Park Children’s Day School

[Anonymous]

I’m curious what others are seeing with exmissions at Park Children’s Day School (PCDS).

From PCDS’s website, it looks like there has been a noticeable increase in the number of graduates going to public school for K in the past couple of years. I also understand PCDS has a relatively new director, who is now leading the exmissions process.

How involved and helpful has the new director been with exmissions?
Has the profile of exmissions (more public vs private) actually changed under her, or is this just noise in small numbers?

Would love to hear recent experiences and any data points from the last 1–2 years. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

PCDS parent. The new director is amazing and she did a phenomenal job in a really difficult exmissions year. ~20 kids applying to kindergarten. 10 kids going to TT SS, 3 to TT co-ed, 6 to 2T and I haven’t heard about the remaining 1-2 kids but everyone got an offer, no one was stuck with all waitlists.

Re: public school, a segment of the population chooses public (this year I think it’s like 1/3 public, 2/3 private). Private school is 70k/yr and the neighborhood public schools are great. These are choices families are making, not a fallback because the private process didn’t go their way.

[Anonymous]

I just looked at the website, I didn’t realize they updated it. I’m off by 1 for co-ed. Two of those public numbers are going to Hunter.

[Anonymous]

Curious, how many are going to Collegiate or St B?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PCDS parent. The new director is amazing and she did a phenomenal job in a really difficult exmissions year. ~20 kids applying to kindergarten. 10 kids going to TT SS, 3 to TT co-ed, 6 to 2T and I haven’t heard about the remaining 1-2 kids but everyone got an offer, no one was stuck with all waitlists.

Re: public school, a segment of the population chooses public (this year I think it’s like 1/3 public, 2/3 private). Private school is 70k/yr and the neighborhood public schools are great. These are choices families are making, not a fallback because the private process didn’t go their way.

Thank you for sharing the insider info! I'm not challenging you, just curious - hasn't private school tuition always been high and neighborhood public schools generally strong? What caused the shift only from a couple years ago? And is this something you're seeing across all TT preschools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PCDS parent. The new director is amazing and she did a phenomenal job in a really difficult exmissions year. ~20 kids applying to kindergarten. 10 kids going to TT SS, 3 to TT co-ed, 6 to 2T and I haven’t heard about the remaining 1-2 kids but everyone got an offer, no one was stuck with all waitlists.

Re: public school, a segment of the population chooses public (this year I think it’s like 1/3 public, 2/3 private). Private school is 70k/yr and the neighborhood public schools are great. These are choices families are making, not a fallback because the private process didn’t go their way.

Thank you for sharing the insider info! I'm not challenging you, just curious - hasn't private school tuition always been high and neighborhood public schools generally strong? What caused the shift only from a couple years ago? And is this something you're seeing across all TT preschools?

Yes, it’s definitely a shift and yes I’m seeing it across all preschools. The largest number listed is last year, and that was actually Betsy’s (beloved former director) last year. There are only two “TT” preschools on the west side so you see the concentration more at PCDS, whereas on the east side the numbers get split more amongst Brick, 92Y, All Souls, etc. I watch things closely and I’m a compiler of data (maybe evident in my post haha). It’s not something I’m concerned about at all. If I was hearing about families headed to public because they had no private options, that would be a different conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious, how many are going to Collegiate or St B?

One that I’ve heard, but you can see in the numbers there were more girls to place this year.

[Anonymous]

Two years ago, 5 boys went to St. B from PCDS, so I would say it is definitely still one of the top placements. Granted this was before Betsy retired, but I would expect it will continue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two years ago, 5 boys went to St. B from PCDS, so I would say it is definitely still one of the top placements. Granted this was before Betsy retired, but I would expect it will continue.

6 to Brearley this year.

[Anonymous]

So of the 12 to TT, how many new families?

[Anonymous]

I know two are connected. Legacy is harder to figure out. The handful I know are unconnected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PCDS parent. The new director is amazing and she did a phenomenal job in a really difficult exmissions year. ~20 kids applying to kindergarten. 10 kids going to TT SS, 3 to TT co-ed, 6 to 2T and I haven’t heard about the remaining 1-2 kids but everyone got an offer, no one was stuck with all waitlists.

Re: public school, a segment of the population chooses public (this year I think it’s like 1/3 public, 2/3 private). Private school is 70k/yr and the neighborhood public schools are great. These are choices families are making, not a fallback because the private process didn’t go their way.

Thank you for sharing the insider info! I'm not challenging you, just curious - hasn't private school tuition always been high and neighborhood public schools generally strong? What caused the shift only from a couple years ago? And is this something you're seeing across all TT preschools?

Yes, it’s definitely a shift and yes I’m seeing it across all preschools. The largest number listed is last year, and that was actually Betsy’s (beloved former director) last year. There are only two “TT” preschools on the west side so you see the concentration more at PCDS, whereas on the east side the numbers get split more amongst Brick, 92Y, All Souls, etc. I watch things closely and I’m a compiler of data (maybe evident in my post haha). It’s not something I’m concerned about at all. If I was hearing about families headed to public because they had no private options, that would be a different conversation.

Where can I see your post? We are about to apply for our DD to a feeder school for next year. If location is not a concern at all, would you recommend PCDS over CCDS or the other way? We have a feeling the two schools are quite similar in many ways but may feel different once we tour them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PCDS parent. The new director is amazing and she did a phenomenal job in a really difficult exmissions year. ~20 kids applying to kindergarten. 10 kids going to TT SS, 3 to TT co-ed, 6 to 2T and I haven’t heard about the remaining 1-2 kids but everyone got an offer, no one was stuck with all waitlists.

