Once you have selected a school you want to apply to, the first, most
important question is whether or not you are applying to a specialized
program or specialized school. As of January 29, 2003 the list of
specialized schools and specialized programs (go
here
for the difference between the two) was available on the
DCPS website. Once you have found out
if the program you desire is a specialized or regular program,
go here for instructions on
regular programs,
and here for
instructions on specialized
programs. If you want to apply to a specialized program
and the regular school program that houses the special program,
go here. In all cases,
in addition to checking on the DCPS website, call the school of choice
to determine whether or not it is a specialized program/school, to determine
where to take applications for the school to, to determine whether there is
an element of first-come first-served, and to determine when the deadline
for applying is. Do not assume that the standard guidelines for making
applications pertain to the school of your choice.
For questions or additional information,
please contact D.C.P.S., Division of Student Services, 825 North Capitol
Street, N.E., 8th Floor, Phone (202)442-5200. Also
go here to contact other DCPS officials for
information.
Application Deadline extended until March 14, 2003! Read DCPS PDF File.Click
here.
Jan 28 - Feb 28 enrollment period
Pick up an out-of-boundary application form from the school system.
They should by now be available at most schools. If you are planning
on applying to more than one school, pick up more than one form. You
cannot use photocopies of forms. You can apply to up to three
schools. You may be able to apply to more than three specialized
schools.
Fill in the form. Note that it requires your child's DCPS ID
number, if they already attend a DCPS school.
DCPS is required to state how many out of boundary slots there are at
each school. That information is now available as of February 21,
2003 -
Click here.
One of the preferences is given to children attending feeder schools.
The list of feeder schools is available as of February 7, 2003.
Click here.
Take the form to 215 G St NE, Room 102. You must take it in
person.
The regulations say to take it any time between Jan 28 and Feb 28.
Even so, it's probably best to do it sooner rather than later.
You will be given a tracking number for each application. Do not
lose these.
Mar 1 - Mar 31
Lottery
During March, DCPS fills the slots. This is all done strictly by
the rules. Preference is given first to siblings, then to those
attending feeder schools, then to those who live close to the school.
For any school that has more applications than slots, DCPS will hold a
lottery. Preference will still be given as described above.
The lottery was held on March 19th, and you can see the results
here. If you are
accepted, you will get a letter saying so. You must reply (not sure by
what date), or your space will be lost. It is possible that you will
be accepted at multiple schools.
If you are not accepted at a school, you will be put on a wait-list for
that school. Each wait-list will be published on the DCPS web site,
with each student identified by tracking number. Thus you will be able
to see how close you are to the top of the list. At this point, the
wait-list is maintained by DCPS administration, not by the school.
Right To
Appeal
You have the right to appeal the outcome of this process. It is unclear
who you appeal to.
March 31
Onwards enrollment period
At this point, it all changes.
Each wait list is passed to each school to manage, and is kept secret.
This way you cannot tell what schools have spaces left.
Each school is required to fill in spaces strictly from the wait list.
Parents can contact any school directly, asking for their child to be
admitted to that school. If the school has spaces, it is entirely at
the discretion of the principal of that school whether or not to admit
anyone.
Overview.
For specialized programs and specialized schools, you apply to the school directly. The process
is completely different from the regular application process. The
list of
specialized programs and specialized schools is now available on the DCPS website
as of January 29, 2003.
In addition to visiting the DCPS website for information, in all
cases, please also call
the school of choice to determine whether or not it is a special
program or specialized school or regular school, to determine where to take applications for the school to, to
determine whether there is an element of first-come first-served, and to
determine when the deadline for applying is. If there are
discrepancies between the information received from the school and the DCPS
website, please contact DCPS officials for more information. Do not assume that the
standard guidelines for making applications pertain to the school of your
choice.
Each school has its own admission criteria. It is your right to
ask for a copy of them. You should do that as soon as possible, in
case they have an element of first-come, first-served. Some
programs do have an element of first-come first-served.
Each school may impose its own deadline for applications. Some of the
deadlines come before February 28, 2003. Contact the school to find out
what their's is (202)727-1000 (for the number to any school). For
example, January 31st is the deadline for School Without Walls.
Each school may have its own applications requirements - for example,
letters of reference, medical exams.
All of this information is maintained by the school, and may be on
available through DCPS
administration. It is not clear whether DCPS administration has
access to this information for each specialized program or specialized
school.
So, in short, contact the school as soon as possible.
It appears that a
specialized program
describes a subset of DCPS classes and/or activities organized and
unified by a particular academic philosophy or mission and located within a
larger, usually, regular school. An example is the Montessori program which
is located within six DCPS schools. In contrast, the
specialized schoolseems to refer to what constitutes a school all of whose
activities and academic curricula are devoted to a special set of academic
or vocational goals as distinguished from the regular DCPS schools.
Banneker Academic High
School is an example. A specialized program is found within a school.
To apply to a specialized program and
the regular school where it is located:
Do not assume that the standard guidelines for making applications
pertain to the school of your choice.
Apply to the regular program/school by
submitting the regular lottery application
at The Workforce Development Center Annex (white building) (formerly Logan
Professional Development Building) 215 G Street, N.E. (behind Union
Station) Room 102.
Bilingual DC is a new organization
started by parents, teachers, and concerned citizens. We want parents
across the city to have access to quality bilingual education programs for
their children, at all educational levels and in all parts of the city.
Monthly Meetings
Bilingual DC
meets monthly to plan a strategy to support bilingual education, to learn
about bilingual programs currently operating or developing in the city, to
research the options and resources available, and to help parents and
teachers design and obtain new programs in their schools.