So the mail just came and... NO LETTER I guess that is fitting though and symbolic of the most likely result I am expecting anyway: more waiting.
Since our family is also hearing to hear about resolution of a job search today, I keep thinking about about that "Everyone is just waiting" page in Oh the Places You'll Go! Oy!
last year, they were supposed to go out on a friday and the first people to get them got them on saturday, but some people didn't get them till monday, so don't fret ;- ).
Are they going to post it online? It says "Round One placement results for 2009-10 School Year will be available on the EPC homepage in the evening on March 13, 2009. Please check back later for more statistical information about Round One Assignment." http://portal.sfusd.edu/template/default.cfm?page=policy.placement. Does that mean they'll just post stats or the placement for each kid?
In fact, it looks like they already have stats up - check out the "Highlights Round 1" link: http://portal.sfusd.edu/template/default.cfm?page=policy.placement.round1results
We didn't get out letter until Tuesday last year. Same with some of our friends. Same will go for this year, they say, so try to be patient. It's a long, hard wait.
Initial stats are up. Tough year, but we already knew that.
Middle school kids did fine, as they have been doing in recent years. Aptos and Roosevelt are climbing the charts. Looks like James Lick and Marina got big increases in apps too....good for them!
Balboa and Galileo are also making the charts with increases.
For elementary, the usual suspects top the lists with huge #s of apps. Sigh. In good news, Sunnyside and Paul Revere had double-digit increases. I know both made big efforts at recruitment, so good for them! This was definitely the year to get on board with those schools before they become impossible.
For those 948 K applicants who didn't get an assignment on their list, I recommend you attend one of the PPS seminars next week. Also, DO check out your school of assignment. Last year, many people were assigned to Sunnyside, which was then off the radar, and initially complained but found they liked it. And this year Sunnyside got lots more attention, obviously. Same with Paul Revere last year, actually.
So--once you get over the initial disappointment, do consider registering at that school to hold a spot, and maybe even go there. I'm sure many of these schools will be holding tours and welcome events. You might be pleasantly surprised, seriously.
The full 5-year list is now posted. Grattan got "only" 630 requests, well below Clarendon and Rooftop with over 1000.
Looks like those who put Rosa Parks, Marshall, Paul Revere, Daniel Webster, JOES, Sunnyside, Glen Park high up on their lists might be okay--not for sure, I'd guess, but much better odds than the top 20. These schools are going to look verrrry attractive in the coming weeks but will probably fill up very quickly in Round 2! Good on the families that were smart enough to jump on those bandwagons in Round 1 and secure a spot. Now you can either be happy or even try for a more coveted school via the waitlist, with a spot in an up-and-comer secured.
Worth checking out the big list, for those whose anxieties are salved by poring over numbers.
948 families did not receive one of their (presumably) 7 choices with a total (including sibs) of 4736 applicants. I guess it's a good thing they increased class size to 22!
I just read SFUSD's posting about increases in requests at various schools and I'm glad to see that, finally, finally, people are realizing what a great school Robert Louis Stevenson is! According to the press release from SFUSD, it got a threefold increase in applications. I've got two kids there, and we love it. We've been scratching our heads for years about why this website has been just talking about Sunset in the avenues and ignoring other fogbelt schools. Looks like the people have spoken! (Perhaps this will get this website to finally, finally actually review the place!)
Marshall's probably more of a moderate chance with 50 first-choice requests for [44 spots minus siblings], but still. Esp if they are tagging the English/Spanish speakers correctly, this was probably the year to get in there. Next year will be harder. Definitely worth putting on a Round 2 list along with Revere and DW if you really really want immersion.
As one of the folks who sent reviews to Kate, I just want to say that reviews don't just mysteriously happen. Someone who goes on the tours has to write them up and send them to Kate - she obviously is through with her touring days at least til middle school. I'm glad RL Stevenson is getting attention and admit it crossed my radar from some of the comments on this blog.
I hope someone now or in the future will review it; and Sunnyside, Peabody, Ulloa, Revere, etc.
I did 8 tours and reviewed them all (some were dupes of Kate's). Good luck everyone and gearing up for Round 2 already....
sorry to x-post with another thread, but this is late-breaking and interesting news (pasted from Caroline's blog at the Examiner--no I not she):
Due to the increased demand, SFUSD announced today it will be opening a new school. The new school will offer a Cantonese Two-Way Immersion program beginning with three kindergarten classes and two first grade classes and will be located at 1351 Haight St., the former De Avila Elementary site.
Associate Superintendent Jeannie Pon explained that the district chose to open the new school as a Chinese Immersion program because of the popularity of Chinese Immersion education for both Chinese speaking and native English speaking families and the Board of Education’s commitment to have all SFUSD students graduate bilingual.
“The plan is for this to be a Cantonese immersion program since Cantonese continues to be a heritage language spoken by a large proportion of our students at home. Similar to the Alice Fong Yu model, we are also considering introducing Mandarin in the mid-elementary years,” Pon said.
Okay...so 5 of my 7 choices are on the "most requested" list. I guess I should just cross those off and keep my fingers crossed for my remaining two underdogs...Grattan & Yick Wo.
The reason for Cantonese two way is because there are kids enrolled in the Cantonese bilingual programs who could presumably be shifted over to this program and in effect, kill 2 birds with one stone.
There are not enough Mandarin native ELL speakers for the Mandarin programs.
Patricia, Make that one underdog. Grattan was inadvertently left off the list. I should have been listed as the 8th most requested school, with 630 request. Miraloma, who was listed as the 8th, really was 9th,with 582 requests.
The full list is on the district web site (with 5 year comparisons)
I'm looking at the five year comparison list - whoa! Does anyone know if the 1st choice requests include sibling requests? If that's the case, we got our first pick! If not, much weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Younger siblings get preference only if they list the older sibling's school as their #1 choice. They still fill out the regular form along with all other applicants. So as far as I know, siblings should be included in that number.
Don't know how much to read into it, but all of my top 3 had fewer 1st choice selections than spots available. Of course, no idea about siblings or how the diversity index will play, but definitely encouraging (BTW I had none of the Top 20, so maybe that explains it).
The reason for Cantonese two way is because there are kids enrolled in the Cantonese bilingual programs who could presumably be shifted over to this program and in effect, kill 2 birds with one stone.
I understand their logic and desire, but not their "if we build it they will come" approach. It's not as simple as saying: Look, we have an over-abundance of Cantonese-speaking kids and you'll be delighted to know you can now learn their language... because it's... uh... hip? useful? good for you?
My understanding - so please correct if I'm wrong: first choice requests count sibling requests, but the capacity does not deduct for incoming sibs. So if your first choice had fewer #1 requests than spaces, your odds go up, but it is not assured because you may get bumped by a sibling requesting that school 2nd (for instance, if their first choice was way oversubscribed). Also, some immersion schools may have lots of 1st requests from English-only speakers, so they may reach down to lower requests to get the 50/50 english/target balance they need.
Also the dual immersion Cantonese program at West Portal (along with the immersion program at Alice Fong Yu which as I understand it only enrolls kids who are proficient in English) is very oversubscribed.
My understanding is that siblings only get preference if they put the school in the #1 slot. So you won't get displaced by siblings who ranked it lower.
But the diversity index will kick in if there are more total requests than slots, so that even if you list a school #1 you could lose out to someone who lists the school lower but adds more diversity -- IF that person does not get into a school ranked higher on his/her list.
I believe they also hold open spots for round 2 applicants if they aren't hitting their diversity numbers. In other words, they won't fill every seat in round 1 with one index group just because another group didn't request it.
4:35, the only spots I have heard of being "held" in Round One were for the language immersion programs (e.g., when not enough native Mandarin speakers signed up for Mandarin immersion they held those slots open in Round One but then opened them up in Round Two, so lots of English-speaking families got into Mandarin immersion by waitlisting or listing the programs in Round Two). I have never heard of spots being held open for "diversity" otherwise.
1:03 p.m. posted a link to the place on the District website where you can find the five-year enrollment demand numbers - they include the total requests and first choice requests for this year for all schools.
I'm really, really blown away that nearly 1,000 kindergarten-seeking families did not receive an assignment to any of the (presumably) seven schools on their list....What a total disgrace for a so-called progressive city!
It's also grotesque that even though one pays huge sums of property tax, one is not guaranteed an assignment to a school in or near one's neighborhood.
Well, my first choice Lafayette did not crack the top 20 and the number of first choice requests (including my 2) were 69 compared to 88 spots. I'm expecting good news.
5:09: Yes, it is absolutely horrible that we all have to go through this, and so many never get a school which they toured or even wanted.
5:17: Bear in mind that even though it may look like the numbers are good, it is still a lottery, especially if you're looking for two spots (twins?). Keep your mind open, be patient, and if you don't get your first choice school this week and still really want to pursue Lafayette, go for Round Two and beyond.
5:09, how is grotesque and disgrace to the city, exactly, that the district is trying to make some popular slots available to kids who don't have the money to live the neighborhoods around Clarendon, Rooftop, and Claire Lilienthal? The point is that there are some spots that are popular and some that are not, so much--although more and more schools are attracting more applications, which speaks well of the current system. The point is that there has to be a system for allocating the popular spots (while hopefully improving the whole system and attracting families to wider circles of schools). An all-neighborhood system would allocate them based on who can afford to live where. Now, that would be a disgrace in a progressive city like San Francisco. We'd end up like Oakland with their mostly de facto apartheid system. Nice.
Very interesting data (kindergarten analysis only). People did a fantastic job of distributing their choices across the programs in an effort to maximize outcomes. Only 33 of the 112 programs had more first choice requests than slots. 80% getting a choice is remarkable, in my view.
be cautiously optimistic Annette, even if less people entered Layfayette as their first choice than spots available, if you are white you may not get in.
Agreed. I also think that our property taxes are not so high. I am still in favor of some neighborhood preference (even though I don't love my neighborhood schools.)
Cantonese is the language of Hong Kong and is still the primary heritage language of our Chinese American population, both here and in other American cities with significant Chinese populations (like NYC). It is true that Mandarin, the official language of the People's Republic of China, is spoken by more people worldwide and increasingly here. Cantonese is a little more old-fashioned with its more complicated characters and tones. I'm told by my husband and his family, who are native speakers of Cantonese and reasonable speakers of Mandarin, that it is easier to learn Mandarin following Cantonese. So it is not such a crazy idea to start kids off in Cantonese--there are plenty of kids to draw from for dual immersion--and then teach Mandarin further in, as is done at AFY. We would leap at this chance if we were in the K search now.
5:09, all children receive an offer. It is not the district's fault that some parents put only Clarendon and Rooftop, year after year, despite warnings from practically everyone that it is a recipe for 0/7! Everyone knows by now that if you want an assignment of choice in Round 1 that you carefully choose some schools that are less likely to get 1000 applicants. Looks like more and more parents are doing this, but there are always those who put only "top ten" schools and then complain loudly that they have been hard done by the district. Makes no sense....we all know the drill.
Here's the deal. You don't have a right to one of the topmost popular schools....no matter where you live! It is not grotesque that you didn't get Clarendon! If you want that spot, you get to go into the lottery with all the other 1,000 parents. If you want security, you pick a less popular one, and truly there are some lovely ones to choose from, as more people are discovering all the time.
Race is not technically a factor, but the factors they use are specifically to pinpoint white people in the mix, the "diversty index". So don't get too excited about thinking your odds are better than they are.
Have you toured Lafayette? It was not our #1 but definitely made our list. While the school feels a bit large for us, we were very impressed with the principal and her reputation, and she was a main factor (or, what she's built) as to why we selected this school.
