Contact: | Melissa Salmanowitz | Contact Email
The DC Public Schools (DCPS) Online Lottery Application launched this week allowing families to apply to early childhood education programs as well as schools outside their neighborhood or assigned schools for grades K-12. The lottery application opened on Monday, January 28, 2013 and closes Monday, February 25, 2013. Families are able to apply throughout the entire application period – there is no advantage to applying early.
“The out-of-boundary lottery is an opportunity for parents to explore other schools within DCPS’ portfolio to best support their child’s academic and extracurricular interests” said DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “We’re very proud of the robust offerings we provide at schools across the city and parents deserve information and access to help make the right choices for their students.”
Among many successful programs, DCPS offers Arts Integration, World Cultures or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs, International Baccalaureate schools, Dual-Language Education Programs and Montessori schools. Parents interested in learning more should visit the School Profiles website or call the Critical Response Team at 202-478-5738 or [email protected]. Staff is available during business hours to help families learn more about their options.
“The lottery also allows parents to enroll their three and four year-old children in our early childhood education programs. I’m really proud of the progress we’ve made in offerings for our youngest learners, with programs like Tools of the Mind that helps children to develop the skills they need to set a foundation for long-term success in school and in life,” said Henderson.
DCPS offers numerous three and four-year-old seats across all wards. Because three and four-year-old students are not required to attend DCPS, and some schools are unable to accommodate all applicants, these seats are allocated through the lottery system. Any seats remaining after the lottery are allocated on a first-come, first‐served basis.
Each applicant may apply to up to six schools, selecting any combination of in-boundary and/or out-of-boundary schools. The lottery application must be completed online; no paper applications will be accepted. Families without internet access should contact DCPS for support. Results will be posted online on March 8, and mailed home with enrollment forms the week of April 1.
In January, DCPS announced details regarding school consolidations. DCPS has worked to ensure that all families in early childhood programs in consolidating schools will have a space in receiving schools. In addition, DCPS is opening new classrooms throughout the city in order to ensure that we have the capacity to continue to meet the need for high quality early childhood education classrooms for all children.
DCPS is already experiencing unprecedented and historic interest in the application. On Monday, nearly twice as many people visited the application website than the first day of the application in 2012.
To help parents make the best choice for their students, DCPS is hosting information sessions which include a brief "Lottery 101" presentation, as well as ample time for families to work on applications with computers provided on site and have questions answered by DCPS staff members. Information sessions will added throughout the lottery window and more information about the sessions will be available on the DCPS website. The current remaining sessions include:
Date: Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Location: Online, live web chat
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, 5 – 7:30pm (two sessions, 5-6 p.m. and 6:15 – 7:30 p.m.)
Location: Turner Elementary School, 3264 Stanton Rd. SE
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, 3-6pm
Location: National Children's Center, 3400 MLK Ave. SE
For more information, click here.