Is it a good idea to switch schools?

[Anonymous]

Our son is in a top notch private kindergarten and doing well. However, we yearn for more from the school like more diversity, better art classes, better aftercare, and when we're really in the complaining mode better supervision on the playground. In sum, we've been moderately happy with the school. Now, do we stick it out or do we start looking again?

We were wait listed at my personal favorite school last year and I checked the box to be kept on their wait list, although I"m not sure how long that lasts. I certainly don't want to bad mouth the school that we are currently at by any means, and I don't want to be whiny, but at the same time I think the other school would be a better fit overall.

What have others done in the past?

[Anonymous]

Aren't spots in private first grades extremely rare?

[Anonymous]

What happens after K at this school? Does the program look different from what you're experiencing now?

I guess abstractly my answer to your question is "yes, it's a good idea to switch schools when your DC is unhappy at his/her current school for identifiable/fixable/school-specific reasons." And "no, it's not a great idea to switch schools just because you think you might be able to do better in some vague way." That said, if you are going to switch schools, do it at a point where you aren't wreaking havoc with DC's world and try to do it in a way that makes you comfortable you've now made the right/best decision. I guess there's a certain amount of soul-searching involved -- is this a grass is always greener (and/or the reality of school doesn't live up to what I imagined) phenomenon -- in which case changing schools won't help you much -- or is it a "this was a bad choice, let's not wait until it becomes a disastrous one" scenario.

[Anonymous]

Is public school an option?

[Anonymous]

Yes, they are but I'm wondering what people do who want to keep an option open. do they actually purse their goal or just make do with what they have and get over it? Also, if they make do, do they stick it for the entire k-12 process, or do they retry in the high school years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happens after K at this school? Does the program look different from what you're experiencing now?

I guess abstractly my answer to your question is "yes, it's a good idea to switch schools when your DC is unhappy at his/her current school for identifiable/fixable/school-specific reasons." And "no, it's not a great idea to switch schools just because you think you might be able to do better in some vague way." That said, if you are going to switch schools, do it at a point where you aren't wreaking havoc with DC's world and try to do it in a way that makes you comfortable you've now made the right/best decision. I guess there's a certain amount of soul-searching involved -- is this a grass is always greener (and/or the reality of school doesn't live up to what I imagined) phenomenon -- in which case changing schools won't help you much -- or is it a "this was a bad choice, let's not wait until it becomes a disastrous one" scenario.

I think the program continues along the same lines. When we toured all of the schools there were a few that really stood out to us. I remember thinking "wow!" about the art room, the integrated curriculum, etc. However, now that we are there, I'm seeing products that aren't what I was expecting. I'm also realizing that the school isn't well versed in dealing with working parents. There is an aftercare program, which leaves much to be desired, and I've found myself shortening my days to go pick DS up for various afterschool programs like tennis, tae-kwon-do, etc. We'll probably start an afterschool art program too. Needless to say, I'm killing myself getting him to all of these places while still trying to work. DH isn't much help because he has zero flexibility to do such things.

Knowing that no school is going to provide everything that we desire, we still are left in doubt about when do you look for greener pastures, or when do you try to make some needed change at the current school?

[Anonymous]

Well, I had a grass is always greener friend and she spent the first 5 years (PreK-3) after her kid was a admitted to a coveted school (and thriving there) going to open houses and collecting applications. Then she got pregnant and had less time on her hands and decided she didn't need to fix what wasn't broken.

There are major influxes of kids into private school at middle school and high school. In fact, there are more spaces at those schools in upper grades than in most elementary years (especially first grade). So staying put now doesn't foreclose options later. Be aware that different private schools have different entry years and know what they are are the schools you are interested in. Those are your windows of opportunity.

Are you just saying I didn't get my first choice last round, do I apply again? If so, then the answer probably is if your DC didn't get in at K, s/he won't get in at 1st (which is generally not an entry year as has already been pointed out). That doesn't mean s/he won't get in later.

