Anonymous
02/06/2026 12:15
Subject: randomest PK3 lottery question ever
OP here: amazing! I knew someone out there must have done this before...thanks so much for chiming in!
Anonymous
02/05/2026 20:13
Subject: randomest PK3 lottery question ever
Anonymous wrote:If you get an early stages placement, you are guaranteed a spot for PK3 the next year at the same school. Confirm with the school, but I am sure of the policy because it applied to my kid!
Same answer - my kid was placed at our IB school through early stages in January the year she turned 3. I just talked to the office the next year to ensure she was registered for PK3 again the next year. I’ve yet to have to lottery her for anything (she’s in 1st at the same school).
Anonymous
02/05/2026 19:54
Subject: randomest PK3 lottery question ever
you just reenroll at the school. you can email your principal/front office to confirm.
Anonymous
02/05/2026 17:25
Subject: randomest PK3 lottery question ever
If you get an early stages placement, you are guaranteed a spot for PK3 the next year at the same school. Confirm with the school, but I am sure of the policy because it applied to my kid!
Anonymous
02/05/2026 15:05
Subject: randomest PK3 lottery question ever
You should call the school, as I am not 100% confident, but my understanding is that returning students do not need to apply in the lottery, and that includes those that live IB, those that lotteried into the school, AND those that were placed there because of IEPs.
The only exception is that technically, if you lived in-bounds and moved out of bounds, it is at the principal's discretion as to whether you can stay to the terminal grade (though my understanding is that most if not all principal's are fine with this).
The only exception is that technically, if you lived in-bounds and moved out of bounds, it is at the principal's discretion as to whether you can stay to the terminal grade (though my understanding is that most if not all principal's are fine with this).
Anonymous
02/05/2026 14:01
Subject: randomest PK3 lottery question ever
I would call MySchool. It honestly might just be a glitch, or maybe you do not have to lottery. In any case, they will fix fire it out for you.
Not a dumb question at all.
Not a dumb question at all.
Anonymous
02/05/2026 13:55
Subject: randomest PK3 lottery question ever
Anonymous wrote:OP, that wasn't a stupid question! I have a related one that probably is: my kid is in PK4 at a charter. Do I need to include it on my lottery list for kindergarten, or can she re-enroll without it?
I don't know the answer to OP's question, but I do know this one: you don't have to list your current school. You don't lottery back into it, you just re-enroll.
Anonymous
02/05/2026 13:52
Subject: randomest PK3 lottery question ever
OP, that wasn't a stupid question! I have a related one that probably is: my kid is in PK4 at a charter. Do I need to include it on my lottery list for kindergarten, or can she re-enroll without it?
Anonymous
02/05/2026 13:38
Subject: randomest PK3 lottery question ever
Anonymous wrote:Sorry if this is a stupid question (I'm going to ask the school too - but this is a new situation for them, so they may not know the answer...)
My kid enrolled in a city PK3 this year after her third birthday midway through the year, even though it was after the birthday cutoff, per her IEP, for speech therapy reasons. It is not our zoned school, but it is part of MySchoolDC.
I just went to register her for the PK3 lottery for next year - she'll technically "repeat" the year, since she will technically be the correct age for her grade and meet the PK3 birthday cutoff. I noted she was currently enrolled at a school, and selected her current school - where we'd like her to attend next year as well - on the dropdown to reflect that existing registration. Then when we got to the actual lottery selections page: her current school wasn't an option.
I get that this could maybe be because she's considered a "returning" student. But my understanding is that the only way to register for regular (not midyear enrollment for IEP reasons) PK3 anywhere in the city, which this is, is the lottery. As in: there's no way to claim a PK3 space specifically at a MySchoolDC school without participating in the lottery - whether you're zoned or not, whether the PK3 demand exceeds available spaces or not. Or am I wrong? Is this an exception?
Thanks
That is confusing, and I think there are probably only a few dozen kids in this situation every year, so maybe it is worth calling the school front office, and/or your special education contact? Also MySchool DC is very helpful/responsive on the phones, so they may know how to make sure you don't lose the spot!
Anonymous
02/05/2026 13:35
Subject: randomest PK3 lottery question ever
Sorry if this is a stupid question (I'm going to ask the school too - but this is a new situation for them, so they may not know the answer...)
My kid enrolled in a city PK3 this year after her third birthday midway through the year, even though it was after the birthday cutoff, per her IEP, for speech therapy reasons. It is not our zoned school, but it is part of MySchoolDC.
I just went to register her for the PK3 lottery for next year - she'll technically "repeat" the year, since she will technically be the correct age for her grade and meet the PK3 birthday cutoff. I noted she was currently enrolled at a school, and selected her current school - where we'd like her to attend next year as well - on the dropdown to reflect that existing registration. Then when we got to the actual lottery selections page: her current school wasn't an option.
I get that this could maybe be because she's considered a "returning" student. But my understanding is that the only way to register for regular (not midyear enrollment for IEP reasons) PK3 anywhere in the city, which this is, is the lottery. As in: there's no way to claim a PK3 space specifically at a MySchoolDC school without participating in the lottery - whether you're zoned or not, whether the PK3 demand exceeds available spaces or not. Or am I wrong? Is this an exception?
Thanks
My kid enrolled in a city PK3 this year after her third birthday midway through the year, even though it was after the birthday cutoff, per her IEP, for speech therapy reasons. It is not our zoned school, but it is part of MySchoolDC.
I just went to register her for the PK3 lottery for next year - she'll technically "repeat" the year, since she will technically be the correct age for her grade and meet the PK3 birthday cutoff. I noted she was currently enrolled at a school, and selected her current school - where we'd like her to attend next year as well - on the dropdown to reflect that existing registration. Then when we got to the actual lottery selections page: her current school wasn't an option.
I get that this could maybe be because she's considered a "returning" student. But my understanding is that the only way to register for regular (not midyear enrollment for IEP reasons) PK3 anywhere in the city, which this is, is the lottery. As in: there's no way to claim a PK3 space specifically at a MySchoolDC school without participating in the lottery - whether you're zoned or not, whether the PK3 demand exceeds available spaces or not. Or am I wrong? Is this an exception?
Thanks