I see from the five year comparison data that Starr King now has one class of GE and two classes of CN. Was this the case last year, or have they added one CN class of kindergartners?
I can't imagine why anyone would think she is horrible. I thought she was great. Totally on top of the latest in educational research and great at building community consensus around controversial decisions that benefit kids. Specifically, she was able to get teachers and parents to agree to recess before lunch. It's really clear that this is the right answer for kids (get the energy out and then eat, makes for better concentration in the afternoon), but very few schools have implemented it because other constituents (teachers) don't want it. Great at allocating resources to maintain substantial music, drama and P.E. programs. Thinking hard about pedagogy so teachers don't have to teach to the test all the time by introducing important concepts a year ahead of the testing window.
And clearly the kids loved her, on top of all of that. She knew everyone by name, and loved hanging out with the parents. She's also maintained strong programs with the universities so there are student teachers in the K classrooms, including the adult to child ratio substantially. Once accredited, these teachers come back and join the school. Clearly, she is respected by the teachers as well.
I'm very concerned that her race factors into people's judgments of her. She's African-American and I think people are writing her off because of it. If you drill down on the specifics, she is fantastic.
I would strongly encourage people to choose Lafayette, especially if you are looking for a neighborhood school atmosphere where the families know each other and are interested in being part of a community.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Lisa Shaw's great leadership as a PPS parent ambassador.
Anyway, you can tell I loved the place. I think some people have a hard time getting past the physical plant, which is definitely old. But that didn't bother me.
Don't worry, people. You are not being pinpointed for being white, but for being not-poor. If that correlates with being white in this town, so what? You really begrudge a spot at Clarendon for a kid who is living in public housing and qualifies for free lunch? The only part of the diversity lottery that fries me is the home language piece, because it gives a leg up to popular schools for kids who come from European families that are as well off as any middle class family or above.
Really--don't worry about this issue. Other than the dual immersion programs, which limit spots for English-only speakers, you are NOT in competition for the most part with the folks who get in through the diversity index. You are in competition with the hundreds upon hundreds of applicants to Clarendon and Rooftop et al who are just like you--"not-poor", "preschool", etc. There are many, many of us. Meeting the standard of "poor" is actually pretty hard and you wouldn't want to be that poor, trust me on this one. For most of us, it is a straight-up lottery, and how can we argue with this as way to allocate wildly popular spots--even though the odds are painful?
I removed my earlier post because I realized my teacher friend may not want her name mentioned. Anyway, she is a fantastic 2nd grade teacher, and after teaching in the Mission/Excelsior, is IN LOVE with Lafayette.
What I am not seeing in the stats for Starr King is the Spanish Bilingual class. The SK principal had mentioned that program might be closing at the school. (They were combining grades as it was...) Does anyone know if it is actually closing? And would that be for existing students, too, or just KG?
We did the last tour of the year at Starr King and I think the principal said that they would be phasing out the Spanish bilingual program there as the number of applicants just did not support its continuation. So this year's K class would be the last one. I actually can't remember, it might not have been an option on the application form.
I hear what you're saying. But what if you live in that neighborhood that harbors most of the popular schools?! Does that mean it's ok for that family to chug their child clear across town on the muni every morning to the lesser popular schools?
Some people, prior to moving into the city "bought" into their neighborhood thinking that SFUSD worked like most school districts...neighborhood schools.
but very few schools have implemented it because other constituents (teachers) don't want it.
Seriously? I'm a teacher, and every teacher I know envies schools that have already made this transition. We LOVE it at my school.
7:31: SFUSD has been using a variety of methods to desegregate its schools (not very successfully, but still) for years. All of these enrollment plans have impacted the possibility of neighborhood placement. Nor is this information terribly hard to find. It strikes me that looking into this before purchasing one's home might be reasonable.
I'm a brown minority that speaks a second language and kinda do feel middle class white sf families get a raw deal. I'm not originally from sf and this lottery process is a bit crazy. As a child I was bussed to better schools on the other side of town--it did wonders for our family. We got a great public education!! That being said, I believe in low income families getting a chance to attend better schools BUT believe neighborhood schools are the way to go. I do believe there ought to be some sort of choice like my family was given- It gave me a leg up when I attended college, unlike the less lucky brown students that didn't attend great schools. Yes, I do see the lottery system a bit racist- hey, they do ask if you speak a second language don't they?! They don't ask what race you are, BUT last time I checked Latinos speak Spanish and an Asian speaks Mandarin, or Cantonese, or Japanese, etc. White folks mostly speaks English.
I couldn't help but notice the huge spike in applications at Sherman. From 374 total applications last year to 503 this year? I realize it's a fantastic school, but that seems like a big increase. (As opposed to, say, Rooftop, whose total # applications went up by "only" 31.) I've been wondering who these extra 400 applicants were. Wonder if there are people in Cow Hollow who no longer feel they can afford $20K for private school?
On the other hand, I know of someone whose child got into a trophy school you mentioned and I'm pretty sure this person used a technicality to get in -- the wife is not a native English speaker though he is. The child was babysat by grandparent who did not speak English -- actually the child did speak English because that is what the father spoke. And so true, the child did not attend preschool either because grandparent watched child full time.
I wouldn't be surprised if he put down that the wife was a single mother, because after all the school district never checks income, marital status etc.
This person lives within a mile of the school and bought a home there around the time the child was born and basically told me the child would be going to this trophy school. At the time I didn't have the heart to tell him as an alternative school, there is no neighborhood preference. What do you know, five years later, the child got in... random? hardly, I'd think.
So the lottery is not as straight as we would like to think. And don't think all of those ELL kids at the trophy school are really, uh, all that ELL and lower income.
10:09 -- I'm not sure he claimed his child was bilingual at all. His child definitely spoke the foreign language since the grandparent and mother spoke the language with the child. The mother works a regular job using English, though with an accent.
Everyone will get a K assignment. Wish the EPC would publish the list where these 900 families who went 0/7 were assigned in Round 1. It might help these families connect with each other (through this blog for instance) and rally around a particular, lesser-known-but-OK school.
Also, for neighborhood advocates, the numbers are sombering. After sibling requests, there are very, very few K spots available at most schools. The reality of the situation is that most schools do not have the capacity to serve their immediate neighborhood. Immersion/bi-lingual programs make the situation worse. If your neighborhood school adopts a foreign language component, one that you do not want for your family, then what??? For example, your family is Italian, and SFUSD opens a Cantonese Immersion program across the street (don't laugh, it just happened!). WTF!!!! Argh!!!!
I don't have personal experience with the 3 schools that you mentioned, but I have heard good things about Webster. Anyway, post at 8:58 AM said "lesser-known-but-OK schools" (presumably schools like Ortega, Ulloa, Stevenson, Lafayette, ...). It does not advocate every school in the district.
Boy oh boy, I can tell that the sh*t will hit the fan when those letters arrive.
Last year it was a very...shall I say "emotional" time for posters. I can only encourage us to allow for the occasional rant, and then let it go. Responding bitterly only fans the flames.
We are going to the zoo today so I can relax and have a nice day with my daughter. My mail comes so late, it kills me.
I've been waiting for a year for a school assignment near Bernal that is not immersion or early start. Any suggestions are kindly appreciated, although we are not hopeful for the 1st grade lottery.
I don't think anyone gets an assignment to those schools you mentioned who didn't put them down on their Round I list. Maybe Ortega (not immersion) last year, but I don't think this. In fact, we listed Lafayette on our Round I list and went 0/15 last year.
We went 0/7 and were assigned to JOES general ed. (We had put JOES immersion first.) I had been so hopeful when we saw that we were one of only 19 families who put it first. On to Round 2... (SOB)
TK Mom, Last year they held spots for mandarin speakers open in the MI programs for round one,but opened them up in round two. So your chances should be better in round two, if they do this again. Also I know a family who started school in Jose Ortega gen ed and waitlisted MI. They switched a week or so in, which was not a big deal because it was the same school. Something to think about.
Thanks, 10:47. The nice thing is that the school has everything else we wanted, obviously -- great principal, early start time, convenient (although not ideal) location. I'm just really sad we didn't get the immersion program. And if we're not going to have immersion, we'd rather be closer to home. Which is West Portal, Miraloma, etc. Oh, jeez, this is really hard.
Thanks, Kortney. Yes, we will definitely register. Not sure what we'll wait pool at this point, but we have time to strategize. Hoping that you get better news later today!!
Believe me, I've all but memorized those spreadsheets. We went 0/7 last year after having put West Portal first. Turned out in retrospect to be a blessing in disguise, b/c our son really wasn't ready for K yet. But it was a good learning experience -- we're now more realistic about the fact it's next to impossible to get in to WP.
Just a thought: when people post their assignments, it'd be interesting to see what their list of seven was. If you're up for listing those, as well as your assignment, that'd be great.
Right. We are in the same boat. Our daughter went to a Private K, because she was old enough. I'll be anxious to hear how your school situation works out. thanks for sharing!
Just got our mail. We went 0/7, but not too surprised because decided to shoot the moon & had mostly popular schools. We live in Glen Park & got assigned to Cesar Chavez. I don't know anything about this school, I guess I'll go visit.
A middle school mom here. My daughter is at Rosa Parks JBBP (great school!). She got her first choice James Licl GE. She's leaping for joy in our backyard right now....
Next year's first grades (ie this year's kindergartens) already have an increase in pupils, to 21. My son's kindergarten at Rosa Parks added a 21st student in January. They placed people from out of the district and folks who home-schooled or chose private schools but wanted to switch mid-year. Even fewer 1st grade spots for next year. I'm not hopeful about getting anything in our letter today.
YES!!!!! We got our first choice, Commodore Sloat.
The rest of our list in order:
RL Stevenson Ulloa Lakeshore Sunset FS Key Jefferson
No second language spoken at home, live in the outer sunset, no free/reduced lunch, don't live in public housing.
We chose CS because we eventually will be moving to the West Portal area and figured that our chances of getting into either WP program were slim to nil. It seems like a solid school with active parents and nice kids. PE twice a week. Awesome garden and outdoor learning area.
The one downside of CS is that I don't think there is an after-school language enrichment program, but the Stonestown Y manages one of the after-school programs and it runs until 6:30 - fabulous for us working stiffs.
I hope that a lot of us will be celebrating today...keeping my fingers crossed for all. Good luck!
11:37, my kid is a delighted Aptos student this year but had James Lick 2nd on the list last year. We have many friends at James Lick whose kids are super-happy there--it's a tight community. Congratulations to your daughter!
TK Mom--I was going to write and urge you to register at JOES and it looks like you will be doing that. Good move. It will give you a secure spot from which to waitpool as you say, and the chances are not bad that the MI program will open up for you. I'd waitpool at JOES MI though, not West Portal. Crazy to waitpool at West Portal. And JOES is a lovely, lovely school where the children are loved and cared for. I think you would not regret being there even if you don't make it into MI. Plus, if you have a second child, that child can get sibling preference into the school--and the MI program--even if your older child is in GE.
We live in Bernal, listed six immersion programs - led with Flynn, and got assigned to our only GE and last choice, Flynn. It is our neighbourhood school, which is great, but we really wanted immersion... so we'll see. Interestingly last year (her bday is late Nov) we submitted a completely different list and also got Flynn GE.
MCL--glad you got one of your choices, even if the last one. On the upside, it is your neighborhood school, it is up-and-coming, and even if you can't get this kid into immersion--which you may be able to do later this year--future children can get into the immersion program at Flynn through sibling preference. I've seen families doing this at Alvarado for years. I know it's a little disappointing, but I'd urge you to stick with it. The upsides are not bad.
