PHOENIX — Just after 5:30 a.m. Monday morning, dozens of families continued to wait outside Sunnyslope High School, hoping to get their kids a better education. The line began Saturday night.
It is school choice in action. These parents and their children are not zoned for Sunnyslope High. Last year, 81 students were reportedly selected from the line. Those towards the front have a better chance at getting a “yes.”
“We know the SAT scores are outstanding and it's one of the best high schools in the state,” said Leeann Spangler, who is trying to enroll her two daughters.
“I don't feel there are a lot of high school options in Phoenix. Sunnyslope is and all my son's friends are coming here and I don't want to break up the crowd,” said Roger Webb, who is trying to enroll his son.
It is unclear how many open enrollment spots are available.
“I hope that we have a good chance. We’re number 30,” Sarah, a parent of a hopeful freshman, said.
Her and her son Luke got into line Saturday night.
“We’re excited,” she said. “We weren’t planning to stay two nights in our tents. But…it’s been an adventure.”
Originally, they planned to come Sunday morning. But after Luke’s friends tipped him off via text that a line was already forming, they rolled out of bed, threw their camping gear in the car and headed here.
“It’s just a really good school,” Luke said, “pretty much my whole friend group's going. So it would just make like high school so much easier if I had my friends with me.”
Before 6:30 a.m. on Monday, the school opened the gates and began accepting applications.
According to one parent, they expected to have an answer by January 17th.
As for the process, some support it, some do not.
“I actually like the way it is,” Brian Prentice said. "Obviously with the lottery, you never know what’s going to happen if we did it that way. But here, it’s a first come first serve and I’m, I’m definitely a fan of it.”
“I think it's ridiculous we live in a country where our education is so poor I have to do this to get my kids into a good school,” Roger Webb said.