Resentful and annoyed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah, your numbers aren't so bad compared to some folks i've seen

My numbers are for K. Numbers for PK3 run a lot higher.

But if you have a good number at Lee, that is great. Because they are completely brand new, and those spots will not be taken by sibs. I think you're chances at Lee are a lot better than you think. I wish I had those numbers. Sadly, I'm in the 100+ category.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was me a few years ago. Not the resentment part but the being shut out time and time again part. I also had a townhouse that was bought long long ago and moving wasn't impossible but would of been very difficult to do. So you know what I did? My kid went to a crappy school for K and 1. Its really not the end of the world. There are good teachers everywhere...even in schools that are failing. I dedicated myself to being an active parent, to volunteer, to get to know my teacher, to not write off the school or act above it, and I was honestly a little sad to leave when we did get into a charter. Yes some DCPS are very "bad" but having spent a lot of time in a "bad" school there is good to be found in any situation. Kindergarden isn't rocket science.

Signed by a Mom who's oldest child learned to read and write in a failing DCPS school.

I have to ditto this--I've been in public education in DC and the suburbs, as well as my husband. Our neighborhood schools are OK- just OK and the school we chose to enroll in initially was the worst of them all. My oldest got a fantastic teacher and really thrived. What the school lacked was resources. Don't be fooled into thinking the teachers are any better there. As the PP wrote, there are good teachers everywhere, and they have to love what they are doing to stay. We are now in a charter (a sought after charter) but we only got in because we moved my oldest in 3rd grade where there are more slots. That gave the youngest sibling (who got in nowhere, with high WL#s, preference and a spot. My oldest didn't suffer academically at the other school (he's performing above grade level).

Unfortunately, I think we read these message boards that are skewed heavily towards a few public schools and a few charters and think if we don't get in there, we're doomed and our kids will suffer. Its not likely. Keep in mind that what is great for one person's kids may not be great for yours. I've seen this with several friends who have had children in highly sought after DCPS and charters.

I'm not sure where you live and work, but I'm certain you can find a good fit for your children if you expand your search a little. And once you find a school- get involved to make it better!

I love these two posts. Thank you for saying what needs to be said more often. I always tell people who are going through the process, take the time to step back and remind yourself that your child is only 3 and that they have already won the awesome parents lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah, your numbers aren't so bad compared to some folks i've seen

My numbers are for K. Numbers for PK3 run a lot higher.

You have posters that have experience with K lottery giving you advice and you are just being abrasive and plain out rude. I'm so over you and your pathetic attempts for a pity party.

[Anonymous]

Did you look at SELA last year? This year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you won't name your IB school, at least give us your Ward. If you are in Ward 5, Burroughs and Langdon are rising options in Ward 5. Also consider Sela or Bethune as charters nearby.

I'm sending my DS to Burroughs. The new principal is really doing good stuff. And they had a DCPS teacher of the year also. Their early childhood classes are very small and caring. I'm giving it a try!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was me a few years ago. Not the resentment part but the being shut out time and time again part. I also had a townhouse that was bought long long ago and moving wasn't impossible but would of been very difficult to do. So you know what I did? My kid went to a crappy school for K and 1. Its really not the end of the world. There are good teachers everywhere...even in schools that are failing. I dedicated myself to being an active parent, to volunteer, to get to know my teacher, to not write off the school or act above it, and I was honestly a little sad to leave when we did get into a charter. Yes some DCPS are very "bad" but having spent a lot of time in a "bad" school there is good to be found in any situation. Kindergarden isn't rocket science.

Signed by a Mom who's oldest child learned to read and write in a failing DCPS school.

I have to ditto this--I've been in public education in DC and the suburbs, as well as my husband. Our neighborhood schools are OK- just OK and the school we chose to enroll in initially was the worst of them all. My oldest got a fantastic teacher and really thrived. What the school lacked was resources. Don't be fooled into thinking the teachers are any better there. As the PP wrote, there are good teachers everywhere, and they have to love what they are doing to stay. We are now in a charter (a sought after charter) but we only got in because we moved my oldest in 3rd grade where there are more slots. That gave the youngest sibling (who got in nowhere, with high WL#s, preference and a spot. My oldest didn't suffer academically at the other school (he's performing above grade level).

Unfortunately, I think we read these message boards that are skewed heavily towards a few public schools and a few charters and think if we don't get in there, we're doomed and our kids will suffer. Its not likely. Keep in mind that what is great for one person's kids may not be great for yours. I've seen this with several friends who have had children in highly sought after DCPS and charters.