0/7. Dianne Feinstein was our first choice as it is two blocks from our home. Our list was mixed so we thought we'd have a shot at one of them. We were assigned JOES GE and will be applying to Round 2.
Will you be registering at JOES GE (while still going through the R2 and waitpool process for one you want more)? It is an up-and-coming school and surely worth checking out.
We went 0/7, again, in 1st grade. I have to say, I'm not surprised. But I do wish we could list 3 waitpool choices rather than 1, I hate the endless games of strategy around trying to balance what may be possible to get into (and we were oh so wrong about that last year!) and what we really want...
Any other first grade applicants out there!
One bright ray of sunshine was that the camp mather lottery also came and we got our 1st choice week!
What is the current school of thought regarding registering at a school which you are 100% sure you will not have your child attend? If you do register, aren't you keeping others who want that school from getting it in Round Two? Can you go through the Round Two lottery if you have not registered at a school (I think yes, but am not sure)?
Everyone who plans to participate in further rounds/waitpools, whether or not you plan to register at your assigned school as backup, should attend one of the SFUSD counseling sessions, and also read very carefully the documents on the SFUSD site about the process. They are listed under Enrollment, click on the "results of the 2009-2010 lottery" link.
Regarding Round 2 and waitpools, I don't think you have to register at a school to get priority, but you don't get special treatment either, even though you would be without any spot at all if you don't register--and risk getting the absolute last pick in the district by the end of it all. You are well advised to lock in a back up if it all possible. Only if you are 100% absolutely sure that your assigned school will not work should you give up an actual spot. Some families gave up spots last year that they didn't like at first--but these came to look very attractive later in the year (e.g., Sunnyside, Rosa Parks JBBP, both increasing in popularity and reputation). Think on it....would the school on offer really and truly not work for you? I realize some will not, but do think hard about it.
Well we just received our letter - and ended up with not one choice. Now what - either waitlist at maybe our second or third choice or go for Round II? Im new to this process so not sure which choice to make?
We got Miraloma and we didn't even list it as a choice! We wanted Spanish Immersion.
My son was labeled fluent. You would think they would want to bulk up the Spanish-speaking contingent, since English-speakers were over-represented last year in most SI schools. Maybe they filled all their Spanish-speaker slots. I would be surprised if they were that efficient.
I guess latinos are underrepresented at Miraloma. I didn't pick any schools with a 7:50 start time. That is just too early!
"I couldn't help but notice the huge spike in applications at Sherman. From 374 total applications last year to 503 this year?"
In 2003, when I was a parent there, Sherman had empty seats in kindergarten. The school was begging the district to send it more students. How times change!
sfmom--I'm sorry. Lots of us have been through it, so we understand how it feels to open the letter.
There are a few next steps:
1) First, breathe.
2) Do you know anything about your assigned school? are there any upsides for you (location, other people you know also got assigned....) Put the name out here and there may be parents already there who an tell you more or point you in the direction of those who can. Talk to PPS about it. Call the school, and visit. You might be surprised that you like it.
The reason I say this is that it is beneficial to register at your assigned school if it is even a possibility. Better to waitpool having a backup than none at all.
3) Attend a SFUSD counseling sessions. See the website under Enrollment for more details. I believe you have to do this in order to participate in Round 2.
4) Consider filing an amended list in Round 2. Work with PPS and pore over the list of schools/applications on the SFUSD site. You'll see that it is probably not a good idea to put Clarendon or Rooftop or Alvarado on your Round 2 list. Look for schools that were moderately oversubbed or even undersubbed. Good ones to look at (not a complete list--trying to give some geographic diversity here) might be Harvey Milk, Rosa Parks JBBP, JOES GE, Flynn GE, Glen Park, Daniel Webster SI. Maybe even the new Cantonese school at DeAvila. Please, don't put Clarendon or Rooftop though, unless you want to go 0/15. Seriously.
5) Pick a waitpool school. Again, if you are serious about not liking your assigned school, you had better put one that you are more likely to get. If you are fine with your assigned school, but want a chance at your "dream school," then by all means put down the dream school.
We received our assignment and we are 0/7. We were assigned Starr King. Our choices were: Miraloma Alvarado Argonne Grattan Rooftop McKinley West Portal
We went for general ed on all. I was very hopeful but I have to say I am not surprised.
I urge you to consider filing a very different list for Round Two, however. The only school on your list that isn't well known to be stratospherically popular is McKinley, and that's not exactly an easy in, either.
What about Harvey Milk (close to Alvarado and McKinley)?
Or Rosa Parks JBBP (has the Japanese program and parents seem to love it)?
Just received our letter and our son was assigned to our 4th choice, Daniel Webster - Spanish Immersion. I would have preferred Buena Vista but feel lucky we got into a Spanish Immersion program at all!
1. Buena Vista - ImmS 2. Paul Revere - ImmS 3. Monroe - ImmS 4. Daniel Webster - ImmS 5. Leonard Flynn - ImmS 6. Alvarado - ImmS 7. Marshall - ImmS
0/7. We got Rosa Parks General Ed. Not sure if we'll do 2nd round or just wait until we hear from the few private schools we applied to. I know Rosa Parks is listed a hidden gem, but that's usually its JBBP program.
Stressfully awaiting your child's kindergarten assingment? Please take a few moments to fill out my survey examing the San Francisco Unified School District's enrollment process.
http://devpsych.sfsu.edu/schoolchoice/
Thank you for your time and support! Best of luck to all the families anxiously awaiting the Round 1 placement!
<< We got Miraloma and we didn't even list it as a choice! >>
12:50 -- for real?? That's just criminal (on the district's part, not yours, obviously). I mean -- I'm all for diversity, but to assign someone to a school that wasn't requested when HUNDREDS wanted it and didn't get it (like us -- I realize putting it #3 wasn't the wisest idea, but still)? Please tell me this is just some troll hoax joke???
I'm sitting here in complete shock as our mailman just delivered to us our number one choice Grattan. Wowee super lucky. Here's hoping others get good news. Our list was Grattan Claire Lillenthal Clarendon George Peabody Alamo Lafayette McKinley
You can waitpool and go through round two. But they run the waitpool BEFORE round two, so choose your waitpool school very carefully. And if you do decide to take a risk and list a popular school for the waitpool, remember that there is no point to including a popular school on your round two list because there is virtually no chance there will still be spots left after the waitpool is run.
- We got Miraloma and we didn't even list it as a choice! We wanted Spanish Immersion.
This sounds really wrong. With almost 600 people requesting Miraloma, it should not be available to anyone who didn't get one of their choices. Last year's screwups were McKinley and the Flynn/Alvarado fiasco, maybe this year's will be something related to fluent Spanish speakers - who knows!
Not to complain about your good fortune, but I was surprised to read that EPC assigned families to schools in Round 1 that they didn't list and that are also very oversubscribed as is Miraloma. Does this happen a lot?
If it's true that a family who didn't request it got Miraloma, this has "glitch" written all over it. Seems like PPS should breathe down the EPC's neck to find out if there was a large-scale glitch (again). Last year some applicants who listed McKinley didn't get it, while others who didn't list it were assigned there.
the mandarin programs at SK and JOES MUST reserve 50% of their spots for mandarin speakers in Round1.
that means, if 22 english speakers request JOES mandarin, they will only place 11 of them.
they will save those 11 additional spots hoping that mandarin speakers will come in Round 2. but, unfortunately for the balance of the program, they will not come. only 1-2 will.
so, the other half of the class will be placed in Round 2. hopefully you will be placed then. put it first as your waitlist school if you want it.
As we expected, we didn't get one of our choices. I'm glad to hear that somebody got Miraloma without listing it and we did not (#2 on our list). Wonderful system. We got Sheridan. Certainly not the worst possible choice, but not an acceptable one either. I look forward to the finding out what happens when we simply don't comply.
i have twins at DW in spanish immersion and i can tell you the two kinder teachers are awesome. they are providing a great experience for the kids. my boys love it and they correct my spanish every day. congratulations on receiving one of your choices.
the miraloma person should go down to EPC and request something they wanted. they will make space for them in one of their choice schools and the miraloma spot can be freed up for round 2. EPC bends over backwards to pacify victims of glitches.
re: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/02/28/78-multilingual-children/ quote: "Generally, white people prefer their children to speak French. [...] Languages such as German, Spanish, Swedish, or Italian are also acceptable, but are considered to be poor substitutes (especially Spanish). "
what about the multiple french families in SF who prefer to run the stressful lottery race for a SI spot, rather than a "simple" application at Le Lycee? The key to immersion is a pool of great teachers (le lycee doesnt have) and a critical mass of native speakers (le lycee doesnt have). SanFrancisco as a city has both, and it would be awesome if ALL the children could have some exposure to at least one language. How nice is it to be able to say a few polite words when getting your takeout? (chinese, spanish, thai, italian etc).
-------- We got into Flynn SI. But we would have welcomed Flynn GE as well (waitlisting for SI - or maybe not).
interesting... we got Rosa Parks gen ed as well (0/7) the third person on this list to get that assignment... we live in the outer Richmond, so it's not close...
For those who were assigned JOES GE, you're invited to come see the school next Friday at 8am. We have fantastic Gen Ed teachers who just may win you over if you come and check it out.
I remember last year a friend was horrified to get Alvarado when she had not listed it (did not want early start time schools). After a big fuss she "remembered" (when she found her copy) that she had actually listed it thinking there was no way she would get it and it would pad out her list...not saying this is what happened with the Miraloma person, but it made me think back. Not everyone lists schools they actually want. Good luck to everyone.
Our daughter tested 100 percent fluent in Spanish and didn't get an immersion spot, either.
Maybe they are worried that her English is too weak? It is not. I'd gladly bring her down to the EPC for testing in English so they can see that she is equally fluent.
We got Miraloma, so we're not *that* upset. Just shocked since the immersion programs tend not to have enough Spanish speakers.
To 1:23 pm, and all others who are shocked when someone gets a school they didn't want, whereas hundreds of others who put that school as #1 aren't getting it (like the Miraloma story from 1:23 pm commenter)... keep in mind that this is a true lottery system. And it leaves almost everyone bitterly disappointed. If you know which school will work for your family, keep trying for it over the next few months, and try to not let the stress level impact your child(ren) as they sense everything. Remind them that they are going to go to a wonderful school, with wonderful teachers, and have wonderful classmates, but that they just won't know the name of the school for a few more months.
!!Jefferson!! It was our first choice. I just can't believe this nightmare is over for us.
Our list was:
Jefferson Rooftop Clarendon (these two were strategic fillers, because we knew we wouldn't get in and were hoping to waitlist Jefferson if we got into Flynn GE, which was really our second rather than 4th choice. We were told we couldn't waitlist our 1st choice if we got our 2nd or 3rd choice.) Flynn GE Grattan Miraloma West Portal
Demographic info:
We currently live in SOMA, but are moving to the sunset this summer, so our neighborhood school would have been Bessie Carmichael.
We're caucasian, with no diversity factors, mother has a BA, annual income about $80,000, native English speakers.
level of english is not important for SI. they don't test spanish speakers to see if their english is good enough. they learn english at school and are assumed to have no-to-little english upon entrance (though they usually have pretty ok english in my experience).
Also sick sick sick here too. Jose Ortega GE - NOT ANYWHERE NEAR US. We are within walking distance of West Portal. I really despise this lottery system. We'll probably end up at private unless by some luck we get WP
Our choices were WP (GE) WP (CM) Feinstein Miraloma Lawton Clarendon GE Jefferson
It's hard to know how to say this without making it sound like middle-class, empowered families are the savior of a school. But screw being PC for a moment.
