can you go to a different public highschool than what you are zoned for?

[Anonymous]

If you really want to fake an address, it can be done and people do it all of the time. Documents can be altered and schools can't follow up on every student. But it's a terrible message to give to your kid and it's not like you can keep it a secret from your kid.

[Anonymous]

What if we all decided to become residency cheaters? How would that work out? You'd have an overcrowded school, and then you'd complain about the "illegals" making your school crowded.

So most of us follow the rules, but a select few of you think you are above the rules? Would you like it if someone cut in line in front of you? You would probably get mad, right? This is a case of "I'm ok if I do it, but I don't want others to do it."

[Anonymous]

I'm kind of stunned at the PP who is posting "NBD" about all the families she knows who are blatantly breaking the law.

Where do you draw the line, PP? "I know red means stop, but I'm in a hurry and it's NBD." "I know I should pay for this meal, but the service kind of sucked, so NBD."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if you own a rental property in a desirable school zone with proof via property tax bill. Can you send your kid to that school if you wish?

I think that would be pretty easy to do. Especially if you have a tenant that's willing to work with you. And, you can trust them to get your mail, etc. Since MCPS mails things to that address and you might not want to miss something. Even easier if you (as the landlord) pay the utilities. You'd have a utility bill in your name if they did ask for proof.

I'm the PP who posted about College Gardens. This is what's happening their - families own properties and are renting them to other families. The families who are renting AND the families who own, but don't live there, all use that address.

We're not at College Gardens, but I know a family who does this. Rented the house to a family member, but keep the address as their own. And, their family member also lives there. All the kids attend the school, but the landlord lives in another cluster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of stunned at the PP who is posting "NBD" about all the families she knows who are blatantly breaking the law.

Where do you draw the line, PP? "I know red means stop, but I'm in a hurry and it's NBD." "I know I should pay for this meal, but the service kind of sucked, so NBD."

It's a county-wide system. All the kids follow the same curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of stunned at the PP who is posting "NBD" about all the families she knows who are blatantly breaking the law.

Where do you draw the line, PP? "I know red means stop, but I'm in a hurry and it's NBD." "I know I should pay for this meal, but the service kind of sucked, so NBD."

On top of this remember that the homes in the areas of schools that people want to send their kids to are probably more expensive than the schools where they live in.

But the parents who are doing so by altering addresses or using a friend's address are basically getting the benefits of the good school without paying for it. Like how the people who live in the neighborhood paid the price to live in that neighborhood to go to the school.

The people are willing to go so far as paying rent to send their kids to a certain might be the exception to this.

But it would only be fair to ask parents that want their kids to go to the "good" schools to either pay up to live in the area that the school serves or pay by sending their kids to private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of stunned at the PP who is posting "NBD" about all the families she knows who are blatantly breaking the law.

Where do you draw the line, PP? "I know red means stop, but I'm in a hurry and it's NBD." "I know I should pay for this meal, but the service kind of sucked, so NBD."

On top of this remember that the homes in the areas of schools that people want to send their kids to are probably more expensive than the schools where they live in.

But the parents who are doing so by altering addresses or using a friend's address are basically getting the benefits of the good school without paying for it. Like how the people who live in the neighborhood paid the price to live in that neighborhood to go to the school.

The people are willing to go so far as paying rent to send their kids to a certain might be the exception to this.

But it would only be fair to ask parents that want their kids to go to the "good" schools to either pay up to live in the area that the school serves or pay by sending their kids to private school.

Of course. Because only rich kids deserve to be at good schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of stunned at the PP who is posting "NBD" about all the families she knows who are blatantly breaking the law.

Where do you draw the line, PP? "I know red means stop, but I'm in a hurry and it's NBD." "I know I should pay for this meal, but the service kind of sucked, so NBD."

On top of this remember that the homes in the areas of schools that people want to send their kids to are probably more expensive than the schools where they live in.

But the parents who are doing so by altering addresses or using a friend's address are basically getting the benefits of the good school without paying for it. Like how the people who live in the neighborhood paid the price to live in that neighborhood to go to the school.

The people are willing to go so far as paying rent to send their kids to a certain might be the exception to this.

But it would only be fair to ask parents that want their kids to go to the "good" schools to either pay up to live in the area that the school serves or pay by sending their kids to private school.

Of course. Because only rich kids deserve to be at good schools.

It is the rich kids that make the schools good, it is also the poor kids who drag down their local schools. It really is as simple as that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of stunned at the PP who is posting "NBD" about all the families she knows who are blatantly breaking the law.

Where do you draw the line, PP? "I know red means stop, but I'm in a hurry and it's NBD." "I know I should pay for this meal, but the service kind of sucked, so NBD."

On top of this remember that the homes in the areas of schools that people want to send their kids to are probably more expensive than the schools where they live in.

But the parents who are doing so by altering addresses or using a friend's address are basically getting the benefits of the good school without paying for it. Like how the people who live in the neighborhood paid the price to live in that neighborhood to go to the school.

The people are willing to go so far as paying rent to send their kids to a certain might be the exception to this.

But it would only be fair to ask parents that want their kids to go to the "good" schools to either pay up to live in the area that the school serves or pay by sending their kids to private school.

I'm trying so hard to resist responding. But I can't.

You do not purchase access to an exclusive school through your mortgage. You do not have a greater right to the school the more your home costs. The boundaries of your school could change tomorrow. Ten families could cram into a 2 bedroom apartment in your school zone and still have as much of a right to attend the school as you.

