I've got my son in the lottery for a local immersion program, but they won't run the lottery for at least six more weeks so we have no idea if he'd be accepted there. A spot just opened for him in a public school that I love that we're not in boundaries for. They're holding it for him for a couple days, so here's my issue-
If we take this spot and he DOES get through the lottery and is accepted into the program, how difficult is it to withdraw him from the public school that has made special exceptions for us since we're not in their boundaries????
Has anyone else been in a similar situation? What did you do? Help, please! We have to make this decision fast!
I think I had to pay $10 'processing fee' to hold a spot for my son a few years back at an out-of-boundary public school. We decided to send him to his boundary school, since he got accepted to the all-day kindy program and I just called the other school and said 'nevermind'. No problem.
I was in a similar situation. My son was in the lottery for a really good school that went through high school. Since I didn't think he'd actually get in, we also applied and interviewed for a montessori school that only went through the 8th grade. He got in and we were thrilled. About two weeks before school started the other school called and said a spot opened up and we could have it. Without hesitation we took it. My main reason was because the montessori only went through 8th so we would have to do all the interviews, applying and waiting again. There are a lot of factors to think about when in a situation like this though. Good luck!
It's not hard to withdraw your son from public school, but you might want to consider the future. If you do that and then next year wind up in a lottery situation again, that school may not try to accommodate you again since you didn't follow-through the prior year. I've never had to do the "lottery" thing for school so I don't know if it is a yearly thing or once the child is in the school, they are there year after year.
I would go with the sure thing but again, I would not be in this predicament. I would be putting my child in the local school when they are old enough to be there. I think it is a difficult position that you find yourself in. On one hand you have a special program you want him to be in and on the other there is a good school he can attend that is a bit far away.
I think I would still go with the school that is a sure thing.
Easy. Just hold both spots. It basically causes more work and stress for others (the school and the parents who are hoping for your spot and now might have to wait 6 more weeks), but it happens all the time, and if you end up not taking it some other parent who wants your spot will be thrilled if you open it eventually.
