Friday, March 12, 2010
Round I letters: 2010
Please share your news...but please be sensitive about how your share it. We have all poured tremendous amounts of energy into the school process and some of us will be delighted today by the letter they receive, while others will be disappointed. Let's support one another. For those who are unhappy with their school assignment, please reach out to the community and let us know how we can help out. We're all in this together and the ultimate goal is for everyone to land in a spot where they're happy. That said, please, please let us know if you got one of your seven. It makes us all happy to hear your good news. We love it, and want to congratulate you. Plus, it gives those of us who went 0/7 hope.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
All told, 79 percent of all general education students got one of their seven choices and 60 percent received their first choice.
ReplyDeleteAt three elementary schools, Rooftop, Clarendon and Lawton, the odds were especially bad given the 25 applicants for each available seat.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/index?#ixzz0i2Yy0uUD
Clarendon actually had more requests than Rooftop if you combine its two programs--over 1400 requests. West Portal also had more with its two programs, over 1200. Then Rooftop with over 1000, Lilienthal (combined) and Alvarado (combined) over 900. Then Lawton @ over 800. Grattan is next @ 600. These are the top seven.
ReplyDeleteThe next seven, all in the 500 range, are Miraloma, Alamo, Feinstein, Argonne, Sunset, Alice Fong Yu, & Ulloa.
Then the 400s: Sherman, Flynn, Buena Vista, McKinley, Monroe (combined).
For those who went 0/7, please know there are some wonderful schools out there to think about for Round 2, ones that didn't get 400+ applicants. Yick Wo, Rosa Parks, Harvey Milk, Jose Ortega, Sutro, Sunnyside, Daniel Webster. They will probably fill up in the first round, but not everyone will claim a seat. Worth checking out for Round 2.
I realize some are reluctant to post ANY personal information, but it might be most useful information to everyone else if you posted the school you got into and what your original list of seven was, so if you can/will, please do! Thanks.
ReplyDelete12:08, I saw the PDF on the SFUSD site for the top 15 kindergarten choices, but how did you know about Mckinley, etc - the "high demand" non-trophy schools? I can't find that info. Thank you!
ReplyDelete7:16 there are two PDF links. Check out the second one listed on this blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry - here is all the data, from the post below!
ReplyDeletehttp://portal.sfusd.edu/data/epc/5yearDemandData.pdf
Peabody, McKinley, and Sunnyside look like the schools with among the biggest increases in demand over the last year.
Sunnyside had 62 requests five years ago, 162 last year, and 240 this year.
Similarly, McKinley had 108 requests five years ago, 313 last year, and 405 this year.
Peabody is the biggest jump! It had 68 families request it five years ago, 306 last year, and 447 this year.
Good luck to us all! I wish SFUSD would ask on the application if we would like to hear by email. if 75% of families wanted to, they could save $6000 to devote to a school from stamps alone - plus all the time it takes to print and stuff envelopes and the environmental impact!
Does anyone know how the spots for increased class size would be doled out? Waitpool or round 2?
ReplyDeleteAre they increasing class size? On the pdf report it says total capacity 66, 88, etc. Wouldn't it say 72, 96, etc. if they were increasing classes from 22 to 24?
ReplyDeleteSounds like they have not reached an agreement with the teachers union yet so the charts do not reflect increased class sizes. I would guess that they would add the seats and fill them with wait pool - not round 2 - when they reach an agreement. Good news I guess if you are on a wait pool...
ReplyDeleteIn my job as a statistician, I often see instances where folks try to use numbers to make themselves look better than what they are, glossing over or eliminating the ugly, hard truths.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, SFUSD claimed, "look how great we are by placing 80% of Kindergartners in one of their choices - 60% first choice!" But they neglect to say how many of those placed were siblings, who obviously get their first choice, and of those without siblings, how many get their first choice.
SFUSD will not have my respect until they begin to be open about the hard truths. In fact, it irritates me so much that I'm going to vote against all incumbent school board members until this policy/tendency changes.
It looks like they already eliminated 1 Spanish Immersion K class at Alvarado, because they listed its capacity at 26, not what was 44 last year. Also at West Portal GE, they listed K capacity at 19. Did they already decide to get rid of a kindergarten teacher there? Pretty sad not to have to Immersion K classes at Alvarado and only 1 GE K class at West Portal.
ReplyDeleteSounds like they are not waiting for concessions from unions in all cases. Maybe those teachers didn't have seniority?
This info. is listed under Most Requested: Kindergarten
http://portal.sfusd.edu/data/epc/Highlights2010-2011.pdf
I meant "sad not to have 2 immersion classes at Alvarado"
ReplyDelete9:09...I could not agree more.
ReplyDeleteAs a scientist, I am in a similar data
crunching profession. The numbers
presented by the district and the process
in designing the new system are
laughable.
It's disappointing because you want to
support the public school system, but the
district makes it too hard.
I agree about the statistical manipulation. It'd be nice if they broke out the numbers right away. However, last year Commissioner Norton posted more information about just this subject:
ReplyDeleteThe Sibling Effect
The effect isn't quite as large as you might think.
My mail came and no letter...anyone else get a letter...
ReplyDeleteWe get our mail at 10am.
ReplyDeleteI am shocked, but we got our no.1, Clarendon GE.
Plan A for us was the Pre K program at our preschool, because we have a boy with a September bday. Plan B just jumped in the lead. We thought, its a free gamble, so we only put trophys on the list. I expected to go 0 for 7. I would have no back up plan next year.
1.Clarendon
2.Grattan
3.Clarendon Jbbp
4.Rooftop, 5.Clare Lillienthal, 6.Alvarado, 7.Alice Fong Yu
(We have no diversity factors and we own a flat in the Haight)
Congratulations, 10:49!
ReplyDelete10:49 Congrats!!! That gives me hope. Not feeling to positive this am, and our mail always comes late so it looks like a long day ahead for us.
ReplyDeleteI'm at Alvarado and I don't believe they are dropping a Spanish immersion class. I believe that was a typo. I think it's 44 spots (right now), 18 sibs, and 26 available spaces in the SI program. I'm betting the West Portal numbers were a mistake as well. I also heard that they mis-listed the #'s available for De Availa Chinese immersion on the 5-year demand list--it should be 66, not 44.
ReplyDeleteWhile it's annoying that they made these mistakes on the documents, it's actually good news for those wanting these schools that there are more spots.
Very surprised we got our No 1 too. Peabody. It is our neighborhood school - we have no diversity.
ReplyDelete1. peabody
2. argonne
3. claire lilienthal
4. alamo
5. sherman
6. rooftop
7. clarendon
Many will feel particularly astounded when the palpable reality of the school assignment social engineering process impacts them with a letter today.
ReplyDeleteI have been calmer than my wife Betty Westbrook because I grew up here and long ago learned to expect flagrant 'ends justifies the means' systematized insanity from appointed SF officials.
We got our third choice by a karma miracle. Those who feel they are a lone voice of reason need to voice their opinions so that the fringe is not thought to be the vocal majority, which it is not. Born here in 1962.
we got our number 1: Grattan.
ReplyDeleteWe live in soma zip.
Totally shocked! good luck to everyone.
We listed De Avila as our first choice and did not get it. We were assigned instead (as we expected in this event) to Rosa Parks JBBP, our fourth choice. We are really, really disappointed. We really wanted an immersion program and hoped that applying to a new one would have decent odds.
ReplyDeleteOur son is on the borderline age-wise and could start kindergarten in 2010 or 2011. For now we'll register at Rosa Parks, which is a great school but obviously not immersion, and wait list at De Avila. But I don't know whether we should start him in kindergarten this year if we don't get in, or try again next year.
Remember that you can transfer in to any immersion program in first grade with no language requirement. So that's one more possible avenue in, though of course not a sure-fire one.
ReplyDelete12:33 Also remember that approximately half the seats in immersion programs are held for native speakers until Round 2, so you still may get in.
ReplyDelete12:33, I agree that registering at Rosa Parks is a good idea, as it will give you time to think about what you want to do. And meanwhile, it is definitely worthwhile to waitpool and do R2 at your first choice.
ReplyDeleteWe got McKinley which is very strange considering it was our second choice and we know someone who put it first and didn't get in in the same ses group as us. But we're happy! Here's our list
ReplyDeletemiraloma
McKinley
sunnyside
Monroe
sloat
fairmount
deavila
First of all, I am the Star the Sea/Peabody person and want to say that I am thrilled for Betty that her family got into their third choice.
