Did you use Open Enrollment?
If the school you named as your first choice for Open Enrollment does not have a waitlist, then you are in. That's confirmed.
My daughter and her friend named Chief Sealth as their first choice for assignment. Chief Sealth doesn't have a waitlist, so they know for sure that they will be assigned there even though they don't yet have their assignment letters.
You can check your school of choice from this web page to see if the school has a waitlist.
My daughter and her friend named Chief Sealth as their first choice for assignment. Chief Sealth doesn't have a waitlist, so they know for sure that they will be assigned there even though they don't yet have their assignment letters.
You can check your school of choice from this web page to see if the school has a waitlist.
Comments
Were your daughter and friend able to start registering for classes or where you told you need to wait for the official enrollment letter?
I have to think there is something seriously wrong with the way kids are identified for this program based on the very low numbers of spectrum kids in south end schools. Aren't these tests supposed to capture what you are capable of learning, not what you know?
Eckstein has more incoming 6th graders in spectrum than Aki, Madison, Mercer, or Denny combined. I find this disparity troubling.
Maybe Eckstein kids are better test takers for dozens of reasons. Maybe they are just taking the test in greater numbers in the north end.
I know very little about the test (or the program), but would love hear more, and to see some numbers about who is taking the test.
I'm on the fence with the separate track concept, anyway. Can see both pros and cons for those in and out. Just wondering if the playing field is fair for getting in.
Actually, I think you have to score above a certain range on academic tests (WASL, and now MAP?) as well as cognitive, so if you weren't identified in 1st or 2nd grade and have been warehoused in a school that teaches well below grade level, then you might find it difficult to test in to Spectrum or APP for middle school.
It may also be that MANY of the SE/SW Spectrum kids go elsewhere as none of the 4 schools you mentioned are known for having rigorous Spectrum programs (at least they did not the last few years—and this could just be people's perceptions, but perceptions are part of what make people choose schools).
Here in the SE, if a Spectrum kid couldn't get into Washington, they opted for private if they could (and in the past, Hamilton or McClure).
That sounds unlikely as it violates the basic rules of the SAP. Who did you hear it from?
I wonder if perhaps that was for 10th-12th graders? Attendance area kids at non-entry grades aren't guaranteed a spot this year.
Families have to initial four bullet points in the contract. The first one states "We are selecting a course and pathway not recommended by district data and teacher recommendation."
I find that odd, because it is my understanding that 8th grade teachers did not have any input for the district generated Math Pathways course selection for 9th grade.
In our case, the 8th grade math teacher does recommend selecting a course other than the district placement.
The tone of the whole thing is rather punitive as if a student or family is attempting to do something wrong by asking for a different math course.
The sibling number has not been available historically, but the District says that they will provide it this year among the full data from Open Enrollment.
Generally speaking, Dr. Libros is pretty open with her numbers as they almost never can be used to identify individual students. It can't hurt to ask.
from the district's website:
Spectrum
Students tested during grades 2 through 7
Students served grades 3 - 8
Cognitive ability (in two out of three areas) and academic achievement in both reading and mathematics with a threshold of the 87th percentile are considered along with teacher input.
Actually, I think you have to score above a certain range on academic tests (WASL, and now MAP?) as well as cognitive, so if you weren't identified in 1st or 2nd grade and have been warehoused in a school that teaches well below grade level, then you might find it difficult to test in to Spectrum or APP for middle school.