DC Govt Employees Enrolling Kids in School Near Office

[Anonymous]

I just heard that DC government employees are allowed to enroll their kids in the DCPS nearest their office. I think it is only for out-of-bounds DC residents, not employees who live in Maryland or Virginia. Does anyone know anything about this? Is it an official policy or the principal making a "special exception" for the employee?

[Anonymous]

No. not at all

[Anonymous]

No. The only way to do that is to lie about where you live.

[Anonymous]

No. Report them for residency violation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Report them for residency violation.

How is this a residency violation if someone tells the principal, I live in SE, but work a block away, and the principal enrolls them? It's not like they're pretending to live in-bounds?

[Anonymous]

Uh, no. I am DC Govt employee and this is not a real thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Report them for residency violation.

How is this a residency violation if someone tells the principal, I live in SE, but work a block away, and the principal enrolls them? It's not like they're pretending to live in-bounds?

Because OOB seats have to be distributed via the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Report them for residency violation.

How is this a residency violation if someone tells the principal, I live in SE, but work a block away, and the principal enrolls them? It's not like they're pretending to live in-bounds?

Because OOB seats have to be distributed via the lottery.

But what if they were low on the waitlist, and they were bumped up? Not being argumentative, I'm just trying to understand the story I heard from a DC employee who said she did this and it was totally above board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Report them for residency violation.

How is this a residency violation if someone tells the principal, I live in SE, but work a block away, and the principal enrolls them? It's not like they're pretending to live in-bounds?

Because OOB seats have to be distributed via the lottery.

But what if they were low on the waitlist, and they were bumped up? Not being argumentative, I'm just trying to understand the story I heard from a DC employee who said she did this and it was totally above board.

Because there are some specific preferences: sibling, IB, parent/staff, OOB with proximity. There is no "my mommy works nearby" preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Report them for residency violation.

How is this a residency violation if someone tells the principal, I live in SE, but work a block away, and the principal enrolls them? It's not like they're pretending to live in-bounds?

Because OOB seats have to be distributed via the lottery.

But what if they were low on the waitlist, and they were bumped up? Not being argumentative, I'm just trying to understand the story I heard from a DC employee who said she did this and it was totally above board.

She may have thought it was above board, or she may have lied to you when she said it was above board. Either way, it's not.

[Anonymous]

It isn't above board. If someone is doing it, they are breaking the rules.

That said, it used to happen prior to the common lottery. So someone could have done this back then and their child remains at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn't above board. If someone is doing it, they are breaking the rules.

That said, it used to happen prior to the common lottery. So someone could have done this back then and their child remains at the school.

This is very true, would apply to siblings as well of the older admitted student. Even as few as 6-7 years ago waitlists at most non-Ward 3 schools were pretty short, and principals had a lot more discretion. There were definitely a few shady things going on. Almost all of that has stopped now with the common lottery, thankfully.

[Anonymous]

I recommend perusing the DCPS website or giving them a call to find out for certain. You never know. There could be some loophole many don't know about. I doubt a person doing this illegally would speak openly about it, claiming that it's all above board. Everyone knows residency fraud is a real thing in DC, and there have been articles about families being sued because of it. Anyone (knowingly) doing it does so in a hush-hush manner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recommend perusing the DCPS website or giving them a call to find out for certain. You never know. There could be some loophole many don't know about. I doubt a person doing this illegally would speak openly about it, claiming that it's all above board. Everyone knows residency fraud is a real thing in DC, and there have been articles about families being sued because of it. Anyone (knowingly) doing it does so in a hush-hush manner.

There's no loophole for DC gov employees. There may be an unspoken staff preference for a DCPS employee, but that doesn't sound like what's happening here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recommend perusing the DCPS website or giving them a call to find out for certain. You never know. There could be some loophole many don't know about. I doubt a person doing this illegally would speak openly about it, claiming that it's all above board. Everyone knows residency fraud is a real thing in DC, and there have been articles about families being sued because of it. Anyone (knowingly) doing it does so in a hush-hush manner.

This was my thought. I was surprised to hear her say she did this, and she's not a cheat the system kind of person. She implied that it happens across the city, so I wonder if it is a small loophole or "unofficial" loophole that DCPS turns a blind eye to. Just curious if others had heard of such a thing. I don't actually think it's a terrible thing to give DC government employees (who actually are DC residents of course) this kind of perk for government service, especially if it's just limited to the school in-bounds to their office.