ACPS - transferring school request question

[Anonymous]

We live on the border (we're talking 5 houses down the street) of 2 schools in Alexandria. DS will be rising 3rd grader and DD will be rising 1st grader next fall. When our oldest started at this school, it was in our opinion a stronger school than currently. For perspective, the school dropped from Great School rating of maybe 6-7 to currently a 4. It could be the redistricting and turnover/reshuffling of teachers from other schools but the short of it is that we're quite disappointed in our current school but with neighbors attending the other school we are close to, feel better about that school. Also, quite a number of both kids' friends are slated via redistricting to attend the other school next year. We also had an incident a couple years ago that involved us repeating a grade due to the drama of a specific teacher (long story short, a couple years ago, DS expressed interest to repeat his grade. In any case it was a big misunderstanding, the principal got involved and I was incredibly disappointed in the way he handled the case not telling us about the episode with the teacher scaring the shit out of her class leading to DS request. He seemed to have no problem approving the transfer, no questions asked. It has always left a bad taste in my mouth since in staying at this school with him running it. He explained it by suggesting because we had had previous conversations about holding our son back as a summer birthday boy, he was cool with it even though he knew of the specific incident that took place since several other parents brought it up.) Ultimately, we did in fact repeat first grade. Now in 2nd grade, academically he is killing it.

The ACPS guidelines state that unless it were health/safety, sibling or redistricting, it's rare for requests to be honored. I was wondering if other families have had successful petitions in transferring out of their schools for other reasons. Basically, we feel the school has gone downhill academically the past few years, no confidence in the principal and as we are so close to the other school, wanted to find out if we could get in. There's a number of students who would love to be at our school I know since the general reputation is strong and I wonder if us leaving would create space for everyone to be happier I realize the decisions get made in late summer but we know enough kids at the other school that I don't think it would be traumatic. Since we have 2 kids I guess I'd have to simultaneously request DD transfer based on sibling moving schools. Do I have a chance in hell getting my kids transferred if I can even use the above event from a couple years' ago? FWIW, DS was receiving speech services from K until end of last year when they pulled speech therapy since he's excelling academically (even though he is testing at 90% articulation). We are also having him evaluated for ADHD/ADD. Perhaps if he did not repeat and stayed on grade even as youngest of class, academically, he would be on target but not excelling and therapy would have continued. I don't know - I just think that on some level - the incident really messed with us and I wonder if that experience may justify the board to approve our transfer request?