Absent some serious factor impeding the improvement of a school (such as a particularly problematic principal), a surge of middle-class families makes a big difference in boosting the school. I'm a veteran SFUSD parent and have seen many, many formerly struggling, scorned SFUSD schools turn around this way by now.
If all the families assigned to one or another less-well-thought-of schools just said yes -- given the absence of a serious impediment -- we'd see yet another Grattan, Miraloma, Alvarado, McKinley, Flynn or fill-in-the-blank other now-popular and successful school.
JOES GE is not far from the West Portal area at all. Definitely the same distance as to Lawton. You should go check it out and enroll. I doubt there will be any movement at WP.
2:28, not trying to make someone feel like they should take a school they don't like, but our blogmeister Kate is a Jose Ortega parent, having chosen it over glittering Marin Country Day School. It's actually not very far from West Portal, either, though admittedly not in walking distance.
JOES, Starr King, Daniel Webster, Paul Revere, Rosa Parks are all good schools. Everyone's kids won't fit into West Portal, Clarendon and a handful of others.
0/7 - we listed popular schools of course. not surprised but was hoping for a miracle. assigned to john muir. not going. ditto earlier comment, i feel nauseated.
Bear in mind that the blogmaster got the Mandarin Immersion Jose Ortega - which is also oversubscribed
We're talking about the GE program and we did pre screen it as we thought it could be a school we'd get assigned to
It failed to impress in a (sorry but) massive way.
We will go back and look again; We'll try to see the shiny bits but any GE JOES parents who can shed some light may want post a few things to show us the way...
We only added Lawton as it was a K-8 school and it was within a certain radius from our house (the outer range of where we were looking). Jose Ortega is outside the mark and the opposite direction from where we work. It will be a logistic nightmare even if it is a good school
too bad for john muir. lots of people were assigned last year and didn't go. the ball would already be rolling, perhaps, if they had. it is such a nice building in a great location.
maybe if the numbers are bad enough this year, a group of parents will come together and give it a shot. i bet you could push for a FLES program there. russian?
We got Glen Park. Choice No. 6. We'll participate in Round 2 and register and waitpool since I think there are better schools, but at least it's extremely convenient for us if that's where we end up.
What a roller coaster this is. Friends have scored spots at Clarendon (1st choice!) and others have been assigned to some spots I don't think I'd pick.
We used to live near John Muir and moved as we kept having shootings outside our house -- actually witnessed one. Regardless of how great John Muir could be, there is no way I would send my child there.
i know dozens of current SFUSD parents will tell you that you will be happy where ever you end up...
we went 0/7, then 0/8 and ended up at daniel webster. come september, many of you will end up at a school that you 100% say NO WAY to right now. i mean, i listed west portal as my #1 then found myself begging, begging, begging EPC for rosa parks or daniel webster come august.
my kids love it. yes, there are things that can definitely improve, but my kids are happy. it is #70 of 75 public schools in SF as far as "achievement" is measured. almost the bottom! would we have listed it last year? nope. but it is working for us now.
Pick Lafayette in the Second Round AND COME TO SCHOOL WITH MY TWINS!!!
Woohoo, I got my first choice!
Happy dance over, and I'm sorry for those of you who are not doing happy dances right now.
We have 2 private applications in, and if I might have to arm-wrestle my husband if we get into one of them. Otherwise, we are definitely Lafayette bound.
Amy, I do believe there is a slight priority to the family--between 2 families with exactly equal diversity factors--that puts a school as #1 versus #2-7. You are correct, however, that the other way the ranking matters is that if you are lucky enough to be computer-assigned to multiple schools, you will actually be offered the spot at your highest-ranked choice.
We got Clarendon GE. I'm still in shock because I was so sick to my stomach all day. I thought we would get 0/7 because we "foolishly" decided to shoot for our dream schools. Before the letter came, I was already set on waitpooling Harvey Milk ASAP because I really liked that school, and wanted it to put it down as #8 if I had the choice.
Our list:
1. Alvarado SI 2. Clarendon GE 3. Buena Vista 4. Clarendon JBBP 5. Rooftop 6. Alvarado GE 7. Flynn SI
Got John Muir. My wife and my gut is to not accept. We've never seen the campus, and I just today read the embarrassing SARC: facilities eval. has 5 cat.s marked 'poor' and API rank of 1 (the lowest possible). Any other insights from folks?
Friday the 13th.... seems ominous and modestly fitting....
ReplyDeleteSo the mail just came and...
ReplyDeleteNO LETTER
I guess that is fitting though and symbolic of the most likely result I am expecting anyway: more waiting.
Since our family is also hearing to hear about resolution of a job search today, I keep thinking about about that "Everyone is just waiting" page in Oh the Places You'll Go! Oy!
Good luck, everyone!
no letter in our mail today either.
ReplyDeleteThe letters are supposed to be mailed today, that means letters probably won't arrive until tomorrow.
ReplyDeletelast year, they were supposed to go out on a friday and the first people to get them got them on saturday, but some people didn't get them till monday, so don't fret ;- ).
ReplyDeleteAre they going to post it online? It says "Round One placement results for 2009-10 School Year will be available on the EPC homepage in the evening on March 13, 2009. Please check back later for more statistical information about Round One Assignment." http://portal.sfusd.edu/template/default.cfm?page=policy.placement. Does that mean they'll just post stats or the placement for each kid?
ReplyDeleteJust stats.
ReplyDeleteJust stats.
ReplyDeleteok, just stats, bummer
ReplyDeleteIn fact, it looks like they already have stats up - check out the "Highlights Round 1" link: http://portal.sfusd.edu/template/default.cfm?page=policy.placement.round1results
ReplyDeleteWe didn't get out letter until Tuesday last year. Same with some of our friends. Same will go for this year, they say, so try to be patient. It's a long, hard wait.
ReplyDeleteInitial stats are up. Tough year, but we already knew that.
ReplyDeleteMiddle school kids did fine, as they have been doing in recent years. Aptos and Roosevelt are climbing the charts. Looks like James Lick and Marina got big increases in apps too....good for them!
Balboa and Galileo are also making the charts with increases.
For elementary, the usual suspects top the lists with huge #s of apps. Sigh. In good news, Sunnyside and Paul Revere had double-digit increases. I know both made big efforts at recruitment, so good for them! This was definitely the year to get on board with those schools before they become impossible.
For those 948 K applicants who didn't get an assignment on their list, I recommend you attend one of the PPS seminars next week. Also, DO check out your school of assignment. Last year, many people were assigned to Sunnyside, which was then off the radar, and initially complained but found they liked it. And this year Sunnyside got lots more attention, obviously. Same with Paul Revere last year, actually.
So--once you get over the initial disappointment, do consider registering at that school to hold a spot, and maybe even go there. I'm sure many of these schools will be holding tours and welcome events. You might be pleasantly surprised, seriously.
I'm surprised Grattan was not in the list of "most requested" on website.
ReplyDeleteThe full 5-year list is now posted. Grattan got "only" 630 requests, well below Clarendon and Rooftop with over 1000.
ReplyDeleteLooks like those who put Rosa Parks, Marshall, Paul Revere, Daniel Webster, JOES, Sunnyside, Glen Park high up on their lists might be okay--not for sure, I'd guess, but much better odds than the top 20. These schools are going to look verrrry attractive in the coming weeks but will probably fill up very quickly in Round 2! Good on the families that were smart enough to jump on those bandwagons in Round 1 and secure a spot. Now you can either be happy or even try for a more coveted school via the waitlist, with a spot in an up-and-comer secured.
Worth checking out the big list, for those whose anxieties are salved by poring over numbers.
It's all under Enrollment on the SFUSD.edu site.
948 families did not receive one of their (presumably) 7 choices with a total (including sibs) of 4736 applicants. I guess it's a good thing they increased class size to 22!
ReplyDeletethis just was posted:
ReplyDeletehttp://portal.sfusd.edu/data/epc/09-10%20round%201%20results/Highlights%202009-10SY.pdf
Good luck everyone. It was hell for me but we finally got our first choice on the 10th day of the 10-day count.
The EPC posted Kinder,6th and 9th grade numbers.
ReplyDeleteThey did not yet post other grades. We're waiting for 1st grade...
Well, looks like we will get our first choice.
ReplyDeleteYo, Jessica b. How is that movement to change Miraloma's start time? LOL. Am I starting a rumor?
ReplyDeleteI so wish we could manage an early start time.
Can you believe I'm in this sh*t again??
I just read SFUSD's posting about increases in requests at various schools and I'm glad to see that, finally, finally, people are realizing what a great school Robert Louis Stevenson is! According to the press release from SFUSD, it got a threefold increase in applications. I've got two kids there, and we love it. We've been scratching our heads for years about why this website has been just talking about Sunset in the avenues and ignoring other fogbelt schools. Looks like the people have spoken! (Perhaps this will get this website to finally, finally actually review the place!)
ReplyDelete"Can you believe I'm in this sh*t again??"
ReplyDeleteIs there some sort of conspiracy directed specificly against you ?
Marshall's probably more of a moderate chance with 50 first-choice requests for [44 spots minus siblings], but still. Esp if they are tagging the English/Spanish speakers correctly, this was probably the year to get in there. Next year will be harder. Definitely worth putting on a Round 2 list along with Revere and DW if you really really want immersion.
ReplyDeleteAs one of the folks who sent reviews to Kate, I just want to say that reviews don't just mysteriously happen. Someone who goes on the tours has to write them up and send them to Kate - she obviously is through with her touring days at least til middle school. I'm glad RL Stevenson is getting attention and admit it crossed my radar from some of the comments on this blog.
ReplyDeleteI hope someone now or in the future will review it; and Sunnyside, Peabody, Ulloa, Revere, etc.
I did 8 tours and reviewed them all (some were dupes of Kate's). Good luck everyone and gearing up for Round 2 already....
sorry to x-post with another thread, but this is late-breaking and interesting news (pasted from Caroline's blog at the Examiner--no I not she):
ReplyDeleteDue to the increased demand, SFUSD announced today it will be opening a new school. The new school will offer a Cantonese Two-Way Immersion program beginning with three kindergarten classes and two first grade classes and will be located at 1351 Haight St., the former De Avila Elementary site.
Associate Superintendent Jeannie Pon explained that the district chose to open the new school as a Chinese Immersion program because of the popularity of Chinese Immersion education for both Chinese speaking and native English speaking families and the Board of Education’s commitment to have all SFUSD students graduate bilingual.
“The plan is for this to be a Cantonese immersion program since Cantonese continues to be a heritage language spoken by a large proportion of our students at home. Similar to the Alice Fong Yu model, we are also considering introducing Mandarin in the mid-elementary years,” Pon said.
Isn't Cantonese a dying language, like latin?
ReplyDeleteThat's going to be a tough sell.
ReplyDeleteGlen Park's numbers are relatively low. A sleeper?
ReplyDeleteCantonese?? I mean, nice try... but do the people at the SFUSD not get out much?
ReplyDeletehttp://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/02/28/78-multilingual-children/
Okay...so 5 of my 7 choices are on the "most requested" list. I guess I should just cross those off and keep my fingers crossed for my remaining two underdogs...Grattan & Yick Wo.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to all!!!
The reason for Cantonese two way is because there are kids enrolled in the Cantonese bilingual programs who could presumably be shifted over to this program and in effect, kill 2 birds with one stone.
ReplyDeleteThere are not enough Mandarin native ELL speakers for the Mandarin programs.
Actually Grattan should have been on that list as it had 630 requests. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!
ReplyDeleteEnrollment data for all of the schools is on the SFUSD website.
