Feeling sad about striking out for PK3 and Pk4, any advice on K strategy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PPs. I did apply to Inspired Teaching, DD has just had a reallu bad number both times. I will look at Bridges.

We don't want to move because we both walk to work. And we will have sibling preference for 1st grade. So I am not desperate yet

How will you have sibling preference for first and not K? I'm not aware of any charters that start at 1st, which is why I'm curious.

Because I have a younger child who will be lotterying for PK3 when my older DD is lotterying for 1st.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What schools did you apply to OP?

Hard to suggest new strategies when we don't know what yours have been to date.

Here is my list. I know it doesn't contain a safety, we felt like we would be ok at our IB for PK4.

Mundo Verde
YY
Stokes French
Stokes Spanish
DC Bilingual
Inspired
CMI
Two Rivers
School Within School
EL Haynes
Lee
Shining Stars

Hi OP. We were you, but got into one of the schools you listed at K. I would consider adding Two Rivers Young. Between Two Rivers Young and Inspired, I need two hands to count the number of children I know in Brookland who gained entrance into these schools at K or 1st, when, like you, their parents were feeling up against the rails. Best wishes to you.

Thank you very much, PP. If I remove YY I can add Two Rivers Young.

Why is it possible to get into Inspired Teaching? No shade, I would be overjoyed to attend, but do they have a larger group at K or something?

More than a few people at IT for preschool keep trying for a language immersion program, or a Deal feeder.

Interesting, I thought the immersion ship had basically sailed by K.

I'm the PP whose child got in at K. We got into immersion.

With no sibling preference? We will not have sibling preference until 1st.

Correct. No preference of any type.

Wow, I am so happy to hear that. I was thinking the few seats offered to older kids would mainly go to older siblings of preschoolers.

[Anonymous]

Residents of Brookland are way too concerned with getting into charter schools. It's a mindset thing. And also because so many charters are sitting right there, so that early adopters of those never had to think too hard whether they are really worth the hype. Well, I'm here to tell you they are not. If you embrace your IB or near-IB option, you can make that work to your advantage, and to your child's, as another PP suggested. Stop looking at it as a loss/strike-out and see it as an opportunity, with upsides of being close, of getting some TLC, of teachers actually caring that you and your child are there and happy, of everyone knowing your child (because they care to and the schools aren't so big and transient), of dealing with level-headed parents rather than Type A wrecks on most days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See you in silver spring soon

The schools in silver spring are terrible.

Ah, yes, the "the schools in Silver Spring are terrible" poster has arrived. Those of us who are very happy with our Silver Spring schools beg to differ.

There are people who are happy on well fare, what does that prove? I don't think the schools are better than what one we find in Brookland IB. Just look at what is happening in the Silver Spring schools within the last couple of weeks. Haven't seen that here in years. Our schools are getting better and yours are getting worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Residents of Brookland are way too concerned with getting into charter schools. It's a mindset thing. And also because so many charters are sitting right there, so that early adopters of those never had to think too hard whether they are really worth the hype. Well, I'm here to tell you they are not. If you embrace your IB or near-IB option, you can make that work to your advantage, and to your child's, as another PP suggested. Stop looking at it as a loss/strike-out and see it as an opportunity, with upsides of being close, of getting some TLC, of teachers actually caring that you and your child are there and happy, of everyone knowing your child (because they care to and the schools aren't so big and transient), of dealing with level-headed parents rather than Type A wrecks on most days.

Sorry but our IB is just not embraceable. Over time it could get better, buy not fast enough for DD. I wish I felt like work would improve it, but volunteering this year and last has been an eye-opening experience. He needs are so great, the funding so inadequate, and the administration so underwhelming, that parents just aren't going to be able to get us there. If it were as easy as you seem to think, DCPS would be very different. And still, what about middle school, am I supposed to fix that too, in my copious free time?