ReplyDeleteWe went 0-7. Assigned to Rosa Parks GE. What a waste of time this has been.
We got assigned to "Sheridan". Don't know if this is sad or funny: I've never even heard of Sheridan before. And our list wasn't even that exclusive.
ReplyDeleteOff to St. Cecilia's for us.
Hey Board or Ed: guess how I'll be voting on the next parcel tax?
Don't feel bad, I hear Sheridan is next Jose Ortega!
ReplyDeleteWe went 0/7- requested all Spanish immersion. Paul Revere was first choice. We've been assigned Junipero Serra GE. I know nothing about the school. Feeling very disappointed.
ReplyDelete0/7....We received one of the schools that the state is considering closing. Looks like Round II for us or private.
ReplyDelete1:29, we feel your pain. We also got 0/7 after going for all Spanish Immersion schools with Paul Revere SI #1. They gave us Paul Revere GE. Not sure what we will do.
ReplyDeleteWe feel so lucky to get our #1 choice, McKinley. The rest of our choices were: Peabody, Sherman, Sutro, Lafayette, and Grattan. This morning I was steeling myself for bad news and started looking at houses and schools in the East Bay.
ReplyDeleteWe received our 2nd choice, Monroe SI. We live 100 feet away and our daughter speaks Spanish, so we felt we had an excellent shot at it going in. What a relief! It's particularly good since we have no private school backup).
ReplyDeleteFrom memory, here was our list:
1. Alvarado SI
2. Monroe SI
3. Clarendon GE
4. Revere SI
5. Marshall SI
6. Fairmount SI
7. Buena Vista SI
Best of luck!
We got our #3 choice New Traditions Alternative. I wonder, however, if the school is going to be much bigger in the future -- the 5-year demand document at the SFUSD website shows that there are 66 kindergarten spots (3 full classrooms) in the upcoming 2010-2011 school year. Up until last year, there were only 34 spots (1 1/2 classrooms) in each kindergarten class. One of the attractive things about New Traditions is (was?) its small size.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know whether New Traditions is actually going to have 3 kindergarten classrooms in the upcoming year? Whether the other grades are getting larger as well?
Are there similar increases in the number of kindergarten slots at other schools in 2010-2011?
Thanks, best of luck to all in this LONG process.
0/7. All trophy schools listed so as expected.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for those who are disappointed. Re Round 2 *or* private, I just want to suggest that it costs nothing to participate in R2 and to waitpool, and lots of movement happens at that time. It doesn't preclude working the private side while you do it, either.
ReplyDeleteI hope no one stops supporting the public schools with their votes just because they didn't get what they wanted in this round. It's really just a lottery to get the most popular spots; there is no personal animus involved, just too many families with similar backgrounds who want the same spots. They are even changing the system starting next year to make it easier for middle class families to be guaranteed their neighborhood schools. Supporting the schools is much bigger and more important for the whole city than whatever happens with our own individual kids....
And do try Round 2 and the waitpools. The success rate does go up in these rounds. Although it does help to be strategic about picking schools at this point. Try Jose Ortega GE, or Rosa Parks JBBP. Try putting Lakeshore or Commodore Sloat for Round 2--they were popular but not overwhelmingly so, and space may open up.
Sheridan is not a bad school, by the way. It is a largely working class school, and that may not appeal to people here, but it is not a mess by any means, and your kid would probably have a fine kinder year there. I wouldn't say that about all the schools, some of which are having severe difficulties, but Sheridan isn't on that list for me.
Aptos Middle School!
ReplyDeleteHappy.
psst: FYI: Sf native and Betty Westbrook are more of Don's shadowpuppets
ReplyDelete0/7 ugh. No trophy schools, all "hidden gems". We're assigned Tenderloin Community school. So, so, disappointed.
ReplyDeleteJust got our mail and we got our no 1 - Sherman. We live in the attendance area and the only notable 'diversity' is that we speak another language at home and our child was tested for english fluency. Our list was as follows:
ReplyDeleteSherman
Claire Lilienthal
Clarendon
Lawton
Rooftop
West Portal
Alamo
Best of luck to all as I'm somewhat in disbelief!
1:29 who was assigned to Junipero Serra: "Marcia Brady" did a nice review of that school. It's not a middle-class trophy school by any means but it has a wonderful principal and dedicated teachers. I think the principal even posted here on this blog once (2 years ago?)-she's very open-minded. The buildings are kind of ugly, but the location is divine for Bernal families, right next to Holly Park. I assume you'll be waitpooling and doing Round 2, but you might want to check it out. It wouldn't be a terrible school for a kindergarten year.
ReplyDeleteI looked at schools where capacity was greater then first choices. These would be good choices for RoundII.
ReplyDeleteFrancis Scott Key
Mccoppin
Moscone
Glenn Park
Harvey Milk
Jefferson
Junipero Serra
Lafayette
Lakeshore
Flynn GE
Sunnyside
Sutro
Longfellow
Redding
Rosa Parks - JBBP
All of these schools have alot going for them.
Also for Immersion, Round II could very well open up slots as they relese slots to those who are either English speaking or Native Language speaking depending on the school.
-
We got our mail, but no letter. :(
ReplyDeleteEve Cheung the principal at Junipero Serra is absolutely lovely. She is doing a lot with that school. Also, it's a tiny school and that has HUGE benefits. Kids thrive in small, cozy environments. You should check it out!!!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Not to mention a whole host of schools that are worth looking at - for example JOES GE and Hillcrest.
ReplyDeleteWe got our 1st choice - Commodore Sloat (our attendance area, no diversity). Our list was:
ReplyDelete1) Sloat
2) DeAvila
3) Grattan
4) Miraloma
5) WP GE
6) WP Imm
7) Clarendon
Thanks for the insight into Junipero Serra (which is where we are assigned). I'm looking forward to checking it out. We're a two mom family- any glbt families at JS?
ReplyDeleteTo 1:57. I think that is an error. New Traditions is much too small to have 3 K classes. I believe the capacity is still 34
ReplyDeleteBtw, anyone hear anything about Tenderloin cmt school? Greatschools gives it a "4" but there are some positive reviews.
ReplyDeleteWe got Lowell and Gateway!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletewe got our first choice. not a neighborhood school, no diversity. very happy.
ReplyDelete1. grattan
2. peabody
3. feinsten
4. argonne
5. sherman
6. clarendon
7. claire lilienthal
We got Aptos MS (our 1st choice)!
ReplyDeleteUm, my husband is not Don. Another anonymous hit and run. Check your bumper, 2:12. You have another dent!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, we are very happy to have been assigned our 3rd choice, Lafayette. The early start time is going to be brutal, but we're counting our blessings. I think it will be a good fit for our family.
Star of the Sea/Peabody mom, I'm so sorry to hear you went 0/7. We'll keep our fingers crossed for you in Round 2.
Best of luck to everyone today, and onward.
Ok, so we went mostly trophy at the top of list, but we were thnking we would probably get something moderately acceptable even if we went 0 for 7. NOT!!! We open our letter and it says: Tenderloin Community?!?!? Is this some kind of !@!#!#^#%@& joke??
ReplyDeleteOff to catholic school for us too.
Got first choice kindergarten - Rooftop. No diversity factors. Yay!
ReplyDeletegot our first choice - Harvey Milk. not in the neighborhood/no diversity. hope there are some other great families planning on going there! our list:
ReplyDelete1. Milk/2.Clarendon/3. Rooftop/4. Grattan/5. Miraloma/6.Alvarado GE/7. Lilienthal
Betty, Star of the Sea/Peabody mom here. I loved Lafayette and put it down as our second choice (distance from home was the reason). The principal there was one of the most impressive principals I met in all my tours (private, parochial and public). Congratulations. Our first choice school is a private one and we are keeping our fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to those who were disappointed -- so was a friend of mine, who went 0/7 with her attendance area GE assigned when she wanted Spanish immersion.
ReplyDeleteI reviewed 13 or 14 schools in the Southeast part of the city. If I were 0/7 now and did not want immersion, I would run, not walk, to Flynn GE. They are doing a really interesting program connected to the International Baccalaureate program. I'd try Sunnyside too, though it seems like longer shot right now? Not sure.
If I lived in Bernal, I'd take a risk on Serra with a core group of parents, as the principal is so great.