Patricia,
ReplyDeleteMake that one underdog. Grattan was inadvertently left off the list. I should have been listed as the 8th most requested school, with 630 request. Miraloma, who was listed as the 8th, really was
9th,with 582 requests.
The full list is on the district web site (with 5 year comparisons)
I'm looking at the five year comparison list - whoa! Does anyone know if the 1st choice requests include sibling requests? If that's the case, we got our first pick! If not, much weeping and gnashing of teeth.
ReplyDeletesibling requests are counted. if you have a sibling in a school, your youngest will get in.
ReplyDeletesiblings are counted for "so many got their first requests." it's B.S. because of the siblings.
Younger siblings get preference only if they list the older sibling's school as their #1 choice. They still fill out the regular form along with all other applicants. So as far as I know, siblings should be included in that number.
ReplyDeleteyes, that is right.
ReplyDeleteDon't know how much to read into it, but all of my top 3 had fewer 1st choice selections than spots available. Of course, no idea about siblings or how the diversity index will play, but definitely encouraging (BTW I had none of the Top 20, so maybe that explains it).
ReplyDeleteSounds like you will be getting good news!
ReplyDeleteThe reason for Cantonese two way is because there are kids enrolled in the Cantonese bilingual programs who could presumably be shifted over to this program and in effect, kill 2 birds with one stone.
ReplyDeleteI understand their logic and desire, but not their "if we build it they will come" approach. It's not as simple as saying: Look, we have an over-abundance of Cantonese-speaking kids and you'll be delighted to know you can now learn their language... because it's... uh... hip? useful? good for you?
My understanding - so please correct if I'm wrong: first choice requests count sibling requests, but the capacity does not deduct for incoming sibs. So if your first choice had fewer #1 requests than spaces, your odds go up, but it is not assured because you may get bumped by a sibling requesting that school 2nd (for instance, if their first choice was way oversubscribed). Also, some immersion schools may have lots of 1st requests from English-only speakers, so they may reach down to lower requests to get the 50/50 english/target balance they need.
ReplyDeleteQuestion - does the diversity index kick in when there are more TOTAL requests than spots, or just first requests than spots?
ReplyDeleteAlso the dual immersion Cantonese program at West Portal (along with the immersion program at Alice Fong Yu which as I understand it only enrolls kids who are proficient in English) is very oversubscribed.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that siblings only get preference if they put the school in the #1 slot. So you won't get displaced by siblings who ranked it lower.
ReplyDeleteBut the diversity index will kick in if there are more total requests than slots, so that even if you list a school #1 you could lose out to someone who lists the school lower but adds more diversity -- IF that person does not get into a school ranked higher on his/her list.
Huh, I stand corrected then. I thought Mandarin was the hot thing to do.
ReplyDeleteI believe they also hold open spots for round 2 applicants if they aren't hitting their diversity numbers. In other words, they won't fill every seat in round 1 with one index group just because another group didn't request it.
ReplyDelete4:35, the only spots I have heard of being "held" in Round One were for the language immersion programs (e.g., when not enough native Mandarin speakers signed up for Mandarin immersion they held those slots open in Round One but then opened them up in Round Two, so lots of English-speaking families got into Mandarin immersion by waitlisting or listing the programs in Round Two). I have never heard of spots being held open for "diversity" otherwise.
ReplyDeleteWhere can the whole list of requests be found (not just the top requests)?
ReplyDelete1:03 p.m. posted a link to the place on the District website where you can find the five-year enrollment demand numbers - they include the total requests and first choice requests for this year for all schools.
ReplyDeleteI'm really, really blown away that nearly 1,000 kindergarten-seeking families did not receive an assignment to any of the (presumably) seven schools on their list....What a total disgrace for a so-called progressive city!
ReplyDeleteIt's also grotesque that even though one pays huge sums of property tax, one is not guaranteed an assignment to a school in or near one's neighborhood.
Well, my first choice Lafayette did not crack the top 20 and the number of first choice requests (including my 2) were 69 compared to 88 spots. I'm expecting good news.
ReplyDelete5:09: Yes, it is absolutely horrible that we all have to go through this, and so many never get a school which they toured or even wanted.
ReplyDelete5:17: Bear in mind that even though it may look like the numbers are good, it is still a lottery, especially if you're looking for two spots (twins?). Keep your mind open, be patient, and if you don't get your first choice school this week and still really want to pursue Lafayette, go for Round Two and beyond.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete5:09, how is grotesque and disgrace to the city, exactly, that the district is trying to make some popular slots available to kids who don't have the money to live the neighborhoods around Clarendon, Rooftop, and Claire Lilienthal? The point is that there are some spots that are popular and some that are not, so much--although more and more schools are attracting more applications, which speaks well of the current system. The point is that there has to be a system for allocating the popular spots (while hopefully improving the whole system and attracting families to wider circles of schools). An all-neighborhood system would allocate them based on who can afford to live where. Now, that would be a disgrace in a progressive city like San Francisco. We'd end up like Oakland with their mostly de facto apartheid system. Nice.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting data (kindergarten analysis only). People did a fantastic job of distributing their choices across the programs in an effort to maximize outcomes. Only 33 of the 112 programs had more first choice requests than slots. 80% getting a choice is remarkable, in my view.
ReplyDeletePart of that 80% number factors in siblings, which bloats the number.
ReplyDeletebe cautiously optimistic Annette, even if less people entered Layfayette as their first choice than spots available, if you are white you may not get in.
ReplyDelete5:36
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I also think that our property taxes are not so high. I am still in favor of some neighborhood preference (even though I don't love my neighborhood schools.)
Try to see the bigger picture!
Cantonese is the language of Hong Kong and is still the primary heritage language of our Chinese American population, both here and in other American cities with significant Chinese populations (like NYC). It is true that Mandarin, the official language of the People's Republic of China, is spoken by more people worldwide and increasingly here. Cantonese is a little more old-fashioned with its more complicated characters and tones. I'm told by my husband and his family, who are native speakers of Cantonese and reasonable speakers of Mandarin, that it is easier to learn Mandarin following Cantonese. So it is not such a crazy idea to start kids off in Cantonese--there are plenty of kids to draw from for dual immersion--and then teach Mandarin further in, as is done at AFY. We would leap at this chance if we were in the K search now.
ReplyDeleteActually, I believe they fill all the slots that have 1st requests on the first round.
ReplyDelete5:39, white has nothing to do with it. Race is not a factor.
ReplyDelete5:09, all children receive an offer. It is not the district's fault that some parents put only Clarendon and Rooftop, year after year, despite warnings from practically everyone that it is a recipe for 0/7! Everyone knows by now that if you want an assignment of choice in Round 1 that you carefully choose some schools that are less likely to get 1000 applicants. Looks like more and more parents are doing this, but there are always those who put only "top ten" schools and then complain loudly that they have been hard done by the district. Makes no sense....we all know the drill.
ReplyDeleteHere's the deal. You don't have a right to one of the topmost popular schools....no matter where you live! It is not grotesque that you didn't get Clarendon! If you want that spot, you get to go into the lottery with all the other 1,000 parents. If you want security, you pick a less popular one, and truly there are some lovely ones to choose from, as more people are discovering all the time.
no, but socio-economic diversity is
ReplyDeleteRace is not technically a factor, but the factors they use are specifically to pinpoint white people in the mix, the "diversty index". So don't get too excited about thinking your odds are better than they are.
ReplyDeleteI hear the principal at Layfayette is terrible; has she retired?
ReplyDeleteHave you toured Lafayette? It was not our #1 but definitely made our list. While the school feels a bit large for us, we were very impressed with the principal and her reputation, and she was a main factor (or, what she's built) as to why we selected this school.
ReplyDeleteI see from the five year comparison data that Starr King now has one class of GE and two classes of CN. Was this the case last year, or have they added one CN class of kindergartners?
ReplyDelete5:52
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine why anyone would think she is horrible. I thought she was great. Totally on top of the latest in educational research and great at building community consensus around controversial decisions that benefit kids. Specifically, she was able to get teachers and parents to agree to recess before lunch. It's really clear that this is the right answer for kids (get the energy out and then eat, makes for better concentration in the afternoon), but very few schools have implemented it because other constituents (teachers) don't want it. Great at allocating resources to maintain substantial music, drama and P.E. programs. Thinking hard about pedagogy so teachers don't have to teach to the test all the time by introducing important concepts a year ahead of the testing window.
And clearly the kids loved her, on top of all of that. She knew everyone by name, and loved hanging out with the parents. She's also maintained strong programs with the universities so there are student teachers in the K classrooms, including the adult to child ratio substantially. Once accredited, these teachers come back and join the school. Clearly, she is respected by the teachers as well.
I'm very concerned that her race factors into people's judgments of her. She's African-American and I think people are writing her off because of it. If you drill down on the specifics, she is fantastic.
I would strongly encourage people to choose Lafayette, especially if you are looking for a neighborhood school atmosphere where the families know each other and are interested in being part of a community.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Lisa Shaw's great leadership as a PPS parent ambassador.
Anyway, you can tell I loved the place. I think some people have a hard time getting past the physical plant, which is definitely old. But that didn't bother me.
The Lafayette principal is great.
ReplyDeleteStarr King has always had two Chinese immersion classes, Jose Ortega one.
ReplyDeleteincreasing the adult to child ratio, not including. sorry
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, people. You are not being pinpointed for being white, but for being not-poor. If that correlates with being white in this town, so what? You really begrudge a spot at Clarendon for a kid who is living in public housing and qualifies for free lunch? The only part of the diversity lottery that fries me is the home language piece, because it gives a leg up to popular schools for kids who come from European families that are as well off as any middle class family or above.
ReplyDeleteReally--don't worry about this issue. Other than the dual immersion programs, which limit spots for English-only speakers, you are NOT in competition for the most part with the folks who get in through the diversity index. You are in competition with the hundreds upon hundreds of applicants to Clarendon and Rooftop et al who are just like you--"not-poor", "preschool", etc. There are many, many of us. Meeting the standard of "poor" is actually pretty hard and you wouldn't want to be that poor, trust me on this one. For most of us, it is a straight-up lottery, and how can we argue with this as way to allocate wildly popular spots--even though the odds are painful?
Anne,
ReplyDeleteI removed my earlier post because I realized my teacher friend may not want her name mentioned. Anyway, she is a fantastic 2nd grade teacher, and after teaching in the Mission/Excelsior, is IN LOVE with Lafayette.
I'll introduce you if you get in.
What I am not seeing in the stats for Starr King is the Spanish Bilingual class. The SK principal had mentioned that program might be closing at the school. (They were combining grades as it was...) Does anyone know if it is actually closing? And would that be for existing students, too, or just KG?
ReplyDeleteWe did the last tour of the year at Starr King and I think the principal said that they would be phasing out the Spanish bilingual program there as the number of applicants just did not support its continuation. So this year's K class would be the last one. I actually can't remember, it might not have been an option on the application form.
ReplyDelete5:49-
ReplyDeleteI hear what you're saying. But what if you live in that neighborhood that harbors most of the popular schools?! Does that mean it's ok for that family to chug their child clear across town on the muni every morning to the lesser popular schools?
Some people, prior to moving into the city "bought" into their neighborhood thinking that SFUSD worked like most school districts...neighborhood schools.
but very few schools have implemented it because other constituents (teachers) don't want it.
ReplyDeleteSeriously? I'm a teacher, and every teacher I know envies schools that have already made this transition. We LOVE it at my school.
7:31: SFUSD has been using a variety of methods to desegregate its schools (not very successfully, but still) for years. All of these enrollment plans have impacted the possibility of neighborhood placement. Nor is this information terribly hard to find. It strikes me that looking into this before purchasing one's home might be reasonable.
