West Seattle schools: 226 assigned to K-5 STEM at Boren

Today is the day that Seattle Public Schools families officially find out students’ assignments for next year, and while there’s no suspense for those returning to their “neighborhood school,” those who applied for out-of-neighborhood schools or “option schools” have been awaiting the news. This also means there’s an official number for the first wave of enrollment at West Seattle’s new option school, K-5 STEM at Boren, opening this fall, so we asked SPS what that number turned out to be and whether there’s room for more. Here’s the reply from enrollment manager Dr. Tracy Libros:

There are 226 students assigned to K-5 STEM at Boren, with a short waiting list at kindergarten and 1st grade. If families are interested, they are encouraged to apply soon to let us know if we should consider adding another class.

If someone in your family is awaiting word of an assignment, here’s the district webpage you can use to get the information (provided you have their student ID number handy). Meantime, the school’s Design Team, including community reps, continues to meet (minutes are linked online, from the right side of this page); they’ve been meeting at district HQ in downtown but minutes from last Tuesday’s meeting indicate they’ll be switching to a West Seattle site, the Madison Middle School library.

55 Replies to "West Seattle schools: 226 assigned to K-5 STEM at Boren"

  • Oliver April 16, 2012 (11:59 am)

    I would love to know the numbers by grade e.g., How many classes per grade and how many kids per grade. We’re in for 2nd grade!

    • WSB April 16, 2012 (12:06 pm)

      I’ve asked for some overall breakdown information that I’m told isn’t available yet. Meantime, congratulations!

  • a parent April 16, 2012 (12:19 pm)

    doesn’t ‘wait-listed’ usually mean you won’t get in? I hear horror stories for Lafayette, Pathfinder etc.

    • WSB April 16, 2012 (12:32 pm)

      Depends on how long the list is – there CAN BE a fair amount of movement. Eight long years ago our son was on the waitlist for a certain local elementary, pretty close to the head of the line, and while we didn’t hear anything for many agonizing weeks, he did finally get in.

  • a parent April 16, 2012 (12:35 pm)

    is ‘pretty close to the head of the line’ considered #10 and under? :/

  • Oliver April 16, 2012 (12:56 pm)

    I think this is an unusual case, parent. I know several families didn’t apply at open enrollment but wanted to see how things would shape-up. The district’s comment suggests that if they get more of those apps over the summer, then they might add a class and those on the waitlist could get in.

  • K April 16, 2012 (1:18 pm)

    does anyone know how they determine place in waitlist lines? Is it by lottery?

  • Public School Advocate April 16, 2012 (1:21 pm)

    In addition to the breakdown by grade level it will be interesting to see the breakdown by attendance area by grade level e.g. What school would these students be assigned to if they did not get into STEM.

  • a parent April 16, 2012 (1:29 pm)

    It’s by lottery – but also if a sibling is there, etc. With STEM this isn’t the case since it’s a new school. I was referencing a wait list I am on for Lafayette.

  • Aman April 16, 2012 (1:43 pm)

    The anxiety that student school assignments cause the parents, & children cannot be healthy. There has to be a better way……. Good luck everyone!

  • a parent April 16, 2012 (1:51 pm)

    I am with you Aman! If one school or program has long wait lists, then perhaps they need to expand their program, add classrooms, something! I guess it’s tough though when classrooms are maxed at certain number and there are only a few waiting, yet not enough to fill a second room. I guess they could have smaller classroom sizes. Hmmm….

  • Bonnie April 16, 2012 (2:05 pm)

    It would be interesting to know where the kids are switching from to get an idea if this really helped the schools that are overcrowded.

    • WSB April 16, 2012 (2:08 pm)

      That is the first set of info I asked for beyond the number – what service areas are the 226 coming from. Not compiled yet, the district says; we’ll keep asking – TR

  • Denny/Sealth parent April 16, 2012 (2:27 pm)

    any way to find more resources about how long school waitlists are or statistics on which lists typically move and when?

  • MercyMoi April 16, 2012 (3:25 pm)

    This is a unique situation in that this is a new school and some people may have applied without really making up their minds, they just wanted to open up options. As more information unfolds about K-5 STEM people may choose their reference school in the end. We just don’t know – there might be a lot of movement on the waitlist.

