NYC public schools lottery

[Anonymous]

How does the system compare to DC? Is it a legit lottery or is there a lot of corruption in the process?

I ask because many of my friends in Brooklyn with kids just played the lottery for the first time. Everyone was shut out of their local PS and are now figuring out their next option.

However, the only person I know that “won” the lottery is a very wealthy couple I’ve known for a long time. They got into the best public charter school in Park Slope. I have a feeling that they may have pulled some strings or perhaps the school specifically tried to accept this family due to the donations they could make to the school. The mom is also semi-famous.

Anyways, it seems like the NYC lottery is waaaaaaay worse than DC’s. The competition is insane and your kid is not guaranteed admission to your local by-right school due to over crowding.