7:50
ReplyDeleteI stand corrected. Thanks.
SK
Here's hoping that letter comes through and you can make that intro for me!
Sending best wishes and good vibes to all...hopefully we'll get some good news tomorrow in the mail. The glass is half-full...right?
ReplyDeleteAnnette, positive thoughts going out that you'll get those 2 spots at Lafayette.
Jen in the Richmond
I'm a brown minority that speaks a second language and kinda do feel middle class white sf families get a raw deal. I'm not originally from sf and this lottery process is a bit crazy.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I was bussed to better schools on the other side of town--it did wonders for our family. We got a great public education!! That being said, I believe in low income families getting a chance to attend better schools BUT believe neighborhood schools are the way to go. I do believe there ought to be some sort of choice like my family was given- It gave me a leg up when I attended college, unlike the less lucky brown students that didn't attend great schools.
Yes, I do see the lottery system a bit racist- hey, they do ask if you speak a second language don't they?! They don't ask what race you are, BUT last time I checked Latinos speak Spanish and an Asian speaks Mandarin, or Cantonese, or Japanese, etc.
White folks mostly speaks English.
I couldn't help but notice the huge spike in applications at Sherman. From 374 total applications last year to 503 this year? I realize it's a fantastic school, but that seems like a big increase. (As opposed to, say, Rooftop, whose total # applications went up by "only" 31.) I've been wondering who these extra 400 applicants were. Wonder if there are people in Cow Hollow who no longer feel they can afford $20K for private school?
ReplyDelete6:13 pm -- very good points.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I know of someone whose child got into a trophy school you mentioned and I'm pretty sure this person used a technicality to get in -- the wife is not a native English speaker though he is. The child was babysat by grandparent who did not speak English -- actually the child did speak English because that is what the father spoke. And so true, the child did not attend preschool either because grandparent watched child full time.
I wouldn't be surprised if he put down that the wife was a single mother, because after all the school district never checks income, marital status etc.
This person lives within a mile of the school and bought a home there around the time the child was born and basically told me the child would be going to this trophy school. At the time I didn't have the heart to tell him as an alternative school, there is no neighborhood preference. What do you know, five years later, the child got in... random? hardly, I'd think.
So the lottery is not as straight as we would like to think. And don't think all of those ELL kids at the trophy school are really, uh, all that ELL and lower income.
Here come the claws...
ReplyDeleteNeighborhood schools would work, if ever school had the parental commitment and resources Clarendon and Rooftop have.
We need to even out the schools, instead of forcing folks to leave their neighborhoods for a "better" school.
BTW, there is no "single parent" box on the application, is there? AND if you claim your child is bilingual, they get tested.
Wealthy, white europeans benefit from this second language diversity inidex unintentionally, but they do ad some diversity, don't they?
8:51
ReplyDeleteThoughtful post.
Annette and others interested in Lafayette,
ReplyDeletemy teacher friend there likes the Principal alot.
10:09 -- I'm not sure he claimed his child was bilingual at all. His child definitely spoke the foreign language since the grandparent and mother spoke the language with the child. The mother works a regular job using English, though with an accent.
ReplyDelete"And don't think all of those ELL kids at the trophy school are really, uh, all that ELL and lower income."
ReplyDeleteJust look at the free/reduced lunch numbers at Clarendon. 10%?
Good luck today, everyone!
ReplyDeletePlease post about your assignment letters when they come (hopefully) today!
PPS is saying that anybody who gets 0/07 only puts down the most sought-after schools. What bullshit.
ReplyDeleteEveryone will get a K assignment. Wish the EPC would publish the list where these 900 families who went 0/7 were assigned in Round 1. It might help these families connect with each other (through this blog for instance) and rally around a particular, lesser-known-but-OK school.
ReplyDeleteAlso, for neighborhood advocates, the numbers are sombering. After sibling requests, there are very, very few K spots available at most schools. The reality of the situation is that most schools do not have the capacity to serve their immediate neighborhood. Immersion/bi-lingual programs make the situation worse. If your neighborhood school adopts a foreign language component, one that you do not want for your family, then what??? For example, your family is Italian, and SFUSD opens a Cantonese Immersion program across the street (don't laugh, it just happened!). WTF!!!! Argh!!!!
"Everyone will get a K assignment."
ReplyDeleteYeah, we can "turn around' Malcolm X Academy and John Muir and Daniel Webster!!!
Goody! Yippie!!!
I don't have personal experience with the 3 schools that you mentioned, but I have heard good things about Webster. Anyway, post at 8:58 AM said "lesser-known-but-OK schools" (presumably schools like Ortega, Ulloa, Stevenson, Lafayette, ...). It does not advocate every school in the district.
ReplyDeleteBoy oh boy, I can tell that the sh*t will hit the fan when those letters arrive.
Last year it was a very...shall I say "emotional" time for posters. I can only encourage us to allow for the occasional rant, and then let it go. Responding bitterly only fans the flames.
ReplyDeleteWe are going to the zoo today so I can relax and have a nice day with my daughter. My mail comes so late, it kills me.
I've been waiting for a year for a school assignment near Bernal that is not immersion or early start. Any suggestions are kindly appreciated, although we are not hopeful for the 1st grade lottery.
GOOD LUCK YA'LL!
9:54:
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone gets an assignment to those schools you mentioned who didn't put them down on their Round I list. Maybe Ortega (not immersion) last year, but I don't think this. In fact, we listed Lafayette on our Round I list and went 0/15 last year.
Does anyone know if 1st grade classrooms are going to have more pupils? All or just some? I heard rumors...
ReplyDeleteI believe that just the K's will have extra students this year to "accomodate the increase in K demand". The upper grades 1-3should remain at 20.
ReplyDeleteA new list of "lesser-known-but-OK schools" could, should, and (I bet) will emerge this year.
ReplyDeleteShucks. Oh, well. Was hoping for an increase so we had a chance in hell in 1st grade. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWe went 0/7 and were assigned to JOES general ed. (We had put JOES immersion first.) I had been so hopeful when we saw that we were one of only 19 families who put it first. On to Round 2... (SOB)
ReplyDeleteTK Mom,
ReplyDeleteLast year they held spots for mandarin speakers open in the MI programs for round one,but opened them up in round two. So your chances should be better in round two, if they do this again. Also I know a family who started school in Jose Ortega gen ed and waitlisted MI. They switched a week or so in, which was not a big deal because it was the same school. Something to think about.
Thanks, 10:47. The nice thing is that the school has everything else we wanted, obviously -- great principal, early start time, convenient (although not ideal) location. I'm just really sad we didn't get the immersion program. And if we're not going to have immersion, we'd rather be closer to home. Which is West Portal, Miraloma, etc. Oh, jeez, this is really hard.
ReplyDeleteTK Mom,
ReplyDeleteYOu can register at JOES, and put Miraloma as your waitpool. See which comes thru for you in the 10 day count.
Sorry for the unsolicited advice, but that is what I would do. All in all you have an OK assn. to fall back on.
Best of luck.
Thanks, Kortney. Yes, we will definitely register. Not sure what we'll wait pool at this point, but we have time to strategize. Hoping that you get better news later today!!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
ReplyDeleteWhen the waitpool numbers come out you'll have a clearer picture. Last year W. Portal had so many people in the waitpool and very few got in.
Believe me, I've all but memorized those spreadsheets. We went 0/7 last year after having put West Portal first. Turned out in retrospect to be a blessing in disguise, b/c our son really wasn't ready for K yet. But it was a good learning experience -- we're now more realistic about the fact it's next to impossible to get in to WP.
ReplyDeleteJust a thought: when people post their assignments, it'd be interesting to see what their list of seven was. If you're up for listing those, as well as your assignment, that'd be great.
ReplyDeleteRight. We are in the same boat. Our daughter went to a Private K, because she was old enough. I'll be anxious to hear how your school situation works out. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJust got our mail. We went 0/7, but not too surprised because decided to shoot the moon & had mostly popular schools. We live in Glen Park & got assigned to Cesar Chavez. I don't know anything about this school, I guess I'll go visit.
ReplyDeleteI'm at work so have bugged dear hubby 3 times today "have you checked the mailbox dude"?!
ReplyDeleteHe just called...
We got our #1 choice, George Peabody. Can't believe it, actually (and yes, the Type A in me said "are you sure, no f'ing way...read it to me again").
Here was our list:
George Peabody
Sutro
Francis Scott Key
Jefferson
Lafayette
Alamo
Argonne
BTW - preschool, no second lang, kids are mixed (Malaysian and white - we put white), and we live @ 25th/Clement.
Saying prayers for everyone...good thoughts for all.
A middle school mom here. My daughter is at Rosa Parks JBBP (great school!). She got her first choice James Licl GE. She's leaping for joy in our backyard right now....
ReplyDeleteSisterKortney,
ReplyDeleteNext year's first grades (ie this year's kindergartens) already have an increase in pupils, to 21. My son's kindergarten at Rosa Parks added a 21st student in January. They placed people from out of the district and folks who home-schooled or chose private schools but wanted to switch mid-year. Even fewer 1st grade spots for next year. I'm not hopeful about getting anything in our letter today.
YES!!!!! We got our first choice, Commodore Sloat.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of our list in order:
RL Stevenson
Ulloa
Lakeshore
Sunset
FS Key
Jefferson
No second language spoken at home, live in the outer sunset, no free/reduced lunch, don't live in public housing.
We chose CS because we eventually will be moving to the West Portal area and figured that our chances of getting into either WP program were slim to nil. It seems like a solid school with active parents and nice kids. PE twice a week. Awesome garden and outdoor learning area.
The one downside of CS is that I don't think there is an after-school language enrichment program, but the Stonestown Y manages one of the after-school programs and it runs until 6:30 - fabulous for us working stiffs.
I hope that a lot of us will be celebrating today...keeping my fingers crossed for all. Good luck!
11:37, my kid is a delighted Aptos student this year but had James Lick 2nd on the list last year. We have many friends at James Lick whose kids are super-happy there--it's a tight community. Congratulations to your daughter!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, 11:34. You're one of the lucky ones! Don't forget to register at your school.
ReplyDeleteespecially since Peabody received a 73% request increase this year.
ReplyDeleteTK Mom--I was going to write and urge you to register at JOES and it looks like you will be doing that. Good move. It will give you a secure spot from which to waitpool as you say, and the chances are not bad that the MI program will open up for you. I'd waitpool at JOES MI though, not West Portal. Crazy to waitpool at West Portal. And JOES is a lovely, lovely school where the children are loved and cared for. I think you would not regret being there even if you don't make it into MI. Plus, if you have a second child, that child can get sibling preference into the school--and the MI program--even if your older child is in GE.
ReplyDeleteWe live in Bernal, listed six immersion programs - led with Flynn, and got assigned to our only GE and last choice, Flynn. It is our neighbourhood school, which is great, but we really wanted immersion... so we'll see.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly last year (her bday is late Nov) we submitted a completely different list and also got Flynn GE.
MCL--glad you got one of your choices, even if the last one. On the upside, it is your neighborhood school, it is up-and-coming, and even if you can't get this kid into immersion--which you may be able to do later this year--future children can get into the immersion program at Flynn through sibling preference. I've seen families doing this at Alvarado for years. I know it's a little disappointing, but I'd urge you to stick with it. The upsides are not bad.
ReplyDelete0/7. Dianne Feinstein was our first choice as it is two blocks from our home. Our list was mixed so we thought we'd have a shot at one of them. We were assigned JOES GE and will be applying to Round 2.