Guess what-- several charters are closer to my house than any neighborhood school. Dysfunctional, poorly performing neighborhood schools do not have a monopoly on TLC. The aides at our school are, frankly, rather harsh to the kids, and it has been a huge battle just to get them to go outside and stop showing Disney movies on instructional time. And I'll take Type A parents any day over the parents at our not-so-level-headed parents who mistreat their kids and feud with the principal. What makes you think anyone cares that my family is there? Get real. The problems with DCPS could be fixed if DCPS were our partner in doing so, but sometimes it feels like we are outright adversaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Residents of Brookland are way too concerned with getting into charter schools. It's a mindset thing. And also because so many charters are sitting right there, so that early adopters of those never had to think too hard whether they are really worth the hype. Well, I'm here to tell you they are not. If you embrace your IB or near-IB option, you can make that work to your advantage, and to your child's, as another PP suggested. Stop looking at it as a loss/strike-out and see it as an opportunity, with upsides of being close, of getting some TLC, of teachers actually caring that you and your child are there and happy, of everyone knowing your child (because they care to and the schools aren't so big and transient), of dealing with level-headed parents rather than Type A wrecks on most days.

Sorry but our IB is just not embraceable. Over time it could get better, buy not fast enough for DD. I wish I felt like work would improve it, but volunteering this year and last has been an eye-opening experience. He needs are so great, the funding so inadequate, and the administration so underwhelming, that parents just aren't going to be able to get us there. If it were as easy as you seem to think, DCPS would be very different. And still, what about middle school, am I supposed to fix that too, in my copious free time?

Guess what-- several charters are closer to my house than any neighborhood school. Dysfunctional, poorly performing neighborhood schools do not have a monopoly on TLC. The aides at our school are, frankly, rather harsh to the kids, and it has been a huge battle just to get them to go outside and stop showing Disney movies on instructional time. And I'll take Type A parents any day over the parents at our not-so-level-headed parents who mistreat their kids and feud with the principal. What makes you think anyone cares that my family is there? Get real. The problems with DCPS could be fixed if DCPS were our partner in doing so, but sometimes it feels like we are outright adversaries.

I think what the PP is saying is to look at EOTP public schools that are better than your IB. And several of the charter schools on your list have no or questionable middle schools, so just try to find a doable place through 5th. Put a mix of charter and decent eotp elementary schools (up and coming ones NOT like your IB). Also, immersion fro spanish is fine to start in 1st. I wouldn't do it beyond first unless you can support the language at home AND your child is excelling acaemically and can take a set back. I 100% agree that charters aren't "all that." We tried to lottery out of our charter this year and into a decent EOTP school but got terrible numbers (we literally had to be last or very near).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Residents of Brookland are way too concerned with getting into charter schools. It's a mindset thing. And also because so many charters are sitting right there, so that early adopters of those never had to think too hard whether they are really worth the hype. Well, I'm here to tell you they are not. If you embrace your IB or near-IB option, you can make that work to your advantage, and to your child's, as another PP suggested. Stop looking at it as a loss/strike-out and see it as an opportunity, with upsides of being close, of getting some TLC, of teachers actually caring that you and your child are there and happy, of everyone knowing your child (because they care to and the schools aren't so big and transient), of dealing with level-headed parents rather than Type A wrecks on most days.

Sorry but our IB is just not embraceable. Over time it could get better, buy not fast enough for DD. I wish I felt like work would improve it, but volunteering this year and last has been an eye-opening experience. He needs are so great, the funding so inadequate, and the administration so underwhelming, that parents just aren't going to be able to get us there. If it were as easy as you seem to think, DCPS would be very different. And still, what about middle school, am I supposed to fix that too, in my copious free time?

Guess what-- several charters are closer to my house than any neighborhood school. Dysfunctional, poorly performing neighborhood schools do not have a monopoly on TLC. The aides at our school are, frankly, rather harsh to the kids, and it has been a huge battle just to get them to go outside and stop showing Disney movies on instructional time. And I'll take Type A parents any day over the parents at our not-so-level-headed parents who mistreat their kids and feud with the principal. What makes you think anyone cares that my family is there? Get real. The problems with DCPS could be fixed if DCPS were our partner in doing so, but sometimes it feels like we are outright adversaries.