    My child will be in kindergarten this fall and I’m 97% sure we’ll accept this assignment to Boren.

  • Jason April 16, 2012 (3:39 pm)

    “This is a unique situation in that this is a new school and some people may have applied without really making up their minds, they just wanted to open up options. As more information unfolds about K-5 STEM people may choose their reference school in the end.”

    Hold up….I thought if you applied to and got accepted at STEM, you gave up your spot at your reference school. No?

  • Oliver April 16, 2012 (3:54 pm)

    I hope those that applied know that getting the STEM assignment does not keep your options open. I thought the district was pretty clear that you give up your reference school unless there’s room at your reference school, which wouldonly happen at an unpopular school with no waitlist. In other words, if your reference was Schmitz Park, and you chose STEM, you’re not getting the spot back at Schmitz park.

  • Bonnie April 16, 2012 (5:25 pm)

    How could people change their minds last minute? The school would have given their spots to another student. You can’t just apply and then make up your minds later. Either commit or don’t commit. It’s not fair to the people who are hoping to take your spot in your reference school.

  • Bonnie April 16, 2012 (5:26 pm)

    Adding to say that applying to one school before you ‘make up your mind’ is as unfair as people who apply to the public schools and private schools and not let the public schools know, therefore holding the waitlists up.

  • MercyMoi April 16, 2012 (5:51 pm)

    OOPS! My bad. I was speaking for my situation – I shouldn’t have said others were doing the same. The school we’re referenced to is not over capacity and I assumed we could get back into our reference school no problem. Maybe not?

  • Bonnie April 16, 2012 (5:59 pm)

    Well, if it’s not over capacity it shouldn’t be a problem then.

  • west seattle steve April 16, 2012 (8:21 pm)

    We were waitlisted at Lafayette 4 years back and the list didn’t move. They were over-enrolled by downtown, who assumed more people would opt-out of the school than did. That was before they closed a North end elementary.

    I wouldn’t hold any hope for Lafayette or Schmitz unless you were in the first 5.

  • Neighborly April 16, 2012 (8:38 pm)

    Schools submit their budgets based on enrollment data, and budgets include staffing. If families change their minds late in the game, other students are affected. Teachers may lose jobs, classes get consolidated and class sizes go back up. The district should stay firm on enrollment decisions, and even have a cutoff date so other schools will know their numbers.

  • Julie Watkins April 17, 2012 (12:35 pm)

    Hi everyone. I am very disappointed my daughter is 28th on the waiting list for Pathfinder and so will have to go to Kindergarten at her neighborhood school, Arbor heights. Is there any place the wait- list numbers for the different schools are published? Meaning how many are on the waiting list at various schools. Thank you.
    Julie

  • J April 17, 2012 (1:56 pm)

    “applying to one school before you ‘make up your mind’ is as unfair as people who apply to the public schools and private schools and not let the public schools know, therefore holding the waitlists up.”

    Note that this is unfair to private schools, and to those on their waitlists, as well as to public schools and those on their waitlists. While it may be comfortable to you to hold your place at more than one school, it’s pretty selfish, and causes unnecessary difficulties and anxiety to others.

  • Waitlisted April 17, 2012 (2:14 pm)

    A plea to any families out there who are enrolled in public schools, yet know they are going to move out of town or attend private school: please remove yourselves from SPS enrollment as soon as you can! There are quite a few families who are facing having their children assigned to different elementary schools, and who may be making decisions based on their waitlist positions. The sooner the district can get accurate enrollment numbers and answers to families, the less churn and stress for everyone. Thanks!

  • Schmitz Pk. parent April 17, 2012 (2:29 pm)

    west seattle steve: 4 years ago was a very different time than now. My older daughter entered back then, and I have one coming into K this year. She is number 11 on the wait list at Schmitz. 4 years ago there were less classes. Now, with possibly 4 Ks, she has a good chance of getting in. Fingers crossed anyway, or both of my daughters will move to our reference school, Lafayette.

  • Waitlisted Too April 17, 2012 (6:33 pm)

    We are at an impossible number on the Pathfinder list. I hate this. I know people whose kids got in, but my kid doesn’t get the same opportunity all because of a lottery. I see their happy Facebook posts and it makes me feel worse. Wish there was a better way but I can’t think of one.

