Why wouldn’t a school want a girl like I described is a very good question. However due to politics, not space, this girl has not been accepted. (They reopened registration in other schools again but still none of the schools could find room for this girl) I really can’t go into details about what the father does, since this will publicly single him out, but lets say he is an average yid, goes to daf yomi and minyan regularly but isn’t the typical black hatter. However, to go into detail of his merits or demerits is a moot point. It doesn’t matter what color shirt he wears, or car he drives, or whether or not he wears a hat in shul, he is not getting into school his daughter is. This is a girl that had no problems with her previous school, was far from being a bad influence and really was loved my her morohs and teachers. Why does she have to wait until one school finally (reluctantly) takes her in? Why does she have to feel like a burden for just wanting to be in a school with her friends? Remember 3 months ago she wasn’t a problem and the school she was in had no problem with her.
This is not a new problem, it’s something that all of her sisters had to go through (as well as a few other girls who were not part of the “in” crowd). Not every year did they have the policy that no school can open up until every girl is placed. This year there has not been a takanah and there are still girls without a place. There is no excuse why at this time of the year that a girl should have to be agonizing where she will be next year.
As far as perception that is a big factor for a lot of people. Many girls as well as their families don’t want to deal with choice #2. Its like that in the younger grades, but sometimes don’t have the options. More and more schools are opening up but I don’t know if it is fast enough and that many parents are weary that it won’t be the level that they want (which usually is perception as well) I think in this case everyone does find, just not where they ideally wanted to go.