I think what the PP is saying is to look at EOTP public schools that are better than your IB. And several of the charter schools on your list have no or questionable middle schools, so just try to find a doable place through 5th. Put a mix of charter and decent eotp elementary schools (up and coming ones NOT like your IB). Also, immersion fro spanish is fine to start in 1st. I wouldn't do it beyond first unless you can support the language at home AND your child is excelling acaemically and can take a set back. I 100% agree that charters aren't "all that." We tried to lottery out of our charter this year and into a decent EOTP school but got terrible numbers (we literally had to be last or very near).

I actually did look at JO Wilson and chances seem very slim. Will take another look at Burroughs and investigate Seaton and Cleveland. Still, it seems like most OOBs do not get in.

[Anonymous]

I might give K a chance for one last lottery, but if I struck out after that I would move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I might give K a chance for one last lottery, but if I struck out after that I would move.

Do you have two kids, though? It seems like with sibling preference, our chances would improve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Residents of Brookland are way too concerned with getting into charter schools. It's a mindset thing. And also because so many charters are sitting right there, so that early adopters of those never had to think too hard whether they are really worth the hype. Well, I'm here to tell you they are not. If you embrace your IB or near-IB option, you can make that work to your advantage, and to your child's, as another PP suggested. Stop looking at it as a loss/strike-out and see it as an opportunity, with upsides of being close, of getting some TLC, of teachers actually caring that you and your child are there and happy, of everyone knowing your child (because they care to and the schools aren't so big and transient), of dealing with level-headed parents rather than Type A wrecks on most days.

Sorry but our IB is just not embraceable. Over time it could get better, buy not fast enough for DD. I wish I felt like work would improve it, but volunteering this year and last has been an eye-opening experience. He needs are so great, the funding so inadequate, and the administration so underwhelming, that parents just aren't going to be able to get us there. If it were as easy as you seem to think, DCPS would be very different. And still, what about middle school, am I supposed to fix that too, in my copious free time?

Guess what-- several charters are closer to my house than any neighborhood school. Dysfunctional, poorly performing neighborhood schools do not have a monopoly on TLC. The aides at our school are, frankly, rather harsh to the kids, and it has been a huge battle just to get them to go outside and stop showing Disney movies on instructional time. And I'll take Type A parents any day over the parents at our not-so-level-headed parents who mistreat their kids and feud with the principal. What makes you think anyone cares that my family is there? Get real. The problems with DCPS could be fixed if DCPS were our partner in doing so, but sometimes it feels like we are outright adversaries.

I think what the PP is saying is to look at EOTP public schools that are better than your IB. And several of the charter schools on your list have no or questionable middle schools, so just try to find a doable place through 5th. Put a mix of charter and decent eotp elementary schools (up and coming ones NOT like your IB). Also, immersion fro spanish is fine to start in 1st. I wouldn't do it beyond first unless you can support the language at home AND your child is excelling acaemically and can take a set back. I 100% agree that charters aren't "all that." We tried to lottery out of our charter this year and into a decent EOTP school but got terrible numbers (we literally had to be last or very near).

I actually did look at JO Wilson and chances seem very slim. Will take another look at Burroughs and investigate Seaton and Cleveland. Still, it seems like most OOBs do not get in.

There are no schools where 'most' OOB get in. DCPS is a neighborhood school system. Excess seats only made available in teh lottery.

For charters, it's more open. but still, it's a lottery. Either you get a good master number or you don't. There's nothing really to strategize about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See you in silver spring soon

The schools in silver spring are terrible.

Ah, yes, the "the schools in Silver Spring are terrible" poster has arrived. Those of us who are very happy with our Silver Spring schools beg to differ.

There are people who are happy on well fare, what does that prove? I don't think the schools are better than what one we find in Brookland IB. Just look at what is happening in the Silver Spring schools within the last couple of weeks. Haven't seen that here in years. Our schools are getting better and yours are getting worse.

What has happened in Silver Spring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See you in silver spring soon

Ha! Yep. DC transplant who struck out on school lottery happy in Silver Spring for five years now...

