What were your 6 picks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:17:30 here. 15:42 are you IB as well? Yikes. It feels like Brent is a throwaway (and likely Maury as well?) Think I can get a spot OOB at Ludlow?) What is DCPS going to do when kindergarten starts on the hill?!

Can I delete an application I already submitted and re-do it?

Given that you're applying to SWS, I'm assuming you're looking at PK and NOT PS (PK-4 is the entry year this year) I would agree that Brent is a throw away pick. Last year they admitted 3 in-bounds (one with sibling preference) and waitlisted 14 in-bounds kids. If you were looking at PS, then you have one new slot for your six picks as SWS will drop off. I would still encourage you to think hard about Brent. Last year they waitlisted 9 in bounds kids and the last one just got offered a spot last month--yes, in January! For what it is worth, we are in-bounds for Brent and will be applying for PS and PK for our kids. We don't expect to get in--especially the PK--and are likely ranking another school higher just to avoid having our kids at two separate schools.

As an alternative, consider Tyler Traditional, Miner, Payne, or JO Wilson just so you have an acceptance at one school in your pocket. I was going to add Ludlow Taylor to the list, but checked last year's stats and was amazed to see that they didn't admit a single OOB kid straight from the lottery last year. We were OOB with Proximity and waitlisted at #9. We never got a call there, but I have a feeling that is more to do with "sloppy" waitlist management more than anything else.

Also, yes you can delete an application and resubmit. If you created an account it is pretty easy to do, but if you didn't you'll have to call to have it done.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input. Although I'm certain SWS is adding a PS3 this year, since they already allowed me to apply for it and I attended the Open House. My understanding is that means both PS3 and PK4 will have availability beyond what the siblings take since there was no PS3 this year.

Is this a better shot you think?:

SWS
Montessori
Tyler SI
Maury
Peabody (IB)
JO Wilson

This process is killing me. I can't believe 30 IB kids were wait listed at Peabody last year. I know one SWS Pk mom this year, and she said not a SINGLE spot opened up in their class after the first day of school. Can't account for the other PK class, but if I'm #5 on the wait list there I'm figuring it's a no-go.

I've heard other things about Montessori. A lot more movement there?

I'll reiterate, how is Peabody going to accommodate all of these kindergarteners in one year?

[Anonymous]

30 IB kids on the Waitlist is a deceiving number. It means most must have gotten into their first place pick. They are wait listed near the top just by virtue of having it on their list of 6 and being in bounds. I know for a fact that Peabody admitted OOB kids to PK last year.

Those kinds of wait lists are what the new ordering system is trying to combat. If a child is admitted to SWS as their first place pick, but are IB for Peabody and put that as number 2, they will not end up on the Peabody waitlist.

It will be really interesting to see how the numbers shake out this year.

[Anonymous]

Thanks pp - it will be interesting. If you look back on post - itblooks like numerous PS3 IB parents that didn't get spots. Demographics are a changing on the hill. If only I got my baby-making on 9 months earlier!

[Anonymous]

06:39 There were actually 37 or 38 in bounds PS3 kids on the Peabody wait list last year. While the waitlist may look deceiving because of how families ranked their choices, thats still a whole lot of kids that didn't get in. Yes, some got into other schools that they ranked higher (ie: Tyler Spanish, Logan), but there were an awful lot who had Peabody ranked higher than where they did get in or didn't get in any DCPS at all (yes, I had a lot of time on my hands and was trying to figure out if we had any hopes of making it in from the way bottom of the inbound waitlist). However, if I recall correctly, there were a lot of out of bounds kids accepted (with sibs and not) for PK4-- so many in fact that I think amounted to almost a whole classroom of children. I'd have rather seen those spots go to the inbounds PS kids... it would have been nice for my kid to go to school two blocks from home. Not sure if there was a one time bubble of PS3 eligible kids last year of a change in demographics like 06:59 pointed out and the lottery results will look similar this year.

[Anonymous]

I got into Peabody PK oob last year off the waitlist. No sibling preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:06:39 There were actually 37 or 38 in bounds PS3 kids on the Peabody wait list last year. While the waitlist may look deceiving because of how families ranked their choices, thats still a whole lot of kids that didn't get in. Yes, some got into other schools that they ranked higher (ie: Tyler Spanish, Logan), but there were an awful lot who had Peabody ranked higher than where they did get in or didn't get in any DCPS at all (yes, I had a lot of time on my hands and was trying to figure out if we had any hopes of making it in from the way bottom of the inbound waitlist). However, if I recall correctly, there were a lot of out of bounds kids accepted (with sibs and not) for PK4-- so many in fact that I think amounted to almost a whole classroom of children. I'd have rather seen those spots go to the inbounds PS kids... it would have been nice for my kid to go to school two blocks from home. Not sure if there was a one time bubble of PS3 eligible kids last year of a change in demographics like 06:59 pointed out and the lottery results will look similar this year.

I can say that we were one of the IB families for PS at Peabody last year, and didn't get in anywhere else. We were quite picky with our choices, as we have pretty good situation, but we also applied to Logan Montessori, Brent and Maury, and didn't get in anywhere. Trying again this year, but without a lot of optimism.