  • Waitlisted Too April 17, 2012 (7:02 pm)

    @Julie Watson

    Our number is even worse than yours! Not that it really matters once you’re in the double digits. I feel your pain.

  • westelllo April 17, 2012 (7:08 pm)

    It’s a great set of questions but understand – this is a new Option school. It will be very difficult to figure out how the waitlist might move.

    Obviously, if they have a waitlist at K and 1st, those grades are full. However, my experience is to hang in there because most waitlists move (it could be if they get enough Ks and 1st, they might have another classroom).

    It will be interesting to see where these students come from and how it may or may not help the over-crowding at their reference schools.

  • Carrie Ann April 17, 2012 (7:13 pm)

    We’re waitlisted for a particular program at my daughter’s school. Thankfully she’s only #5 on the list, so I feel a bit of hope there. And whereas we thought our incoming Kindergartener might end up at another school, just found out he got into his sister’s school, too. Wasn’t going to pull her out, since she really just found her voice and place in the past year, but really wasn’t looking forward to the distinct possibility of the kids being at two different schools, and all that entails. Hope things work out as best they can for everyone. Hang in there, parents!

  • Also wait listed April 17, 2012 (11:04 pm)

    My son is ‘in’ for STEM which will probably be great and I’ll be happy with it… but we are also in a fair position on wait list for Pathfinder…last year there was a chance of a third kindergarten class at Pathfinder but I heard the issue is a rule that kindergarten can’t be held in a modular building…I wish SPS would consider another Pathfinder K class SOON bc it will impact the wait list for STEM for sure if 26 more kids got in to Pathfinder now. Why can’t a higher grade move to a modular building at Pathfinder? How can we put the pressure on for a third class?!

  • evergreen April 17, 2012 (11:43 pm)

    For those who didn’t get into Pathfinder, please take a second look at K-5 STEM. This is going to be a fantastic school, with a very involved parent community. You can help create this school via the yahoo group, and through attending design team meetings, for they are very receptive to community input (look at the yahoo group, read the design team minutes, and check out the videos online & the audios on Marty Mclaren’s website). Unlike most non-option neighborhood schools, it will ultimately have a lot of project-based, hands-on learning, in addition to arts; perhaps will be similar to Pathfinder’s expeditionary learning, but with stronger math. SPS will create another class if enough K and 1st graders apply in the next couple months!

  • Nick Esparza April 18, 2012 (12:02 am)

    I am so frustrated and puzzled to see folks pining about being on the waitlist for Pathfinder, Why would people want to put their kids into a predominantly white school that is failing in double digits, rather than to have them attend a culturally diverse, neighborhood school that is succeeding, and NOT in its fifth year of failing AYP? Even the Department of Education suggested to the District that they close this school because it was failing. I don’t know why you would want so little for your children. Would you same people be in such a lather to get their kids into this school if they were still in the practically condemned Genessee Hill Building instead of the gleaming Cooper building? For example, Roxhill is not in any step of failure, yet it is whispered in the “good circles” of West Seattle as being a “bad” school and a ghetto school, A predominantly brown school that is succeeding is not worse than a school of failing white kids in a nice building, but it appears that that might be the consensus here in Seattle. These are patterns that the country saw before the “Brown vs, the Board of Education” decision was handed down in 1954. Please understand I am in no way against predominantly white schools, but I am tired of rewatching this perception that schools of color are “bad” and failing when a lot of them are not.

    Maybe if all of you just attended your neighborhood schools, no schools in West Seattle would have a bad reputation.

