Cary Elementary School Capping - Question about "Overflow" Schools (Morrisville: 2014, home search)

[justusandthekids]

Hi All -

I'm new to the board and my family and I are beginning our home search in Cary (we're currently in Chatham County). Our hopes are to be settled in a home before the 2013-2014 school year begins. We have two children, one who will entering 2nd grade and the other will be starting Kindergarten. We are most interested in the neighborhoods districted to Weatherstone Elementary and possibly Morrisville Elementary but want to make sure we aren't closing ourselves off to other possible neighborhoods.

So, my question has to do with the capping of Davis Drive Elementary and Green Hope Elementary. I've read that these are two of the schools in Cary that will be capped when they hit capacity (which is very soon from what I understand). We are not overly concerned with our kids having to go to these schools. Rather, our question (for planning purposes) is whether there is a way to find out what the "overflow" school choices would be in the event of caps being placed on these schools.

Thank you!

[twingles]

Davis Drive is absolutely capped for this year - even if kids leave they are not taking new ones. I don't know the answer to your question but if you are interested in DDE for this year, it's not an option. No one knows about next year though.

For overflow school, probably depends where you live. I'm in a DDE base neighborhood and we have kids at Salem, Laurel Park and Carpenter (all year round).

[pilotriley]

How can you tell which schools are capped? I went to WCPSS.com and don't see anything in the assignment section that tells you. Also is it the whole school that is capped or uncapped or only certain grades in a school that might be capped (like it was last year in the choice program)? Thanks...

[lamishra]

there are no schools capped so far for next year.

[SFspiderman]

Here are some slides from a couple weeks ago talking about the capped schools for this year.

[justusandthekids]

Originally Posted by SFspiderman

Here are some slides from a couple weeks ago talking about the capped schools for this year.

Thank you so much - this is so helpful . Does this mean that they won't be making calls on caps again until the "20th Day" enrollment figures are in? In other words, anyone moving into the district between now and school starting for the 2013-2014 school year would be okay and not have to worry about being capped out?

To answer an earlier question...I originally got the info on the twelve schools on the "Cap List" from News & Observer but after sending my message this morning I did more research and found the same list in the new school assignment plan. It is for the current school year but I can only assume the list of possible candidates will remain the same unless there's a huge drop in enrollment at any one school.

Briarcliff ES
Brooks ES
Cedar Fork ES
Conn ES
Davis Drive ES
Green Hope ES
Lacy ES
Mills Park ES
Underwood ES
Wildwood Forest ES
Wiley ES
Heritage MS

[twingles]

You never know what's going to happen - a lot of people may want to go back to their base school because of transportation issues, calendar issues, sibling issues - whatever. Let's say you have a 3rd grader at one of the capped schools but it's not your base school and now you have a rising kindergartener - you may choose to go back to your base school because I don't think the sibling definitely gets into the school you chose for this year (that's now capped).

[BoBromhal]

Originally Posted by justusandthekids

Hi All -

I'm new to the board and my family and I are beginning our home search in Cary (we're currently in Chatham County). Our hopes are to be settled in a home before the 2013-2014 school year begins. We have two children, one who will entering 2nd grade and the other will be starting Kindergarten. We are most interested in the neighborhoods districted to Weatherstone Elementary and possibly Morrisville Elementary but want to make sure we aren't closing ourselves off to other possible neighborhoods.

So, my question has to do with the capping of Davis Drive Elementary and Green Hope Elementary. I've read that these are two of the schools in Cary that will be capped when they hit capacity (which is very soon from what I understand). We are not overly concerned with our kids having to go to these schools. Rather, our question (for planning purposes) is whether there is a way to find out what the "overflow" school choices would be in the event of caps being placed on these schools.

Thank you!

when you say "these schools" (and having read the thread to this point also) do you mean DDE and GHE? Assuming so...

No schools are capped for next year yet, but they're working through the numbers as we speak, and over the next several months. They will tell you they EXPECT to allow all base students to attend, and I do believe they're going to do everything possible for it to happen, but as an example ...

DDE is hard capped, and is taking no new students this year.
GHE is not hard capped.

DDE's "hard cap" number is 970. If 970 kids get enrolled by:

1. advancing a grade (current students)
2. by having a new K sibling
3. by transfers because of choice (ie if you bought in DDE nodes but were "choiced" elsewhere)
4. by enrolling and living in the base area BEFORE you...

then folks are not getting in DDE.


DDE overflow schools are: Carpenter, Morrisville, Weatherstone. If a family moves and enrolls "now" (remainder of school year need) then the family gets to choose any of the 3.

GHE overflow schools would be: Alston Ridge, Carpenter, Weatherstone.

Morrisville Elementary is at capacity, so UNLESS you're also in the BASE zone for Morrisville, they say they're not promising you anything NOW or for 2013. For next year, Morrisville has a smaller 5th grade class this year, so that's not opening up any spots for next year.

Weatherstone has plenty of capacity, so it shouldn't be any issue. Alston Ridge has some, Carpenter has plenty.

[justusandthekids]

Originally Posted by BoBromhal

when you say "these schools" (and having read the thread to this point also) do you mean DDE and GHE? Assuming so...

No schools are capped for next year yet, but they're working through the numbers as we speak, and over the next several months. They will tell you they EXPECT to allow all base students to attend, and I do believe they're going to do everything possible for it to happen, but as an example ...

DDE is hard capped, and is taking no new students this year.
GHE is not hard capped.

DDE's "hard cap" number is 970. If 970 kids get enrolled by:

1. advancing a grade (current students)
2. by having a new K sibling
3. by transfers because of choice (ie if you bought in DDE nodes but were "choiced" elsewhere)
4. by enrolling and living in the base area BEFORE you...

then folks are not getting in DDE.


DDE overflow schools are: Carpenter, Morrisville, Weatherstone. If a family moves and enrolls "now" (remainder of school year need) then the family gets to choose any of the 3.

GHE overflow schools would be: Alston Ridge, Carpenter, Weatherstone.

Morrisville Elementary is at capacity, so UNLESS you're also in the BASE zone for Morrisville, they say they're not promising you anything NOW or for 2013. For next year, Morrisville has a smaller 5th grade class this year, so that's not opening up any spots for next year.

Weatherstone has plenty of capacity, so it shouldn't be any issue. Alston Ridge has some, Carpenter has plenty.

Thank you, thank you, thank you - this info is more helpful than you know! I had no idea about Morrisville ES's situation so this is very good info to have. We are moving forward with our home search full throttle regardless of the school issues but I just wanted to have as much info as possible to make the decision best for us and our children.