Not all waiting lists work the same
Different types of schools have different policies, and some are still being decided.
By KELLY RYAN GILMER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 15, 2002
You did all the research, you filled out your applications on time and you still didn't get into your top-choice schools.
Now, you're on a waiting list.
For magnet and fundamental schools, waiting lists work as they always have. Every student who doesn't get into a program will have a place on its waiting list, in order of the random numbers their applications are assigned. Students can sit on more than one waiting list.
The waiting lists for elementary and middle magnet and fundamental schools are maintained all year. Waiting lists for high school magnet programs are maintained until the beginning of second semester.
As soon as a student accepts a place in one program, his name is removed from all waiting lists. The lists do not roll over from year to year.
For choice attendance area schools, the details of the waiting list policy have not been finalized. Here's what is known: The waiting list for a particular school will have names of every student who picked that school as a first or second choice but was not assigned there.
At issue: When, if ever, the lists should sunset. Under the original proposal, the waiting lists would last all year, but that poses a transportation challenge if students are constantly moving.
The School Board will decide Sept. 24 whether the lists should be maintained only for 20 days.
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