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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Not the PP who insulted you, which I think is unnecessary, but a woman yesterday stated that a person who ranked a school #1 wold keep a spot against a person with sib pref who ranked the school #2.  Posters following that detailed the only way that could happen is if the sib who had ranked the school #2 had gotten into their first choice, otherwise the sib would get the spot.

Ergo, she stated that preferences would be ignored in lieu of ranking.  This is not true, and it doesn't seem anyone is disagreeing at this point that preference will still be paramount. [/quote]

I am the PP that you (and I guess she) are referring to.  I'm the one yesterday who went on and on about what I was told 3 different times by Common Lottery staff.  Especially the last time I spoke to them I asked specific questions and gave specific scenarios.  I'm not going to fight what seems to be everyone's understanding that sibling and proximity preference will always trump school ranking, REGARDLESS of what ranking the child with the sibling or proximity preference gave that school over someone with no sib/proximity who ranked it #1.

I totally, 100% know what I was told and what I heard, and I represented that here.  If that is not accurate in the end, ok, I was given wrong information.  But I know what I asked and what I was told, and no, I'm not calling back again to ask so they can tell me something different.  I've spoken to their staff 3 times and I'm quite confident in my understanding.

At the same time, I have read through all the comments today including the quotes re: the Denver model and other models.  The Denver model was mentioned to me twice as what DC's system is based on this year, so I totally understand why it's been brought up.

If it's true that sibling preference and proximity will be considered by the computer BEFORE ranking, as opposed to AT THE SAME TIME as ranking (which basically is what I was told, which was why if a random child with no proximity but who ranked #1 was picked and slotted into an open slot before a child with sib preference who ranked the school #5 was even pulled would - as I was told - maintain their spot over the child with sib preference.

IF IT'S TRUE THAT SIBS AND PROXIMITY APPLICANTS WILL BE LOOKED AT BY THE COMPUTER FIRST, THAT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I WAS TOLD ***BUT*** IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT SIBS AND PROXIMITY WILL BE LOOKED AT BY THE COMPUTER FIRST.

Just as consistently as I reported what I was told 3 times, I also encouraged people to call directly and ask themselves and make their own decisions about how to handle their choices.  I stand by that, and will still make mine based on what I was told.  But I also have no interest in giving wrong info, and if in fact the algorithm works differently than I was told, then parents should find that out themselves and act accordingly.

So, to sum up:

1. I never said preferences would be ignored.  I said ranking is basically like a preference, and a #1 ranking could get a child with no other preference a spot over a #7 ranking with preference.  If that is wrong, it is wrong, but that's what I was told and I reported honestly and sincerely what I was told.

2. I always said people should not take my word for any of this and call yourself.  I practiced what I preached.  I called and talked to Common Lottery staff at 2 events (including Ward 5 school fair).

3. It is FINE with me if you do not take my word for any of this.  Matter of fact, I encourage you to NOT take my word for it.  Call and talk to someone who is not an anonymous voice on an internet message board.  There are many factors that will go into how this process works this year, and at the end of the day, whether I understand them correctly or not, I'm putting huge value on how I rank my schools.  That is my bottom line, and I'm sticking to it.[/quote]

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