More or less WL movement due to covid?

[Anonymous]

Have you found that there is more or less waitlist movement this year in comparison to prior years? Do you think that momentum in WL movement will continue through the fall?

[Anonymous]

We will know when the data for August is posted. It seems like the earlier part of the year saw less movement than usual, the question is whether schools will do more later to compensate.

[Anonymous]

I think it will make for an easier lottery year for preschool at less desirable schools, especially for DCPS PK4 because IB people know they have the right to a seat in K anyway. So might be a good year to grab an OOB spot.

I am very curious how the new schools will fare. And whether this will put SSMA over the edge, since it is up for review this year and is on the Short Waitlists list for almost every grade. Declining enrollment is a huge red flag.

[Anonymous]

I think waitlists (at least for PK3) have moved less this year than in previous years, based on what we've seen on our waitlists compared to what has been reported in previous years. It's hard to say exactly why because there are many factors that impact waitlists, but I think the late enrollment date combined with all the uncertainty this summer, especially for DCPS, has made a lot fo people wary of making a move. Also, I don't think any schools are adding PK classrooms as they sometimes do post-enrollment deadline if they have the resources and space. Budgets are in emergency mode, not growth mode, even at those newish charters that have been aggressively growing their student population in recent years (Stokes East End, Lee, etc.).

The one exception is Capital Hill Montessori. We've moved up 150 spots on their waitlist, which sounds like its not an uncommon experience in past year. I don't totally get why that school always has such an active waitlist, but nothing about that has changed this year.

[Anonymous]

For K in my experience the lists moved a bit more.