Meanwhile, I am mixing virtual martinis for the 0/7 folks, knowing I am going to be doing this next year.
so we went 0/7 and got assigned Monroe GE. (1st grade)
ReplyDeletesooo now I know nothing about this school. Not unexpected (giong 0/7) but still disapointed.
Now to find info on Monroe.
(came home between the st pat's parade and going to the irish center)
of to celebrate.. St. Pats Day.
I had all immersion programs on my list (not in this order): Starr King, Jose Ortega, Monroe, Marshall, Flynn, Buena Vista, Fairmount.
ReplyDeleteWent 0/7. Got Junipero Serra. I feel like I'm going to throw up. WHAT THE F**K
2:56, your chances with both Jose Ortega and Starr King MI are likely to be much better in Round Two than they were in Round One - a lot of spots open up, and there shouldn't be any siblings taking up spots in that round. So don't give up on those programs - waitlist one of them and list the other #1 on your round two list, and you should have a very good chance.
ReplyDeleteWe got our first choice: Commodore Sloat. I am happy that our search is over.
ReplyDeleteOur list was...
Sloat
Miraloma
Leondard Flynn Spanish
Leonard Flynn English
Alvarado Spanish
Rooftop
Sunnyside
0/7; Junipero Serra. On to Round 2.
ReplyDeleteTodd: Congratulations and welcome to Monroe!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous@2.56pm: My daughter is in 1st grade at Monroe SI and we love the school. Great principal, great teachers, great community. Like everyone we're facing budget crises but we're determined to weather them.
We got our #2: Monroe Spanish Immersion! I'm still in shock. I'll finally be able to sleep again! :-)
ReplyDeleteOur list was:
--Alvarado SI (attendance area)
--Monroe SI
--Buena Vista
--Fairmount
--Flynn SI
--McKinley
--Alvarado General
60 percent received their first choice.
ReplyDeleteI call total bullshit on this!!!
To those who went 0/7: my heart goes out to you. What a painful process this is.
ReplyDelete#2...yahoo! Our attendance area. One and half block 4 minute walk ain't bad. Should we wait list for immersion?
ReplyDeletePlease post if you did not get one of your choices or are unhappy with the choice that you received from your list of seven. Parents from your assignment school are available to speak with you. Many of us were also shocked last year and/or went 0/7 and are now very happy with our placement.
ReplyDeleteWe got none of our choices, were assigned to John Muir. You know, one of the ones in the bottom 12.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't send my son there if SFUSD paid me.
Went 0/7 and got assigned Flynn GE.
ReplyDeleteHarvey Milk (4th on our list; right around the corner)
ReplyDeleteIt is what I thought would probably happen given our list:
Clarendon
McKinley
Miraloma
Harvey Milk
Grattan
Alvarado
West Portal
We got New Traditions, our #1 choice. I also saw the 66 capacity, but I think that's wrong. They normally take 34, like SF Community.
ReplyDeleteWe're not totally surprised to have gotten it, as there are fewer 1st choices as total seats.
Last year we were 0/14. Decided to try Flynn GE. I thought that I would try to get her into the immersion for 1st. But instead we got assigned to Miraloma, our 5 choice! If it was last year, I would have been thrilled. But now we are thrown for a curve. We want to be committed to Flynn but now there is an opportunity for a great school. Logistically, Miraloma is not great but goodness, it is Miraloma. We aren't a wealthy family so the chance to get our kid into a great school seems like an oppty not to pass up. I don't know... Any advice?
ReplyDeleteDid anyone get assigned one of their first grade choices?
ReplyDeleteWe got Sheridan, a friend of mine got Muir for 1st grade. It looks like they haven't accounted for class-size expansion yet.
I think they are just assigning first grade slots at undersubscribed schools for now.
Here's hoping for better luck in the wait pool.
I keep waiting for someone to say something positive about tenderloin community but I guess it's really as bad as we've read/heard. 2 more months of this process is going to be a nightmare.
ReplyDeleteFor those who applied but didn't get in to Starr King and Jose Ortega MI, what the previous poster said is spot on. Half (or a third, it depends on who you talk to at the District) of our slots are held for children that are fluent Mandarin speakers (watching a lot of Ni Hao Kai Lan doesn't count.) While we get more Mandarin speakers each year, those slots never fill up and historically we've had 10-15 at Starr King and up to 10 at Jose Ortega open up in Round II for English speakers and English language learners.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if your child *did* test in as Mandarin speaking but you *did not* get a slot, run, don't walk, to EPC. That's a clear mistake and they should give you a slot immediately. Any child who speaks Mandarin fluently and tried for MI should have gotten in.
We got our neighborhood school-Sherman our #1 choice...we have no diversity
ReplyDeleteWe got our #1 choice of Paul Revere GE, with SE second I'm thrilled.
ReplyDeleteJuniper Serra person - i was concerned we'd be placed there, BUT please go see the principal. she's really great and the facilities are small, which could be nice!
Can anyone explain the difference betwen an amended application and Round 2 application?
ReplyDeleteFrom the SFUSD website:
April 30th: Mail Round 2 offers to families
and
· Mail any offers available for Round 1 participants who submitted an amended application and/or waiting pool
My wife teaches at Tenderloin Community. Most of the teachers are great (including my wife)- especially K and 4 (Hi, Ms. Singer). The kids are generally great and good family involvement. That said, it serves a population of mostly english language learners from the tenderloin. Classes have a dozen languages that are native to the kids. Mongolian, Romainian, Samoan in addition to the usual. It's a good school - but services a distinct need and population. Not a bad option actually for K if you are just looking for a one year stop. I would actually look at Redding as well which is nearby.
ReplyDeleteGot number 3 Sunnyside. Not in the assignment area. Not poor, not socio-economically disadvantaged, English only at home, attended pre-school.
ReplyDeleteChoices were
1. Miraloma
2. Rooktop
3. Sunnyside
4. Alvarado
5. Dianne Feinstein
6. McKinley
7. Lakeshore
We are extremely happy with our assignment.
We got Marshall - our 3rd choice. We are pretty happy. We live in the attendance area for Alvarado. Here is our list:
ReplyDelete1. Alvarado SP
2. Fairmount
3. Marshall
4. Alvarado GE
5. Miraloma
6. Clarendon GE
7. Rooftop
(5-7 were fillers)
I am shocked that two families listed Paul Revere SP #1 and went 0/7. I really can't believe it. That being said - I think there is going to be an extreme amount of movement in the waitlists this year. 0/7 PR families - please keep us posted and we will be thinking of you
We got Lakeshore, which was our top pick.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of our list was Rooftop, Miraloma, Lawton, McKinley, Grattan, Alvarado.
Anyone else headed to Lakeshore?
Marshall is a great school and when we toured it - it really felt right for our family. We feel really lucky for the opportunity to attend a spanish immersion school.
ReplyDeleteWe went 0/7 and assigned to Cleveland. Our list was
ReplyDeleteRevere SI
Monroe SI (assignment area)
Fairmount
Buena Vista
McKinley
Milk
Rooftop
Not at all happy. Awaiting private school responses
Tenderloin - beautiful building, fantastic library, gorgeous cafeteria, vibrant principal, lots of community financial support, roof garden with educator, great teachers, underground parking, near lots of transportation and civic center activities...great for field trips.
ReplyDeleteWe just received our assignment. We were assigned to John Muir Elementary. I have just read that this was one of the 12 lowest performing schools ranked that is in San Francisco. This was not one of our 7 choices.
ReplyDeletewe got Moscone, #7 on the list . We live in the inner mission. Marshall was our #1, hoping for spanish immersion and also it is in the closest proximity to our home. Anybody know about afterschool programs at Moscone?
ReplyDeletethe list...
Marshall
Flynn Spanish
Buena Vista
Alvarado SI
McKinley
Rooftop
Moscone
I am so happy, we got our 1st choice - Commodore sloat, which was really our only chance of a school, but not our attendance area. The rest of our list was: Miraloma, Rooftop, Grattan, Alvarado GE, Clarendon, West Portal GE.
ReplyDelete0/7 and was assigned Sheridan.
ReplyDeleteWe were assigned Sheridan - not one of our 7 and we know nothing about the school. Does anyone have any data? Feeling very disappointed and frustrated. Not over yet for us - will do round 2.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any strategies for round 2 to share? Perhaps we could do this in another thread.
Congrats to those who are happy today - wish it were us...
My son got into Rosa Parks/JBBP today. It was our only choice for him! However, we have decided to put him into a preK and then RP/JBBP in 2011. His bday is 11/29 and he just isn't ready yet.
