Open School Districts, Open Slots and Open Lies

All except for one of my children attend the school district we moved into. My little one is in another district because I was able to get him into the lottery and, quite honestly, it’s a much better school district than the one we live in.

The high school my big kids attend is fair, at best. I’m not thrilled with it at all.

There is another high school in our district that is much better. WAY better. And actually, when we bought our house, we were under the impression that it was the better high school the kids in our neighborhood would attend. Otherwise, we probably would have passed on this house.

A few weeks ago, a ListServ was sent out. I usually read them all but SOMEHOW, this one particular email escaped and was left unread. It was an important one. It informed the parents of this district that 20 slots had opened up, thus allowing our children to go there, if they chose to do so.

I didn’t find out about it until my daughter came home beside herself the other day. Her best friends weren’t going to be going to the same high school as her. They got into the other school because they have better parents than she does…clearly.

So, I made some phone calls yesterday. I was told no, it’s too late, it’s past the deadline and too bad.

Today…I got a ListServ that I did NOT miss. 15 slots are now open for children who live OUT OF DISTRICT.

WAIT…that doesn’t make sense, does it?

Here is a mom of a child who has been attending these schools for their entire school career, she’s admitting she somehow missed the ListServ and she’s begging for help to find a way to get her daughter in anyways. Just to be told NO.

But there are 15 slots for kids who DO NOT LIVE HERE? Really?

So, I called the woman in charge of this whole school of choice thing. I questioned the logic behind this. She told me that there were 15 slots open because only 5 filled from the first round for In-District.

OK, I said. So, let’s fill one more.

No, those are for Out of District kids.

Um? Really? I asked her if this really made sense to her.

Crickets.

I said if there are 15 spaces still available, shouldn’t they still go to those kids that live in the district if they are requested?

I was told no.

BUT THEN…here’s the cherry on top…

She told me that they still need those spaces for kids moving into the district during the summer.

Um…if they move into the district during the summer and the area they live goes to that school…

They are guaranteed a spot no matter what.

A spot in the school comes with the house.

It has NOTHING TO DO WITH THOSE OPEN SPACES.

It comes down to tax dollars, right? The school district? Doesn’t it get more money from those out of district kids?

Yeah…I thought so.

I’m not stupid, I know when I’m being lied to.

Yes, I missed the memo. I get it.

Still…none of this makes any sense. Open slots are open slots, and I want one of those for my daughter.

This whole open school thing is the downfall of our schools. It is. You move into a neighborhood, you stay in the district your neighborhood is slated for. And I say this even as my son is sitting at a desk in the school of another district.

So, I went to the top. I emailed the Superintendent.

This is an absolute outrage.

Our kids, that live in this district, should be entitled to those spaces first. Whatever is left over, they can do with what they will.

We shouldn’t be the ones told no. We should be the ones SAYING NO.

Period.

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