NW schools for 2nd and 3rd grade for lottery lost

[Anonymous]

We just moved and will be doing lotttery for the first time and wondering which are strong top D.C. Public elementary schools for this age group and in what order to rank, I have a boy who would benefit from smaller school/more attention /smaller class size and my daughter is pretty easy and adaptable to any class environment.

Lafayette
Key school
Stoddart
Janney

Any recommendations for this age group? Driving is not an issue as I don't work. Thanks

[Anonymous]

These are all good schools. Janney and Lafayette are much larger schools but class sizes won't be all that different anywhere.

Most here would say the main differentiator is the middle school they feed to.

Depending on how long you will be in DC, you should probably also research on Hardy and Deal middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live/what is your inbound school? Chances are pretty low for any of these so rankings shouldn't be a priority. I'd focus on electing other schools to add to your list. Looks like you are going strictly on overall scores. You may want to drill down on scores. If you do, you will see many of the charters have same performance as the schools you have on your list. Also, it's spelled Stoddert (in case you want to do searching). Shepherd is only 6-8 min drive from Lafayette and has same middle school feeder (better than Stoddert or Key's). I would look into that as well as charters.

[Anonymous]

Why not consider Hearst? Small school - 2 classes per grade . Wonderfully diverse community.

[Anonymous]

Agree with comment about drilling down on scores

[Anonymous]

Which is your IB school? All of the ones you listed will have very few or possibly no OOB spots, so you'll likely need a backup plan. You should consider some charters as well, as the top DCPS schools will be hard to get in unless you live IB.

[Anonymous]

Rising 2nd at Key has highest class sizes in years - would be surprised if any OOB spaces will be open. I would agree with trying Hearst... or Hyde-Addison which will be in swing space & lots of vacancies.

[Anonymous]

If you want schools that might possibly have spots / chance of getting in to, I would put:
Key - few people want to drive over to the Pallisades so there are fewer people who apply OOB
Hyde - it will be in swing space so a big unknown for # of spots available
Eaton - since they now feed Hardy there have been people trying to lottery out to schools that feed Deal or going private
Shepherd - similar to Key in that it is in the wrong direction for many commuters so might have a smaller # of applicants
Hearst

Charters
Creative Minds - good for smaller class size
What grade does Sela go through now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rising 2nd at Key has highest class sizes in years - would be surprised if any OOB spaces will be open. I would agree with trying Hearst... or Hyde-Addison which will be in swing space & lots of vacancies.

+ 1 the class sizes for Key for this years first and second graders is around 24-26 each. So a smaller school, but bigger class sizes than in the past, and last year they didn't take any OOB beyond first grade. And they do max out on OOBs. (There are enough parents who are willing to make that drive)

I think Mann is the only WOTP school that still has PTA funded 'second teachers' in 2nd and beyond.

Hearst, Eaton, Hyde... all better bets for getting in & smaller class size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rising 2nd at Key has highest class sizes in years - would be surprised if any OOB spaces will be open. I would agree with trying Hearst... or Hyde-Addison which will be in swing space & lots of vacancies.

Wow - I know 3 OOB in the current 1st grade class at Key. Interesting strategy by the Principal.

[Anonymous]

Current 1st grade at Hearst has 26 and 23. Principal says she's not taking any from the lottery this year. I think she also didn't take any last year. But if you move into Hearst zone, it's a great school.

[Anonymous]

Stoddert took zero OOB students this year.

[Anonymous]

I think those schools are extremely unlikely to take OOB kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think those schools are extremely unlikely to take OOB kids.

Schools that already have 26 kids in a class from kids who live in their zone are not going to accept many (if any) out of boundary students. OP you need to look at the historical data for out of boundary acceptances for the grade you want before wedding yourself to a particular school.

[Anonymous]

Try Ross. We got and turned down a spot in upper grade last year.