Anonymous wrote:DP but a related question, though one that requires speculation.

IF they got rid of feeder rights, do you think they'd totally eliminate them or would people who had already lotteried into an OOB DCPS retain feeder rights, and just people newly lotterying into schools OOB would be explicitly told that they don't have feeder rights.

Most other school districts I'm familiar with don't have lotteries. So if they change feeder rights, the change goes through for everyone immediately, even if that means students having to leave a MS or HS and move to another one in the middle of their time there. But sometimes they do allow kids to finish out a program or even allow a choice option for families within certain grades, so the redistricting fades in.

I have no idea how this would play out in a district with a lottery and charters which really changes the dynamics.

Oh wow. Where I grew up, where you fed to might change right away (e.g., if you're finishing up elementary, your future middle could change right away), but they weren't switching kids' schools while they were attending. That seems so disruptive. It's shocking to me that that is the norm some places.

On a recent meeting w/DCPS about the boundary study, the rep reiterated many times that once you are enrolled in a school you retain the right to that school's feeder pattern. She said that had been pretty cemented as DCPS policy during their last boundary study, so I wouldn't think it will change (obviously no promises).

DP but a related question, though one that requires speculation.

IF they got rid of feeder rights, do you think they'd totally eliminate them or would people who had already lotteried into an OOB DCPS retain feeder rights, and just people newly lotterying into schools OOB would be explicitly told that they don't have feeder rights.

Most other school districts I'm familiar with don't have lotteries. So if they change feeder rights, the change goes through for everyone immediately, even if that means students having to leave a MS or HS and move to another one in the middle of their time there. But sometimes they do allow kids to finish out a program or even allow a choice option for families within certain grades, so the redistricting fades in.

I have no idea how this would play out in a district with a lottery and charters which really changes the dynamics.

Anonymous wrote:It does, for now, but I wouldn't count on it staying that way forever.

The above is true. But my kids are old enough that I've been hearing people on these boards say "I wouldn't count on it staying that way" long enough to get the kids into the feeder MS and HS. Which is not to say it won't change, but it doesn't seem like anyone in DC has the political willpower to change it.

It does, for now, but I wouldn't count on it staying that way forever.

I am sorry to ask here because I believe it has been asked before and I SHOULD be able to find the information online, but can't!

If my child lotteries into an DCPS school (for a later elementary grade), does that provide access to the elementary school's middle school? So, once you lottery into a feeder pattery as an OOB students, you can stay? Or you are just lotterying into the school and need to reapply for middle and/or high school?