Anonymous wrote:Waitlist #6 for Judith Hoyer Montessori (3yr old)

You’re in! Congrats.

Waitlist #6 for Judith Hoyer Montessori (3yr old)

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure there is some sort of system. My nephew goes to Dora Kennedy and the vast majority of his classmates are children of French speaking immigrants. If the lottery is completely blind, how does that happen?

They test in in later grades. Their parents are also probably better able to support them with the language in the higher grades. The attrition rate from Kindergarten to 8th is huge. 25% of the Kindergarteners leave after 1st, and then kids leave every year. At MAFI, I think they have 25-30 eighth graders, down from 75 K'ers. I think DKFI ends up with slightly more graduates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure there is some sort of system. My nephew goes to Dora Kennedy and the vast majority of his classmates are children of French speaking immigrants. If the lottery is completely blind, how does that happen?

It may be that most who apply speak the language at home and can support the student. I love the idea but wouldn't select that program because I wouldn't be able to help my child.

I'm not sure if it is fixed or not, but transparency is always good. I tried two times. The first child did not get in, but the second 4 years later did.

+1, FWIW my child goes to one of the Montessoris and many of his classmates are children of African/Caribbean immigrants. I think this area has large immigrant population as it is, and those from francophone countries are probably disproportionately drawn to a French immersion school.

As for the lottery transparency, I agree the system PGCPS uses is not very sophisticated, but just look in DC where there is scandal after scandal of mayoral staff and appointees getting to skip the lottery and place their kids wherever they want.
I do wish our lottery had a way to rank multiple schools the way DC’s does though.

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure there is some sort of system. My nephew goes to Dora Kennedy and the vast majority of his classmates are children of French speaking immigrants. If the lottery is completely blind, how does that happen?

I've had two children in the school, and there were a few kids in each of their grades who were from French-speaking families- definitely not the "vast majority." Also remember that kids can test into the program after kindergarten (if there are openings at the grade level being sought), so children who speak French at home are more able to successfully do that.

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure there is some sort of system. My nephew goes to Dora Kennedy and the vast majority of his classmates are children of French speaking immigrants. If the lottery is completely blind, how does that happen?

It may be that most who apply speak the language at home and can support the student. I love the idea but wouldn't select that program because I wouldn't be able to help my child.

I'm not sure if it is fixed or not, but transparency is always good. I tried two times. The first child did not get in, but the second 4 years later did.

I'm pretty sure there is some sort of system. My nephew goes to Dora Kennedy and the vast majority of his classmates are children of French speaking immigrants. If the lottery is completely blind, how does that happen?

Anonymous wrote:I think that it is fixed.

After years of talking to people, I've started to believe this too. Even if it isn't, the lack of transparency is appalling and leads everyone to distrust the system. DCPS is so much more transparent.

APPLICATION WAIT LIST STATUS
Application PGSPE******: Student(****) for Preschool Age 4 has Waiting # 110 for Montessori at Judith P Hoyer Montessori

I'm positive that the waitlist will not move that much so we're out. Now I have to pay for private montessori in order to try to lottery in at a later grade.

I think that it is fixed.

Anonymous wrote:I seen in other places on line that the results you all have pulled up is not the actual results, just testing. Some people said they were getting notices that their specialty confirmation number (i.e. PGSPE000000) was saying they had not even entered the lottery. Many parents had called up to Pupil Accounting and were told these are not the official results, just testing.

I hope that's true. But I went to the actual site for the specialty lottery and it said results were in, and if you put in your application number and got a waitlist number then that was your number, but kids with placement would produce no results; and that letters would be mailed next week.

I seen in other places on line that the results you all have pulled up is not the actual results, just testing. Some people said they were getting notices that their specialty confirmation number (i.e. PGSPE000000) was saying they had not even entered the lottery. Many parents had called up to Pupil Accounting and were told these are not the official results, just testing.

Anonymous wrote:I'm with you. I have twins......Mid 200s for French immersion kindergarten.

Depends on which French Immersion school you are zoned for. Maya Angelou had open slots for K in July this year and they opened up the lottery again.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/653386.page

I'm with you. I have twins......Mid 200s for French immersion kindergarten.

My child is in the low 200's for Pullen kindergarten on the waitlist. Is it hopeless?