Bancroft-- current experience on class size and aftercare?

[Anonymous]

We are IB for Bancroft and debating whether to just enroll there (kindergarten), or do lottery, or stay in place at current school which we really like but don't love. Spanish is a big plus for us, as is the neighborhood school component. Questions/concerns (from both neighbors and reading various DCUM threads): how over-crowded is the school, and how much of a pain is the aftercare challenge? We will be moving before middle school/HS feeder is a consideration. Welcome parents' experiences from this school year on class size and aftercare (or anything else), for early grades.

[Anonymous]

Not a current parent, but at the Bancroft open house they said current class sizes were up to something like 27 (smaller in PreK 3 and 4) and that they are moving early childhood to a temporary space next year to make more room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a current parent, but at the Bancroft open house they said current class sizes were up to something like 27 (smaller in PreK 3 and 4) and that they are moving early childhood to a temporary space next year to make more room.

Any plans where that would be?

[Anonymous]

This year K rooms have 24-26 kids. For aftercare, if you (generally) apply in the first 2 weeks, you will get a spot. The people on the waiting list have (generally) been people who waited a few weeks after the aftercare enrollment opens (you can’t enroll in aftercare until you have completed enrollment for school). This can be for a host of reasons, but if you apply right away, you should get a spot. If not, there is a separate third party aftercare bus that picks up from the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year K rooms have 24-26 kids. For aftercare, if you (generally) apply in the first 2 weeks, you will get a spot. The people on the waiting list have (generally) been people who waited a few weeks after the aftercare enrollment opens (you can’t enroll in aftercare until you have completed enrollment for school). This can be for a host of reasons, but if you apply right away, you should get a spot. If not, there is a separate third party aftercare bus that picks up from the school.

OP here-- thank you, very helpful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a current parent, but at the Bancroft open house they said current class sizes were up to something like 27 (smaller in PreK 3 and 4) and that they are moving early childhood to a temporary space next year to make more room.

I heard this as well. OP, 27 kids in an elementary classroom is not great. I probably wouldn't bother with the lottery when you have Bancroft as your IB option, crowded or not, but I would also think about whether you want to stay at a school you're currently happy with. Is that a private that goes through fifth or would you be looking for a new school next year?