God no, Bethesda is the gold standard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Residents of Brookland are way too concerned with getting into charter schools. It's a mindset thing. And also because so many charters are sitting right there, so that early adopters of those never had to think too hard whether they are really worth the hype. Well, I'm here to tell you they are not. If you embrace your IB or near-IB option, you can make that work to your advantage, and to your child's, as another PP suggested. Stop looking at it as a loss/strike-out and see it as an opportunity, with upsides of being close, of getting some TLC, of teachers actually caring that you and your child are there and happy, of everyone knowing your child (because they care to and the schools aren't so big and transient), of dealing with level-headed parents rather than Type A wrecks on most days.

Sorry but our IB is just not embraceable. Over time it could get better, buy not fast enough for DD. I wish I felt like work would improve it, but volunteering this year and last has been an eye-opening experience. He needs are so great, the funding so inadequate, and the administration so underwhelming, that parents just aren't going to be able to get us there. If it were as easy as you seem to think, DCPS would be very different. And still, what about middle school, am I supposed to fix that too, in my copious free time?

Guess what-- several charters are closer to my house than any neighborhood school. Dysfunctional, poorly performing neighborhood schools do not have a monopoly on TLC. The aides at our school are, frankly, rather harsh to the kids, and it has been a huge battle just to get them to go outside and stop showing Disney movies on instructional time. And I'll take Type A parents any day over the parents at our not-so-level-headed parents who mistreat their kids and feud with the principal. What makes you think anyone cares that my family is there? Get real. The problems with DCPS could be fixed if DCPS were our partner in doing so, but sometimes it feels like we are outright adversaries.

I think what the PP is saying is to look at EOTP public schools that are better than your IB. And several of the charter schools on your list have no or questionable middle schools, so just try to find a doable place through 5th. Put a mix of charter and decent eotp elementary schools (up and coming ones NOT like your IB). Also, immersion fro spanish is fine to start in 1st. I wouldn't do it beyond first unless you can support the language at home AND your child is excelling acaemically and can take a set back. I 100% agree that charters aren't "all that." We tried to lottery out of our charter this year and into a decent EOTP school but got terrible numbers (we literally had to be last or very near).

I actually did look at JO Wilson and chances seem very slim. Will take another look at Burroughs and investigate Seaton and Cleveland. Still, it seems like most OOBs do not get in.

There are no schools where 'most' OOB get in. DCPS is a neighborhood school system. Excess seats only made available in teh lottery.

For charters, it's more open. but still, it's a lottery. Either you get a good master number or you don't. There's nothing really to strategize about.

Right... I guess I'm asking which schools I should strike from my list, and which easier to get into schools I should add to replace them.

My PK4 list was:
Mundo Verde
YY
Stokes French
Stokes Spanish
DC Bilingual
Inspired
CMI
Two Rivers
School Within School
EL Haynes
Lee
Shining Stars

For K:
Mundo Verde
STRIKE YY
Stokes French
Stokes Spanish
New Mundo, pending location?
New Stokes, pending location? (May require two spots?)
DC Bilingual
Inspired Teaching
CMI
Two Rivers
Two Rivers Young
STRIKE School Within School
STRIKE EL Haynes
Lee
Shining Stars

Are any of these spots being wasted?

[Anonymous]

New MV (if approved) will be in Ward 5.

New Stokes in Ward 7 or 8.

What about Citizens of the World (another new charter seeking approval to open next fall)? Google their proposal which is posted on the DCPCSB website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See you in silver spring soon

The schools in silver spring are terrible.

Ah, yes, the "the schools in Silver Spring are terrible" poster has arrived. Those of us who are very happy with our Silver Spring schools beg to differ.

There are people who are happy on well fare, what does that prove? I don't think the schools are better than what one we find in Brookland IB. Just look at what is happening in the Silver Spring schools within the last couple of weeks. Haven't seen that here in years. Our schools are getting better and yours are getting worse.

What has happened in Silver Spring?

Girl stabbed in front of eastern middle school by an illegal and another illegal brought an stolen car with a gun in it to Einstein high school. Not to mention the illegals that ran a train on a 14 year old during school hours in a bathroom in Rockville