Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:31
Subject: Lottery results are up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader also marked "ineligible" at Banneker (but decent waitlist at Walls, go figure!) even though she has stellar grades and had a good interview and has a sibling at the top of her class at Banneker. Must have been a really competitive year. Congrats to everyone who got what they hoped for! For those who didn't, hope your kids don't take it personally. The system is complete and total crapshoot even for the competitive schools.
Interesting. I have to say, I didn't think Banneker was all that tough of an admit. I honestly thought they accepted nearly all their applicants and weren't like Walls.
DCUM certainly pushes that narrative.
I think it's harder than it used to be. My DD 7th is pining to go.
I actually think it's just that people used to say whatever they wanted about Banneker with zero first-hand information and it was mostly informed by racism. Now that the "DCUM" kind of people are priced out of privates and running out of spots at J-R and SWW, all of a sudden they're "taking a chance" on the school they considered themselves benevolent pioneers for even considering, only to find out . . . it's not a cakewalk just because it's full of black kids.
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:29
Subject: Lottery results are up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:oh man - older kid got into Hyde-Addison, younger sibling is wait-listed for PK3 there. As of now, both of them could also attend the immersion charter elementary where older kid has been attending for a few years.
Commute is - I won't get into the particulars, but both of them are roughly the same distance from our home, and for various reasons represent about the same level of convenience/inconvenience.
Hyde-Addison is...on paper, at least...light years ahead of our current charter in almost every respect - academics and test scores, physical facilities, supplemental activities, resources, surrounding neighborhood, an actual feeder pattern (even if it's not our ideal) - but two: the language instruction...which we do care about...and the community - leadership, staff, parents, kids. I mean, I'm sure they have great people at H-A too! But we don't know them, and we DO know and love the community at our charter.
Oh man...I could see this dilemma coming. I know we're lucky to have it! But that doesn't make it less agonizing.
(And even though younger sibling is pretty high on the waitlist, there's obviously no guarantee. so we could be in a situation where we've pulled older kid from the charter but are still sending younger kid - which would be only slightly inconvenient for us, but probably very awkward...)
One thing is that once you enroll your older kid, your younger kid should jump to the top of the waitlist. This is still not certain, but the odds are better.
As someone who has moved schools -- you will connect with your new community, too. Don't make school choices based on community.
OP here: Thank you! I needed to hear that...
I will say that we really do believe in this charter - it's unique, and we love it, and we want it to succeed! It's just - not where Hyde-Addison is, on any metric.
We had similar feelings of affection for the school my child attended before H-A, but long term plan of not wanting to move but needing a solid middle and high school feeder won out. I’m so glad we switched, it’s truly a joyful and well-managed school. We’ve needed 504 services and they’ve been wonderful. I do not think your PK3 will get in this year, but having sibling preference will help for next year and if not definitely get you in for K. If you don’t take it now, your older child may be the one to get shut out - lottery seats dry up in 3rd/4th/5th grades. They are most plentiful K/1st/2nd.
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:28
Subject: Lottery results are up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader also marked "ineligible" at Banneker (but decent waitlist at Walls, go figure!) even though she has stellar grades and had a good interview and has a sibling at the top of her class at Banneker. Must have been a really competitive year. Congrats to everyone who got what they hoped for! For those who didn't, hope your kids don't take it personally. The system is complete and total crapshoot even for the competitive schools.
Interesting. I have to say, I didn't think Banneker was all that tough of an admit. I honestly thought they accepted nearly all their applicants and weren't like Walls.
Not true at all. They get almost as many applications as Walls. My kid got interviews at both, but a bunch of her friends didn’t even get interviews at Banneker, only at Walls (and most of those got into Walls or waitlisted). Banneker is definitely competitive.
