Reply to What do you expect from APS staff (option/neighborhood) on 4/30?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]While we’re on the topic of Montessori, did anyone notice how low the K applications are? 76?!  Why are we keeping that program? No one wants it for K-5 except rich white folks.  Let them pay for private Montessori. Offer to ages 3-5 based on income. Can it after that. I’m tired of subsidizing their program. [/quote]
Was 76 the final total?  I remember them announcing numbers 3 days before the deadline, but not after that.[/quote]

What is the 1st grade application number? I think that's when most who've been in a Montessori program would apply, right? [/quote]

Montessori had 50. For comparison purposes, ATS had 59, Campbell had 32, Key had 35 and Claremont had 25.[/quote]

That 50 doesn't count the 45 or so kids who continue from Drew Montessori preschool into the elementary program at 1st grade.  And anyway, Tara Nattrass didn't admit any of the 1st grade applicants. Not even the younger siblings of current elementary students. So even though next year will be the most overcrowded year for elementary schools (1000 seat deficit), Drew will have no trailers and a choice program will be artificially capped by APS.

To the person complaining about Montessori application numbers above, there were something like 500 preschool applicants. That's when Montessori begins and the children who get in stay for elementary. So there's your demand.[/quote]

Yes, I had heard she eliminated sibling preference without notice days before the lottery began. I assume she will do the same for the other option programs sooner or later.  [/quote]

no she didn't.   She clarified that kids in APS montessori got preference for 1st grade slots at Drew before kids coming from private preschools- whether or not they were siblings.  The Montessori community is loudly calling this eliminating sibling preference, but its just not.  [/quote]

So basically, they're capping the program size much lower than the other option schools? Is this because they know they're going to move again in a few years and want to keep the program small while doing so? [/quote]

Bingo. The person above is wrong. Sibling priority is gone and as of now all siblings have been waitlisted. All or almost all Drew preschoolers continue to elementary. APS isn't letting anyone in at elementary this year. Last year they tried to do the same. Is PP really saying that choice elementary schools are supposed to admit no one but children who receive free and reduced lunch? That's not how other choice programs operate. (And, kids in APS Montessori preschool always had priority admission over children from other Montessori preschools, so PP misunderstands a lot about APS Montessori).[/quote]

I don't know where you get that the poster was suggesting choice elementary schools are supposed to be only for FRL-eligible students.  There was a suggestion that Montessori preschool program (not the same as elementary choice programs) should be reserved for kids who are in greatest need - ie, low-income families who cannot afford quality preschools.  Montessori reserve 2/3 for "low-income" but it's debatable how low-income 80% AMI really is.  So, like someone else above, I too would love to know the real FRL% of just Montessori students both in and beyond the preK program. [/quote]

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