Re: public school, a segment of the population chooses public (this year I think it’s like 1/3 public, 2/3 private). Private school is 70k/yr and the neighborhood public schools are great. These are choices families are making, not a fallback because the private process didn’t go their way.

Thank you for sharing the insider info! I'm not challenging you, just curious - hasn't private school tuition always been high and neighborhood public schools generally strong? What caused the shift only from a couple years ago? And is this something you're seeing across all TT preschools?

Yes, it’s definitely a shift and yes I’m seeing it across all preschools. The largest number listed is last year, and that was actually Betsy’s (beloved former director) last year. There are only two “TT” preschools on the west side so you see the concentration more at PCDS, whereas on the east side the numbers get split more amongst Brick, 92Y, All Souls, etc. I watch things closely and I’m a compiler of data (maybe evident in my post haha). It’s not something I’m concerned about at all. If I was hearing about families headed to public because they had no private options, that would be a different conversation.

Where can I see your post? We are about to apply for our DD to a feeder school for next year. If location is not a concern at all, would you recommend PCDS over CCDS or the other way? We have a feeling the two schools are quite similar in many ways but may feel different once we tour them.

Not sure what post you’re referring to.

They’re very similar schools in terms of size and pedagogy and teachers. Both have warm communities, PCDS is slightly lower-key because it’s UWS. Apply to both and go to the one closer to home. Don’t schlep a kid for preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PCDS parent. The new director is amazing and she did a phenomenal job in a really difficult exmissions year. ~20 kids applying to kindergarten. 10 kids going to TT SS, 3 to TT co-ed, 6 to 2T and I haven’t heard about the remaining 1-2 kids but everyone got an offer, no one was stuck with all waitlists.

Re: public school, a segment of the population chooses public (this year I think it’s like 1/3 public, 2/3 private). Private school is 70k/yr and the neighborhood public schools are great. These are choices families are making, not a fallback because the private process didn’t go their way.

Thank you for sharing the insider info! I'm not challenging you, just curious - hasn't private school tuition always been high and neighborhood public schools generally strong? What caused the shift only from a couple years ago? And is this something you're seeing across all TT preschools?

Yes, it’s definitely a shift and yes I’m seeing it across all preschools. The largest number listed is last year, and that was actually Betsy’s (beloved former director) last year. There are only two “TT” preschools on the west side so you see the concentration more at PCDS, whereas on the east side the numbers get split more amongst Brick, 92Y, All Souls, etc. I watch things closely and I’m a compiler of data (maybe evident in my post haha). It’s not something I’m concerned about at all. If I was hearing about families headed to public because they had no private options, that would be a different conversation.

Where can I see your post? We are about to apply for our DD to a feeder school for next year. If location is not a concern at all, would you recommend PCDS over CCDS or the other way? We have a feeling the two schools are quite similar in many ways but may feel different once we tour them.

Not sure what post you’re referring to.

They’re very similar schools in terms of size and pedagogy and teachers. Both have warm communities, PCDS is slightly lower-key because it’s UWS. Apply to both and go to the one closer to home. Don’t schlep a kid for preschool.

Sorry for the misunderstanding—I thought you had another post with the compiled data. And yes, that’s exactly how we feel about the two schools! Very happy parents and wonderful faculty (according to those happy parents).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PCDS parent. The new director is amazing and she did a phenomenal job in a really difficult exmissions year. ~20 kids applying to kindergarten. 10 kids going to TT SS, 3 to TT co-ed, 6 to 2T and I haven’t heard about the remaining 1-2 kids but everyone got an offer, no one was stuck with all waitlists.

Re: public school, a segment of the population chooses public (this year I think it’s like 1/3 public, 2/3 private). Private school is 70k/yr and the neighborhood public schools are great. These are choices families are making, not a fallback because the private process didn’t go their way.

Thank you for sharing the insider info! I'm not challenging you, just curious - hasn't private school tuition always been high and neighborhood public schools generally strong? What caused the shift only from a couple years ago? And is this something you're seeing across all TT preschools?

Yes, it’s definitely a shift and yes I’m seeing it across all preschools. The largest number listed is last year, and that was actually Betsy’s (beloved former director) last year. There are only two “TT” preschools on the west side so you see the concentration more at PCDS, whereas on the east side the numbers get split more amongst Brick, 92Y, All Souls, etc. I watch things closely and I’m a compiler of data (maybe evident in my post haha). It’s not something I’m concerned about at all. If I was hearing about families headed to public because they had no private options, that would be a different conversation.

Where can I see your post? We are about to apply for our DD to a feeder school for next year. If location is not a concern at all, would you recommend PCDS over CCDS or the other way? We have a feeling the two schools are quite similar in many ways but may feel different once we tour them.

Not sure what post you’re referring to.

They’re very similar schools in terms of size and pedagogy and teachers. Both have warm communities, PCDS is slightly lower-key because it’s UWS. Apply to both and go to the one closer to home. Don’t schlep a kid for preschool.

Sorry for the misunderstanding—I thought you had another post with the compiled data. And yes, that’s exactly how we feel about the two schools! Very happy parents and wonderful faculty (according to those happy parents).

Oh! Sorry the compiled data just sort of lives rent free in my head. I’ve been paying attention to schools for a long time.