    I’m just sayin…

    More commentary on http://www.seattleschooldistrictexposed.blogspot.com
    or follow us on Youtube at spsschoolsexposed

    Feel free to comment there,

  • Also Wait listed April 18, 2012 (9:41 am)

    That’s really great info that I didn’t know ‘Evergreen’…thank you! I have some ideas about curriculum design so I will definetely contribute.
    Nick, regarding the Pathfinder issue…and please take this respectfully because that is my intention…I have a kindergartner and I am just trying to find the best fit for him and his particular learning style…that is what I based my preference on and less on the school #’s that you referenced. At the risk of sounding defensive (and we all just have to make the best choices we can as parents, it’s not easy we all know)…I agree with you that diversity is very important, in fact as a kid living on Queen Anne, my parents decided that there wasn’t enough diversity at John Hay (there was next to none), and I was bussed to Beacon Hill and subsequently the Rainier Valley for middle school (my choice)…I loved it and I thrived. If there was an option like that for my son that also fit his learning style, I would jump on it. We considered our neighborhood school and frankly the building itself did weigh in my preferences…a run down building does impact learning in my opinion. Anyway, I applaud your efforts and agree with you on many levels, but would push back on your assumptions about why people are hoping for Pathfinder.

  • Julie W. April 18, 2012 (1:03 pm)

    Hi. All the info and thoughts are helpful. I have a couple questions maybe someone could answer. Does anyone know how far the waitlist for Kindergarten at Pathfinder moves. Is it historically only the first ten, for instance? Since my daughter is 28th, I am thinking of dropping her off the Pathfinder waiting list and putting her on a waiting list for another school. My concern about the K-5 STEM is that it will be so focused on math and science that she wouldn’t get a well-rounded education, and I like the philosophy of learning and blended grade classrooms of Pathfinder.
    Does anyone know much about STEM…is there another one in the city it will be modeled upon? Thanks for your help; this is really agonizing. Oh, and the racial make-up of Pathfinder has nothing to do with my applying for her to go there; my daughter is from Guatemala. I just am very nervous about Kindergarten and want her to go to a less traditional school than some elementary schools appear to be. I also like that is K-8 instead of K-5, so she wouldn’t have to change schools in middle school. Thanks.

  • wsmama3 April 18, 2012 (1:32 pm)

    Julie – I tried to get my K kid into Pathfinder last year (we felt it was a good fit as a co-op family). We were #8 and it didn’t move at all. In fact we moved to #9 then back to #8.

    We’ve been at Gatewood and have loved it.

    This year we decided to shoot for STEM. The community and design team has made it really clear that they want it to be focused on the whole child and not just a math and science school. We’ve been investigating a lot of other schools – so it’s not modeled on any 1 other STEM school.

    I’d really encourage you to check out the yahoo group and come to a play date or meeting. I think that you will find the philosophy of community, the environment, and the learning style that made Pathfinder appealing will be similar at STEM.

    Good luck!

  • Oliver April 18, 2012 (2:04 pm)

