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DCPS pre-school choices for Columbia Heights?
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Anonymous
| What would your pre-school lottery list look like if you lived in Columbia Heights? We're in-boundary for Cooke, will probably apply to Bancroft as well. Considering Cleveland, though we'd have to drive, as well as some of the charters. Thoughts? |
Anonymous
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In no particular order:
Centronia universal prek (3/4 only) Appletree (3/4 only) Easter Seals universal prek (3/4 only) DC Bilingual (3 - 8th grade (?)) West Francis-Stevens Marie Reed Cooke Bancroft Bridges (3/4 only - a bit of a drive) Stokes (a bit of a drive) LAMB (a bit of a drive) |
Anonymous
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I'd add Haynes to that list -- its just one metro stop or a quick drive/bike ride/walk depending on where you are.
Cooke has a great PS program -- don't let the trolls convince you otherwise. I thought Bancroft was really lacking. Some of the PS teachers seemed unsuited for dealing with little kids. Thomson at Logan Circle looked good, but I'm not sure if that is still true under the new principal. Francis Stevens would be a major PITA of a drive unless you happen to work there. And, I don't think that school as anything to offer that you won't find at Cooke. If you are in-boundary for Cooke you'll probably get in, which means your "safety" school is a pretty good option. Apply to places that you honestly think are better than Cooke (LAMB, Stokes, Haynes) or places that are more convenient based on your commute. I would not waste a lot of effort on DCPS programs that are going to inconvenient to get to b/c I don't think there are DCPS PS-3 programs that are enough better than Cooke to justify the inconvenience (i.e. Bancroft, Stevens, not sure about West). I would not bother with DC Bilingual b/c I think Cooke is actually better (but decide for yourself after visiting). I wouldn't both with Appletree or Bridges b/c they only buy you a year before you have to start applying to other programs, so why not have your kid in Cooke even if you plan apply for other programs for PK-4. At least then if you don't get in anywhere next year, your kid doesn't have to move schools. |
Anonymous
OTOH, they're better schools and if you're inbounds for Cooke, they have to take you anyway. Plus, you'll meet a more diverse set of parents who can give you more insight into other schools out there. It's not hard to do better than Cooke, it's a challenge to do worse. |
Anonymous
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1. In bounds for Cooke for Preschool is not a guarantee you'll get in, since Preschool is a lottery. Cooke had over 80 applications for Preschool last year. You get in-bounds preference for the wait list, but not for the lottery itself.
2. It doesn't hurt to apply to as many Preschool charters as you can, since it doesn't affect your chances on getting into the public schools. DC Bilingual might be a good choice if the OP wants a bilingual education, which Cooke doesn't offer. 3. I would absolutely bother with Appletree and Bridges, because they buy you time, plus their waitlists move quickly because people would rather have long-term options and thus bail out on Appletree and Bridges. 4. I contest, however, that they are better schools than Cooke, and that the set of parents at Appletree and Bridges are "more diverse," and that you'll make connections. The PS 3/4s have a hard time (it seems to me) building community because of the transitory nature of their enrollment |
Anonymous
Curious to know how you drew this conclusion. Have you met or observed some of the teachers (and if so, how--an open house, or did you drop in on some classes)? And what do you mean by "unsuited for dealing with little kids"? |
Anonymous
| OP here. Wondering what people think of Tubman. The test scores are significantly higher than Cooke, yet it doesn't seem to get much play here. Any thoughts? |
Anonymous
The DCPS lottery gives inbound children with siblings in the school first preference. Then inbounds children without siblings in the schools. This is for PreS/ PreK. The lottery numbers are randomly assigned to all. Then those who are in the inbounds w/ sibling category are sorted in order, and assigned places in the class. Next inbounds without siblings are sorted in order, and assigned places. The only way an out of bounds family gets in ahead of an in bounds family is if the in bounds family lists some other school higher on their list, and is accepted in the other (out of bounds for them) school. Then, the in bounds family is put at top of the wait list. The policy is that no one is admitted to more than one school. |
Anonymous
Tubman also seems like a pretty nice school. Good principal nice PS teachers. I think Cooke gets more play here b/c there is a concerted effort by middle class parents in AM and Columbia Heights to make it a neighborhood school. So, if you go to Cooke there are going to be other like minded parents. I know one parent at Tubman who complained that there is no parent involvement -- but that could change if just 5 or 6 families near by decided to do it. Cooke also has a beautiful new building. |
Anonymous
Yes, it was an open house, when the teachers should have be performing at their best, and yet in two of the classrooms that I observed, I felt like the teachers had no idea what they were doing -- I actually speak fluent Spanish despite be a blue-eyed blonde, so perhaps they didn't think I could understand what they were saying. And, as for the other comments, I will stand by my view that Appletree and Bridges are not better than Cooke for pre-school -- but this is based only on my attending open houses and observing, and I didn't think Appletree or Bridges were bad, I just didn't see anything that was better. (And, FWIW, my slightly OOB kid did not end up at Cooke either, so I don't really have a dog in the fight). |
Anonymous
My bad. I spoke inaccurately (I'm 14:17). It is far more accurate to say that in bounds for Cooke is only an advantage if you make it your first choice, so if you list it as your 6th choice "backup school" and you're in bounds, and you get into a higher choice school, you will get waitlisted for Cooke. Hence, all waitlists are inflated by a factor of six. On another topic, Tubman looks like a ROCKING school. It was completely redone two years ago on the inside, and has beautiful classrooms. The outside of the building is really ugly, but the inside is great, with sound systems in every room and "smart boards." The principal at Tubman is impressive: very well-spoken and sharp as a tack. He has done a fabulous job at community outreach. Last fall, he had volunteers going door-to-door in Tubman's district, asking people to come and tutor at the school. Their test scores are great too. I think it's time for someone to organize a movement to attend that school. It is truly fabulous. |
Anonymous
| Haynes doesn't have Preschool, does it? |
Anonymous
It does have PS-3 and PK-4. Now can the PP start organizing that Tubman movement. I'm a few blocks from Tubman and would love to be part of that. |
Anonymous
So they said things that seemed unsuitable to say around little kids? What exactly were they saying? Bancroft was on my list, and I'd really like to understand the problem before I reconsider... |
Anonymous
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Tubman, really?
I live 1 block from there. My child goes to EL Haynes. The profile looks pretty dismal: English language learners: 40% Free and reduced-price lunch 90% Special education 7% In-boundary 59% Percentage of students meeting or exceeding reading standards on the DC CAS: 2009 43% 2010 45% But, WOW, I just looked at Cooke and they are about the same, with LOWER DC CAS scores! Percentage of students meeting or exceeding reading standards on the DC CAS: 2009 43% 2010 45% |