I think there are less people here. And people have come to be able to predict what those participants are going to say. And usually it’s not encouraging. So why come?

People are smart and they know that DCUM isn’t the best place to ask for advice regarding schools.

Anonymous wrote:Or maybe young parents don’t come to this website in the numbers they used to do?

Hmm. Maybe so? I also don’t see as many of the “the invite says no gifts — does that mean I should still bring a gift?” threads. Used to be one of those every month.

I suspect people are realizing that the prek programs are largely interchangeable (excepting differences like language immersion) and with WFH/hybrid they’re sticking closer to home, so there’s less strategizing to be done.

Or maybe young parents don’t come to this website in the numbers they used to do?

Significantly more parents know they’re not planning to stay in the city long-term, so no need to stress over PK3. Just go to the most convenient spot.

Staying at current school! Went from Cooke to Marie Reed English.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people are more satisfied with their IB and the shine is off a significant number of charters, so there's a lot less strategy involved.

Right, we are in Adams Morgan with a non-bilingual kid. We can’t apply to half the schools around us because of Spanish, not going to drag kid across town for questionable charter, and all the upper nw schools admit 0-1 kids per grade.

What are you doing, PP?

Anonymous wrote:I think people are more satisfied with their IB and the shine is off a significant number of charters, so there's a lot less strategy involved.

Right, we are in Adams Morgan with a non-bilingual kid. We can’t apply to half the schools around us because of Spanish, not going to drag kid across town for questionable charter, and all the upper nw schools admit 0-1 kids per grade.

I think people are more satisfied with their IB and the shine is off a significant number of charters, so there's a lot less strategy involved.

I think the lottery got harder - no spots in “good” schools anymore, neighborhood DCPS are filled with neighborhood kids.

Everyone decided there was no way in hell they would raise their kids here. In a city I loved. Absolutely destroyed by virtue signaling.

Yeah it's weird. I almost forgot it's that time of year.

That's true! My husband was like "what's going on on the forum, everyone freaking out?"

Been coming to DCUM a long time and this time of year is usually full of “review my lottery list” posts with commentary and insight. Pages and pages of parents lottery.

Then results day even better to review too!

Last year there was a slowdown but this year there wasn’t one post.

Ah well. Still love you DCUM.

Hope everyone gets their list submissions ready for tomorrow!