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:28
Subject: Lottery results are up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader also marked "ineligible" at Banneker (but decent waitlist at Walls, go figure!) even though she has stellar grades and had a good interview and has a sibling at the top of her class at Banneker. Must have been a really competitive year. Congrats to everyone who got what they hoped for! For those who didn't, hope your kids don't take it personally. The system is complete and total crapshoot even for the competitive schools.
Interesting. I have to say, I didn't think Banneker was all that tough of an admit. I honestly thought they accepted nearly all their applicants and weren't like Walls.
DCUM certainly pushes that narrative.
I think it's harder than it used to be. My DD 7th is pining to go.
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:25
Subject: Lottery results are up
Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader also marked "ineligible" at Banneker (but decent waitlist at Walls, go figure!) even though she has stellar grades and had a good interview and has a sibling at the top of her class at Banneker. Must have been a really competitive year. Congrats to everyone who got what they hoped for! For those who didn't, hope your kids don't take it personally. The system is complete and total crapshoot even for the competitive schools.
I mean I don’t know if I’d push it but it sounds like maybe an administrative issue. The intersection of “quailified for walls” and “didn’t qualify for Banneker” must be microscopic
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:25
Subject: Lottery results are up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader also marked "ineligible" at Banneker (but decent waitlist at Walls, go figure!) even though she has stellar grades and had a good interview and has a sibling at the top of her class at Banneker. Must have been a really competitive year. Congrats to everyone who got what they hoped for! For those who didn't, hope your kids don't take it personally. The system is complete and total crapshoot even for the competitive schools.
Interesting. I have to say, I didn't think Banneker was all that tough of an admit. I honestly thought they accepted nearly all their applicants and weren't like Walls.
DCUM certainly pushes that narrative.
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:24
Subject: Lottery results are up
My kid is #5 on the waitlist for Stokes French. I think that means there’s a decent chance of an offer by August, and almost certain by October. Is that right or are there variables I’m missing? He has no preference
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:23
Subject: Lottery results are up
Pretty far down the waitlist at Walls (>160). My kid will be pretty bummed - guessing it’s unlikely *that* many kids decide to go to their in-bound, another charter or private. Good life lesson to process disappointment I suppose, and our default option isn’t bad.
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:22
Subject: Lottery results are up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader also marked "ineligible" at Banneker (but decent waitlist at Walls, go figure!) even though she has stellar grades and had a good interview and has a sibling at the top of her class at Banneker. Must have been a really competitive year. Congrats to everyone who got what they hoped for! For those who didn't, hope your kids don't take it personally. The system is complete and total crapshoot even for the competitive schools.
Interesting. I have to say, I didn't think Banneker was all that tough of an admit. I honestly thought they accepted nearly all their applicants and weren't like Walls.
Pp, was there a problem with the application, something missing? Or just didn't get picked?
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:19
Subject: Lottery results are up
Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader also marked "ineligible" at Banneker (but decent waitlist at Walls, go figure!) even though she has stellar grades and had a good interview and has a sibling at the top of her class at Banneker. Must have been a really competitive year. Congrats to everyone who got what they hoped for! For those who didn't, hope your kids don't take it personally. The system is complete and total crapshoot even for the competitive schools.
Interesting. I have to say, I didn't think Banneker was all that tough of an admit. I honestly thought they accepted nearly all their applicants and weren't like Walls.
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:18
Subject: Lottery results are up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:oh man - older kid got into Hyde-Addison, younger sibling is wait-listed for PK3 there. As of now, both of them could also attend the immersion charter elementary where older kid has been attending for a few years.
Commute is - I won't get into the particulars, but both of them are roughly the same distance from our home, and for various reasons represent about the same level of convenience/inconvenience.
Hyde-Addison is...on paper, at least...light years ahead of our current charter in almost every respect - academics and test scores, physical facilities, supplemental activities, resources, surrounding neighborhood, an actual feeder pattern (even if it's not our ideal) - but two: the language instruction...which we do care about...and the community - leadership, staff, parents, kids. I mean, I'm sure they have great people at H-A too! But we don't know them, and we DO know and love the community at our charter.