[Anonymous]

23:22 here and my apologies for mistaking SWS--I forgot they were adding PS-3 this year in addition to the upper grade.

Anyways, you certainly have a chance at Peabody and we know many families in this year's PS-3 class who are all very happy. This year's lottery results will certainly be interesting as it is the first year waitslit spots will not be given to lower preffed schools once you get an acceptance. And all in all, don't stress too much over the lottery. You have great picks and I hope one works out for you.

Also, last year's results for Peabody were a bit skewed with the departure of SWS to the Logan Annex. Families were given a one-time option to switch programs which impacted the number of seats available to both programs. Also, and I could be entirely wrong, but didn't they add a new PK-4 class last year because of the departure of SWS? If so, that could explain the increase in OOB admissions in the PK area. Not sure how that would impact this year's lottery at all.

[Anonymous]

CHM@Logan
Shepherd
Takoma
Ludlow Taylor

My children are entering K and 3. We will see what happens because only LT indicated spaces for K. Only LT and Shepherd indicated spaces for 3rd.

Also applying to 3 charters

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CHM@Logan
Shepherd
Takoma
Ludlow Taylor

My children are entering K and 3. We will see what happens because only LT indicated spaces for K. Only LT and Shepherd indicated spaces for 3rd.

Also applying to 3 charters

I don't think Logan lets in kids at K or 3. They are notorious for not working off their waitlists or allowing in new families. If, for some reason you do get in, are your children in a Montessori program now? Without Montessori background, they will also not allow you in. They try everything they can to cherry pick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CHM@Logan
Shepherd
Takoma
Ludlow Taylor

My children are entering K and 3. We will see what happens because only LT indicated spaces for K. Only LT and Shepherd indicated spaces for 3rd.

Also applying to 3 charters

I don't think Logan lets in kids at K or 3. They are notorious for not working off their waitlists or allowing in new families. If, for some reason you do get in, are your children in a Montessori program now? Without Montessori background, they will also not allow you in. They try everything they can to cherry pick.

They are coming from a Montessori program. However, I'm really interested in IB as well, which Shepherd has.

[Anonymous]

For PS3:
Powell
Bancroft
Marie Reed
Barnard
West

And the other choice would have been Hearst. Now we're trying to guess at other reasonable choices. Obviously bilingual would be good. Is Bruce-Monroe OK? Is Tubman? Cooke?

We have a similar list. You could look at Cleveland Dual language. We put Tubman on our list, too.

[Anonymous]

IBs for Tubman, but didn't bother adding to list. Seen too many shenanigans from roudy kids and aloof "Occupy Wall Street" type teachers - tattoos, bandanas, rolled up pants, nose piercings. Shouldn't be allowed in a school that is supposed to require uniforms for students. Someone needs to put pressure on the prinicipal to stop that and also turn the school into dual language. A lot of IB gentrifiers would support the school with these modifications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Visit a school after enrolling and and ask a top administrator to put your kid in a good teacher's class. Bring a letter requesting this teacher, cc'd to every administrator likely to be involved in class assignments. They'll tell you that parents can't/don't pick teachers. You politely make it clear that if your child isn't assigned said good teacher, that's the end of your relationship with the school for preschool. Generally, a school seeking to boost middle-class enrollment, like Tyler Traditional, will play ball, without admitting as much. But you'd better have a back-up plan if they won't, perhaps at a charter, private preschool or au pair agency. You do what you must to make things work for your kid. Much better than pulling out in the course of the school year with no fallback position after a bad teacher hasn't worked out (hint: this happens at Tyler Traditional).

If I were Tyler's principal, I'd be sure to give you the opposite class just to keep you out of my school. You walk in threatening to "end" a relationship that hasn't even started!? I'm not sure what your experience is with schools, but you are likely not suited for DCPS. Check back with us in a few years and let us know how far (to Bethesda? To an upper NW private?) your obnoxious and entitled attitude has taken you and your child.

Same here, because OP sounds like a thorn in the backside and who wants another headache for the school year?

I agree. I have a friend that works for DCPS and parents like this end up being a pain in the ass, so if there is an opportunity to get rid of them they will take it!

I can guarantee you that unless Tyler ends up with a new principal, you will NOT get to choose your teacher. Been there, done that, and done it both nicely as well as firmly. In our case it was special Ed related so we ended up being able to request a placement in that classroom, but believe me, it was not easy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

For PS3:
Powell
Bancroft
Marie Reed
Barnard
West

And the other choice would have been Hearst. Now we're trying to guess at other reasonable choices. Obviously bilingual would be good. Is Bruce-Monroe OK? Is Tubman? Cooke?

We have a similar list. You could look at Cleveland Dual language. We put Tubman on our list, too.

PP here. We actually did put in for Cleveland dual language as our last choice.

It won't matter in the end because we're inbounds for Powell and will probably be admitted. We put Bancroft first expecting to be wait listed so we'd at least have the possibility of a choice.