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May 24, 2009 at 4:52 am #590985
SpeakLoudMemberJust curious how this went for everyone? Did you get what you wanted or expected? Has anyone heard about wait lists? Whats the news?
May 24, 2009 at 6:19 am #667396
mcwhite72MemberI got a letter today about school assignments, and love that my daughter gets to go to Roxhil! It is a great school with great teachers and great parents. We are new to west seattle and my daughter dreaded going to school every day and now she wishes there was school on the weekends :)
May 24, 2009 at 6:20 am #667397
carrieannMemberReceived our letter on Thursday, and got our first pick (which wasn’t our reference school, though that was our 2nd choice) so we’re quite pleased. Just have to fill out all the forms from the school and get those sent in before the 5th.
May 24, 2009 at 6:20 pm #667398
manolitaParticipantWe just got our letter and I am happy my child got in the school we wanted! I missed the early sibling placement and was afraid we would not get her into my oldest daughter’s school (which is not our reference school)
May 25, 2009 at 12:05 am #667399
SpeakLoudMemberThanks for mentioning Roxhill. A friend f mine got in there-not any of her choices-and is feeling a little tentative. I looked at the web site and it looks very interesting-a full time librarian says a lot in this day! Have you been attending there already?
May 25, 2009 at 2:23 am #667400
hopeyParticipantWe listed five schools, all in WS and two in our cluster. My stepson (going into 4th grade next fall) was assigned to the #5 school, which is also our reference school. Needless to say, we have found this whole process to be kinda pointless…
May 25, 2009 at 5:06 am #667401
BonnieParticipantWe got into our choice but my daughter is a sibling so it was expected. I have friends who didn’t get into any of the schools they put on their list and are very disappointed.
Speaking of Roxhill, my son went there for preschool and kindergarten and the teachers and staff there are excellent.
May 26, 2009 at 12:40 am #667402
mcwhite72MemberSpeakLoud- we just moved here and wanted Sanisilo ( I don’t think I’m spelling that right) because it was closest to us. We got Roxhill by default but turns out we love it!!! The teachers and all the staff are so NICE and were soooo helpful getting my daughter comfortable with her new school. She is learning so much and has gone on some very cool field trips. I love the Roxhill!!!!
May 26, 2009 at 3:24 am #667403
SpeakLoudMemberThanks mcwhite72 for sharing your expereince-I will pass it on. We are going to visit next week to get a feel for it.
I’m curious how all this will go next year when people are assigned their local school? And I’m wondering if any families were put on a waiting list for thei local school and if so are they assigned a school in the mean time?
May 26, 2009 at 5:40 am #667404
BonnieParticipantSo are they for sure going to change it next year to the local schools? They’ve talked about it in the past but it seems like it keeps getting pushed back.
May 27, 2009 at 4:44 am #667405
OliverMemberWe will be going through this process next year. Is anyone willing to share which schools were your first choice and why?
May 28, 2009 at 1:18 am #667406
SpeakLoudMemberBonnie; I have a friend who has just been hired to work out the boundries so I would say it’s a go.
Oliver, don’t worry too much about it as you will be assigned your neighbourhood school-unless you are planning a move to the area which the school is in but untyil they do the boundry lines be careful! This is the link to the Seattle public schools web site with the latest info: http://www.seattleschools.org/area/newassign/index.html
May 28, 2009 at 4:10 am #667407
hopeyParticipantI just read through the current plan draft. Honestly, it does not seem very different from the existing system. The only difference is that there will be a default assignment to the “local school” based on your address. There is still the option to apply to other schools, and schools with special programs. The difference seems to be that a child is always guaranteed a seat at the local school if they decide not to attend the option school for whatever reason.
One thing I’ll be very happy about if it comes to pass is the promise of a Spectrum program at EVERY middle school. My stepson should really be in Spectrum, and he’ll be in middle school soon enough. Maybe with this change we can finally get him into that program at a school that’s nearby instead of across town.
May 28, 2009 at 5:15 am #667408
seattle momMemberFor the real scoop on the new assignment plan, check out saveseattleschools.blogspot.com
Also, lots of info about other issues related to Seattle schools and the Board and Sup.
Doubtful that there will be much choice for elementary and middle schools outside of assigned neiborhood schools, given capacity issues and tiebreakers.
May 28, 2009 at 5:51 am #667409
AlkidancerParticipantWe also got assigned to our 5th choice. I wanted my son in the school which is literally 1 block from our house and has a community center next door to it with before/after and summer daycare options. I am a struggling working single mom and REALLY REALLY needed this to fall into place for our family. Instead my son got assigned to West Seattle Elem. no where near our home, which is why it was our last choice. I am at complete starting over point with trying to find daycare that works with bus ect. I am beyond frustrated to the point of considering driving my son AGAIN next year all the way to his daycare in the highline district which is open year round and provides transportation to his current school even though that is an hour round trip each way for us and ironically we live 5 min. from my work and with in a block of a really good school which would have worked out great.