Oh man...I could see this dilemma coming. I know we're lucky to have it! But that doesn't make it less agonizing.
(And even though younger sibling is pretty high on the waitlist, there's obviously no guarantee. so we could be in a situation where we've pulled older kid from the charter but are still sending younger kid - which would be only slightly inconvenient for us, but probably very awkward...)
One thing is that once you enroll your older kid, your younger kid should jump to the top of the waitlist. This is still not certain, but the odds are better.
As someone who has moved schools -- you will connect with your new community, too. Don't make school choices based on community.
OP here: Thank you! I needed to hear that...
I will say that we really do believe in this charter - it's unique, and we love it, and we want it to succeed! It's just - not where Hyde-Addison is, on any metric.
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:17
Subject: Lottery results are up
My rising 9th grader also marked "ineligible" at Banneker (but decent waitlist at Walls, go figure!) even though she has stellar grades and had a good interview and has a sibling at the top of her class at Banneker. Must have been a really competitive year. Congrats to everyone who got what they hoped for! For those who didn't, hope your kids don't take it personally. The system is complete and total crapshoot even for the competitive schools.
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:15
Subject: Lottery results are up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:oh man - older kid got into Hyde-Addison, younger sibling is wait-listed for PK3 there. As of now, both of them could also attend the immersion charter elementary where older kid has been attending for a few years.
Commute is - I won't get into the particulars, but both of them are roughly the same distance from our home, and for various reasons represent about the same level of convenience/inconvenience.
Hyde-Addison is...on paper, at least...light years ahead of our current charter in almost every respect - academics and test scores, physical facilities, supplemental activities, resources, surrounding neighborhood, an actual feeder pattern (even if it's not our ideal) - but two: the language instruction...which we do care about...and the community - leadership, staff, parents, kids. I mean, I'm sure they have great people at H-A too! But we don't know them, and we DO know and love the community at our charter.
Oh man...I could see this dilemma coming. I know we're lucky to have it! But that doesn't make it less agonizing.
(And even though younger sibling is pretty high on the waitlist, there's obviously no guarantee. so we could be in a situation where we've pulled older kid from the charter but are still sending younger kid - which would be only slightly inconvenient for us, but probably very awkward...)
One thing is that once you enroll your older kid, your younger kid should jump to the top of the waitlist. This is still not certain, but the odds are better.
As someone who has moved schools -- you will connect with your new community, too. Don't make school choices based on community.
This. Enroll the eldest ASAP and your younger kid moves up the waitlist.
We are currently at H-A, our youngest is accepted for PK3 (in-boundary + sibling preferences). We know a few other families with the same dual preferences who likely also got in. For 25-26 PK3, every kid had an in-boundary preference. You can find last year's results here: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/node/61https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/node/61
Click Results Dashboard for SY19-20 through SY25-26 Seats
Go filter for Hyde, then filter to show only PK3 lottery results for the school.
Anyways, H-A is a good community with good neighborhood feel + a solid set of committed OOB families. You won't feel out of place. If dual language is important to you, you'll need to supplement. H-A's IEP services are excellent (I know from experience)
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:13
Subject: Lottery results are up
Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain to me what does “ineligible” mean? 9th grade #1 Banneker marked as ineligible but got into our #2
4th grade parent here, so I'm a ways off from HS, but I thought that Banneker was a selective school where you interviewed and basically got pre-screened for it?
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:04
Subject: Lottery results are up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Got into Latin from a DCI feeder. Will need to think about it.
This was us last year. We opted for Latin and have been very happy.
On the other side, that was also us and we declined and are at DCI and having a great experience.
It’s also important to consider the feeder. It will be increasingly hard to get in without preference from some feeders.
I don’t know, Everyone got in this year and any seats left over from other schools goes to feeder kids.
Plus there is the other language tracks you can list below if you are Spanish.
I think you should consider the offerings of both schools and compare that and what is best for your kid.