ReplyDeleteWill you be registering at JOES GE (while still going through the R2 and waitpool process for one you want more)? It is an up-and-coming school and surely worth checking out.
ReplyDeletethe mail came...
ReplyDeleteWe went 0/7, again, in 1st grade. I have to say, I'm not surprised. But I do wish we could list 3 waitpool choices rather than 1, I hate the endless games of strategy around trying to balance what may be possible to get into (and we were oh so wrong about that last year!) and what we really want...
Any other first grade applicants out there!
One bright ray of sunshine was that the camp mather lottery also came and we got our 1st choice week!
What is the current school of thought regarding registering at a school which you are 100% sure you will not have your child attend? If you do register, aren't you keeping others who want that school from getting it in Round Two? Can you go through the Round Two lottery if you have not registered at a school (I think yes, but am not sure)?
ReplyDeleteFunny how the Camp Mather lottery comes through every year for families who go 0/7 in the SFUSD lottery. Thank heavens.
ReplyDeleteWe got our first choice - Rosa Parks JBBP
ReplyDelete1. Rosa Parks JBBP
2. Grattan
3. Jose Ortega Mandarian
4. Lafayette
5. Lakeshore
6. Peabody
7. New Traditions
If you are 100% sure, then don't register. If you are only 90% sure, you should register.
ReplyDeleteEveryone who plans to participate in further rounds/waitpools, whether or not you plan to register at your assigned school as backup, should attend one of the SFUSD counseling sessions, and also read very carefully the documents on the SFUSD site about the process. They are listed under Enrollment, click on the "results of the 2009-2010 lottery" link.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Round 2 and waitpools, I don't think you have to register at a school to get priority, but you don't get special treatment either, even though you would be without any spot at all if you don't register--and risk getting the absolute last pick in the district by the end of it all. You are well advised to lock in a back up if it all possible. Only if you are 100% absolutely sure that your assigned school will not work should you give up an actual spot. Some families gave up spots last year that they didn't like at first--but these came to look very attractive later in the year (e.g., Sunnyside, Rosa Parks JBBP, both increasing in popularity and reputation). Think on it....would the school on offer really and truly not work for you? I realize some will not, but do think hard about it.
Well we just received our letter - and ended up with not one choice. Now what - either waitlist at maybe our second or third choice or go for Round II? Im new to this process so not sure which choice to make?
ReplyDeleteWe got Miraloma and we didn't even list it as a choice! We wanted Spanish Immersion.
ReplyDeleteMy son was labeled fluent. You would think they would want to bulk up the Spanish-speaking contingent, since English-speakers were over-represented last year in most SI schools.
Maybe they filled all their Spanish-speaker slots. I would be surprised if they were that efficient.
I guess latinos are underrepresented at Miraloma. I didn't pick any schools with a 7:50 start time. That is just too early!
0/7 Cezar Chavez. I feel nauseous.
ReplyDeleteChoices were:
Clarendon JBBP
Rooftop
Alvarado GE
Clarendon GE
Miraloma
Grattan
McKinley
"I couldn't help but notice the huge spike in applications at Sherman. From 374 total applications last year to 503 this year?"
ReplyDeleteIn 2003, when I was a parent there, Sherman had empty seats in kindergarten. The school was begging the district to send it more students. How times change!
sfmom--I'm sorry. Lots of us have been through it, so we understand how it feels to open the letter.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few next steps:
1) First, breathe.
2) Do you know anything about your assigned school? are there any upsides for you (location, other people you know also got assigned....) Put the name out here and there may be parents already there who an tell you more or point you in the direction of those who can. Talk to PPS about it. Call the school, and visit. You might be surprised that you like it.
The reason I say this is that it is beneficial to register at your assigned school if it is even a possibility. Better to waitpool having a backup than none at all.
3) Attend a SFUSD counseling sessions. See the website under Enrollment for more details. I believe you have to do this in order to participate in Round 2.
4) Consider filing an amended list in Round 2. Work with PPS and pore over the list of schools/applications on the SFUSD site. You'll see that it is probably not a good idea to put Clarendon or Rooftop or Alvarado on your Round 2 list. Look for schools that were moderately oversubbed or even undersubbed. Good ones to look at (not a complete list--trying to give some geographic diversity here) might be Harvey Milk, Rosa Parks JBBP, JOES GE, Flynn GE, Glen Park, Daniel Webster SI. Maybe even the new Cantonese school at DeAvila. Please, don't put Clarendon or Rooftop though, unless you want to go 0/15. Seriously.
5) Pick a waitpool school. Again, if you are serious about not liking your assigned school, you had better put one that you are more likely to get. If you are fine with your assigned school, but want a chance at your "dream school," then by all means put down the dream school.
6) Wait, and commiserate. (sorry)
Hope that helps.
We received our assignment and we are 0/7. We were assigned Starr King. Our choices were:
ReplyDeleteMiraloma
Alvarado
Argonne
Grattan
Rooftop
McKinley
West Portal
We went for general ed on all. I was very hopeful but I have to say I am not surprised.
12:50, I'm sorry.
ReplyDeleteI urge you to consider filing a very different list for Round Two, however. The only school on your list that isn't well known to be stratospherically popular is McKinley, and that's not exactly an easy in, either.
What about Harvey Milk (close to Alvarado and McKinley)?
Or Rosa Parks JBBP (has the Japanese program and parents seem to love it)?
Good luck.
thanks 12:59. i know i dont want my assigned school, so its off to a counseling session.
ReplyDeleteone question though - can you waitpool and do round ii? i think its one or the other correct?
Just received our letter and our son was assigned to our 4th choice, Daniel Webster - Spanish Immersion. I would have preferred Buena Vista but feel lucky we got into a Spanish Immersion program at all!
ReplyDelete1. Buena Vista - ImmS
2. Paul Revere - ImmS
3. Monroe - ImmS
4. Daniel Webster - ImmS
5. Leonard Flynn - ImmS
6. Alvarado - ImmS
7. Marshall - ImmS
0/7. We got Rosa Parks General Ed. Not sure if we'll do 2nd round or just wait until we hear from the few private schools we applied to. I know Rosa Parks is listed a hidden gem, but that's usually its JBBP program.
ReplyDelete0/7 Not surprised. Jose Ortega GE.
ReplyDeleteIn order:
Clarendon JBBP
Lawton
West Portal GE
Lakeshore
Sunset
Ulloa
Feinstein
Stressfully awaiting your child's kindergarten assingment? Please take a few moments to fill out my survey examing the San Francisco Unified School District's enrollment process.
ReplyDeletehttp://devpsych.sfsu.edu/schoolchoice/
Thank you for your time and support! Best of luck to all the families anxiously awaiting the Round 1 placement!
<< We got Miraloma and we didn't even list it as a choice! >>
ReplyDelete12:50 -- for real?? That's just criminal (on the district's part, not yours, obviously). I mean -- I'm all for diversity, but to assign someone to a school that wasn't requested when HUNDREDS wanted it and didn't get it (like us -- I realize putting it #3 wasn't the wisest idea, but still)? Please tell me this is just some troll hoax joke???
I'm sitting here in complete shock as our mailman just delivered to us our number one choice Grattan. Wowee super lucky. Here's hoping others get good news. Our list was
ReplyDeleteGrattan
Claire Lillenthal
Clarendon
George Peabody
Alamo
Lafayette
McKinley
You can waitpool and go through round two. But they run the waitpool BEFORE round two, so choose your waitpool school very carefully. And if you do decide to take a risk and list a popular school for the waitpool, remember that there is no point to including a popular school on your round two list because there is virtually no chance there will still be spots left after the waitpool is run.
ReplyDelete- We got Miraloma and we didn't even list it as a choice! We wanted Spanish Immersion.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really wrong. With almost 600 people requesting Miraloma, it should not be available to anyone who didn't get one of their choices. Last year's screwups were McKinley and the Flynn/Alvarado fiasco, maybe this year's will be something related to fluent Spanish speakers - who knows!
Yo, what are you up to?
ReplyDeleteAw, you know, not much. Just chillin', reading some K Files, waiting for the mail.
Regarding 12:50
ReplyDeleteNot to complain about your good fortune, but I was surprised to read that EPC assigned families to schools in Round 1 that they didn't list and that are also very oversubscribed as is Miraloma. Does this happen a lot?
This system is so unpredictable.
Still waiting for the mail to come...
I've never even heard of John Muir. Was there a school with even fewer requests than this one?
ReplyDeleteIf it's true that a family who didn't request it got Miraloma, this has "glitch" written all over it. Seems like PPS should breathe down the EPC's neck to find out if there was a large-scale glitch (again). Last year some applicants who listed McKinley didn't get it, while others who didn't list it were assigned there.
ReplyDelete0/7 for us. Not really surprised given our choices, but disappointed nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteOur choices were:
Lilienthal
Peabody
Sherman
Miraloma
Grattan
Lafayette
Alamo
Peabody is our neighborhood school. We were assigned Rosa Parks GE - on to checking out that school and counseling!
TK mom -
ReplyDeletethe mandarin programs at SK and JOES MUST reserve 50% of their spots for mandarin speakers in Round1.
that means, if 22 english speakers request JOES mandarin, they will only place 11 of them.
they will save those 11 additional spots hoping that mandarin speakers will come in Round 2. but, unfortunately for the balance of the program, they will not come. only 1-2 will.
so, the other half of the class will be placed in Round 2. hopefully you will be placed then. put it first as your waitlist school if you want it.
As we expected, we didn't get one of our choices. I'm glad to hear that somebody got Miraloma without listing it and we did not (#2 on our list). Wonderful system. We got Sheridan. Certainly not the worst possible choice, but not an acceptable one either. I look forward to the finding out what happens when we simply don't comply.
ReplyDeletewelcome to daniel webster SI!
ReplyDeletei have twins at DW in spanish immersion and i can tell you the two kinder teachers are awesome. they are providing a great experience for the kids. my boys love it and they correct my spanish every day. congratulations on receiving one of your choices.
wishing everyone luck...
to 1:47 - we were assigned to sheridan too!
ReplyDeletealso... remember the mckinley glitch last year?
ReplyDeletethe miraloma person should go down to EPC and request something they wanted. they will make space for them in one of their choice schools and the miraloma spot can be freed up for round 2. EPC bends over backwards to pacify victims of glitches.
re: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/02/28/78-multilingual-children/
ReplyDeletequote: "Generally, white people prefer their children to speak French. [...] Languages such as German, Spanish, Swedish, or Italian are also acceptable, but are considered to be poor substitutes (especially Spanish). "
what about the multiple french families in SF who prefer to run the stressful lottery race for a SI spot, rather than a "simple" application at Le Lycee?
The key to immersion is a pool of great teachers (le lycee doesnt have) and a critical mass of native speakers (le lycee doesnt have). SanFrancisco as a city has both, and it would be awesome if ALL the children could have some exposure to at least one language. How nice is it to be able to say a few polite words when getting your takeout? (chinese, spanish, thai, italian etc).
--------
We got into Flynn SI. But we would have welcomed Flynn GE as well (waitlisting for SI - or maybe not).
interesting... we got Rosa Parks gen ed as well (0/7) the third person on this list to get that assignment... we live in the outer Richmond, so it's not close...
ReplyDeleteFor those who were assigned JOES GE, you're invited to come see the school next Friday at 8am. We have fantastic Gen Ed teachers who just may win you over if you come and check it out.
ReplyDeleteto sfmom: what were your other choices? ours were
ReplyDeleteclarendon (our non-neighborhood school)
miraloma
commodore sloat
rooftop
alvarado
feinstein
west portal
wow. what a mail day.
