Anyone else disillusioned with the whole process?

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

Sorry to be a debbie downer. But, I have become disillusioned with the lottery process. For the last two years, I've attended open houses and informational sessions and agonized about rankings, and which schools to list. Both years, however, I haven't exactly struck the lottery. Now my DC is going to K and I just picked a few schools that I liked, said a quick prayer and pressed submit.

I know I should feel like this, but I'm so concerned that my DC won't end up in the right place. DC is fairly advanced and I want whatever school she attends to continue to extend her learning. DC is AA so I'm also concerned about her falling in with the wrong peer group and I've heard that AA students can sometimes just get lumped in and fall in with the wrong crowd despite the individual characteristics of that child and her background.

That said, I believe in public schools. I attended public schools for K-12 in a large city, but I went to magnets with GT curriculums and DC doesn't offer this.

[Anonymous]

I understand OP. The lottery facilitates choice and the promise of securing a slot in a good school, but the only guarantee is for those able to live IB for a DCPS school you are comfortable with.

If you want the opportunity to apply to specific GT, I think you need to move to Montgomery or Prince George's County, unfortunately.

Of course plenty of people strike out 2-3 times before getting a school they are happy with, and others strike out and get settled in their current school. Others do move.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Yup. This sucks. We got into a "HRCS" for K and it is not all that I hoped it would be. It sucked to take DD away from her friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand OP. The lottery facilitates choice and the promise of securing a slot in a good school, but the only guarantee is for those able to live IB for a DCPS school you are comfortable with.

If you want the opportunity to apply to specific GT, I think you need to move to Montgomery or Prince George's County, unfortunately.

Of course plenty of people strike out 2-3 times before getting a school they are happy with, and others strike out and get settled in their current school. Others do move.

Good luck.

OP, here, thanks for your thoughtful response. I get it. I guess I'm just venting.

[Anonymous]

Prayer is good, OP. At least that is what I am relying on when I submit my choices tonight for my rising 6th grader. I understand where you are coming from.

[Anonymous]

It's a grueling process. Also it's 100 times better than what we had before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand OP. The lottery facilitates choice and the promise of securing a slot in a good school, but the only guarantee is for those able to live IB for a DCPS school you are comfortable with.

This. I know someone with a housing choice voucher who is able to live WOTP and in-bounds for a great school. I work full-time, bust my ass, can't afford to own or even rent anything on that side of town. I'm happy my friend is in a safe area, but it makes me sad that my kid's education is left up to fate because I'm too poor to live in a neighborhood with good schools. I know the lottery system is supposed to help equalize the educational disparities, but to me it just makes it even more glaring.

May the odds be ever in your favor, OP.

[Anonymous]

The lottery is a way of rationing an insufficient supply of spots at good schools. Instead of rationing they should be focusing on creating more spots.

[Anonymous]

It's grueling and I sympathize with you OP, having been through it several times.

But you know what is more grueling? Applying to private school in this city.
It's a long, painful, expensive process with even worse odds than the public lottery.
Plenty of top kids don't get in anywhere.
We're in year two of trying to leave DCPS (have had a great experience but now have an older kid who now wants to apply/attend elsewhere).
Results are out Friday and I fully expect not to get in anywhere again (despite having an excellent application).

The school situation in this city is not easy.

[Anonymous]

Yep. We're just doing Prek and this process is a bitch.

[Anonymous]

OP I’m in the same boat but just starting with PK3. We are AA as well and your concerns are in line with ours. I’ve had to come to the realization that a move outside to neighboring counties might just be what happens with us in a few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's grueling and I sympathize with you OP, having been through it several times.

But you know what is more grueling? Applying to private school in this city.
It's a long, painful, expensive process with even worse odds than the public lottery.
Plenty of top kids don't get in anywhere.
We're in year two of trying to leave DCPS (have had a great experience but now have an older kid who now wants to apply/attend elsewhere).
Results are out Friday and I fully expect not to get in anywhere again (despite having an excellent application).

The school situation in this city is not easy.

OP here, good luck to you. I truly wish you the best for you and your DC. I have friends that have gone through the process and I hear that it's extremely difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's grueling and I sympathize with you OP, having been through it several times.

But you know what is more grueling? Applying to private school in this city.
It's a long, painful, expensive process with even worse odds than the public lottery.
Plenty of top kids don't get in anywhere.
We're in year two of trying to leave DCPS (have had a great experience but now have an older kid who now wants to apply/attend elsewhere).
Results are out Friday and I fully expect not to get in anywhere again (despite having an excellent application).

The school situation in this city is not easy.

OP here, good luck to you. I truly wish you the best for you and your DC. I have friends that have gone through the process and I hear that it's extremely difficult.

I meant I wish the best for you and your DC. It's late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I’m in the same boat but just starting with PK3. We are AA as well and your concerns are in line with ours. I’ve had to come to the realization that a move outside to neighboring counties might just be what happens with us in a few years.

We are also AA and planning to de-camp to Howard County before 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yup. This sucks. We got into a "HRCS" for K and it is not all that I hoped it would be. It sucked to take DD away from her friends.

Which one, if you don't mind sharing? Also, what are you most disappointed about?