But what's wrong with talking about it?

This is the umpteenth thread on people not liking some hot charter schools open house. Stokes, YY, CM now MV...

Maybe the school isn't for you, not every "hot" carter will be or someone is trying to scare people off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any chance of getting into Stokes EVER? I have applied 3 years in a row and haven't even made it in the single digits. Do you know anyone who doesn't already have a sib there who has gotten in? It's been my first choice school for years, but so what?

I know someone whose kid started in second grade Spanish. I was called for third grade French, but did not take it.

Did your child know some French, to be able to join that class, and did they inquire about your kid's French skills at all?

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any chance of getting into Stokes EVER? I have applied 3 years in a row and haven't even made it in the single digits. Do you know anyone who doesn't already have a sib there who has gotten in? It's been my first choice school for years, but so what?

I know someone whose kid started in second grade Spanish. I was called for third grade French, but did not take it.

Anonymous wrote:When will IT have the space it's moving into?

I think they said they will be able to do hard-hat tours in the late Spring and expect to move into the building at some point over the summer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. ok, clearly i am not the only one who felt this way, so i wasn't missing anything. thanks for chiming in, DCUM.

I wasn't completely "wowed" like I was at the IT open house.

I felt the same way. Just loved IT's open house, especially that they put teachers in various rooms and let people wander around. Found the principal to be totally accessible as well.

When will IT have the space it's moving into?

Anonymous wrote:OP here. ok, clearly i am not the only one who felt this way, so i wasn't missing anything. thanks for chiming in, DCUM.

I wasn't completely "wowed" like I was at the IT open house.

I agree OP, underwhelmed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's the thing about school choice, what clicks for you, may not click for me.

Unfortunately, the odds that either of us are going to get into a school we click with are small.

But with the common lottery and matching, those odds just got a little bit better this year. Not dramatically so, and not enough better that anyone is sighing with relief already, but it does indeed increase the odds.

Anonymous wrote:That's the thing about school choice, what clicks for you, may not click for me.

Unfortunately, the odds that either of us are going to get into a school we click with are small.

That's the thing about school choice, what clicks for you, may not click for me.

^^Thanks PP - Well, there ya go! More good news... because 20 more spots is still 20 more spots!

just coming back from stokes open house and loved it! i asked about how many spots for K and they said they routinely have about 10 to 12 spots. Also this year is the year to apply for pre-K if that is your interest. we are looking for K personally, but this year because the 6th grade will no longer be at the school and will be at the new DCI next year, there will be more slots available in pk (like 20 more) and a few more other slots available in the other grades. i am crossing my fingers and applying because what else can i do,right? good luck everyone!

Anonymous wrote:That is probably true, yeah -- and yes, I was about 120 last year and something even worse the year before. It was fine b/c I wasn't sure I could make the drive with a brand-new baby, but now I REALLY want DD to get in and have no control over the process. Do you guys know how many applications they typically receive for K and 1st grade, and how many spots they have?

No idea how many apps they receive, but I remember learning from here and other sources that K was an easier entry grade than PS3 or PK4 (don't they have blended PS/PK classrooms at Stokes?). I remember talking to the Principal at the Expo the year we were going for PK4 and she pretty much said - without actually directly saying it - it's really highly unlikely you're going to get in. I at least appreciated the honesty!

Only slightly good news is that with MV expanding a bit there will be a few more Spanish-bilingual PreK and K spots all around, which may take a little of the focus off of Stokes. On the flipside, as DCI gets closer to opening, there are also people interested in all the feeder schools now who otherwise weren't really considering them as seriously/aggressively.

Wishing everyone luck though, because SOMEONE has to get the few spots that do come open!