Kindergarten Politics

I had no idea the politics that are involved in signing up for Kindergarten. It is seriously ridiculous. I have to sign Samantha up on Monday, but because we live a new housing development the kids are being sent to different elementary schools based on the phase they live in. There is nothing wrong with our "home" school, but it's not the one they're at now (for preschool), nor is it the closest to us and none of their friends go there. So we knew we were going to be requesting an intradisrict transfer to either the school they're at now or the one by my mom's house, which btw is the only one with a music program.

I had a few minutes today after preschool pick up so I decided to pick Ms. J's brain about her thoughts regarding which school would be a better fit for the girls (Sam will start this year, Lexi the following year.) She tells me that the school we really wanted (the one by my mom's house) only offers 1/2 day kindergarten, which I think I knew at one point, but had obviously forgotten. She also tells me that, while she's not positive for this upcoming school year, in the past they have required that transfered in kindergartners go to (and therefore pay for) the after school program. Even if they're parent stays home with them. I guess the theory is that the people in that school's area pay more in property taxes than the transfers and it makes up the difference. Which would be great except I'm positive we pay more in property taxes than probably 90% of the area (we bought at the peak of the CA housing boom). But will they let me bring my property tax bill to show that? Nope. Do they care that my mom pays property taxes for THAT school and doesn't have any school aged children that ever went there? Nope. Oh and to top it all off - I was under the assumption that if you got the transfer granted, you were good, including sibling preference. But according to some people's experiences, that isn't the case. I guess they decide each school year whether a transfer can stay? I don't know if the last thing is true, but I don't want to run the risk. I wasn't crazy about 1/2 day kindergarten to start with, but this is just down right nuts to me. And all of this only applies to this one particular school even though there are 5 in the district. Probably because it's the newest campus??

So obviously this particular school isn't the right fit for us. Having lived pretty far away from my friends during elementary school (private school), I don't want that for my children. Plus, since this community seems so hell-bent on "equalitity", would the girls have problems being tranfers as far as fitting in? Needless to say I'm glad I figured this all out today.

So it looks like I'll request the tranfer to their current location. Ms. J has assured me that there has never been a request denied to a child who went to preschool there, so let's hope she's right. I'm happy with the decision, I believe Nacho is and I think the girls will be happy, if for no other reason that they'll stay with their friends and they know the campus already.

Oh and for the record, I did check into our local Catholic private school. Yeah, not happening. Even though Nacho is Catholic, I don't think "we'll" (and I use the we loosely) ever be Catholic enough for their requirements.