I'm not sure where you live and work, but I'm certain you can find a good fit for your children if you expand your search a little. And once you find a school- get involved to make it better!

I love these two posts. Thank you for saying what needs to be said more often. I always tell people who are going through the process, take the time to step back and remind yourself that your child is only 3 and that they have already won the awesome parents lottery.

OP here. I love them too and I appreciate the two PPs taking the time to say it. I do completely agree and was quite happy about that option two years ago. It just stings now as all my child's peers have now disappeared off to desirable charters and none are considering the local inbound for K. (My child is 5).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a 2 BR IB for Eaton:
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4403418499.html

I wouldn't be suprised if this craiglist listing is a rental scam. Most cheap rentals posted on craigslist are not legit. Anyway, OP, I sympathize with you, but the reality is that you can squeeze into a unit you can afford in a good school zone or take your chances with the lottery. That is why so many lower income folks leave DC. Not fair or right, IMO, but reality.

+1 . a 2 bedroom for 1150? You can't find that ANYWHERE in DC. That is a scam for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah, your numbers aren't so bad compared to some folks i've seen

My numbers are for K. Numbers for PK3 run a lot higher.

You have posters that have experience with K lottery giving you advice and you are just being abrasive and plain out rude. I'm so over you and your pathetic attempts for a pity party.

Huh? How is that rude? Sorry if you think so. Nobody has experience with K lottery this year because it is all brand new. What happened in previous years doesn't really help us make guesses for this year. It's 100 percent unknown. Sure, I am aware that many people have worse numbers than mine, but for K - where there are few open spots - they are fairly bad. If I'd had these numbers for PS3 I would have been THRILLED!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah, your numbers aren't so bad compared to some folks i've seen

My numbers are for K. Numbers for PK3 run a lot higher.

But if you have a good number at Lee, that is great. Because they are completely brand new, and those spots will not be taken by sibs. I think you're chances at Lee are a lot better than you think. I wish I had those numbers. Sadly, I'm in the 100+ category.

I hope you're right. So sorry about your numbers. Is that for PS3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah, your numbers aren't so bad compared to some folks i've seen

My numbers are for K. Numbers for PK3 run a lot higher.

But if you have a good number at Lee, that is great. Because they are completely brand new, and those spots will not be taken by sibs. I think you're chances at Lee are a lot better than you think. I wish I had those numbers. Sadly, I'm in the 100+ category.

I hope you're right. So sorry about your numbers. Is that for PS3?

Yes, PS3. But I'm not disheartened. I may be after 3 years of this. I think I've gone through the various stages of grieving and am moving towards acceptance right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was me a few years ago. Not the resentment part but the being shut out time and time again part. I also had a townhouse that was bought long long ago and moving wasn't impossible but would of been very difficult to do. So you know what I did? My kid went to a crappy school for K and 1. Its really not the end of the world. There are good teachers everywhere...even in schools that are failing. I dedicated myself to being an active parent, to volunteer, to get to know my teacher, to not write off the school or act above it, and I was honestly a little sad to leave when we did get into a charter. Yes some DCPS are very "bad" but having spent a lot of time in a "bad" school there is good to be found in any situation. Kindergarden isn't rocket science.

Signed by a Mom who's oldest child learned to read and write in a failing DCPS school.

I have to ditto this--I've been in public education in DC and the suburbs, as well as my husband. Our neighborhood schools are OK- just OK and the school we chose to enroll in initially was the worst of them all. My oldest got a fantastic teacher and really thrived. What the school lacked was resources. Don't be fooled into thinking the teachers are any better there. As the PP wrote, there are good teachers everywhere, and they have to love what they are doing to stay. We are now in a charter (a sought after charter) but we only got in because we moved my oldest in 3rd grade where there are more slots. That gave the youngest sibling (who got in nowhere, with high WL#s, preference and a spot. My oldest didn't suffer academically at the other school (he's performing above grade level).

Unfortunately, I think we read these message boards that are skewed heavily towards a few public schools and a few charters and think if we don't get in there, we're doomed and our kids will suffer. Its not likely. Keep in mind that what is great for one person's kids may not be great for yours. I've seen this with several friends who have had children in highly sought after DCPS and charters.

I'm not sure where you live and work, but I'm certain you can find a good fit for your children if you expand your search a little. And once you find a school- get involved to make it better!