ReplyDeleteOur duaghter is in RP/JBBP Kindergarten this year and we are thrilled. We were 0/7 last year and had not heard of RP before we were assigned. It's the best value San Fran has offered us! The process was miserable and then we ended up in this fabulous Japanese Program. I still can't quite believe it. We have no diversity factors and speak English (no Japanese at all).
If you are unhappy with your R1 assignment, please check out RP!
Wednesday, March 24 starting at 7:50: School Tour. Meet outside in the large, lower play yard for Rajio Taiso (Japanese calisthenics)
Rosa Parks is located at
1501 O'Farrell Street
South of Geary, between Laguna and Webster
(415) 749-3519
Twin Mom here. We got New Traditions which was #4 on our list. When I did my list, I sort of did numbers 4-7 as filler thinking that I wouldn't accept anything below #3. Now I see that NT looks like a really sweet school but I'm concerned that it seems there isn't more than one K class. Anyway, we are marginally happy about it and are hoping to tour it asap. Would love to hear input on this school.
ReplyDelete0/7, even though we put our neighborhood school first. Got Junipero Serra. Comments above regarding that school are encouraging.
ReplyDelete1. Fairmont
2. Miraloma GE
3. Alvarado SN
4. Alvarado GE
5. Sunnyside
6. Paul Revere SN
7. West Portal GE
We went 0/7 last year and got assigned Sheridan. Hadn't heard of it but went and toured it. In the end we decided it was not the right fit for our child and did not enroll. We went through the appeals, round 2 and waitlist process and got into McKinley where we are super happy. Just wanted to give those 0/7 some hope that it does work for many more than it seems right now. It was a tearful and sleepless Spring for us last year. Hold out for what is right for your family if you can.
ReplyDeleteThere was lots of movement at McKinley during the first few weeks of school as waitlists were shifting around.
I know our school is planning on 24 per K for next year but EPC won't be able to assign those extra kids until the union and board come to an agreement. So assuming that happens there should be 2-6 waitlist spots at the most popular schools that become available well before summer.
hope this helps someone. my k son and our family are moving out of the area and giving up a 1st grade spot in the fall at peabody. we love peabody and are not moving because of anything wrong with sf or it's schools. we just want to move somewhere we can have a pool. so pass the word. there will be a 1st grade spot opening up next fall at peabody.
ReplyDeleteWe got our #2 school, West Portal GE, and we are thrilled! We are in the attendance area, no diversity. Here is our list:
ReplyDelete1. West Portal CN
2. West Portal GE
3. Clarendon JP
4. Alice Fong Yu
5. Claire Lillenthial KN
6. Lakeshore
7. Dianne Feinstein
best of luck to everyone!
0/7, but was not unexpected considering my list was
ReplyDelete1. Rooftop
2. Clarendon GE
3. Clarendon JBBP
4. Miraloma
5. West Portal
6. Lawton
7. McKinley
Disappointed, but not unexpected. Opted for private school last year for Kindergarten in hopes of a better chance at one of my top picks for 1st grade, but to no avail. Here's to round two....
But despite my bummed out round 1 letter, congrats to all those families who got 1/7! I'm hoping for 1/14.
Went 0/7 and got assigned Juniperra Serra (live on the Glen park/Noe border). Wanted immersion and know my first two choices were BV and Fairmont. Definitely disappointed but appreciate the good words about JS. Prefer private if we get accepted this week.
ReplyDeleteI won the lottery. But in order to win others have to lose. I'm sorry we have a system like this.
ReplyDeleteJune here... waited all day for bad news. Cobb - not registering.
ReplyDeleteMy list was:
Peabody
Lafayette
Grattan
Jefferson
Sunset
Argonne
Lilienthal
Too upset to say right now... Guess we will waitpool Lafayette (better chance than peabody) and look at options outside SF.
What I do not understand is I know someone who put Lafayette 5th and got it - same diversity profile (nothing) as us...
We got Alamo which was our first choice. We had no sibling preference but it was our Assignment Area school (which wasn't supposed to make a big difference). Good luck to everyone else.
ReplyDeleteI am delighted that we got our first choice JBBP at Rosa Parks. It is a great school and community and we are very happy to join it.
ReplyDeleteDon, don't smugly say you won the lottery and not tell us where and what your list looked like, while offering pity. That's exactly the insensitive-to-others kind of posting that Kate asked people not to indulge. I know you are gung-ho for neighborhood schools, but lots of people who went 0/7 are STILL not for neighborhood schools, as they'd be no better off. In many cases, they'd be right at the 0/7 school to which they are unhappy being assigned.
ReplyDeleteAt least with this system there is a Round 2. Is there one in the new one?
5:23.. where did you get assigned?
ReplyDelete1st grade mom, assigned to Monroe (~3 post above)
It KILLS me that someone got Miraloma and doesn't want it.. agghhhh.
Thank you for the encouraging notes about Monroe. Now to find out about our afterschool choices and which to waitlist.
I'd love to waitlist Miraloma, but I don't think they'll be increasing class size (they didn't last year). To waitlist a school we have a chance at or THE school we would love to have?????
glad to see so many posts about people who got their 1st or satisfactory choice. I had debated going immersion with my son since he's reading, vocabulary and math at his private schools out of 1st grade textbooks and I'm afriad if he gets board we'll have serious problems in 1st...
Just to recap, last year (SFMom) I missed the deadline for applications because I'd had a baby and was lost my mind thinking the deadline was two weeks after the actual date. Was assigned Sheridan... toured and liked the school. Registered but then couldn't figure out what we'd do afterschool and so took our priave choice. Now next year we don't have the money for private (and the afterschool care would have been a non-issue since my partner was laid off and could have done the afterschool thing.. to bad we didn't have a crystal ball this time last year.)
This system sucks. And I can totally understand WHY someone would vote against parcel taxes. The people at SFUSD, the EPC specifically, have no respect or interest in helping people who are not disadvantaged and might own property get a decent public school.
Okay, I mad and ranting.
time to get off the computer!
OH and our 1st grade list was:
ReplyDeleteMiraloma
Sunnyside
Sloat
Lakeshore
Glen Park
Fairmont SI
West Portal
Assigned: Monroe GE.
0 for 7. Not surprised as we put down all trophy choices.
ReplyDeleteI've read through all of these comments and found some of them to be helpful.
But people, please chill. It's not like you are being sent to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan. You live in San Francisco, one of the most beautiful spots on the Earth. A lot of families recognize that; hence, the heavy demand for schools. You knew that when you decided to live here. Living through the "nightmare" (hardly) of the next few months while things shake out seems like a very small price to pay. Please try to keep it all into perspective. Things will work out.
5:50 p.m., did you also apply to private schools as we did or are you really just that zen? I am in full panic mode after going 0/7 and still have 5 privates to hear from on Friday.
ReplyDeleteWe got McKinley, our first choice! Very pleased. Live nearby and proximity/ease of access on foot or by public transport was key. (Our other nearby non-immersion school is Grattan and we didn't have the stomach for playing the odds.)
ReplyDeleteWe got Lakeshore - I'd love to meet some more Lakeshore families if interested - kehelmala at hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteCheck out some of the other alternatives available in R2 at the district's website. They have FAQ's for some of the newer programs in the district such as the Public Montessori which will be in a new but nearby independent location and information about the Immersion programs for R2 where the native speaker/ non-native speaker balance is sorted out. Go to
ReplyDeletehttp://portal.sfusd.edu/template/default.cfm?page=policy.placement
We were very lucky and got our 2nd choice, Grattan. We are 99.9% sure we are enroll but we are torn as my daughter currently goes to a Pre-K through 8 private school that we absolutely love (but can't really afford) and if we enroll her into public kindergarten this Fall, most likely the school will not accept her younger sibling, who will begin preschool in 2011 (and would've gotten sibling preference). We've had a wonderful time at this school and would not be leaving if it were not for the economy (my spouse and I have not received bonuses or raises in the past 3 years). I also really don't want to deal with the preschool process all over again. That said, we know we are extremely lucky.
ReplyDeleteOur list:
1. Rooftop
2. Grattan
3. Miraloma
4. Clarendon GE
5. Clarengon JPP
6. Alvarado
7. McKinley
We have no diversity factors.
I agree with 5:50pm. I was 0/7 too. But don't freak about a process that you had no control over.
