There are many unique things about DC, but one truly distinct facet of our nation’s capitol is its signature school lottery system. Not sure what that is? Officially called the My School DC Common Lottery, the system is designed to allow families to apply for public charter schools, out-of-boundary public schools (DCPS), and specialized programs such as dual language and STEM programs for Pre-K through grade 12.

Many of our clients have had success “playing the lottery”, and now we’re sharing our tips of the trade with you! Keep reading for an overview of how the DC School Lottery System can work for you today!

#1 Application Awareness

To officially kick-start the process, families need to submit a single application for all the schools they are interested in through the My School DC portal. In doing so, parents will rank their school preferences (up to 12 schools), after which the lottery tries to place students at the highest-ranked school for which they are eligible. Eligibility depends on various factors, from residency to grade level and special preferences to program-specific criteria.

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#2 Matching And Preferences

The system uses an algorithm to match students with schools based on a combination of lottery number and priority factors. Preferences are given for various reasons, such as:

• Sibling Preference –  If a student already has a sibling at a particular school, for instance, they get priority.
• Proximity – Certain schools may give priority to students who live nearby.
• At-Risk Status – Students designated as “at-risk” (homeless, in foster care, etc.) may also receive preference over other applicants.

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#3 Lottery Results

Once the lottery results are published (usually in March), families are notified as to whether they’ve been matched with a school. What happens if a student doesn’t get into one of their top choices, you ask? Not to fear — in that case, they can be placed on a waitlist for a given school.

#4 Enrollment Process

When a family is matched with a school, they must formally enroll by the given deadline to officially secure the spot. Of course, you can expect to see waitlists move throughout the spring and summer as families decline or accept offers.

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Important Considerations

First and foremost, every student has the right to attend their neighborhood school (based on their home address) without participating in the lottery! Additionally, the lottery is primarily used for public charter schools and for enrolling in a DCPS school outside of one’s boundary or in a special program.

At The Jenn Smira Team, we work with clients all over the city, and we’d be more than happy to connect you with families at a school your child will be joining, or even one you’re interested in learning more about as you navigate this unique — and valuable — process!

Want to find a home to suits the whole family? Get in touch with our team directly by calling us at 202.280.2060 or emailing us at jsmira@jennsmira.com.