Anonymous wrote:If the lottery is conducted as poster 21:00 described why are we asked to rank the schools? I understand that this year the rank order impacted waitlist eligibility, but what about in previous years? It seems that ranking is meaningless if DCPS is just pulling names from a hat. In that case should we not just be asked to select six schools? I assumed that there was some sort of sophisticated algorithm that was being used, but I guess that would be asking too much.

No, there IS a reason to rank - because if you get into your 3rd choice, you are removed from consideration for your 4-6th choices. Even as described above, ranking can still really matter.

If the lottery is conducted as poster 21:00 described why are we asked to rank the schools? I understand that this year the rank order impacted waitlist eligibility, but what about in previous years? It seems that ranking is meaningless if DCPS is just pulling names from a hat. In that case should we not just be asked to select six schools? I assumed that there was some sort of sophisticated algorithm that was being used, but I guess that would be asking too much.

Anonymous wrote:Given the last couple of posts, I really want to hear DCPS staff explain how they *really* did it. That explanation that once they pick you at all they fill in your whole list is the only explanation that makes sense. It explains all 6 of my numbers ranging from 18-34. And even though my numbers don't totally suck, I totally agree that that would be massively unfair.

Same poster- I did just see a list though that had 2 schools I also applied to. Our numbers were close, but I got one number better than them, the other worse. Seems like under our theory that shouldn't happen. Could it be that the system does this sometimes but isn't consistent?

I was strategic in how I ranked schools and truly picked the top two I really wanted and had our IB as our 6th choice. Reason being that ur far more likely to get in there, so no use in wasting the other spots.

Also we were pretty fortunate this year, but last year, our numbers were dismal. DCPS and charter. Has your kid ever been the LAST kid on a wait list of over 400 kids? Mine has.lol

Given the last couple of posts, I really want to hear DCPS staff explain how they *really* did it. That explanation that once they pick you at all they fill in your whole list is the only explanation that makes sense. It explains all 6 of my numbers ranging from 18-34. And even though my numbers don't totally suck, I totally agree that that would be massively unfair.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I completely agree that its odd that peoples numbers are always grouped in the same general realm at all the schools they have applied. What I am not seeing on these boards, from our neighbors, or from our lottery history, are people that have say a single digit wait list number at one school and a 400-something number at another. Every one's numbers are either good, middle or crap. All of them, which isn't logical if there is a totally separate drawing for each school.

Here's why: Instead of drawing lottery numbers separately for each school, DCPS is drawing your child's lottery number (randomly) but then going down your school choice list and filling you in. So, if you get picked early, you are all set. If you get picked late, you are in the 400's everywhere. It has to be what is happening, there is just no other explanation.

Yes, this has been explained. It is exactly how it is done. If your child is the 1st number drawn, then he/she will get the highest available numbers for every school applied.

Thats the exact opposite of how they said they do it.

After the application period closed on February 25, each applicant was assigned a random number for each school he/she applied to.

So this is a known thing? I feel like that is horribly unfair, giving many people no shot at any schools and others their pick. Is that ok? I feel like I should complain directly to DCPS to have it done individually for each school. Its the only fair way.

Anonymous wrote:So I completely agree that its odd that peoples numbers are always grouped in the same general realm at all the schools they have applied. What I am not seeing on these boards, from our neighbors, or from our lottery history, are people that have say a single digit wait list number at one school and a 400-something number at another. Every one's numbers are either good, middle or crap. All of them, which isn't logical if there is a totally separate drawing for each school.

Here's why: Instead of drawing lottery numbers separately for each school, DCPS is drawing your child's lottery number (randomly) but then going down your school choice list and filling you in. So, if you get picked early, you are all set. If you get picked late, you are in the 400's everywhere. It has to be what is happening, there is just no other explanation.

Yes, this has been explained. It is exactly how it is done. If your child is the 1st number drawn, then he/she will get the highest available numbers for every school applied.

So I completely agree that its odd that peoples numbers are always grouped in the same general realm at all the schools they have applied. What I am not seeing on these boards, from our neighbors, or from our lottery history, are people that have say a single digit wait list number at one school and a 400-something number at another. Every one's numbers are either good, middle or crap. All of them, which isn't logical if there is a totally separate drawing for each school.

Here's why: Instead of drawing lottery numbers separately for each school, DCPS is drawing your child's lottery number (randomly) but then going down your school choice list and filling you in. So, if you get picked early, you are all set. If you get picked late, you are in the 400's everywhere. It has to be what is happening, there is just no other explanation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
(IMHO it's kind of creepy to check someone else's results.)

When I did the lottery, I also checked the results of everyone above my child on the waitlist. If the child was accepted someplace higher in their preference order, I mentally erased the from the waitlist.

I even had a spreadsheet with all this information. Maybe I even still have it...

They don't do wait lists like that anymore. Now if you are accepted at one rank you won't be on a wait list below it

Anonymous wrote:Slowly we will become Texas-cheerleader moms, who will have otherS killed for a position at a school. Just a matter of time.

No, I'm pretty sure it will never get THAT deep for me. I believe in karma, and I also don't like what I see of prison on those t.v. shows. Although, lemme guess... those Texas Cheerleader moms you speak of were so well connected, they didn't do any time for trying to murder someone else to get those spots?

Well, I ain't that well connected, either.

Slowly we will become Texas-cheerleader moms, who will have otherS killed for a position at a school. Just a matter of time.

^ good laugh!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
(IMHO it's kind of creepy to check someone else's results.)

When I did the lottery, I also checked the results of everyone above my child on the waitlist. If the child was accepted someplace higher in their preference order, I mentally erased the from the waitlist.

I even had a spreadsheet with all this information. Maybe I even still have it...

Yes, for those of us seriously wanting to have as realistic a view of our odds for getting into these schools as possible, it's a very cool feature to be able to check the options of those above you on the waitlist. What's creepy to you, is helping me feel grounded in reality. Also, there is no identifying info (other than child's b-day), so it's not like anyone's gonna call people up above them and threaten to paint their car purple if they accept an offered spot... plus, if you did do that, they'd figure out when the purple-painted cars stopped (which waitlist number), and you'd be busted.

Not that I've thought about doing that, or anything...

Anonymous wrote:
(IMHO it's kind of creepy to check someone else's results.)

When I did the lottery, I also checked the results of everyone above my child on the waitlist. If the child was accepted someplace higher in their preference order, I mentally erased the from the waitlist.

I even had a spreadsheet with all this information. Maybe I even still have it...