So did this system work for me and my family absolutly NOT. And whats with Madison middle school not providing bus transportation to Alki beach um, Admiral Hill I don’t think his ok for a 6th grader to be walking up every day. Thats a whole other issue my family has to try to figure out.
May 28, 2009 at 5:52 am #667410
hopeyParticipantWell, yanno, considering that we got “assigned” to our neighborhood school — which was our #5 (last) choice — I’m not seeing a whole lot of difference in the plan.
My husband and I are already discussing whether we can afford private school. As a child of public school teachers, he is philosophically opposed to sending his son to private school, but all of the public school budget cuts are making him consider the idea for the sake of his son’s education.
May 28, 2009 at 6:15 am #667411
seattle momMemberHopey: The new assignment plan is supposed to be implemented for the 2010/2011 school year. There are no changes to the plan for the coming school year. There are no “assignments” to neighborhood schools in effect yet.
May 28, 2009 at 6:25 am #667412
hopeyParticipantI understand that that the words used are different.
We listed 5 schools for the 09/10 school year. The last school we listed (#5), I am absolutely certain would be our “assigned” school under the new plan, considering its proximity to our home. For various reasons, we had hoped to get my stepson into a different school. That attempt failed, and he is registered to attend (i.e. “assigned to”) the #5 school.
After reading the draft document for the proposed changes for the 10/11 school year, I concluded that our experience this year is virtually identical to any “changes” being proposed. Others who were more successful in this year’s process may feel differently.
May 28, 2009 at 6:30 am #667413
OliverMemberThe new assignment plan is not a done deal. I’m skeptical that it will be changed by 2010 or that the change will look like the current proposal – been here a long time. Seattle School politics seem to operate by proposing a very unpopular and then the district rolls out the real proposal. Regardless of the process, I’d still like as much information as possible, so I’m still curious whether people are willing to share which schools were their first choice and why.
May 28, 2009 at 6:34 am #667414
hopeyParticipantI’ll offer mine, but be aware that I’m talking about a child moving into the system and going into 4th grade, not starting in kindergarten.
We wanted my stepson to attend Lafayette in the Spectrum program. We put Lafayette (non-Spectrum) second because the school has some of the highest test scores on the Peninsula. My stepson is waitlisted for Lafayette non-Spectrum but I’m not holding my breath.
May 28, 2009 at 4:39 pm #667415
KenParticipantWest Seattle Elementary has on site after school care of some sort, (not sure how to contact them) and the highpoint community center (next to the school) also has a before and after school program.
They will have info on bus delivery and pickup routes at the community center and probably at the school.
hmm maybe you should pay me for fore and aft care. I already have one who goes in the opposite direction :)
May 28, 2009 at 4:49 pm #667416
swimcatMemberMy daughter isn’t even one yet and after reading about the school issues on WSB I’m dreading the school assignment process here! I grew up in Bellevue and you just went to the school closest to you- the city of Seattle could probably save millions of dollars if they went the same route- but I’m sure there would be discrimination lawsuits, blahblah to deal with if that ever happened. My husband and I are already budgeting for private school to avoid this debacle.
And alkidancer- wth? I really feel for you- what a mess. I hope you get your child into the school closest to you. How frustrating!
May 28, 2009 at 5:10 pm #667417
berthaParticipantalkidancer – You can petition the district to change your assignment if you have good reason. I know a couple of families that went this route and were successful. It would be worth a try.
I also know several families who did get in waitlisted schools. Lots of things change over the summer so spots do open up. I would start calling the school the last week of August to see where you are on the list.
Also, keep in mind that a child entering 4th grade is going to have far more difficulty getting into a school than a new kindergartener. Classes are pretty much established by 2nd grade and there very few openings. This includes private schools as well.
May 30, 2009 at 5:41 am #667418
SpeakLoudMemberA couple of things come to mind:
M: It will be like it is in Bellevue-you will be assigned your neighbourhood school and by the time your child is old enough to go it will hopefully have all settled down!
Alkidancer:
I would also encourage you to challenge the system-that or just wait until next year when you will be assigned your neighbourhood school.
Hopey: there have been lots of people put on the waitlist for Spectrum-there just is not enough offered. I have heard that Arbor Heights is trying to Spectrum.
My desire for the assigned schools plan is that it will mean that EVERY public school will have access to EQUAL resources-wether that be financial, program supplies or qualified teachers-the public system needs to work EQUALLY for all. Until there is ONE pot of money that is EQUALLY distributed to EVERY school based on the numbers of kids it serves-it’s just not going to work in the manner to which it was intended.
Education for ALL.
Let the conversation continue.
May 30, 2009 at 6:02 am #667419
celeste17ParticipantHi all, I don’t have children but am still interested in this topic. I am wondering what a spectrum school is?
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