Shut out and really angry

[Anonymous]

I have lived in this city for 30 of my 36 years and my parents for a long time before that and we were shut out of every pk3 program we applied for. The shock has now turned to anger. I'm so disgusted with this process.it just burns me up that someone can just move into my neighborhood on a whim, work in VA or MD while I work for the city, and shut my DC out while I keep paying taxes for their DC to go to FREE pk. I'm so burned up over this.

I just had to get that off my chest.

A few questions:
1. Last year my understanding was that only a few in-boundary families got turned away from the in-boundary school. However, this year our waitlist number is enormous! How are there so many (30+) new children at my in-boundary school?
2. Does DCPS release a list of addresses in order of lottery number for a given school?
3. How do we track waitlist movement at a given school?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

First off, anyone who lives in DC pays taxes here. So your kid doesn't have any more right than theirs to PK.

Second, there are always schools with space. They might not be your first or even 12th choice but there will be space.

To answer your questions:
1. DC is having a baby boom. Plus some schools shifted boundaries.
2. No, they don't give out addresses of applicants. You wouldn't want your address listed, right? Last year they did show how many kids with each preference were on the waitlist.
3. You call each school every couple weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in this city for 30 of my 36 years and my parents for a long time before that and we were shut out of every pk3 program we applied for. The shock has now turned to anger. I'm so disgusted with this process.it just burns me up that someone can just move into my neighborhood on a whim, work in VA or MD while I work for the city, and shut my DC out while I keep paying taxes for their DC to go to FREE pk. I'm so burned up over this.

I just had to get that off my chest.

A few questions:
1. Last year my understanding was that only a few in-boundary families got turned away from the in-boundary school. However, this year our waitlist number is enormous! How are there so many (30+) new children at my in-boundary school?
2. Does DCPS release a list of addresses in order of lottery number for a given school?
3. How do we track waitlist movement at a given school?

I completely feel your pain. Was there last year. It all worked out in the end though.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live? What is your IB?

There are always spots for PK3 somewhere, even as late as August. Post where you live and we'll see if we can make some suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. I understand your frustration. However, DC residents pay DC "state" income taxes regardless of whether they work in MD, VA or DC.

[Anonymous]

What's your IB school, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First off, anyone who lives in DC pays taxes here. So your kid doesn't have any more right than theirs to PK.

Second, there are always schools with space. They might not be your first or even 12th choice but there will be space.

To answer your questions:
1. DC is having a baby boom. Plus some schools shifted boundaries.
2. No, they don't give out addresses of applicants. You wouldn't want your address listed, right? Last year they did show how many kids with each preference were on the waitlist.
3. You call each school every couple weeks.

Do you call the school or My Schools? I understand that the schools have less autonomy.

[Anonymous]

It is also a reminder of how it is important to report people who are lie about residency. I am sure you know a family or 2 who lives in MD and has their child enrolled in a DCPS.

But wrt where you are on the waitlist - have you seen an uptick of children at the neighborhood park?

[Anonymous]

Did you put any safties on your list? I'm sure there were options, but probably none that you are comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

I don't know the answer to all your questions but it's just not true that only a few kids are turned away from their IB school via lottery. This was 2 years ago but I live in Stoddert. They had 20 slots for PK4 and 80 IB families apply. We were #59 on the waitlist so we clearly didn't get in. We found a different school that we love and have chosen to stay at. GL! I hope you find a school that works for you. Our IB school doesn't have a PK3 so I try to remind myself of the blessings of having free PK3 and PK4 as even an option. It's not one that many people have.

[Anonymous]

It will eventually work out, don't worry. Besides at 3 years old daycare is still an option. By the time your kid is ready for K, the kid will get into someplace good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in this city for 30 of my 36 years and my parents for a long time before that and we were shut out of every pk3 program we applied for. The shock has now turned to anger. I'm so disgusted with this process.it just burns me up that someone can just move into my neighborhood on a whim, work in VA or MD while I work for the city, and shut my DC out while I keep paying taxes for their DC to go to FREE pk. I'm so burned up over this.

I just had to get that off my chest.

A few questions:
1. Last year my understanding was that only a few in-boundary families got turned away from the in-boundary school. However, this year our waitlist number is enormous! How are there so many (30+) new children at my in-boundary school?
2. Does DCPS release a list of addresses in order of lottery number for a given school?
3. How do we track waitlist movement at a given school?

People who live in DC but work in MD or VA pay income & property tax in DC, so that part really shouldn't piss you off.

1) there appears to be a (mostly upper middle class, white) "baby boom" in DC. My limited anecdotal evidence shows that this year, these people are more willing to "try" their neighborhood schools.

2) Uh, no. You seriously want a list of people whose doors you can show up at because you're pissed your kid got wait listed? No.

3) This is a good question. Last I heard the myschoolsdc people were going to handle everything this year (as opposed to individual schools) for the sake of transparency, but I don't know what that means in practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in this city for 30 of my 36 years and my parents for a long time before that and we were shut out of every pk3 program we applied for. The shock has now turned to anger. I'm so disgusted with this process.it just burns me up that someone can just move into my neighborhood on a whim, work in VA or MD while I work for the city, and shut my DC out while I keep paying taxes for their DC to go to FREE pk. I'm so burned up over this.

I just had to get that off my chest.

A few questions:
1. Last year my understanding was that only a few in-boundary families got turned away from the in-boundary school. However, this year our waitlist number is enormous! How are there so many (30+) new children at my in-boundary school?
2. Does DCPS release a list of addresses in order of lottery number for a given school?
3. How do we track waitlist movement at a given school?

It sucks. Just remember, it's only Pk3. Yeah, it really stinks that you might have to pay for preschool elsewhere for a year or two, but VA and MD do too. Preschool isn't guaranteed here. You will get a spot for K if you stay no matter what.

But really, I understand. I was there a few years ago. It really really burns when you don't win the school lottery.

[Anonymous]

This year, your lottery results will be updated on the MSDC website and there will be no need to call the registrar. So that's something. I'm sorry, OP.