Anonymous wrote:You know, what you need to keep in mind is that, as a result of school choice (the sheer having a choice, and a lottery at that), your dream school will always be the one that eludes you, the same way that the grass seems always greener on the other side of the fence. If we all spent only just half the energy wasted on open houses and lotteries and discussions about them on investing in our schools we'd all win, especially the kids thrown into turmoil year after year. I speculate that's what the person who reported that their backup worked out very well did. Cheers to you!

Actually, that is what a group of families in my neighborhood did -- eschewed the open houses and lotteries, etc. to invest in our neighborhood school. For better or worse, our neighborhood school had no use for their "investment". So these families are now investing in charters. Those are our schools, too.

Two years ago we got into our dream school after getting a call mid-sept...more than 3 weeks into school. Stay positive, but patient.

Anonymous wrote:You know, what you need to keep in mind is that, as a result of school choice (the sheer having a choice, and a lottery at that), your dream school will always be the one that eludes you, the same way that the grass seems always greener on the other side of the fence. If we all spent only just half the energy wasted on open houses and lotteries and discussions about them on investing in our schools we'd all win, especially the kids thrown into turmoil year after year. I speculate that's what the person who reported that their backup worked out very well did. Cheers to you!

Not true. My dream school is the one DD was accepted to (in August!), but nonetheless, a dream school.

You know, what you need to keep in mind is that, as a result of school choice (the sheer having a choice, and a lottery at that), your dream school will always be the one that eludes you, the same way that the grass seems always greener on the other side of the fence. If we all spent only just half the energy wasted on open houses and lotteries and discussions about them on investing in our schools we'd all win, especially the kids thrown into turmoil year after year. I speculate that's what the person who reported that their backup worked out very well did. Cheers to you!

WOW! Well, prepare to be disappointed. The chances of getting into your dream school are slim to none. I didn't get into a single school last year and doubt I will this year either.

Anonymous wrote:PP - did you eventually get in to your coveted school, or was that just a coping mechanism?

Just a coping mechanism, alas. However, we wound up being really happy at our safety school.

PP - did you eventually get in to your coveted school, or was that just a coping mechanism?

Whoops, Cooke not Cooked.

Anonymous wrote:OP here- I actually have the possibility of staying home tomorrow rather than going in for work, and I was wondering if I should stay home... I am just worried I could be so disappointed and upset at work and look like a total disaster if I get the results during the day.

Two years ago I dealt with my disappointment by looking at the admission/waitlist status at other schools for all kids on the waitlist above my son, then assigning probabilities that they'd give up their spot at my coveted school. (So if lottery participant 86753 was admitted to Cooked with sibling preference, I'd assume they'd give up their #2 spot on the Barnard waitlist.) It calmed me down considerably.

Or you could arrange to take a mid-afternoon walk. In any case, I really wouldn't stay home.

Wow. Ok. Lottery stress is hard, I know. Believe me I know. But, look at it this way - the DCPS lottery is step 1 of what can be a LONG process. It's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure, nor for people who like a nice, tidy, organized well in advance life. It is possible tomorrow things will work out as you want them to, and then you can step off the crazy maker that is school choice in DC. But, quite honestly, it's more than likely tomorrow will be disappointing. It's also possible tomorrow will be quite disappointing, with wait list #s in the high hundreds everyplace. But remember - there are still all the chatter lotteries to come, so don't blow all you emotional energy right off. Depending on your interests/concerns, there are probably 7-10 charter lotteries that are worthwhile. And then you have the waist list management game. DCPS lists move A LOT, especially after charter lotteries, and then throughout the summer. Some charter lists move, others don't really.

For a small number of people, this is quick and relatively painless. For the majority, it's a longer process of uncertainty. And for a small majority, it's truly horrible. Stay sane - most people get into a decent enough choice eventually.

OP here- I actually have the possibility of staying home tomorrow rather than going in for work, and I was wondering if I should stay home... I am just worried I could be so disappointed and upset at work and look like a total disaster if I get the results during the day.

I feel like I read noon was the goal, but yeah last year they were delayed a couple of hours. I'd try and chill out and perhaps find a way to have a drink at lunch time.

And as some one points out, there is a way to get a text when results go live.

We should start a pool - what time do you think results will be live? How much after that time will the text message go out? How long between results going live and the first post on DCUM? Will there be a post on DCUM after results are live but before text goes out? Etc. The betting possibilities are endless.

I'm going to guess 2:22 for live results.

Last year it was delayed because they ran into so e technical difficulties. I think it was much later in the day than everyone expected. Otherwise, i think the goal for last year was sometime in the morning but obviously that didn't work.

Tomorrow sometime, don't know exactly - but you can sign up to receive a text message when they're posted.

Morning, afternoon, night?
TIA