The Butler campus was actually in the top tier of the PCSB's most recent ratings (in company with Haynes, CapCity & Two Rivers.

Any stain on its reputation comes from other campuses run under the same charter. Other schools run by the same program scored abysmally and are in danger of being closed--and the problem is, since Butler is run under the same charter as these poor performers, the current charter law puts Butler & other good schools under that charter in danger. I know that the administration has voluntarily closed at least one problem campus; I believe they have the sense to work with the board to save what works and cut loose what doesn't.

Given Butler's good performance, I'm really surprised at the lack of sufficient applications for a lottery. It makes me wish I'd thought to apply for K.

Butler elementary has an excellent principal but the early childhood program is run separately. My children were there for a year in the Pre-K program (it was the only place other than KIPP that had a space at the time). The teaching staff definitely needed more development. Nice people but they were not ready to lead teach IMO. My children were very happy to leave (they clearly expressed this to me).

The positive was that the kids go on a field trip EVERY month. They take those students everywhere. The swimming at the YMCA was nice too. But again, it simply wasn't a good fit for my kids.

They didn't need a lottery last year because there was space for everyone who applied. This is probably true again, especially as the Charter Board is threatening to shut them down (as they would have to to shut down the other crappy schools they run).

As I understood it by law, all DC Public Charter Schools must hold an enrollment lottery if the number of applications received on or before the deadline exceeds the number of available spaces. I am not sure how Butler could get around this.

Butler recently wrote to me to say that they had a last minute decision to relinquish the lottery process for SY 2012-2013. Anyone have any background on this or understand what the selection process will be? General comments on Butler from parents also welcome.