School Talk
Started by path
over 16 years ago
Posts: 22
Member since: Jan 2008
Discussion about
Add Your Comment
Recommended for You
-
From our blog
NYC Open Houses for November 19 and 20 - More from our blog
Most popular
-
20 Comments
-
52 Comments
-
47 Comments
-
13 Comments
-
24 Comments
Recommended for You
-
From our blog
NYC Open Houses for November 19 and 20 - More from our blog
1) It is as tough as they say. The process is very time consuming. I don't know if it's as cut throat as it is a lot of chance. It's all about having the right kid, the right age, the right personality for what they're looking for (unless you are a legacy or incredibly wealthy and connected). Downturn will definitely help, but there are still too many kids in the city for the numer of schools.
2) PS 41 is one of the top, top schools. Many like PS 3 as well. PS 234 I would say is on the downswing but check insideschools.org for more opinions
3) No guarantee at all. This year zoned families are w/l at PS 41 and 40 (and others). You are guaranteed to go to a school. Not guarantee it's your zoned one anymore. This will get worse with the downturn.
Hurting: that is very helpful. But sad. What happens if you live the good school zone and you can't get in but still want to pursue the public school option? They mandate you to go only to a certain school?
I believe they will try to get you in somewhere close to you, but no guarantees. This is unprecedented, we'll see what happens after this year. I believe the DOE is trying to get everyone off the waitlists into their zone schools. But there is only so much room.
NYTs discusses this year's kindergarten problem:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/nyregion/01kindergarten.html?_r=1&hpw
I think what will happen if you are zoned but don't make it off the WL - you will get assigned to a school that has empty seats. Yes, they exist but are generally not desirable schools. You either put up with it and wait until your zoned school has space (there is always attrition) or you move. Either way the DOE doesn't have to address the underlying problems.
The other issue that the DOE may soon need to address is whether children who move out of zone are still entitled to stay in their school. This has long been something unassailable but I think the cries of zoned parents who are denied their neighborhood school might soon drown out those parents who are out of zone but in school.