Anyone know if there is an OOB process for non-District residents for charter schools?

[Anonymous]

My child currently attends a DCPS school and we pay non-resident tuition. I've called several charter schools thinking of switching next year and keep getting different answers about whether they accept non-District residents. Also, I'd like to try for one of the popular language immersion programs. I'm hoping someone can provide some information. TIA

[Anonymous]

yes - Charters accept non-district residents.

Non-district residents can apply for the lottery. They are prioritized after all DC applicants. But if a spot is open at a school and no one from DC wants it - and you are willing to pay - it is yours.

The tuition is the same that you are paying now as a non-resident in a DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Assuming the first response (22:29) is correct, you would very likely not get in to a "popular immersion program." I've read on these boards before about a non-resident who joined a charter in the early years, before it was popular. There was space for a non-resident. Once a school is popular, I doubt a non-resident would be accepted. The acception might be for the later (mid-elementary school) years if you were willing to do a transfer in mid-September early-October.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you will have to go to each individual school whose lottery you are interested in. It's not like DCPS where there's one big system. Each school runs their own lottery. You can apply as a non-resident BUT you will receive last priority on the waitlist after all the residents.

[Anonymous]

May I ask why you are paying to have your child attend a DC public school and considering paying charter? Our child has attended public and charter and we are very satisfied, but thought most people paid to get out of DC? Curious about your motivation?

[Anonymous]

Maybe because school quality isn't as cut and dried as some people would have you believe? #1 Not all schools in MoCo are that great and #2 Not all schools in DC are that bad. You have to work a little harder than that to find the real story.

[Anonymous]

possibly the person works in DC and would prefer to be closer to the child / school

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks for the information. To answer the question from the pp, I am a MD resident and the language immersion options are very limited here. I do not work in DC, but I am committed to my children learning a second language. But am I looking for the impossible in a school?

* academically rich
* racially & socioeconomically diverse
* engaged, friendly community of parents
* strong, decisive, communicative leadership
* "great" teachers

I know, I know, this is a topic for another thread altogether. But since I am just beginning this school journey, I am still shocked by the limited choices. Not looking for a fight, really, just thinking out loud.

[Anonymous]

What grade is your child in now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks for the information. To answer the question from the pp, I am a MD resident and the language immersion options are very limited here. I do not work in DC, but I am committed to my children learning a second language. But am I looking for the impossible in a school?

* academically rich
* racially & socioeconomically diverse
* engaged, friendly community of parents
* strong, decisive, communicative leadership
* "great" teachers

I know, I know, this is a topic for another thread altogether. But since I am just beginning this school journey, I am still shocked by the limited choices. Not looking for a fight, really, just thinking out loud.

Hi OP, I don't think you're asking for too much and it's a shame schools like you describe aren't readily available in more school districts. Fairfax County really is a national leader in immersion programs, with lots of options. Arlington has a few Spanish programs that are supposed to be good. DC has a number of immersion options (multiple Spanish options, French, and Mandarin) because charters are so strong here. It's funny how politics makes for strange bedfellows - charters were something that the Republican Congress pretty much shoved down DC's throat 10 years ago and yet they've become tremendously popular in the bluest-of-blue states (if you can call DC a state - not that I mean to pick a fight over that). Montgomery County appears to rest on its laurels in that there are some great schools in Bethesda, but the red/green school map really highlights where the weak spots are. And there really aren't the language choices available which the neighboring school districts seem to offer - for whatever reason. Good luck in your search and/or in the lotteries.

[Anonymous]

don't know what language you're looking for. But if French, consider Rochambeau. Private, but free for French citizens. Which gives it a more economically diverse student body. Less expensive than WIS. If I recall correctly, ~$14k per year. We ended up at a DC charter, or might have considered.

[Anonymous]

Op here again. My child is in K now. It doesn't look like charter is going to be an option since the language programs are so popular. I'm going to focus my attention on other DCPS schools that offer language options, even some west of the park. Since all OOB applicants go into the same pool with DCPS, we have a better chance. Dropping off AND picking up anywhere in NW is going to be a challenge given where we live in MD, but I'll just throw the dice and see what happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here again. My child is in K now. It doesn't look like charter is going to be an option since the language programs are so popular. I'm going to focus my attention on other DCPS schools that offer language options, even some west of the park. Since all OOB applicants go into the same pool with DCPS, we have a better chance. Dropping off AND picking up anywhere in NW is going to be a challenge given where we live in MD, but I'll just throw the dice and see what happens.

OP, you might check out Tyler Elementary at 10th & G St SE in Capitol Hill, very accessible to the SE/SW Freeway. The Spanish immersion program is pretty new. I think middle-class Capitol Hill parents have discovered it (until recently Tyler used to serve nearby public housing residents almost exclusively) so there may not be room but it's a better shot than Oyster, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks for the information. To answer the question from the pp, I am a MD resident and the language immersion options are very limited here. I do not work in DC, but I am committed to my children learning a second language. But am I looking for the impossible in a school?

* academically rich
* racially & socioeconomically diverse
* engaged, friendly community of parents
* strong, decisive, communicative leadership
* "great" teachers

I know, I know, this is a topic for another thread altogether. But since I am just beginning this school journey, I am still shocked by the limited choices. Not looking for a fight, really, just thinking out loud.

Hi OP, I don't think you're asking for too much and it's a shame schools like you describe aren't readily available in more school districts. Fairfax County really is a national leader in immersion programs, with lots of options. Arlington has a few Spanish programs that are supposed to be good. DC has a number of immersion options (multiple Spanish options, French, and Mandarin) because charters are so strong here. It's funny how politics makes for strange bedfellows - charters were something that the Republican Congress pretty much shoved down DC's throat 10 years ago and yet they've become tremendously popular in the bluest-of-blue states (if you can call DC a state - not that I mean to pick a fight over that). Montgomery County appears to rest on its laurels in that there are some great schools in Bethesda, but the red/green school map really highlights where the weak spots are. And there really aren't the language choices available which the neighboring school districts seem to offer - for whatever reason. Good luck in your search and/or in the lotteries.

I'm a Republican and my child attends a charter in DC. Sounds like we owe those Republican throat shover downers a big thank you!

[Anonymous]

you might have a shot at stokes (charter)