ReplyDeletewe went 0/7 for the 1st grade lottery AND we are waitpooled #62 out of 352 for camp mather. waaaah.
0/7 assigned to the new De Avila immersion program.
ReplyDeleteWe had:
Alice Fong Yu CI
Jose Ortega MI
West Portal CI
Grattan
Rooftop
Lakeshore
Sunnyside
Does anyone have answers to FAQ on this new place? Principal, hours, aftercare etc?
We got Miraloma, our #3 choice.
ReplyDeleteMight still waitpool a Spanish immersion program...
I remember last year a friend was horrified to get Alvarado when she had not listed it (did not want early start time schools). After a big fuss she "remembered" (when she found her copy) that she had actually listed it thinking there was no way she would get it and it would pad out her list...not saying this is what happened with the Miraloma person, but it made me think back. Not everyone lists schools they actually want. Good luck to everyone.
ReplyDeleteOur daughter tested 100 percent fluent in Spanish and didn't get an immersion spot, either.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they are worried that her English is too weak? It is not. I'd gladly bring her down to the EPC for testing in English so they can see that she is equally fluent.
We got Miraloma, so we're not *that* upset. Just shocked since the immersion programs tend not to have enough Spanish speakers.
0/7 for us. Our choices were
ReplyDeleteClarendon Italian
Clarendon Japanese
Grattan
Rooftop
Claire
Miraloma
Argonne
We got John Muir...
To 1:23 pm, and all others who are shocked when someone gets a school they didn't want, whereas hundreds of others who put that school as #1 aren't getting it (like the Miraloma story from 1:23 pm commenter)... keep in mind that this is a true lottery system. And it leaves almost everyone bitterly disappointed. If you know which school will work for your family, keep trying for it over the next few months, and try to not let the stress level impact your child(ren) as they sense everything. Remind them that they are going to go to a wonderful school, with wonderful teachers, and have wonderful classmates, but that they just won't know the name of the school for a few more months.
ReplyDeleteIs there a way of finding out which Spanish Immersion schools still have spots for native speakers of Spanish?
ReplyDelete!!Jefferson!! It was our first choice. I just can't believe this nightmare is over for us.
ReplyDeleteOur list was:
Jefferson
Rooftop
Clarendon (these two were strategic fillers, because we knew we wouldn't get in and were hoping to waitlist Jefferson if we got into Flynn GE, which was really our second rather than 4th choice. We were told we couldn't waitlist our 1st choice if we got our 2nd or 3rd choice.)
Flynn GE
Grattan
Miraloma
West Portal
Demographic info:
We currently live in SOMA, but are moving to the sunset this summer, so our neighborhood school would have been Bessie Carmichael.
We're caucasian, with no diversity factors, mother has a BA, annual income about $80,000, native English speakers.
Sincerely, I wish the best of luck to everyone.
0/7 too
ReplyDeleteI wish and hope I'll achieve a ZEN like acceptance about this but right now I'm just Pissed Off and sooo dissapointed
We were assigned to Jose Ortega GE
Stressfully awaiting your child's kindergarten assignment?
ReplyDeletePlease take a few moments to fill out my survey examining the San Francisco Unified School District's enrollment process.
To access this survey online, please go to:
http://devpsych.sfsu.edu/schoolchoice/.
Thank you for your time and support! Best of luck to all the families anxiously awaiting the Round 1 placement!
2:12 -
ReplyDeletelevel of english is not important for SI. they don't test spanish speakers to see if their english is good enough. they learn english at school and are assumed to have no-to-little english upon entrance (though they usually have pretty ok english in my experience).
Also sick sick sick here too. Jose Ortega GE - NOT ANYWHERE NEAR US. We are within walking distance of West Portal. I really despise this lottery system. We'll probably end up at private unless by some luck we get WP
ReplyDeleteOur choices were
WP (GE)
WP (CM)
Feinstein
Miraloma
Lawton
Clarendon GE
Jefferson
It's hard to know how to say this without making it sound like middle-class, empowered families are the savior of a school. But screw being PC for a moment.
ReplyDeleteAbsent some serious factor impeding the improvement of a school (such as a particularly problematic principal), a surge of middle-class families makes a big difference in boosting the school. I'm a veteran SFUSD parent and have seen many, many formerly struggling, scorned SFUSD schools turn around this way by now.
If all the families assigned to one or another less-well-thought-of schools just said yes -- given the absence of a serious impediment -- we'd see yet another Grattan, Miraloma, Alvarado, McKinley, Flynn or fill-in-the-blank other now-popular and successful school.
JOES GE is not far from the West Portal area at all. Definitely the same distance as to Lawton. You should go check it out and enroll. I doubt there will be any movement at WP.
ReplyDelete2:28, not trying to make someone feel like they should take a school they don't like, but our blogmeister Kate is a Jose Ortega parent, having chosen it over glittering Marin Country Day School. It's actually not very far from West Portal, either, though admittedly not in walking distance.
ReplyDeleteAt least check it out!
We're in Bernal got Flynn GE. Wasn't one of our 7, but seems okay. Anyone else get it?
ReplyDeleteSorry! I put the wrong start time for the Jose Ortega welcome next Friday - it's 7:50am.
ReplyDelete2:32 -
ReplyDeleteJOES, Starr King, Daniel Webster, Paul Revere, Rosa Parks are all good schools. Everyone's kids won't fit into West Portal, Clarendon and a handful of others.
0/7 - assigned to john muir. thanks for nothing SFUSD!
ReplyDelete0/7 - we listed popular schools of course. not surprised but was hoping for a miracle. assigned to john muir. not going. ditto earlier comment, i feel nauseated.
ReplyDeleteBear in mind that the blogmaster got the Mandarin Immersion Jose Ortega - which is also oversubscribed
ReplyDeleteWe're talking about the GE program and we did pre screen it as we thought it could be a school we'd get assigned to
It failed to impress in a (sorry but) massive way.
We will go back and look again; We'll try to see the shiny bits
but any GE JOES parents who can shed some light may want post a few things to show us the way...
If you get one of your top 3 can you waitlist your top choice? This is not actual - I am learning the process for next year (if it doesn't change)
ReplyDeleteWe only added Lawton as it was a K-8 school and it was within a certain radius from our house (the outer range of where we were looking). Jose Ortega is outside the mark and the opposite direction from where we work. It will be a logistic nightmare even if it is a good school
ReplyDelete0/7, assigned to Redding
ReplyDeleteour neighbor was moved out of Flynn SI to Flynn GE last year as part of the Flynnarado. They love Flynn GE. good luck
ReplyDeletetoo bad for john muir. lots of people were assigned last year and didn't go. the ball would already be rolling, perhaps, if they had. it is such a nice building in a great location.
ReplyDeletemaybe if the numbers are bad enough this year, a group of parents will come together and give it a shot. i bet you could push for a FLES program there. russian?
I just want to make sure I understand how the Round 1 lottery worked:
ReplyDeleteIf 2 families included a school, say Grattan, in their list of 7. And both families live in the same neighborhood and have no diversity factors.
Regardless of where they put Grattan in their list of 7, they have equal chances in the lottery. Right?
i.e., It doesn't matter if you ranked it as #1.
Ranking is valuable if you get 2 of your 7 choices - you are placed at the one you ranked highest.
If this is wrong, please explain how it did work. Thanks!
(There is hope in the world - we have 2 friends in Cole Valley that placed Grattan #1 and got in.)
We got Glen Park. Choice No. 6. We'll participate in Round 2 and register and waitpool since I think there are better schools, but at least it's extremely convenient for us if that's where we end up.
ReplyDeleteWhat a roller coaster this is. Friends have scored spots at Clarendon (1st choice!) and others have been assigned to some spots I don't think I'd pick.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletewe, too went 0/7. i'm so angry.
ReplyDeletemira loma
grattan
mckinley
clarendon
clarendon
diane feinstein
new traditions
i love mira loma and was so bummed to read (here) that people received it and hadn't even listed it.
we were assigned to john muir elementary. we are not accepting the spot.
We got Sheridan - 0/7 - what a complete disappoint. We live right in Miraloma.
ReplyDelete"There is hope in the world - we have 2 friends in Cole Valley that placed Grattan #1 and got in"
ReplyDeleteIf you don't mind my asking, do you think they will actually go there? Or is it their private school back-up plan?
We used to live near John Muir and moved as we kept having shootings outside our house -- actually witnessed one. Regardless of how great John Muir could be, there is no way I would send my child there.
ReplyDeleteabout john muir -
ReplyDeletesorry, i misspoke. i meant william cobb is a great location and a great building. john muir just has the cool building. :)
Clarendon lotto winner here!
ReplyDeleteFirst choice! We figured we
press our luck since the school
is walking distance from us.
Other schools we listed:
D.Feinstein
W.Portal GE
Miraloma
Alvarado
Comm Sloat
Stevenson
Re: My friends that are 2 Cole Valley families that got into Grattan. They are thrilled and plan to send their kids there.
ReplyDeletewe got Yick Wo-- our first choice!
ReplyDeleteour list:
1. Yick Wo
2. Sherman
3. New Traditions
4. grattan
5. clare lilienthal
6. west portal
7. AFY
i know dozens of current SFUSD parents will tell you that you will be happy where ever you end up...
ReplyDeletewe went 0/7, then 0/8 and ended up at daniel webster. come september, many of you will end up at a school that you 100% say NO WAY to right now. i mean, i listed west portal as my #1 then found myself begging, begging, begging EPC for rosa parks or daniel webster come august.
my kids love it. yes, there are things that can definitely improve, but my kids are happy. it is #70 of 75 public schools in SF as far as "achievement" is measured. almost the bottom! would we have listed it last year? nope. but it is working for us now.
sheridan could be such a school? or jose GE?
0/7 but got assigned De Avila Immersion, and are actually considering it...anyone else get it and are ready to make a new kick ass school! :)
ReplyDeleteHey 1:54 in Outer Richmond:
ReplyDeletePick Lafayette in the Second Round AND COME TO SCHOOL WITH MY TWINS!!!
Woohoo, I got my first choice!
Happy dance over, and I'm sorry for those of you who are not doing happy dances right now.
We have 2 private applications in, and if I might have to arm-wrestle my husband if we get into one of them. Otherwise, we are definitely Lafayette bound.
Heard from three friends: they all got Redding. None of them planning to attend.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I do believe there is a slight priority to the family--between 2 families with exactly equal diversity factors--that puts a school as #1 versus #2-7. You are correct, however, that the other way the ranking matters is that if you are lucky enough to be computer-assigned to multiple schools, you will actually be offered the spot at your highest-ranked choice.
ReplyDeleteWe got Clarendon GE. I'm still in shock because I was so sick to my stomach all day. I thought we would get 0/7 because we "foolishly" decided to shoot for our dream schools. Before the letter came, I was already set on waitpooling Harvey Milk ASAP because I really liked that school, and wanted it to put it down as #8 if I had the choice.
ReplyDeleteOur list:
1. Alvarado SI
2. Clarendon GE
3. Buena Vista
4. Clarendon JBBP
5. Rooftop
6. Alvarado GE
7. Flynn SI
0/7-->We live 1/2 block from Alvarado and did all schools within walking or short drive, which of course are also the popular ones. Darn you Noe.
ReplyDeleteAlvarado SP, Alvarado, Rooftop,
McKinley, Clarendon, Clarendon, Fairmount
Got John Muir.
My wife and my gut is to not accept. We've never seen the campus, and I just today read the embarrassing SARC: facilities eval. has 5 cat.s marked 'poor' and API rank of 1 (the lowest possible).
Any other insights from folks?