ReplyDeleteDid you get a crappy school? Well...Take control of the situation. As far as I can see below are the options:
1. Accept the assigned school and make it better.
2. Don't take it.
A. You can go for round II or waitlist.
B. If you applied to any private schools, wait for the letters next week before you freak out.
C. Late Birthday? Try next year.
D. Move out of the city.
Unless you want to home school, I am pretty sure that's the options.
Now...Do yourself a favor...Don't listen to the noise. Who cares if some people received their picks or didn't receive their picks. Focus on what choices you have to make.
Lowell and Gateway parent--congrats! Do you have twins going to different schools, then? Lowell and Gateway are such different cultures....
ReplyDelete0/7
ReplyDeleteOur list was:
Alamo
Argonne
Peabody
Lafayette
Sutro
Claire Lilienthal
Sherman
Got assigned to Cobb. Obviously not going there. We are in the central richmond which guided our choices, but don't even know what our neighborhood school means or what difference it makes.
Congrats to all who won the lottery.
We are moving to Marin, thank eff we have the means to do so. I will definitely miss the City but looking forward to the warm summers at least.
Goodness, if you got assigned Flynn GE or Monroe GE, you got lucky! These are fine schools.
ReplyDeleteAlong with the zen comments, I would urge many of you to check out your assigned schools. There are a few I wouldn't touch. But many are quite fine. Flynn GE is on the way up for sure, and Monroe is a functional community. Junipero Serra has a fabulous principal and a lot of potential.
I would also look at the lists people are putting out for likely R2 choices, like Rosa Parks JBBP, Harvey Milk. I've always thought Redding was a hidden little gem, too--worth a tour.
We got Clarendon as our only pick (as a safety in case we went 0/5 for private schools).
ReplyDeleteEveryone told us to list more than one public school for a safety, and I'm so glad we didn't.
So, we're 1/1! Let's hope the privates go this well.
Hi, we went 0/7 and were placed at Longfellow. I would like to hear what anyone has to say about this school. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFor those of you that got Paul Revere: welcome - we're delighted you come join us!
ReplyDeleteAs you probably know, there is a lot of discussions going on about where Revere is headed next year. We, the parental community at Revere, are committed to continue the path to success for our kids that Lance Tagomori, Revere's principal for the last 5 years, has set us on. Glad to have you on board with us! Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns: e-mail us at jcvpve@mindspring.com
Every year I have to post this, so I'll do it again.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you 0/7 or those assigned to Muir, JSerra, Sheridan, etc. There were plenty of us in that situation in years past.
I went 0/5 way back when we only had that many choice. I had an option to go to a school that had no official PTA, was ranked 1 on the API index and 3 on the similar schools index (it may have been the other way around, but you get the idea.)
I visited the school and spent time talking to PPS Ambassadors (one who is probably on this list right now!) about their own kids experience at the school. This parent generously spent hours talking to me.
We decided to 'take a chance' - on the first day of school we met some other like minded families. When school started, we found we fell in love with our school, the teachers, the kids (and each other!)
A group of us started a PTA that year and started getting the good word out about our school (thanks to great counseling from PPS.)
But it took years before I fully got past everyone else's idea of our school and stopped letting it bother me. One day, while wearing the T-shirt at our local market, a woman asked if I was a teacher there. I said no, a parent. She said "I would never send my child to that school" (yes, to my face.) I had my doubts - what was I doing to my kid? Was I really making the right decision?
But my son was doing great, we had a strengthening and growing community and the teachers were dedicated and great (and, importantly, we a fantastic principal, too.)
Two years later, same T-shirt, same market, people were chasing me down to ask about the school and tell me how much they wanted to go there. They'd 'heard' such good things. They were right!
This story is about Miraloma - API/same school index was 1 and 3. Miraloma was exactly were some of the schools being mentioned here as unacceptable.
My kids have done great here. We have friends in private school, homeschooled, and in other schools. I've found this was a great choice for us and know that my kids have received a top notch education - and they would have wherever we would have attended because they are fortunate enough to have parents that value education and support and encourage this. This is our last few months there - both kids will be in middle school.
What many of you think of Muir, J Serra, Tenderloin, is exactly the sentiment that was out there about Miraloma when my oldest was applying for kindergarten.
My advice (and I know there are dozens of others with similar experiences on this list - please chime in!): Go visit these schools and make your own impression. It will be hard to get past what others (who have never set foot in the school) will tell you about a school that 'looks' a certain way from test scores, demographics, etc.
All these schools are making changes and can become even stronger with interested parents who are willing to join and help strengthen and grow their school community for their and all kids.
I repeat: my kids attended Miraloma when it was a 1-3 and they have had an excellent education from the beginning. Teachers at these schools are dedicated beyond belief. Your kids will do well at a similar school and you can be part of building something new and strong for your child and all children.
And, yes, we are a dual working family, just as most of the families that helped to grow the Miraloma community - we all have full time jobs.
It's not an easy personal journey for a parent, but it's really a wonderful journey to take. Hundreds and thousands of us in SF have done it and helped strengthen and build the 'trophy' and 'hidden gem' schools on this list.
A fellow parent on the Aptos SSC went to Longfelleow and speaks so lovingly and fondly of it!
ReplyDeleteRe: Longfellow, and others wanting to connect with other parents. Contact Parents for Public Schools and ask to talk to a Parent Ambassador from that school.
A parent ambassador made the difference for us over 8 years ago!
www.ppssf.org
Does anyone know what to do if your kids get assigned different schools? We played the K and 3rd grade lottery and got Jefferson for K (it was our 7th choice, so pretty surprised at this, since it's high-demand school) and for 3rd got New Traditions, which was not our list. For many obvious reasons, we want our kids at the same school and would prefer Jefferson. So what is the process for attempting to get Jefferson for 3rd grade?
ReplyDelete"Hi, we went 0/7 and were placed at Longfellow. I would like to hear what anyone has to say about this school. Thanks!"
ReplyDeleteLongfellow - big school (4-5 K classes), good APIs but non super affluent demographics, which indicates its teaching is good. Principal low-key. Dealkiller when I toured: No After School for kinders, but they have some arrangement with a center run by a local church for kinder care. It's not a bad option, if you can sort the afterschool.
Assigned JS. Like the story about Miraloma, et. al. and would love a Stand and Deliver moment. I'm bothered and curious that JS has no API for 2009 because of "adult irregularity":
ReplyDeleteThis school (or the district on behalf of the school) has concluded and reported to the California Department of Education that during the 2009 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) testing an adult irregularity in testing procedure occurred at the school affecting 5 percent or more of pupils tested. Therefore, this school does not have a valid API for 2009.
Thoughts on being politically incorrect with the principal and asking the blunt questions about how the school can plan to be the next Miraloma?
"All told, 79 percent of all general education students got one of their seven choices and 60 percent received their first choice."
ReplyDeleteThat's similar stats to last year. For that year, 72% of non-sibs got one of their 7 picks and 45% got their #1. Stats for non-sibs would probably be roughly the same this year, assuming the overall percentage of sibs is the same.
Please don't tell me to "chill." That really makes me bristle. People have been asked to post their information and they are still digesting said information.
ReplyDeleteTo 7:21...
ReplyDeleteSibling priority only applies to younger siblings. So the 3rd grader gets no preference in the K's school. If the older kid's school is OK and you put the K in the waitpool for it, they'll be in the higher-priority sibling pool, just behind the Approved Appeals.
For the Twin Mom, New Traditions has 1 and a half classes for each grade. That means that there are 6 "regular" classes K-5 and 3 "split" classes K-1, 2-3, 4-5, so you'll be able to keep your twins in different rooms for the whole of elementary school.
ReplyDeleteFor June, if you live in the Richmond, and are willing to go to Grattan, consider New Traditions. It's nearby and an interesting school.
Happy to get our #1 choice Alvarado SP and really amazed given our son refused to speak a word on his spanish test and was applying as an english only speaker
ReplyDelete1. Alvarado
2. Marshall
3. McKinley
4. Fairmount
5. Leonard Flynn
6. Paul Revere
7. New Traditions
We did the math with Adam's spreadsheet and figured we'd likely get something but stunned we got our first choice.
Thanks 7:15 for Trying blowing some sunshine here but when the spouse of a tenderloin elementary teacher tells us it's not bad for one year stop then how are we supposed to react to the news of getting totally screwed by this ridiculous system
ReplyDeleteAre there any bars or restaurants that are offering 0/7 misery specials tonight?
