PK/4 lottery and private PK options for on-the-cusp child?

[Anonymous]

Does the DCPS lottery take birth dates into account at all? We're moving to DC's Lafayette district before next school year and my youngest will miss the Kindergarten cutoff by 5 weeks. What is the likelihood that we won't get into any DCPS schools through the lottery system? DC has already had two full years of pre-school...should I apply to privates just in case? Are there any nearby private PK programs we can apply to for a single year that has a lot of 5 year olds?

[Anonymous]

The lottery for PreK 4 is exactly that - a lottery. It does not take anything such as birth date into consideration.

Also, if you are going to be part of the lottery you need to provide evidence that you an inbounds resident - not a future resident so think about when the lottery is for when you will be moving.

[Anonymous]

The lottery is online and you do not need to provide proof of residence when you enter it. You do need to provide you address and it needs to be in-bounds for a particular school to get treated as in-boundary for the lottery (pretty much essential if you want to get into Lafayette's pre-K lottery). IF you succeed in the lottery, they you will need to provide the school with proof of residency by a particular date (I think it was in May this past year, but it is all a blur).

Yes, they take birth dates into account, you need to meet the birth date requirements to enter pre-K (4 by September 30 I believe). If what you are asking is if there is room for judgment as to whether a child that misses the K cut-off by a small amount and is academically and socially ready will be allowed in, my understanding is that there is no wiggle room with the birthday cut off and that the birth dates are audited every year. We miss it by 6 weeks and we did not get into our in-boundary (or any other) pre-K lottery. We are in private pre-K this year.

If what you are asking is if older children (birthdays that miss the K cut-off by less than 3 months) get priority in the pre-K lottery, the answer is also no.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses! We already own a house in the district and will be moving back, but I didn't think to check with the school about any cutoff dates. Yes, I'm in the same situation as you pp, that I wanted to know if there was chance that DC wouldn't get into any lotteries in DCPS, and as he will be 5 he obviously needs to be in school. You've answered my question that yes, I need to go the private route as well just in case. Can you recommend yours?

I appreciate the help!

[Anonymous]

New poster here with an early October child--we miss the cut-off by five days! We live in CC DC, and we love Temple Sinai Nursery School; they have an official pre-K program, as well as regular pre-school for the turning-5-in-fall set. My sense is that there's an enrollment drop-off for this age range, so you might want to check it out as you consider private pre-K options. We hope to be at Murch for pre-K next year, but if not my son will be back for a third year at TSNS.

[Anonymous]

Another pre-K that isn't too far from you is CCUMC on Connecticut near Bradley (in Chevy Chase MD). Friends in a similar situation have been happy there.

[Anonymous]

2 families on my block with your exact situation (older 4 year olds shut out of DCPS Pre-K at lafayette) went to Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church school. They liked it very well.

[Anonymous]

There are a couple of charter pre-schools/pre-ks you should check out. Your 4 y.o. would definitely be eligible to attend and they are free to DC residents.

Look at Appletree (http://www.appletreeinstitute.org/) and Bridges (http://bridgespcs.org/). I don't know the specifics at Appletree, but Bridges is mostly a project-based, play-based environment with some direct instruction around early literacy. Bridges has historically had some students whose inbounds school was Lafayette, but they didn't get in for Pre-K 4 or else the parents wanted to put them in for Pre-K 3.

You have to apply to each via their individual lotteries.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

HD cooke in adams morgan does preschool (3yos). and appletree is a good option too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HD cooke in adams morgan does preschool (3yos). and appletree is a good option too.

HD Cooke is DCPS. Appletree and Bridges are charters.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to all for the private Pre-K suggestions! I'm going to check out all of them and begin making alternate arrangements now because it's obviously a very common situation. Thanks!!