Thought experiment: If you didn't get into your first choice college, would you be asking yourself this question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[When we toured all of the schools there were a few that really stood out to us. I remember thinking "wow!" about the art room, the integrated curriculum, etc. However, now that we are there, I'm seeing products that aren't what I was expecting. I'm also realizing that the school isn't well versed in dealing with working parents. There is an aftercare program, which leaves much to be desired, and I've found myself shortening my days to go pick DS up for various afterschool programs like tennis, tae-kwon-do, etc.

I think that this is a really common reaction to Kindergarten, pretty par for the course, and probably not a reflection on whether you made the right choice. Is this your first year there? If so, you're two months into the school year -- give yourself a little time to learn the lay of the land. If possible, talk to working moms in upper grades and hear their perspectives. As a number of people have already pointed out, your odds of being able to move to another private school next year (i.e. for first grade) are pretty slim anyway, so you aren't really taking a risk by not instantly applying elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I had a grass is always greener friend and she spent the first 5 years (PreK-3) after her kid was a admitted to a coveted school (and thriving there) going to open houses and collecting applications. Then she got pregnant and had less time on her hands and decided she didn't need to fix what wasn't broken.

There are major influxes of kids into private school at middle school and high school. In fact, there are more spaces at those schools in upper grades than in most elementary years (especially first grade). So staying put now doesn't foreclose options later. Be aware that different private schools have different entry years and know what they are are the schools you are interested in. Those are your windows of opportunity.

Are you just saying I didn't get my first choice last round, do I apply again? If so, then the answer probably is if your DC didn't get in at K, s/he won't get in at 1st (which is generally not an entry year as has already been pointed out). That doesn't mean s/he won't get in later.

Thought experiment: If you didn't get into your first choice college, would you be asking yourself this question?

Well put. I am definitely of the ilk if at first you don't succeed, then die trying. So, I do have to practice a mantra of patience.

[Anonymous]

I saw this post on the discussion board about tuition costs this year. Maybe this is the year to jump ship:

At various soccer games this weekend, I heard repeated tales of woe from several board members of private schools. Even last year, many schools (with the exception of the top 3 or 4) had to dig deep into their waiting lists. Even some of the top schools have started to advertise in parent magazines in order to drum up applications. I'm told that applications are down slightly AND that administrators worry that some people who are applying are not fully committed given the economic situation. They will probably admit a few more kids than usual. Good news for those applying -- if you can manage to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Wow, what soccer club are you with? (Don't need to mention the specific team, that would be TMI.)

Admitting a few more people might help. Although if there are 120 kids applying for 20 slots, increasing it to 23 slots may not make a huge difference in the odds.

[Anonymous]

OP, I have a nitpick about your dilemma, but maybe I am reading it incorrectly .... one of your issues is that CurrentSchool doesn't have stellar aftercare, and so you take your child around town to do stuff after school.

You have listed that your 5 year old child will go to tae kwon do, tennis and probably art class. In lieu of these classes, what would your 5 yr old be doing after school? Playing with friends? Hanging out and doing choice activities?

And, how bad is the aftercare at CurrentSchool?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a nitpick about your dilemma, but maybe I am reading it incorrectly .... one of your issues is that CurrentSchool doesn't have stellar aftercare, and so you take your child around town to do stuff after school.

You have listed that your 5 year old child will go to tae kwon do, tennis and probably art class. In lieu of these classes, what would your 5 yr old be doing after school? Playing with friends? Hanging out and doing choice activities?

And, how bad is the aftercare at CurrentSchool?

In lieu of these classes, he would be in aftercare not at home, I work. At his previous preschool they had a tremendous all day program that was focused to working parents. They provided a well rounded slate of classes like spanish, gymnastics, yoga, etc. All high quality too AND well worth the money.

[Anonymous]

Personally cutting down on afterschool classes. I think they can be too much of a good thing in K. Is it possible that your child would be just as happy hanging out with his friends on the playground in aftercare?

[Anonymous]

.... afterschool classes. I think they can be too much of a good thing in K. Is it possible that your child would be just as happy hanging out with his friends on the playground in aftercare?

That's what I was wondering -- why does a 5 yr old need to be enriched or in a class from 8:30 to 5:30, five days a week?

But maybe the aftercare OP is worried about is so terrible (like, unsupervised television watching for hours?) that continuous lessons are a more healthful alternative.