On Saturday we received 9 letters from the 3 K-8 Charter Schools we applied to. I opened them like it was Christmas morning, but sadly, all 9 were sorry but your name was not selected in the lottery letters. I really thought that with our names in the pot 9 times we had a good chance of getting one kid in and the others moved to the top of the waiting list as is the rule for siblings. But no such luck!
So this morning I called to see how far down the waiting list we landed.
My first choice was KTEC, because they are rated 9 out of 10 and feed in to the Charter High School that has a 10 rating. This is how we look on their waiting list.
Alyssa #43
Alex #12
Chloe # 71
I thought Chloe would be the easiest to get in because she will be in Kindergarten so not competing with current students, but apparently they get a billion applications for Kindergarten. I knew Alyssa would be tough because a lot of people switch to Charter Schools at Middle School. Apparently the in between grades like Alex's have the least amount of applicants. Makes sense because who moves schools in 3rd grade? Kindergarten and 6th are more natural starting points. However, what are the odds of 12 kids falling out of the current 2nd grade class and creating an opening for Alex?
So on to my second choice school, Brompton.
Alyssa #17
Alex #7
Chloe #7
And my third choice, Dimensions of Learning. When I called there they told me they do not have the wait lists together, so they must have just drawn the kids they needed and then stopped. They told me to call later in the week but they are the smallest school so I will not hold my breath.
So we are still waiting on Paideia Academy, which is a 6-8 only but feeds in to my second choice High School. I do feel like that is where Alyssa has the best chance because they start at 6th grade so she is not competing with any existing 5th grade class but I really, really wanted them all together in a K-8.
We have looked at selling our house and moving closer to a better Middle School. We never intended to be in this little house so long, but we just had the house appraised and it is worth 75% of what we paid for it 8 years ago, not to mention all the money we have dumped in to it. Ouch! It is like renting only without the benefit of having a landlord to dump repairs on. So, we will not be selling the house.
Our school district does allow open enrollment, so you can enroll outside of your assigned school, but only if they have an opening in that grade, which no one does because our class sizes are perverse right now.
We have looked at private schools. Some friends referred me to some of the less expensive schools but the number they quoted me were off because I am not a member of any of those congregations. It is totally fair to charge non-members more seeing as I do not pay tithes or offerings to any of these churches but still OUCH! We are still thinking that maybe we can swing the tuition for one child and since none of our kids will overlap in Middle School, they could each do their 3 Middle School years at a private school and then fingers crossed, get in to the Charter High School we like? Or, I could get a job (since I won't have any munchkins at home) and then we could send all 3 to private school? I have looked at the private schools in the area and the one everyone loves will not take Mormon students (don't consider us Christian) and the others are okay but I decided to look for one that is not affiliated with a church. I found one, but it is, get this, $15,000 a year for one student. Four times more than any of the other private schools. That is like college tution.
So I feel like I have done my due dilegence and looked at every option and now I don't know where to go next.
Alex wants to do e-School. I was planning to just leave him and Chloe at the Elementary School he is already at. Now that they have switched to multi grade classrooms with huge class sizes the kids are not getting as much done, but it will do, if it has to.
Alyssa does not want to do e-School. She is very social but I don't feel like I have any other options left to me. We know a handful of e-Schooling families with kids her age that we could socialize with, but they are all boys and she is just not on board. She says she prefers to do e-School over going to her assigned Middle School but only if we can't get in anywhere else.
So, what do I do? Is there an avenue I have not explored? Would you send her to the crappy Middle School in our area? I already feel like Alyssa has gotten nothing out of the last 3 years of school. She reads an entire novel every day at school while the teacher works with other students and the other grade in her classroom. So if I send her to a school full of problem kids she will never get any attention or make any progress. Am I over thinking all of this? Am I just panicking because we have hit MIDDLE SCHOOL? I am not exaggerating about the school though. Every time I mention it to anyone in town they shudder and tell me NO WAY they would send their kid there. So help! Any suggestions?
Alright, sorry about the rant. I just had to get this on paper and out of my head, because it is taking over my whole life.
9 comments:
Dilemma for sure! That's really rough. Schools, teachers, and especially peer groups can make a huge difference in a child's life. It's sad when the public schools are so bad that the charter schools are having to turn away so many students. All I can recommend is a whole lot of prayer. Sean's son has been doing e-school and really loves it. Finally he can go at his speed and not wait back with the rest of the class. Also, there is a group of other e-schoolers that do group lessons together and other social things on a regular basis. But that would be hard for Alyssa if there are no other girls in the group. Yeah. Pray, pray, pray.
Dang, that sucks! I'll call you in a couple hours after I take Luke to school.
Oh my, I thought my decision with Preschool was tough. Mine is nothing! School drama and politics stink. Apparently there is a big problem because being # 71 on the list is very depressing. #7 is a lot better. Sorry you coulnd't sell your house. I agree pray, your prayers are always heard! Just maybe not the answer your always looking for. Good luck. PS #7 isn't that bad? Maybe that's your option.
Oh no!! I can't believe it--after so many applications. I am so sorry. We'll keep on praying for you, cause I think that's all we can do!
That's so frustrating! I'm sorry. I'd keep praying you get on somewhere. If not, she may learn to like E-Schools. (I need to look those up. I haven't heard much about them). I'm getting nervous. Kaden will be in 5th come August, AND my baby-Grayson-will start Kinder! Ahhhh!!! I'm freaking out just styling this!!! I've heard our middle schools are good. I guess I better do my research!
Good luck! Keep us posted!
Just *typing* this
How bad is the Middle School in your area? I would try that and see what happens. They still have good teachers and kids who want to learn.
Send her to live with us? :)
If you feel that strongly about the middle school (and I'm too knew to the area to know anything about the schools), I wouldn't send her. It seems that both you and Alyssa agree that e-school would be better. So that seems to be where you are right now. And the hope it to find something better than that. I don't think it's just because you've hit middle school. It's a rough age (and not because of Alyssa, but because of the other students she'd be with!). It's too bad something isn't done to solve the problems at the middle school. It seems no one likes it at all. You'd think the district would want to address that more aggressively. Not that that helps you situation right now. Sorry you have to deal with this right now. Stress involving decisions for our kids is the worst kind. Good luck! Hopefully something will change or come up!
Post a Comment