    Julie,
    Regarding the well rounded curriculum question, check out the yahoo group or go to a design team meeting. Regarding the philosophy and learning and blending of age groups, the cool thing is this is our opportunity to shape the philosophy and there will some grade blending (e.g. a lab for K-2 and a separate lab for 3-5). The following is from one of the district representatives on the design team addressing curriculum development:
    In my opinion, the enhancements in the STEM disciplines at Boren should not
    weaken the strong base all students deserve to have in a variety of academic and
    nonacademic areas. This sentiment is expressed in the SPS’s FAQ for K5STEM@Boren
    including an assurance that arts education will be part of the school.
    >
    > The SPS has 6 core elementary content areas: science, mathematics, literacy,
    social studies, arts, & PE. Design Team members have expressed desires to also
    give students instruction and experiences in additional areas including:
    technology, outdoor education, foreign language, community service, leadership,
    career exploration, life skills….
    >
    > Some subjects are required by law. Some are already in the SPS elementary
    curriculum (to some extent), some are part of elementary teacher certification
    coursework. Some that are not as standard are being provided in SPS elementary
    schools in varying degrees by specialists on staff, volunteers, community
    partnerships, extracurricular programs, parent fund raising, grants, exceptional
    teachers and school leaders, etc.
    >
    > The design team is exploring how to best bring these things into the STEM
    program and part of accomplishing this is prioritizing them. I believe we can
    have it all, but I know the reality is that not everything will be there on day
    one. Some things will start small and take time to build and some may be
    ultimately provided as choices, not requirements. The more immediate reality is
    that not all will be funded by SPS, so we will have to be resourceful,
    innovative, and determined to provide diverse learning opportunities to this
    school. Some parts of the vision will have to be enriched over time as funding
    sources, human capital, and partnerships are identified or developed. Enrollment
    numbers are the trigger for funding some staff positions from the basic SPS
    funding streams. I believe as the school grows, there will need to be a careful
    look at balancing the benefits of a larger enrollment (with more discretionary
    funds for staff specialists) with
    > the benefits of a smaller school community.
    >
    > With the current enrollment numbers, SPS will fund one full-time specialist
    and one half-time specialist for PCP. PCP is “Preparation, Conference, and
    Planning” time for teachers while students attend classes with a specialist such
    as a librarian, art teacher, music teacher, PE teacher, or computer teacher. The
    district already provides each elementary school with a half-time librarian who
    can do this.
    >
    > Unfortunately, it was determined that a formal survey of families of all
    K5STEM enrolled students on this topic was not possible given the date the
    enrollment information was released, the job posting deadlines, and the Spring
    Break holiday. So, we are asking for your feedback here. If you know other
    families who have students enrolled or interested, please direct them to this
    Yahoo group. I encourage you to continue to share your preferences and ideas
    here where they are being read by design team members, and also let your voices
    be heard by emailing K5STEM@… and coming to the meetings.
    >
    > At our last meeting, the design team was convinced of the need for a full-time
    PE teacher, and we were favoring a half-time arts teacher either visual or
    music. We also discussed making this a full-time position and/or adding a
    half-time technology specialist if funding becomes available. (We have requested
    technology integration to be listed in the job description for all teachers.)
    >
    > Here are some of the questions the Design Team has been discussing and
    researching to address this choice:
    >
    > 1. What will be at the core of our curriculum and what will be supplemental
    or extracurricular?
    >
    > 2. What are the majority of K5STEM students and families most interested in
    having at this school?
    >
    > 3. What are classroom teachers most comfortable and capable of teaching and
    integrating with other content areas?
    >
    > 4. What current partnerships does SPS have that could help deliver materials,
    instruction, and learning experiences?
    >
    > 5. What programs could be supported and expanded in SPS middle and high
    schools?
    >
    > 6. Which programs could be supported by grants, volunteers, and fund raising?
    >
    > 7. What is not offered at other local schools that could be provided here as a
    true alternative “option” for students?
    >
    > 8. What does research favor introducing at the elementary level to catch
    developmental windows when other content could be delayed with less detriment?
    >
    > 9. In what areas are we likely to find job applicants willing to take a
    half-time positions? Experienced classroom teachers? Knowledgeable volunteers
    (especially parents)?

  • Waitlisted Too April 18, 2012 (2:57 pm)

    We moved from the Pathfinder to STEM waitlist. I’m not sure how many are on the STEM waitlist right now. Yesterday there were 8 (I checked with SPS). I would encourage anyone who is interested in STEM to move to the STEM waitlist. If we can show SPS that there’s enough interest, they will open another K class.

  • Also Wait listed April 18, 2012 (3:37 pm)

    this is all really encouraging and exciting info for STEM! Thank you for posting…sorry to be dense, but how to access the Yahoo group? I will voice the following to the appropriate venues as well, but one of my concerns (and I mention this because I’m trying to be constructive, not disparaging) for STEM would be that the bugs might not be worked out in the beginning of the year and Kindergarteners will feel insecure and confused…their first exposure to public school. It would be great to have STEM kindergarten playgroups now so parents can discuss ways to make the transition as seamless as possible and bring that to the design team. Also kindergarten focus groups now. The thing that I like the most about Pathfinder that I would like to see at STEM is the encouragement of learning through individual interests…finding ways to encourage reading, math, science etc. that correlate to something that child is already jazzed about (I don’t know how they accomplish this at Pathfinder with typical class sizes, but they seem to be!). Thanks.