ReplyDelete7:15 to 7:41:
ReplyDeleteAgain, go see for yourself and don't rely on someone else's opinion to make your own. And talk to other PARENTS at that school. You'll need more than one input on a school!
Tenderloin has an amazing facility and TONS of resources (corporate support, CBO involvement, volunteers, etc.) I'd love for my kids to have access to that!
We got our third choice, Francis Scott Key. Happy and also slightly disappointed because we really wanted Jefferson (live in the attendance area and it's just two blocks away).
ReplyDelete1. Jefferson
2. Lawton
3. Francis Scott Key
4. Sunset
5. DiFi
6. Robert Louis Stevenson
7. Ulloa
We got Milk!
ReplyDelete7:26, I asked Eve Cheung at Serra quite a few politically incorrect questions and think you should not hesitate to do so in a gracious way. She is very smart, and what I loved about her is that she is fiercely dedicated to the students she now serves, but eager for help from middle-class parents. I got the sense that becoming "the next Miraloma," for her, could not happen at the expense of the kids she now serves, but that at the same time, she wasn't defensive or territorial about the school as it is now. She's a well-educated parent; she has or had kids in SFUSD; she gets it, but she's not a snob or a Type A.
ReplyDeleteThe facilities will not inspire -- except for nearby Holly Park -- but neither did Daniel Webster's not too long ago, and it looks cute as a button now. Ditto Flynn, which I used to drive by daily and lament. The small-scale low-income housing development near JS has gardens, people at home, no visibly boarded up units, parents with kids at the school. I'm not saying everything about Junipero Serra is perfect, but with a handful of local parents willing to take the risks and do the work, I think it has enormous potential. It seems doubly important not to ignore JS if Revere is under threat (I hope it's not, but it now faces stupid and stark choices from the feds). Ms. Cheung and Mr. Tagomori were the most impressive principals I met in the SE quarter, and they're both in Bernal.
We got McKinley as our #6 choice, likely because we are attendance area. Though it wasn't super high on our list, we excited to make a go of it.
ReplyDeleteCHINESE IMMERSION (DE AVILA)
CLARENDON J
CLARENDON GE
TAYLOR ER
ORTEGA JOSE
MCKINLEY
JEFFERSON
7:15 here, and wanted to just clarify something about Miraloma.
ReplyDeleteThe school when we joined was 245 kids (only 15 people put down the school as a kinder choice for 60 spots at that time.)
We attracted families to the school, and the families there, stayed. No one was 'pushed out'.
The school is now full at 360 and has been for a while.
So, underenrolled schools CAN change with the addition of new families and still serve the populations it historically has served.
Any everyone can benefit. It's not an 'either/or' situation, if done well with a thoughtful principal and teaching staff. Sounds like J. Serra has that.
Got our first choice Lafayette,our neighborhood school. Our list was
ReplyDeleteLafayette
Peabody
Sutro
Jefferson
Argonne
Alamo
Claire Lillienthal
Will await private school letters but am thrilled to have a solid option for next year!
I'd really encourage people to check out Jose Ortega's GE program. Its a small vibrant school on the move and you can see a tremendous growth in the MI program over just a few years. Compare its trajectory versus other immersion paths and the numbers paint a story of families committed and investing in the school. We're one of those families
ReplyDeleteThe GE its ripe for a few committed parents to join and really make it a premier school. Its a safe neighborhood, close to 280, and the many parents park near the school and take the M line to downtown
Tips for Round 2.
ReplyDeleteYou have the option of listing one waitpool school and seven additional amended choices. For your amended choices you really want to put down schools that you like better then what you were assigned but have better odds. Good choices are schools that had no waitpools or small waitpools last year. These will more likely have openings during Round 2.
On May 1st 2009 here are some schools that had no waitpools (not an exhaustive list)
- McCoppin
- Garfield
- J. Ortega GE
- Flynn GE
- Monroe GE
- Redding
- Rosa Parks JBBP
- Sutro
There are also a number of schools that had very small waitpools. These would also be worth considering at least for your waitpool school.
- Harvey Milk
- Spring Valley
- Glen Park
- Sunnyside
- Francis Scott Key
- SF Community
- Yick Wo
- Moscone
- New Traditions.
Finally, another way to look at the demand numbers would be to consider schools where capacity exceeds 1st choice demand. Not quite as clear as the waitpool info but still worth considering particularly for your waitpool choices.
Francis Scott Key
Mccoppin
Moscone
Glenn Park
Harvey Milk
Jefferson
Junipero Serra
Lafayette
Lakeshore
Flynn GE
Sunnyside
Sutro
Longfellow
Redding
Rosa Parks - JBBP
All in all, these schools have alot going for them. Hang in there you will find a school that you will be thrilled about.
Congratulations to everyone who got schools they wanted! And to the people who went 0/7 – I’m so sorry. That happened to us two years in a row, so I know it’s very rough. (We got our #1 pick after Round #2 last year.)
ReplyDeleteI just have to wince, though, when I read people saying they wouldn’t vote for a parcel tax because of their lottery results. I know you’re very frustrated and that this is a stressful process, but I wish when you said that you had to look into the eyes of the teachers at our child’s school who will likely loose their jobs next year because of budget cuts. These are real people being affected by budget cuts – not nameless bureaucrats you might imagine are singling out your family in the assignment process.
Also, cutting funds for education is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. I know it doesn’t feel that way – you were “shut out” in Round #1 and so plan to head for private or leave the City, so what do you care? But funding cuts affect so many dedicated teachers, staff…and children! Our future! It’s like voting for funding cuts to Muni because you’re sick of your train being late. You figure, who cares? I’ll just drive and it won’t be my problem anymore. So then Muni has less money and has to cut train service, forcing more people into their cars…which suddenly hurts your commute, the environment, etc. In both situations, it’s like this horrible death spiral. More cuts mean it’s even less desirable, which makes you want to make more funding cuts, which makes it even less desirable, etc.
Anyhow, good luck to everyone in Round #2 and next week when private school letters are mailed.
Can anyone explain what sort of chance we have to get a different school if we got our #7 choice? It sounds like we can waitlist, but we are behind anyone who went 0/7 (understandably), so is it worth it to try to waitlist? we really wanted immersion and don't have any diversity factors, etc. we would be happy to move until well in the school year but it sounds like the wait pools will close at the end of august, although if we are in a parochial school, we could get an open spot until well in the fall? thank you for your help.
ReplyDeleteI would ordinarily just be watching from the sidelines - but I did want to let some people know that there will be at least 3 spots open for Glen Park in first grade. We have a spot open right now and two kids are moving onto their big siblings Catholic schools come fall (they both turned 5 in the late fall). I am happy to talk to people about our experience there (our PTO President will be at the Wednesday night counseling session and I;ll be at the Saturday Sunnyside session). So feel free to page me as GlenParkMom.
ReplyDeleteAnd hi SFMom! It's your old neighbor!
Much Luck to Everyone!
To 8:08
ReplyDeleteThe EPC intends on being very aggressive about clearing the waitpools this summer and getting more people placed by the first day of school. Their hope is to process all the waitpools and close them by September 1st. Many of the schools will go through there entire waitpool including those who received one of their choices. Alot of people submit a waitpool request (as well as register at a school) who then decide to do something different - go private, move, stay at the school they are at, wait a year..... Hence alot of movement at the end of the process.
Therefore, its worth waitpooling for the school you really want. On the other hand, doing so may keep you hoping. It may be better to just let go and embrace the option before you.
Star of the Sea/Peabody here, I completely agree with what 8:03 p.m. said. If we get a private school on Friday, we won't participate in Round 2 or the waitpool process. Having said that, I will happily vote to increase taxes in order to benefit our public schools.
ReplyDeleteI want to encourage everyone who lives in the Glen Park area to really take a look at that school. If anyone was at the PPS Library event at Glen Park last fall you would know why. Wonderful location, good programs and teachers, good test scores and a growing parent involvement. It just needs a little more TLC.
ReplyDelete7:31 -- 5:50 here. I suggested that people exactly like you chill because you are probably so caught up in your anxiety today that you are forgetting a basic life coping mechanism--that it won't help you at all to panic about the things that you can't control. I'm about as atheist as they come, but that old saying is pretty helpful regardless of one's stripes: "Lord, grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” As 6:39 summarized nicely, you actually have a number of options, and they are all within your control. So put your energy into attacking those options, and try not to worry about things that you can't control. It will take some effort, including possibly holding your child out the first week or two of school in the fall, but everybody I know with kids entering kindergarten the last few years has eventually ended up somewhere that they were pleased with. And 5:55, no I'm not that zen, but I just don't think melting down on this blog or in the privacy of my own home is going to help.
