Reply to Is angst about PK3 mostly from families who want to stay in DC long term?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The angst comes from the lottery itself. Many of these parents aren't used to having to rely on luck for what they want. They either have earned a place where they want to be, or they've been able to throw money at it. Now they are faced with the real possibility of having to send their babies to Appletree while their neighbors have celebratory playdates and talk about how awesome it's going to be at Brent or Mundo Verde. [/quote]

THIS. The lottery really made me face how often in life I've been able to control situations with enough research, advocacy, money, connections, etc. It does a great job of what it was designed to do -- even the playing field. There are many people who believe in a more even playing field, who choose to live in DC and engage in the lottery to support it, but still struggle personally. I think the path through high school is also a consideration for families who aren't happy with their IB options but couldn't afford private.[/quote]

Have thought a lot about this and agreed 100%.  There is a certain type of family in DC, where both parents likely have advanced through life's ladders, gotten masters degrees, solid jobs, etc, and together make in the $200-300k range.  Used to be, that type of family could afford a place west of Rock Creek, maybe with a little help from family for the down payment.  Not anymore.  Used to be, you might be able to afford private school for your kids if you were in the upper range of that income level.  Not anymore.  There are probably tens of thousands of these types of families in DC- not lobbyist level paychecks, but solid and enough to afford a $700-900K house.  Now these types of people are living east of Rock Creek, and private schools have gotten too expensive to be possible.

Now, after jumping through hoops, getting into good colleges/grad schools, getting good jobs, earning enough to afford a nice house (maybe in a reasonably sketchy neighborhood?), they are simply not where their predecessor cohort was, because of how expensive property has become in DC.  Move out to the suburbs for schools?  Maybe, but man, hellish commute every day, tons of time in the car, probably can't walk anywhere (Arlington/Bethesda now out of reach for people in this cohort now).  Lot to give up.  So now it all becomes (unconsciously mostly) invested in the lottery.  This can "save" you, but like said above, can't pay for it.  Can't write a great essay and get a good internship for it.  Just up to randomness.

Not a dig on these people at all- am one of them myself!  Just trying to explicate some of it.[/quote]

Absolutely agree and this is us as well. When we first started the lottery, we were planning on a second kid and the pressure felt huge. Now that we've stuck with one (not by choice, but that's not relevant), the pressure seems SO much lighter because we can afford private or a smaller house in a nicer neighborhood if the lottery never works out. Plus you see that in Pre-k, everyone is having the same experience whether they're at the fanciest charter, neighborhood EOTP DCPS, or a last choice lottery option. So aside from stressing about the future, you don't feel like you're messing up your kid's present. [/quote]

Sure preK experiences might not be vastly different although I would say there are some differences as in resources, field trips, and parent involvement.  IT gets real by 2nd grade.  Families bail poorly performing schools to scramble to get a spot at a better school hopefully with a good middle school feeder.  That is disruptive for a child to switch schools.

If you are unlucky and don’t get in anywhere in the upper elementary, middle school chances are much, much lower in the lottery.  So unless you can afford private, you will have to move if you strike out in the middle school lottery.
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