  • Fiverson April 18, 2012 (4:43 pm)

    That’s me Oliver is quoting above. Just to clarify, I am a community member on the STEM Design Team and not a district representative. Also, Yahoo cut off the email address to contact the SPS about STEM. It’s K5STEM@seattleschools.org When I wrote that we are asking for feedback here, I am referring to the Yahoo Group which is open to all. We are dreaming big and working hard to build this together. This project has the potential to improve STEM education for all students throughout Seattle, and we welcome everyone’s participation.
    -Faith Iverson

  • Julie W. April 18, 2012 (6:24 pm)

    Thank you. All of the info is very helpful and it sounds like an exciting new school/program. To put my daughter on the Kindergarten waiting list for STEM, and give up my Pathfinder spot, do I fill the Option form out again, or just call the district? I know I can contact them tomorrow, but if anyone knows, it might ease my anxiety a little. :-). Thanks.
    Julie W.

  • evergreen April 18, 2012 (9:32 pm)

    Julie, I don’t know, but would try calling them in the morning. Additionally, you could send emails to Cathy Thompson and/or Tracy Libros if you have questions about the program (per WSB report, Tracy Libros wants to know “soon” if any families are interested; per SPS website, Cathy Thompson can answers any questions about the STEM program:

    http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?sessionid=fdb4089c5b0e0e2bbd626cb54485293e&pageid=261245&sessionid=

    The design team meets Cathy again on the 25th, so if you post any enrollment questions on the KSTEM yahoo board, perhaps they can discuss the issue of additional classes at the next meeting).

    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K5STEM/

  • Waitlisted Too April 18, 2012 (11:57 pm)

    @Julie

    You need to resubmit your form with STEM as first choice. I resubmitted mine by email, then called the next day to follow up. It took 24 hours for my child to be moved from the Pathfinder wait list to STEM.

    I’ve called 252-0010 a couple of times and got through to someone immediately. I’ve been impressed with how helpful and friendly the SPS office staff are. I imagine this must be a crazy time of year for them.

  • bsmomma April 19, 2012 (2:16 pm)

    Our daughter will be at the STEM school for 1st grade. We’re coming from Lafayette. :)

  • Julie W. April 20, 2012 (1:03 pm)

    I put my daughter on the STEM waiting list for Kindergarten; she is number 9. I hope the school district or the WS Blog make it known that they are willing to add another Stem class if there are enough kids on the waiting list.

  • WSMama3 April 20, 2012 (5:34 pm)

    Julie – thanks for the heads up. I am on the design team and several people have mentioned it to the SPS staff. Hope it works out for your family!

  • Waitlisted Too April 20, 2012 (6:01 pm)

    Julie,

    Good luck!

    My son is #7 on the K wait list.

    I’m hoping to go to the next DT meeting to find out more about the school and the chances of adding an additional K class.

  • kayo April 21, 2012 (7:08 pm)

    Anyone know how many people are on the waitlist for 1st grade? Mulling over transferring from the Pathfinder waitlist (we are in position #1) to the stem waitlist or somehow putting that in second position so that if we don’t get into Pathfinder, we can go with Stem.

  • evergreen April 22, 2012 (3:36 pm)

    No, but they might announce this at the design team mtg on the 25th. There are only a handful, probably less than ten. You could stay on the PF wl, and then switch if SPS announces they are opening a new class. I wouldn’t give up your #1 spot to your school of choice until SPS makes an announcement.

  • evergreen April 22, 2012 (3:39 pm)

    You can only be on one wl at a time, fyi

  • kayo April 23, 2012 (10:14 am)

    Thanks evergreen. That is a good plan. I have a friend who was number one on pathfinder wl for 1st grade and did not get in last year so no idea of our chances.

    I am honestly pretty intrigued by all the work going on with the stem school though. I think it will be great.

  • WS pre-K Mom April 25, 2012 (9:51 am)

    To my understanding, all of the kids waitlisted are already enrolled at their reference school – SPSD can’t just put them on a waitlist without an option of being enrolled somewhere. The waitlists published yesterday on the WSB suggest that perhaps some kids might be able to trade spots – https://westseattleblog.com/2012/04/west-seattle-schools-waitlists-including-ones-that-need-more

    Perhaps some perhaps kids who are enrolled at school A, but waitlisted at school B could trade spots with someone enrolled at school B but waitlisted at school A? Or is this point moot because most people on the waitlists are from “undesireable” schools?

  • diane April 30, 2012 (6:36 pm)

    We were #4 on the waitlist for Pathfinder for kindergarten when my son was going into kindergarten two years ago and we moved only one spot on the list.

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