Seattle Schools Waitlist Whoops
As you may recall, a parent had written to me in confusion over how her daughter was on place on the kindergarten waitlist, only to move downward days later. She said something had to have changed.
An eagle-eyed reader, found this new page at the SPS website, Waitlist Order Update, and it confirms what many of you thought.
(Now I note - an issue of HUGE importance to parents throughout the district - and it's not even on the front page of the district's website.)
Following the completion of Open Enrollment, an error was discovered in the priority system for waitlisting students. The distance tiebreaker was inadvertently left out of the waitlist priorities.
As a result, the initial waitlist order was incorrect. We have since corrected the error and placed students on waitlists based on the correct tiebreaker set, including the distance tiebreaker.
The distance tiebreaker was approved by the Seattle Public Schools School Board during the transitional period of the New Student Assignment Plan, with full intent and language that it would remain in effect until a school board action changed it. As of now, it is still in effect.
This one is funny:
During the course of the Open Enrollment and Waitlist period, we regularly verify student information, look for errors and thus, reorder waitlists. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including:
1) Updates: Applications with missing or incorrect information are updated;
2) Corrections: Corrected possible errors made when entering application data into computers; or
3) Students leaving the district and being removed from the waitlist.
Okay, I'll ask - which one of those three was this issue? None and actually I don't see "failure to enter correct enrollment procedure data into computers." But that's what they said happened.
A waitlist is never a guarantee of assignment or an implication that assignment is probable. Waitlists are only moved as space becomes available.
Nothing like CYA.
Down way at the bottom of the page:
We apologize for this error and any inconvenience it may have caused the affected students and their families. If your student’s waitlist position has moved down due to these tiebreaker corrections, you will receive a letter at the student’s home address. If you have questions, or believe your student’s position on the current waitlist is incorrect based on the applicable tiebreaker set, please contact Admissions and request an inquiry.
Assignment and Waitlist Lookup for 2015-16 School Year
Waitlist numbers by school
An eagle-eyed reader, found this new page at the SPS website, Waitlist Order Update, and it confirms what many of you thought.
(Now I note - an issue of HUGE importance to parents throughout the district - and it's not even on the front page of the district's website.)
Following the completion of Open Enrollment, an error was discovered in the priority system for waitlisting students. The distance tiebreaker was inadvertently left out of the waitlist priorities.
As a result, the initial waitlist order was incorrect. We have since corrected the error and placed students on waitlists based on the correct tiebreaker set, including the distance tiebreaker.
The distance tiebreaker was approved by the Seattle Public Schools School Board during the transitional period of the New Student Assignment Plan, with full intent and language that it would remain in effect until a school board action changed it. As of now, it is still in effect.
This one is funny:
During the course of the Open Enrollment and Waitlist period, we regularly verify student information, look for errors and thus, reorder waitlists. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including:
1) Updates: Applications with missing or incorrect information are updated;
2) Corrections: Corrected possible errors made when entering application data into computers; or
3) Students leaving the district and being removed from the waitlist.
Okay, I'll ask - which one of those three was this issue? None and actually I don't see "failure to enter correct enrollment procedure data into computers." But that's what they said happened.
A waitlist is never a guarantee of assignment or an implication that assignment is probable. Waitlists are only moved as space becomes available.
Nothing like CYA.
Down way at the bottom of the page:
We apologize for this error and any inconvenience it may have caused the affected students and their families. If your student’s waitlist position has moved down due to these tiebreaker corrections, you will receive a letter at the student’s home address. If you have questions, or believe your student’s position on the current waitlist is incorrect based on the applicable tiebreaker set, please contact Admissions and request an inquiry.
Assignment and Waitlist Lookup for 2015-16 School Year
Waitlist numbers by school
Comments
This was not just an error in calculation of a waitlist. This was a gross misrepresentation of the school district's policy. The Seattle Public Schools Enrollment website posted the tiebreakers as 1) siblings 2) lottery - prior to the open enrollment period, during the open enrollment period and after the open enrollment period up until 4-27-15. At that point (4-27-15) the tiebreakers, as they were communicated to the public were changed and distance was added. In addition I called and spoke with staff in the enrollment office prior to submitting my child's application and was advised by the enrollment office that the tiebreakers were 1) sibling and 2) lottery for attendance area elementary schools. There was no reference to a distance tiebreaker on the Seattle Public Schools website or by enrollment staff.
T
If it were just an error when they ran the numbers, why didn't the distance tie-breaker appear on the website? Why didn't staff say anything?
It almost looks like they wanted to not have to use it.
The entire reasoning for this was cost. It was about prioritizing students who could walk over students who would be entitled to a bus.
During the Growth Boundaries process, this temporary preference became permanent.
The Growth Boundaries process was far more extensive than people realized. I was at the Growth Boundaries meeting until the bitter end and I missed many items that managed to get in the process. I would guess that there are a few more surprises.
-- Unaffected Parent, But Who Just Wishes the District Would Have a Shred of Commonsense
We moved anyway, so my kids will be going to a different school and we did not pursue it, but it is kind of baffling.
I'm sure there's some rationale, but I can't imagine any one that would actually hold water and pass the laugh test.
-- Unaffected Parent, But Who Just Wishes the District Would Have a Shred of Commonsense, next time please use a two-word name.
I'd guess that the students on Nathan Hale's wait list are currently assigned to Roosevelt and that Roosevelt does not have room for them. If the unanticipated drop in enrollment at Nathan Hale is all in the freshman class, that would mean they've currently enrolled only about 225 freshman - almost 100 less than this year's class.
Where are the students expected at Nathan Hale going?
I heard that rumor too. I have friends on the Nathan Hale waitlist who would love to be able to go to orientation events & register for classes. Why the hold-up?
-HS Parent
This is anecdotal information but it is what I have heard from people on the waitlist for Hale. I also heard that all the kids on Hale's waitlist would be accepted at Hale which makes the staff at Hale happy as they want kids whose families want to be there. If the 9th grade class is much smaller than projected and there is room then Hale should be allowed to take them.
Where are all the assignment area kids for Hale? There is large group going to Shorecrest from Hazel Wolf K-8. Also, the enrollment at the private high schools is very healthy.
HP
It was busier last night than it was a year ago so I am surprised that there are less kids enrolling at Hale. Last years freshman class was large.
HP
Center had outstanding drama classes, science and humanities programs. My older son enjoyed close connections with his teachers and the location at Seattle Center was great.
My younger son was in the Biotech program at Ballard H.S. The students were motivated and he never felt lost in a big school. The teachers there remember him to this day (for good reasons...not bad).
SPS needs a new high school location. They should investigate building at the Memorial Stadium site, where they have an existing field and space.
It would be terrific to reduce the waitlists and have students go where they want to be. Too bad the neighboring Gates Foundation cannot spare some $$ for a public high school instead of national testing mandates.
S parent
HP
The problem at the moment is the current Interim Director of Enrollment Planning is a database/social media guy who doesn't understand open government and the Public Records Act.
T
This note has been posted on the board archive page: PLEASE NOTE: Due to the transition to the new website on June 1, 2015, the document links on the archive sheets for each year are not currently functioning, as the files have not yet been migrated from the former website. If you need immediate access to a document, please contact Kathie Pham at ktpham@seattleschools.org with the date and file name.