ReplyDeleteWe got our first choice, Harvey Milk and are thrilled.
ReplyDeleteOur list:
Harvey Milk
Rooftop
Miraloma
Grattan
Commodore Sloat
Alvarado GE
Sunnyside.
Neighborhood schools promote community, keep childhood friendships alive, increase parental participation, reduce traffic, smog and stress.
ReplyDeleteContact Students First:
sfstudentsfirst@yahoo.com
to get involved in the measure for neighborhood schools.
You are getting neighborhood schools, Don, along with with a preference for mostly low-income kids who will not for the most part be making the trek out your way. This btw is only fair given the state of schools in the poorest neighborhoods. Take your victory lap already and please don't clutter the November ballot with needless advisory measures that cast more heat than light on a complex topic. We need to focus our electoral energies on reforming the tax and budget systems in November.
ReplyDelete8:03 pm,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your eloquence! It is a frustrating system, but neighborhood schools are not the solution. Let's work on ensuring that all children get a good education.
Remember, education and crime are inextricably bound together. Let's stop wasting time an moey on opposing measures aimed at helping schools and let's stop the out of control spending on incarceration. Funnel the billions into education. Until Brett Harte and Malcolm X are as desireable as Rooftop, all the kids lose because it won't be long in life before a Rooftop kid gets robbed by a Brett Harte kid if we continue down this path.
Did anyone get DeAvila?
ReplyDeleteIt was our first choice, but we're pretty happy since we got our second choice, Alvarado SI
Folks -- I never thought I'd see the day that some of the schools on the high demand list here would be above a wonderful school like Lakeshore. I know many families at the place right now who are VERY happy with it. Not quite sure what caused the turnoff in interest, but it certainly is not because that school is a bad one. It is a fine school. I'm also surprised at how low Jefferson is. Sad to see the bizarre lemming-like ritual has apparently not abated in parents' choices this year.
ReplyDeleteYes but think of the wonderful options that families have in round 2. Lakeshore and Jefferson! not to mention a bunch of others that would be wonderful choices. Not bad
ReplyDeleteMarcia, would you please get off this thread. As you've pointed out, you don't have, nor have you had, any kids go through the San Francisco enrollment process.
ReplyDeleteI find it oddly intrusive of you to be offering advice to other parents here that have been assigned to a school not of their choosing.
We got Lakeshore, #2 on our list. Would have preferred Miraloma (our neighborhood school), but we're satisfied, and thrilled not to have gone 0/7. List was:
ReplyDeleteMiraloma
Lakeshore
Monroe SI
Commodore Sloat
Fairmount SI
Buena Vista SI
Flynn SI
"people exactly like you chill because you are probably so caught up in your anxiety today that you are forgetting a basic life coping mechanism"
ReplyDeleteDo you realize how condescending you sound? PLEASE STOP with the sanctimonious crap and let people digest things the way they need to digest things. And stop assuming that people are consumed with anxiety, quivering in the corner.
"I just have to wince, though, when I read people saying they wouldn’t vote for a parcel tax because of their lottery results."
ReplyDeleteGo ahead an wince.
A parcel tax isn't going to pass.
If you don't like the schools the way their headed, move.
That's what most parents who went 0/7 multiple years in a row have already had to do.
It's already eminently obvious that SE parents got screwed again this year and are going to get screwed again next year because of the CTIP and Preschool Childhood Development families being placed ahead of local preference.
Parcel TAX! NO WAY!
Those that went 0/7 - Think about it. You can waitlist your top choice and still go through round II. And due to budget cuts, it is a guarantee that there will be spots available at every school no? I hate to say it but because of your 0/7 cohort, you are much more likely to get your top choice than those who got a placement today (but not their top choice). good luck
ReplyDelete8:29pm Have you heard the word "assvice"? It's when you think you're giving advice, but you're actually talking out of your ass.
ReplyDelete0/7
ReplyDeleteassigned to Junipera Serra
Our list:
Starr King MI
Chinese Immersion at Devilla
Jose Ortega Mi
Flynn SI
Buena Vista
Alice Fong Yu
Sunnyside
I am so upset and disappointed. Last night when I checked the SFUSD data 4 of the schools we picked had less 1st round applicants than spaces available (I know, I know there is siblings and spaces for native speakers) so I was felling hopeful. Except for AFY we made reasonable choices. Oh sure we might get a space later in April or September or October but why do we all have to go through this crap. When we toured Starr King the principle said its unlikely that the true dual immersion thing will ever become a reality and it would be nice if families didn't have to sit around on wait lists while they held the spots that were never going to be filled by native speakers (not a direct quote).
When I first became a parent, as a SF native I thought that I would never send my kid to a public school. But then as I began to hear how things were changing, small classes, involved parents, etc. my attitude changed and in fact I became very excited about the Mandarin IM programs . My change in attitude was complete when our financial circumstances took a dive and it was no longer a choice. We have no back up. I toured our local Catholic school which was okaaay (huge classes) and they wanted $1100. plus non refundable to hold a place.
Because we are in JS district I did do some checking in case we were assigned there. I really don't want to send my child there. I have been reading this blog for the last 2 years. I am not looking forward to what lies ahead. Having to wait the last 2 months for an assignment was bad enough when most people know where their kid is going when they born. I am really not looking forward to all the running around and second guessing about where to wait pool etc.
Thanks for all the support given on this list, no one better tell me to chill--I know what the options are.
Good luck to us all, this is so ridiculous.
Thanks all, CJ
About the first grade lottery:
ReplyDelete--most spots open up in the summer, when families let their school know they won't be returning
--some schools have more movement than others in 1st grade, due to people moving away or going to parochial schools (the EPC should know which ones these are!)
--some schools have less movement, due to federally mandated limits on their class size, due to grants they receive (Miraloma, for example).
If you are concerned about class size increases, please let the District and Board know. The district only saves $8 million (out of their $113 million deficit) by laying off teachers and increasing class size K-3! But it's not a high priority for some reason --just two furlough days would save more, and there are plenty of other options for cutting (though no options are pleasant) away from the classroom. Please make your voices heard!
Good luck, everyone!
Hey 8:29, people process things differently. It doesn't mean they can't cope with life. Try to come to terms with that.
ReplyDeleteWe got 0/7. I'm so depressed. We were assigned Junipero Serra. Seems like a lot of us were assigned there.
ReplyDelete"It's already eminently obvious that SE parents got screwed again this year and are going to get screwed again next year because of the CTIP and Preschool Childhood Development families being placed ahead of local preference."
ReplyDeleteSE parents? Not sure which side of the city you mean. CTIP1 and SE parents are one and the same.
You know things are bad when people start quoting the serenity prayer.
ReplyDeleteTurn off your computers, have a stiff drink, and submit amended lists or waitpool requests.
This system sucks, doesn't it?
From the responses here it sounds like they should open an immersion program at JS
ReplyDelete9:21 PM
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you could live with St. John's in Glen Park. Yes, the classes are larger, but they've got a terrific staff.
You might not care about this, but one of the inventors of the iPhone sends his kids there. There is some sort of connection with Apple at the school.
It is probably the most liberal and open minded Catholic schools in the city. It has wonderful and diverse parent community.
I think yearly tuition is about $5,000 or $6,000K.
Another plus is that it is K-8, so your kid(s) will be together with their classmates for 8 years.
I apologize for handing out advice. It seems that so many parents got assigned to JS and are not comfortable with it.
Another strategy I can think of is for all the Bernal Glen Park parents who got JS to form a yahoo or facebook group, get together for coffee, and see if you can form a community in which you will be comfortable.
"CTIP1 and SE parents are one and the same."
ReplyDeleteNope. I'm in a CTIP1 zone, in the panhandle.
9:21, I've heard that MI spots generally open up in Round 2 as they start filling the ones designated with Mandarin speakers with English speakers. Please keep up your hope.
ReplyDeleteI am in shock. I'm new to the city. My twins actually got into our #1 choice, Yick Wo. I can't believe that.
ReplyDeleteBut my middle school daughter got into Presidio too. This experience is the opposite of what my partner endured two years ago with her kid. She went 0/15 then got a lucky call mid October for Yick Wo.
Amazed. Thrilled. Sometimes the breaks do come your way, I guess.