I believe in following the boundary rules as much as anyone, but I can't stand the argument that someone bought themselves a better school because they paid so much for their house, and that others who didn't pay that much are stealing their education. All the money in the county is pooled and redistributed to each school. You are not paying for YOUR school with your property taxes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of stunned at the PP who is posting "NBD" about all the families she knows who are blatantly breaking the law.

Where do you draw the line, PP? "I know red means stop, but I'm in a hurry and it's NBD." "I know I should pay for this meal, but the service kind of sucked, so NBD."

I'm the PP you're talking about. Don't shoot the messenger - we actually live IN bounds. I just figure there's not much the school can do about it. And, from talking to other people, it's pretty common practice to have your kid use a different address, etc. So, I'm certainly not going to stress about it. That's what I meant, by it being NBD. I do agree that they have school boundaries for a reason, and they should be respected. But, other than that, what are you gonna do about people who are smart enough to work the system. Isn't that just the way life works??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if you own a rental property in a desirable school zone with proof via property tax bill. Can you send your kid to that school if you wish?

I think that would be pretty easy to do. Especially if you have a tenant that's willing to work with you. And, you can trust them to get your mail, etc. Since MCPS mails things to that address and you might not want to miss something. Even easier if you (as the landlord) pay the utilities. You'd have a utility bill in your name if they did ask for proof.

No you are wrong!
Your child can attend only school where your property listed as PRIMARY residence on Taxes. If residence in not listed as PRIMARY, your child cannot attend that school no matter of utility bills etc.
If you are RENTING property, and list it as PRIMARY (and pocket your income and taxes) you are getting into a lot of legal troubles.
You are not suppose to have 2 primary residents, unless parents are leaving separately because of whatever reason...
If this is the case, MCPS will ask you provide notarized document that this is indeed the case.

[Anonymous]

I had to show the deed to my house and a current utility bill. I'm sure they didn't call my bank to see if the lease was up to date (could have been an old deed). And I'm sure they didn't call the utility to see if I had faked the name on the bill. People fake these documents all the time and the school is not going to follow up unless they are suspicious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of stunned at the PP who is posting "NBD" about all the families she knows who are blatantly breaking the law.

Where do you draw the line, PP? "I know red means stop, but I'm in a hurry and it's NBD." "I know I should pay for this meal, but the service kind of sucked, so NBD."

I'm confident the NBD poster is feeling okay because the residency cheaters are the "right" sort of cheaters. They...blend in, you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't hurt to try. Or, you can use an address if you know of a friend who lives in the Whitman cluster.

We know of 3 families that use a friend/family member's address in our cluster to attend a MS, but they live elsewhere. The one complication that comes up is that report cards get sent to that person's address. So make sure it's someone who you trust will get you the info you need!

You can ask for a COSA, but you'll need to have a compelling reason, like the PP said.

However, if you can just find someone that lives in the Whitman cluster who is willing to let you use them as a mailing address, you won't need to prove anything.

Keep in mind that this is quite illegal and your child will be removed from the school if you are caught using a false address.

Honestly, who's going to 'report' you? LOL! Like I said, we have 3 families in our school who do this and don't keep it a secret. It's definitely NBD.

I'd guess that the worst thing that could happen is they'd take you out of Whitman and put you back in your home school. They can't just deny you an education.

Not only is what you suggest probably fraud or some other crime, it is not as easy as you make it out to be. From the MCPS website, this is what you need to provide to prove residency. I can guarantee that creating fake documents to prove residency will definitely be a crime.

Residency—In Montgomery County
• If homeowner, provide copy of current property tax bill. A copy can be obtained from Montgomery County Department of Finance at 240-777-0311 or at montgomerycountymd.gov/finance, OR

• If renter, provide copy of current (less than 1 year old) lease. If lease is more than 1 year old, copy of lease and a current utility bill, OR

• If living in shared housing, provide notarized MCPS Form 335-74, Shared Housing Disclosure and either a copy of the current property tax bill of homeowner or copy of lease of renter with whom student and parent/guardian are living and three other appropriate supporting documents.

• Anyone who is not a resident of Montgomery County must complete MCPS Form 335-73, Determination of Residency and Tuition Status and contact SCRIA at 301-230-0686.

• If homeless, please refer to Enrollment Information/Homeless Children web page

My kids are still only in ES, so I have no idea what the policies are for MS/HS yet. But, when I registered my kids for K, nobody asked me for proof of residency! I just filled out a form with my kid's name and address and that was it. Will they require proof of residency for MS/HS?

My DD has two friends who live out of boundary. I know both families quite well, and it's not a secret that they live out of boundary - we've been to their houses and I've talked to both moms about it. One uses her MIL's address. FWIW, they're a close-knit Asian family, and the family does spend a good amount of time together. But, the student is a car rider, and it's definitely the mom who picks her up from school every day, so it's not an issue where they use grandparents for daycare, etc. The mom has said that she thinks our ES is better than the one her DD was zoned for, so they use the MIL address and didn't try applying for a COSA. She has never had an issue and our kids are in 4th grade.

The other friend uses a friend's address and it's only an issue at the end of the year when the reports cards get sent home because the kids' report cards don't get send to their house. Also, they don't get the principal's robo-call every Sunday night. But, all that info is on the website anyway, so it's not really an issue.

I have seen a LOT of Asian kids in areas zoned for QO use a cousin's address zoned for Wootton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of stunned at the PP who is posting "NBD" about all the families she knows who are blatantly breaking the law.

Where do you draw the line, PP? "I know red means stop, but I'm in a hurry and it's NBD." "I know I should pay for this meal, but the service kind of sucked, so NBD."

I'm confident the NBD poster is feeling okay because the residency cheaters are the "right" sort of cheaters. They...blend in, you know?

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