NCRC vs Lowell

[Anonymous]

Which would you choose and why?

[Anonymous]

Both great preschools (we go to Lowell, live near and know folks who did NCRC). Also both not that easy to get into (particularly NCRC), so most people should apply to both if they like both and then on the off chance they get into both they can choose their favorite. The other difference is that with Lowell almost all the kids go into the pre-primary to continue through elementary school whereas NCRC is just a preschool. I think Lowell costs more for preprimary but not sure.

I love the individual attention and progressive education that Lowell provides as well as the beautiful physical setting (huge playgrounds and fields). But as I say above, you can't go wrong with either one.

[Anonymous]

I just had a friend tell me that her visit to NCRC left her cold. The children seemed too serious at too young an age. This is second hand info, so just passing along. She thought it was too "academic" too early. Sure, it has a great rep, but I would think about the "feel" -- does it seem full of joy. I have heard great things about Lowell, but it is very progressive. They seem, from my understanding, to be very different schools. I was so glad (on hindsight) that for my kids I went with the full of joy, if a bit chaotic, environment for preschool, versus the very ordered, more "academic" but again, totally personal thing. (My children went to Mclean Country Day School)

[Anonymous]

I find this reaction to NCRC a bit odd. If anything, I felt that NCRC was not quite academic enough. I believe in learning through play, which is the basis of the NCRC approach, but I was surprised to learn during my visit that, for ex, they only introduce a calendar with simple patterns in the 4 y.o. classroom, while my daughter had it in her 3 y.o. classroom. I don't really mean this as a criticism, though. I think it's a wonderful school, and I would have been happy to send my children there if it had been more convenient.