OK, since the JS contingency seems to be in full force (maybe this is an X-Files conspiracy), I thought I'd come out of the closet to see if other 0/7 JSers would like to meet.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter got assigned to JS this morning. If you are interested in meeting with other parents/kids that are 0/7 JSers, e-mail me at jake@pacificcrestlaw.com
I would be happy to try to coordinate a group mourning/planning session (maybe we can all tour together).
9:08, geez louise lay off Marcia already. She very much has a stake in the schools because she has a child entering next year. More to the point for this list, she took the time to post many interesting and thoughtful reviews of several SE schools, including Junipero Serra by the way, that had never been reviewed on this blog before. She did us all a service in that!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Marcia's review of Junipero Serra is well-worth reading now, especially for all of you who were assigned there. As happened at Miraloma 7-8 years ago, Sunnyside 2 years ago, and Alvarado as long as 10 years ago, I might suggest a group of you getting together to enter as a group from the Bernal area. The principal really is great and the location is stellar.
9:50 PM:
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Marcia hasn't toured all these schools only because she has a child entering next year. Her reviews do seem to have a tinge of "Gee, I'd really like to get in with the Harvard polical crowd in SF."
Sorry! I don't place much weight on her reviews. I toured some of the schools she wrote up, or know parents at some of the schools. I'd say her reviews are a little to rosy coloured, especially for someone who never really had to deal with the grim reality of a crummy public school.
Really need to hear from someone about Dr. William L. Cobb Elementary, we got that in the mail today and it was not on our list and he did not ever attend Montessori prior. Anyone like or not like the school. Know about it... Anyone get this assignment?
ReplyDelete9:57, you are entitled to your opinions of those schools and to your assumptions about someone you apparently have never met. I think it's unhelpful to tell someone to leave this thread. She's offered up reviews that many found helpful (according to the comments). So they didn't yank your chain, so what? No need to be rude to her. I might disagree with you but I'm not telling you to go away. I think we all benefit from advice and information and commentary that is offered in good faith, even when we disagree with it.
ReplyDeleteI encourage all parents who are conserned about going 0/7 and getting a JS school assignment to contact jake and come out for a meeting.
ReplyDeleteWe got Lafayette, our no. 6 choice, and I'm genuinely surprised. Our list was:
ReplyDeleteAlice Fong Yu
West Portal
Robert Louis Stevenson
JOES MI
Peabody
Lafayette
De Avila
For those who are willing to consider parochial schools, I would recommend you look at St. Monica--I *loved* this school. But when push came to shove, my husband could not overcome his discomfort with the Catholic element, so I don't think we'll take our spot there. But it's a wonderful little school with strong academics and enrichment programs and a committed principal and teachers.
We await a private letter later this week, but I'm already thinking that we're lucky to have been assigned a strong school, and we should take this opportunity to know our beloved city in another way...
Just curious about diversity index...does that meaning level of education or race? I assume home language, zip code, and being part of a subsidized program are included...anything else?
ReplyDeleteMaurita, if you were assigned Cobb, that is the Gen Ed program. The Montessori program used to share the
ReplyDeleteCobb building but it is moving next year. Now they call it SF Public Montessori Program. They took Cobb out of the name b/c it won't be at that location next year.
We toured Cobb and liked it. It doesn't have a lot of buzz, but seemed like it would be just fine.
Hi Maurita, your assignment to Cobb is not to Montessori, as the Montessori program will now be moving to a different location. You have been assigned to Cobb General Education, which is historically a low-income school serving the Western Addition. Due to the demographics its test scores are fairly low. I've heard nice things about the community there, but it is a school that folks on this site would most likely scorn or at least avoid.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone else gotten New Traditions? If so, are you happy about it? Very hard to find info on this school. Is there a review on it here?
ReplyDelete10:08, zip code and education have nothing to do with it. It's only the 4 questions below for K.
ReplyDeleteDoes your family live in Public Housing? YES NO Does your family participate in Cal Works? YES NO
Does your family receive Section 8 assistance? YES NO Is your family eligible for free/reduced lunch? YES NO
We have friends w/kid in K this year at New Traditions. They love it. It was their first choice. They live nearby and walk to school.
ReplyDeletewhat i find discouraging is that we're 0/7 and I keep reading on this thread and others to list in round II schools that we're on our list! Rosa Parks JPPB was 2, Harvey Milk was 4th. Should we relist these schools even though we didn't get them? we're waitlisting Mckinley and are hoping that works out.
ReplyDeleteWe spent the entire night talking about options for us outside of living. I guess we're lucky in that we rent so we could easily pick up and leave. Just wish I didn't feel pushed out.
SO funny! I left that last post. What I meant was outside of living of SF! Not outside of living like, uh, dying. we're not *that* despondent!
ReplyDeleteWe got our first pick, Grattan. I'm very grateful for this assignment.
ReplyDeleteAre there any new Grattan parents who would like to get together before school starts? We'd love to meet some new kindergarten friends. grattankindy@gmail.com
"Rosa Parks JPPB was 2, Harvey Milk was 4th. Should we relist these schools even though we didn't get them? "
ReplyDeleteThat's really surprising you didn't get Rosa Parks JPPB after listing it #2: there were only 65 requests for 44 slots (the demand document gives capacity as 40, but that must be a typo), and only 15 first choice requests. It was a really shrewd choice on your part, and very puzzling you didn't get in.
Yeah, I'd waitpool Rosa Parks JBBP above McKinley. McKinley had 408 total requests this year, 65 first choice requests: the math looks a lot better for Rosa Parks JBBP.
10:08, zip code and education have nothing to do with it. It's only the 4 questions below for K.
ReplyDeleteDoes your family live in Public Housing? YES NO Does your family participate in Cal Works? YES NO
Does your family receive Section 8 assistance? YES NO Is your family eligible for free/reduced lunch? YES NO
PLUS
Did your child go to preschool? YES NO
Did your child's language assessment test indicate that he/she was an English Language Learner? YES NO
I just don't get this lottery.
ReplyDelete5:22pm said "We got our #2 school, West Portal GE, and we are thrilled! We are in the attendance area, no diversity. Here is our list:
1. West Portal CN
2. West Portal GE
3. Clarendon JP
4. Alice Fong Yu
5. Claire Lillenthial KN
6. Lakeshore
7. Dianne Feinstein"
We live in the attendance area, no diversity and but West Portal GE as #1. Rank choice is supposed to break the tie. Why did they get it and not us? Congrats to you 5:22. We'll try the wait list and hopefully see you the fall.
Vicki, I thought that second language thing was no longer used as a diversity point. That it was just to know if your kid needed special programs to learn English.
ReplyDeleteThat you listed Rosa Parks JBBP as #2 and didn't get it is really an outlier. It was on the Open Enrollment list last year and demand didn't really go up much from then. I'd go into the EPC and make sure they coded your application correctly.
ReplyDelete5000+ applications are all typed into the computer by hand - read off a sheet of paper that someone has bubbled in.
"I toured our local Catholic school which was okaaay (huge classes) and they wanted $1100. plus non refundable to hold a place."
ReplyDeleteWhich one was that? I don't remember having to pony up anything like that for St. Finn Barr or St. Philip's. Epiphany and St. Elizabeth's are also good Catholic schools nearby.
What changed was how they identified English Language Learners. For the last few years (before this year) it was self reporting. In other words did you answer anything but English in the Home Language Survey. This year if you answered anything but English you were asked to come in for an English Language Assessment. In part to determine the Language programs needed for your child but it was also used to identify if your child was an ELL student for the diversity index.
ReplyDeletewe're the ones who had rosa parks jppb and harvey milk on our list and are 0/7.
ReplyDeleteI *really* want Mckinley since it's near us and a lot of my sons friends go there. I'd like to wait list this but what I want to know is if I can still add Rosa parks JPPB to our list in Round II.
From my letter, and from what I'm reading, I have to choose 7 *different* schools. Do I really?
my husband thinks it's because we're anglos and both have our bachelors. I keep telling him it's the lottery and bad luck. just so surprised (and trying not to feed into my husbands cynicism) at this outcome since, again, we really didn't vie for popular schools.
Good Night everyone. Daylights saving time starts tonight. Don't want to loose anymore sleep then I already have.
ReplyDeleteVicki,
ReplyDeleteSince you're here, I'll just tell you that I think PPS should change there name from PPS to "PPS, but not in Bernal and not in Glen Park."
Why isn't PPS doing something about the lack of good schools in Bernal and Glen Park?