70 might read 100, 98, 95, and 60 next month. So take a screenshot or write down the #s you started at!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The worst part for me about the lottery is that it pits neighbors against each other. That can only serve to break down community, not build it up. It does it at the citywide level too. It's a poisonous system.

Don't be ridiculous, if that's the type of animosity you have for someone else's good fortune, I would hate to be your neighbor. The government is not responsible for how you feel to about the people in your community that is your responsibility, granted you can be angry about the process.

+1. OP sounds really selfish. Nobody deserves a spot except her because she's lived here for 30 out of her 36 years. OK.

OP admitted to just venting. no where did he/she say no one deserved a spot.

i've been here since graduating college 15+ years ago, born and raised in md and its gotta be frustrating as hell to be basically a hometown resident forever and have to go thru this lottery only to lose. not saying its not as frustrating for us all.

Huh? Living here for a decade and a half doesn't make you a lifelong resident. You were born and raised in MD and AFAIK, MD schools still don't offer PK, much less high quality PK free of charge.

HUH? i never said i was a lifelong resident, thus the 15+ years. i was expressing the frustration of the OP and her 30/36 years. jesus. dont' jump to any conclusions tho.