Anonymous
Post 04/26/2019 14:10     Subject: Lottery Letters?
We FINALLY got our letter!!!
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2019 21:49     Subject: Lottery Letters?
Anonymous wrote:I emailed the lottery program and received a copy of my son’s acceptance letter via email. He was #84 for Dora Kennedy. I’m elated!


Awesome! I emailed too and received an acceptance letter for my son for Dora Kennedy as well. He was #42. I am relieved.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2019 19:18     Subject: Lottery Letters?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is an area in PGCPS where the lack of transparency is appalling and makes the school system look dishonest. Why can’t they fix this? It’s relatively easy to do this by computer.


I wouldn't say dishonest, but definitely incompetent. I agree, this should be an automated process. Too much human error.


I've heard too many parents comment about getting their kids into a specialty program through a back door for me to wonder about the honesty. When you are told that there are alternative ways for those in the know and the lottery isn't transparent, it's very easy to wonder and the lack of transparency makes it look worse. Why can't they update the lottery list? The whole thing should be automatic as kids get placed. There isn't a reason to have to spend time updating it. If there are 25 seats, you cross out the first 25 seats as the students register.


I’ve had kids in the school system for 6 years and I have never heard of anyone actually getting into specialty programs through a back door.

I think that the notification process is completely broken but I don’t question the integrity of the staff.

Anonymous
Post 04/24/2019 18:01     Subject: Lottery Letters?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is an area in PGCPS where the lack of transparency is appalling and makes the school system look dishonest. Why can’t they fix this? It’s relatively easy to do this by computer.


I wouldn't say dishonest, but definitely incompetent. I agree, this should be an automated process. Too much human error.


I've heard too many parents comment about getting their kids into a specialty program through a back door for me to wonder about the honesty. When you are told that there are alternative ways for those in the know and the lottery isn't transparent, it's very easy to wonder and the lack of transparency makes it look worse. Why can't they update the lottery list? The whole thing should be automatic as kids get placed. There isn't a reason to have to spend time updating it. If there are 25 seats, you cross out the first 25 seats as the students register.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2019 17:39     Subject: Lottery Letters?
One thing of note; the deadline for sending back the acceptance form is May 3rd! If I hadn’t emailed them and gotten his letter via that method, I would still be waiting to hear and would likely have missed the deadline. PGPCS needs to step their game up. The letter was actually dated for April 8!
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2019 16:54     Subject: Lottery Letters?
I emailed the lottery program and received a copy of my son’s acceptance letter via email. He was #84 for Dora Kennedy. I’m elated!
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2019 15:55     Subject: Lottery Letters?
Anonymous wrote:This is an area in PGCPS where the lack of transparency is appalling and makes the school system look dishonest. Why can’t they fix this? It’s relatively easy to do this by computer.


I wouldn't say dishonest, but definitely incompetent. I agree, this should be an automated process. Too much human error.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2019 11:08     Subject: Lottery Letters?
Anonymous wrote:This is an area in PGCPS where the lack of transparency is appalling and makes the school system look dishonest. Why can’t they fix this? It’s relatively easy to do this by computer.


This needs to be brought up at school board meetings.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2019 12:04     Subject: Lottery Letters?
This is an area in PGCPS where the lack of transparency is appalling and makes the school system look dishonest. Why can’t they fix this? It’s relatively easy to do this by computer.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2019 09:39     Subject: Re:Lottery Letters?
Just tried calling the school. Thank you for the tip! The school said that they can't release any information and we will have to hear from Pupil Accounting. Maybe each school is handling its process differently.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2019 09:13     Subject: Re:Lottery Letters?
Anonymous wrote:Nothing in mail or email here. Today is the day that the website says to contact them if the letter has not been received. https://www1.pgcps.org/lottery/index.aspx?id=127716

I wonder if they will update the web page or send out an email update in the next couple of days, since I imagine they will receive a deluge of emails from parents reporting that a letter has not been received. I don't understand why they can't mail merge the letters that go out into emails to applicants (even if the email notes that the 'official' copy is forthcoming in the mail).


Our email came from the school not pupil accounting. The schools know who is accepted so you could call the school if you have a low number.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2019 08:58     Subject: Re:Lottery Letters?
Nothing in mail or email here. Today is the day that the website says to contact them if the letter has not been received. https://www1.pgcps.org/lottery/index.aspx?id=127716

I wonder if they will update the web page or send out an email update in the next couple of days, since I imagine they will receive a deluge of emails from parents reporting that a letter has not been received. I don't understand why they can't mail merge the letters that go out into emails to applicants (even if the email notes that the 'official' copy is forthcoming in the mail).
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2019 22:14     Subject: Lottery Letters?
Kenmoor just sent out an email to parents whose children got slots.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2019 19:25     Subject: Re:Lottery Letters?
No letter, no phone call, no e-mail.

Anonymous
Post 04/22/2019 15:47     Subject: Re:Lottery Letters?
Still no letter here either. I'm wondering if I should call the school where we received a low lottery number and inquire if they have any further info or have received a placement list? I don't want to bother them, but I am starting to lose hope that I'm ever going to receive anything from central office!!!