Just moved my family to D.C. with my dad and am looking for schools and info on enrollment

[Anonymous]

Hi! I have a 10, 8, and almost 3 year old. I am moving in with my dad this weekend after training for a job in Oklahoma and then not getting the job. I basically have no choice and am starting from the bottom.

My problem is that it's mid-school year AND we fall into the LaSalle catchment area. My kids were in Charter in PA before we moved to OKC for my training and I know how difficult it can be to get them into another. Does anyone know what my options are? My kids are pretty smart, not geniuses or anything, and I'd like to keep them in an environment that will continue to allow them to learn and grow. Also, my 10 year old will be going to 6th grade in the upcoming school year, so if we could find a school where he could stay until high school that would be awesome.

If anyone can help me with what options I have, I'd appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

I assume you want public? If so, lottery for basis starting next year might be your best bet in terms of consistency. But that's just your oldest.

Just know that the lottery deadlines are coming up. You need to enroll them in docs quickly and move on the lottery for next year.

[Anonymous]

The lottery!! You can lottery into a different public school as an out of bounds student, or any charter school.

Check out this website:
http://www.myschooldc.org/

Then come back w/ more questions

[Anonymous]

Can the lottery help them now? They need to be back in school next week...

[Anonymous]

No, the lottery can't help them this year. Enroll them at your inbounds school. Lottery is for next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can the lottery help them now? They need to be back in school next week...

(I, OP, posted this)

[Anonymous]

OP again: so is LaSalle ok for 1st and 5th grade? And what are usually the outcomes of the lottery? In PA, there were always hundred of students on wait lists for years sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Here's a place where you can do some reading about various schools, the lottery, etc.

https://dcps.dc.gov/

I know nothing about LaSalle; it just isn't in my part of town, so I'm not any help to you there.

The DC school lottery is an annual thing. Every year, people register and rank schools. Those preferences are good for that next academic year and then everything resets. I know that you can get a call for a seat at a school after count day in the fall, but I'm not sure exactly how late in the year they still call people if a student moves out of a school.

OP, call someone at DCPS on Monday to discuss the lottery. It doesn't hurt to enter and you can always just say forget it and stay at your inbounds school. You will need a crash course in our lottery, tho, so be sure you understand whether you have any preferences based on your residence.

[Anonymous]

In DC - most desirable charters have wait lists that are similar to your experience in PA.

For this year, LsSalle is probably your only choice.

For next year, I would recommend putting all 3 of them in the lottery for Capital City Public Charter School. If any of them get in, they will pull the others in. It is not far from where you are at Peabody and 1st St NW. They have a school that goes PreK3 - 12th grade.

EL Haynes is another option that has a school for PreK3 - 12th grade that is not too far from you.

Finding your oldest and option that goes through high school is the most challenging. Washington Latin has an entry year of 5th grade - so there are only a handful of spots for 6th grade (if any).

My next thought would be to look at Creative Minds - they go from PreK3 through middle school so at least you will have that path for the next 2 years.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a place where you can do some reading about various schools, the lottery, etc.

https://dcps.dc.gov/

I know nothing about LaSalle; it just isn't in my part of town, so I'm not any help to you there.

The DC school lottery is an annual thing. Every year, people register and rank schools. Those preferences are good for that next academic year and then everything resets. I know that you can get a call for a seat at a school after count day in the fall, but I'm not sure exactly how late in the year they still call people if a student moves out of a school.

OP, call someone at DCPS on Monday to discuss the lottery. It doesn't hurt to enter and you can always just say forget it and stay at your inbounds school. You will need a crash course in our lottery, tho, so be sure you understand whether you have any preferences based on your residence.

Thank you, I have an aunt who's a teacher down here I'll need to talk to (I thought she'd retired already). This helps so that I know what to ask her. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In DC - most desirable charters have wait lists that are similar to your experience in PA.

For this year, LsSalle is probably your only choice.

For next year, I would recommend putting all 3 of them in the lottery for Capital City Public Charter School. If any of them get in, they will pull the others in. It is not far from where you are at Peabody and 1st St NW. They have a school that goes PreK3 - 12th grade.

EL Haynes is another option that has a school for PreK3 - 12th grade that is not too far from you.

Finding your oldest and option that goes through high school is the most challenging. Washington Latin has an entry year of 5th grade - so there are only a handful of spots for 6th grade (if any).

My next thought would be to look at Creative Minds - they go from PreK3 through middle school so at least you will have that path for the next 2 years.

Good luck.

Honestly, if I can get one that goes brought middle school, it'll be a blessing. Through high school will just be a bigger blessing. Thanks for the suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In DC - most desirable charters have wait lists that are similar to your experience in PA.

For this year, LsSalle is probably your only choice.

For next year, I would recommend putting all 3 of them in the lottery for Capital City Public Charter School. If any of them get in, they will pull the others in. It is not far from where you are at Peabody and 1st St NW. They have a school that goes PreK3 - 12th grade.

EL Haynes is another option that has a school for PreK3 - 12th grade that is not too far from you.

Finding your oldest and option that goes through high school is the most challenging. Washington Latin has an entry year of 5th grade - so there are only a handful of spots for 6th grade (if any).

My next thought would be to look at Creative Minds - they go from PreK3 through middle school so at least you will have that path for the next 2 years.

Good luck.

Honestly, if I can get one that goes brought middle school, it'll be a blessing. Through high school will just be a bigger blessing. Thanks for the suggestions!

It is very important that you put all 3 in for the same lottery schools - if 1 gets in - they pull the others in. You do not need to work through the logistics immediately - but there is a deadline that is coming up within a month.

[Anonymous]

It is very important that you put all 3 in for the same lottery schools - if 1 gets in - they pull the others in. You do not need to work through the logistics immediately - but there is a deadline that is coming up within a month.

Definitely, it worked that way in PA too. I need to get started on D.C. identification and proof of residency so that I can get them enrolled now and so I can apply for the lottery.