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Guide to the DCPS Preschool, Pre-K and Out-of-Boundary Lo=ery Process

District of Columbia Public Schools

1200 First St. NE

Washington, DC

20002

202.442.5885

202.442.5026

| dcps.dc.gov

Lo=ery Basics
There are two types of applicaAons in the Lo=ery:
1. Pre-school (3yrs) & Pre-kindergarten (4yrs) ApplicaAons 2. Out-of-Boundary ApplicaAons for Kindergarten 12th Grade

Why do we have a Lo=ery?

DCPS is proud to oer numerous pre-school and pre-k seats. However, students are not required to a=end pre-school or pre-k, and some schools are unable to accommodate all applicants, because of space. Therefore, pre- school and pre-k seats are allocated using a fair and equitable lo=ery system. The Out-of-Boundary Lo=ery is used to allow parents of K-12th grade students to apply for available seats at a school other than their childs assigned school(s).

Lo=ery Timeline
Before February 25:
Parents should apply ONLINE for the DCPS Lo;ery between January 28, 2013, and February 25, 2013. Only ONLINE applicaAons will be accepted; no paper.

AFer Feb 25:

Lo=ery Runs March 8, 2013 - Lo=ery Results Available Online Week of April 1 - Lo=ery Results Mailed Home with Enrollment Forms By May 1, 2013 Applicants who receive a seat through the lo=ery must submit a complete DCPS enrollment packet in order to claim their seat

 Lo=ery Timeline

Seats Remaining & Waitlists:

Families will be placed on the waitlist only at schools they ranked higher than the school where they received a seat. It is possible to be waitlisted at all school selecAons. Some schools may sAll have seats available a`er the lo=ery. These seats are available on a rst-come rst-served basis, regardless of whether the child lives in- boundary or out-of-boundary. If all of a schools seats are lled through the lo=ery, parents who approach the school a`erwards will be added to the waitlist in the order they contacted the school. If a seat opens at any point, the school will contact parents on the waitlist in order of waitlist rank.

What to Consider When Looking for a School

1. Distance to travel to school 2. In-person school visit
Meet school sta Observe classroom(s)

3. Special Programs Oered

Reggio Emilia/Montessori Arts IntegraAon STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & MathemaAcs) InternaAonal Baccalaureate/Dual Language/World Cultures

4. 5. 6. 7.

Before and A`er Care Oerings Feeder Pa=erns & DesAnaAon Schools Parent & Community Feedback Special EducaAon Needs
-If your child has an IEP and you have quesAons about the lo=ery, please
contact the Oce of Special EducaAon at 202-442-5400.

FAQs PS/PK Lo=ery

What are the age cut-os for preschool and pre-k?
Per DC Municipal RegulaAons, preschool applicants must turn 3yrs, and pre-k applicants must turn 4yrs old old prior to 9/30/13.

What are the preferences in the PS/PK lo=ery?

1. Students who live in-boundary with a sibling at the school are placed rst.. 2. Students who live in-boundary without a sibling at the school are placed next. 3. Students who live out-of-boundary with a sibling at the school are placed next. 4. Students who a=end a closing school in a non-transiAon grade are placed next (when applicable). 5. Students who live within reasonable walking distance (3000` ES/EC). 6. Any remaining seats go to students who do not qualify for any of the above preferences.

My address may change, how do I ll out my applicaAon?

Applicants receiving in-boundary or proximity preference in the lo=ery must be able to prove in-boundary/proximity status at the Ame of residency vericaAon.

FAQs Out-of-Boundary Lo=ery

Does the order in which I rank my school selecAons aect my results?
Yes. The lo=ery system rst tries to place applicants at their rst ranked school, then their second ranked school, and so on. The order in which you rank your school selecAons is taken into account along with the number of seats oered, and any preference(s) you may have received.

My child a=ends their current school out-of-boundary, do I need to reapply?

No. All out-of-boundary students may conAnue a=ending their school through the terminal grade, and may also a=end their schools desAnaAon school in the feeder pa=ern. Please visit proles.dcps.dc.gov to check your feeder pa=erns.

How do I apply to a specialized city-wide high school?

All students interested in a=ending a specialized high school must do so using the High School Online ApplicaAon. The applicaAon became available on Nov. 16, and is due by Dec. 14. For more informaAon please visit dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/HSOA.

QuesAons?
Please visit our website at dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/lo=ery, for more informaAon. You may also call our CriAcal Response Team at 202-478-5738.