When I was happy but not ecstatic with my kids' school, I only entered the lottery for schools I knew I would leave if given the choice. Surprised everyone doesn't do it this way.

Each school sets its own timeframe after the initial roun 1 and round 2 acceptance deadlines. There is no MSDC recommended timeframe. You need to make a decision based on he info you have. Not ideal, but that's the reality of the timing. If you give us more info on what school you are looking to leave and what school you have been offered a spot in, we may be able to give you some substantive feedback. Good luck.

Reading is fundamental OP:

Who manages each waitlist?
My School DC oversees the waitlists of all schools participating in the lottery. However, schools determine whether space is available at their school, and when to call students off the waitlist. Schools also determine how much time families who receive an offer off their waitlist have to accept or decline it. Schools will only be allowed to offer available spaces to students in numerical order as determined by the lottery. For example, if there are 10 students on a waitlist and your child is number 8, numbers 1 through 7 must first be called before an offer can be extended to your child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you are going to get much sympathy here, OP. If you had this many concerns then you probably should have asked to see the school when school was in session. It's summer. If you would have gotten called in July there is NO way the school would have let you hold a spot for over a month to "observe". As a family who has been Wait listed just about everywhere, we certainly are ready to jump on offers based on our research.

This is OP and while I don't expect sympathy, I do want to state that I DID ask to observe while school was in, and as we inched closer on the WL over the summer, asked if I could stop by the new building. Each time I was told that I could not unless I was offered a spot and now that they are not following the Myschool recommended timeframe, I am sol.

which timeframe trumps which? is the MSDC one the law or just that a recommendation?

i'm w/the above PP. i'm ready to jump when called.

Well, if it's a new building, isn't a new building for everyone, no just you OP, but the hundreds of other families who committed sight unseen. And don't be such a victim. You're "sol" because you got offered lottery spots at a school YOU selected? Yeah that sucks. Your much worse off than those families who never got a spot anywhere. Perspective please. And rather than engage with us jerks who don't support your plea for coddling, how about you spend your time doing real research to inform your decision. Or better yet, just decline the spots and get back to your vaca. Your kids would rather you spend the time with them than engaging with the unsympathetic mob.

Sounds like you need to turn down the spot then, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ok I can guess which school you're talking about, but what school are you thinking of leaving and why? I'm guessing it's not your IB because you can always go back. You say it's been good so far, what are your concerns? Middle school?

Is it CMI?

Or DCB? I think those are the only two moving. Either way, yes PP you are SOL if you don't decide when the school says to.

Anonymous wrote:ok I can guess which school you're talking about, but what school are you thinking of leaving and why? I'm guessing it's not your IB because you can always go back. You say it's been good so far, what are your concerns? Middle school?

Is it CMI?

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you are going to get much sympathy here, OP. If you had this many concerns then you probably should have asked to see the school when school was in session. It's summer. If you would have gotten called in July there is NO way the school would have let you hold a spot for over a month to "observe". As a family who has been Wait listed just about everywhere, we certainly are ready to jump on offers based on our research.

This is OP and while I don't expect sympathy, I do want to state that I DID ask to observe while school was in, and as we inched closer on the WL over the summer, asked if I could stop by the new building. Each time I was told that I could not unless I was offered a spot and now that they are not following the Myschool recommended timeframe, I am sol.

ok I can guess which school you're talking about, but what school are you thinking of leaving and why? I'm guessing it's not your IB because you can always go back. You say it's been good so far, what are your concerns? Middle school?

I don't think you are going to get much sympathy here, OP. If you had this many concerns then you probably should have asked to see the school when school was in session. It's summer. If you would have gotten called in July there is NO way the school would have let you hold a spot for over a month to "observe". As a family who has been Waitlisted just about everywhere, we certainly are ready to jump on offers based on our research.

DCUM is the meanest place on the planet. OP clearly has the right to wait until next week because that's what myschooldc says.

You're entitled to go to your neighborhood school for K and beyond. You're not entitled to be coddled through the lottery process.

If everyone took your attitude, then the lottery / enrollment process would grind to a halt, and you probably wouldn't have even gotten a call in the first place because someone else would be sitting on the spot.

If you don't call back and give your answer you can surely expect the school to tell you that they moved on and the spot is no longer available. Make your decision within the time frame stipulated by the school. Period. They don't have time for your hand wringing

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've had months to make the decision if you would move if called or not.

+1. Not only did you put this school on your list, you've also obviously had a low waitlist number and should have anticipated a possible call. Why would you want to wait a week and forego the option of having your children start in the first day of school with everyone else. And I'm guessing it's too much to ask you to think about others, but why would you selfishly hold a spot you might not use and prevent another child from starting school on the first day? Drive to that school today, look around, talk to an administrator, email some parents, search on this website and make your decision today. Come on, lady.

Never ceases to amaze me. My statement above clearly states why I still have questions. I have seen 2 classrooms, one including the grade my child is entering, the auditorium and the foyer, sans students and in a now former building. I have no control of when my number comes up and am certainly not selfish. We are not in town, or anywhere close by, and I had called the school earlier this summer to ask for a look around in the event this happened and they said no.