I love these two posts. Thank you for saying what needs to be said more often. I always tell people who are going through the process, take the time to step back and remind yourself that your child is only 3 and that they have already won the awesome parents lottery.

OP here. I love them too and I appreciate the two PPs taking the time to say it. I do completely agree and was quite happy about that option two years ago. It just stings now as all my child's peers have now disappeared off to desirable charters and none are considering the local inbound for K. (My child is 5).

OP. I feel for you. And you clearly need to vent about your disappointment. I get that. I also see that totally uprooting your life because of some lottery draw seems crazy.

But you also need to see that people here are trying to help (many of them at least) when they offer you options. Some of them may sound obvious and some may be unworkable for you. But nothing is impossible. It's just a tradeoff.

I hope that you eventually get into a school that works for you. But if you don't, you need to open your mind to things you might not have considered. And you really need to stop wallowing in jealousy and resentment. It will get you nowhere. Yes, some people are more fortunate in life through some no fault of your own. It sucks. And you can have a couple of days of it. But you can't live your life miserable about it. My life is very different (different job, different city, different kids )because of events I had little control over and really don't help anyone in the long run. But there's absolutely no point in dwelling on them now.

Realistically your options are to
1) make the best of the IB school, perhaps trying again next year
2) enter round 2 and hope for the best
3) search out another school in DCPS via principals as other posters have suggested
4) look into moving
5) look into privates and/or thinking about ways to raise money for the private you want

Sadly (6) the universe realigning to give you a better pick in the lottery that already happened is not a realistic option. Despite what you've been doing, whining will not make it so. I feel for you, but sadly, life sucks sometimes.

Not all of these options are good, but to stick with (1) just because you are angry is really short sighted. Eventually, you have to grow up and consider (2-5) realistically without the anger at your situation making you unwilling to consider any tradeoffs whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

OP, here's the thing. There are a lot of kids in the city. "All your child's peers" have not gone off to unicorn school, unless your IB school is standing empty. Those kids are your kid's peers too, unless what you are actually trying to say is that your child is better than the the kids who DO attend your IB school.

I don't really care for my IB school either. It's got okay scores, but it's 1% white and I think that having your child be the only white child in a class is just as bad as having your child be the only black kid in the class. But if I didn't have any other options, I would send her there and make it work. Your kid will make friends in school, most likely. You don't have to stop being friends with the charter-goers.

The more you post, the less sympathetic I become. Figure out a way to make it work and stop being such a snob.

[Anonymous]

^^agree, even the "I want to live in the city snob" is a snob. do what is best for your kid, whatever that is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, here's the thing. There are a lot of kids in the city. "All your child's peers" have not gone off to unicorn school, unless your IB school is standing empty. Those kids are your kid's peers too, unless what you are actually trying to say is that your child is better than the the kids who DO attend your IB school.

I don't really care for my IB school either. It's got okay scores, but it's 1% white and I think that having your child be the only white child in a class is just as bad as having your child be the only black kid in the class. But if I didn't have any other options, I would send her there and make it work. Your kid will make friends in school, most likely. You don't have to stop being friends with the charter-goers.

The more you post, the less sympathetic I become. Figure out a way to make it work and stop being such a snob.

Agree. OP has options, but doesn't want to be inconvenienced. I'll reserve my sympathy for people with no options who are really stuck. Not people who whine "But I don't WANT a longer commute! I don't WANT to leave the city! I like it here." Boo-friggin-hoo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, here's the thing. There are a lot of kids in the city. "All your child's peers" have not gone off to unicorn school, unless your IB school is standing empty. Those kids are your kid's peers too, unless what you are actually trying to say is that your child is better than the the kids who DO attend your IB school.

I don't really care for my IB school either. It's got okay scores, but it's 1% white and I think that having your child be the only white child in a class is just as bad as having your child be the only black kid in the class. But if I didn't have any other options, I would send her there and make it work. Your kid will make friends in school, most likely. You don't have to stop being friends with the charter-goers.

The more you post, the less sympathetic I become. Figure out a way to make it work and stop being such a snob.

Agree. OP has options, but doesn't want to be inconvenienced. I'll reserve my sympathy for people with no options who are really stuck. Not people who whine "But I don't WANT a longer commute! I don't WANT to leave the city! I like it here." Boo-friggin-hoo.

What would you consider to be "no options" then?