My child entered a new school in a non-expansion year and was the only new child in the grade (mid-elementary school). It was somewhat tough to break in socially, because there were none of the more structured events that occur for a cohort of new kids that arrive at the usual entry points, and no other new kids to gravitate to that were in the same boat. In the end it all worked out fine, but who knows, in retrospect we might better off have waited (our child was a sibling and frankly we did in because a spot opened up and logistically seemed simpler to have both kids in same school, but as a sibling could have waited and almost certainly gotten in the next year, so we weren't doing it for "insurance" reasons).

Are there any downsides to applying in a non-expansion year?

We're thinking of having our child apply for 5th grade, which is not an entry year at the schools we like. The school websites say that children are welcome to apply for 5th, but that they will only be contacted for an interview if the school becomes aware there will be a vacancy through attrition.

We figure our child could either get very lucky if there is a vacancy, or at worst, we've wasted money (for the WISC) and a lot of time but perhaps we've demonstrated our interest in the school and that might help us the following year when we re-apply to those same schools.

Any downsides of which we should be aware? Thanks.