Nest M+ or Private School?

[Anonymous]

My DD is waitlisted at Nest M. If the waitlist moves and if she is offered a spot should we choose to take that over private hill school?

[Anonymous]

Depends on which hill school and what your cash flow looks like.

I wouldn’t choose it over HM, but would over Riverdale or Fieldston for various reasons.

[Anonymous]

Even compared to HM, if $70k/year is a substantial burden for you, I would weigh whether your kid would be better off with a degree from HM versus a public school degree and $1.5M in cash (and/or never having to pay rent in their life).

[Anonymous]

Over ECFS?

[Anonymous]

If you have a bright kid, they will probably be pushed harder at NEST than at ECFS, which is definitely the weakest of the Hill schools academically.

[Anonymous]

When we toured TAG, NEST, Anderson, lower lab, the principals all said it’s a lottery. The questionnaire for sending preschools are very subjective and my understanding is that all prek kids who apply get approved by their teachers to enter the lottery. If money is not a concern, go private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we toured TAG, NEST, Anderson, lower lab, the principals all said it’s a lottery. The questionnaire for sending preschools are very subjective and my understanding is that all prek kids who apply get approved by their teachers to enter the lottery. If money is not a concern, go private.

It's the OLSAT test. Teachers are not involved.

[Anonymous]

When do you have to sign your enrollment contract by for the hill school? It’s my impression if you don’t pay/attend after a certain date, you will be sued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When do you have to sign your enrollment contract by for the hill school? It’s my impression if you don’t pay/attend after a certain date, you will be sued.

No, you lose your deposit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we toured TAG, NEST, Anderson, lower lab, the principals all said it’s a lottery. The questionnaire for sending preschools are very subjective and my understanding is that all prek kids who apply get approved by their teachers to enter the lottery. If money is not a concern, go private.

It's the OLSAT test. Teachers are not involved.

You’re wrong. Please see from the DOE website:
Eligibility Process
This varies a bit depending on where (and whether) a child currently attends pre-K.

For current pre-K students at DOE/district schools, Pre-K Centers, CBOs, or charter schools:
Anyone who adds a G&T program to their kindergarten application will be evaluated by their current pre-K teachers.
For current pre-K students at private or parochial school programs, or for children who are not yet in school:
Interested families apply by listing a G&T program on their kindergarten application.
After the application closes, DOE's Division of Early Childhood Education contacts applicants to set up interviews.
Then, interviews take place.
Based on these interviews, early childhood education experts nominate eligible applicants for G&T admissions.

[Anonymous]

Is this for K? Where do you live? How does transportation work for both schools? Nest + M is a real trek from most uptown neighborhoods, particularly for a little kid. The hill schools are also a trek for a little kid but I assume they manage transportation better.

Also depends a lot on your finances. And which hill school. And if you have other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this for K? Where do you live? How does transportation work for both schools? Nest + M is a real trek from most uptown neighborhoods, particularly for a little kid. The hill schools are also a trek for a little kid but I assume they manage transportation better.

Also depends a lot on your finances. And which hill school. And if you have other kids.

This. It’s hard to answer in a vacuum. That said, if finances are not an issue, I would stick with private.

[Anonymous]

Finances not a problem most likely. Have a second kid who is younger. Live on early 50s on west side. Child is bright made it to Hunter round 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finances not a problem most likely. Have a second kid who is younger. Live on early 50s on west side. Child is bright made it to Hunter round 2.

Np.
I assume this is K? Personally I wouldn’t commute that far for elementary.

My dc went to NEST and we liked it, but we lived much closer. I don’t think it’s fair to little kids to make them commute far for school. I did that with one dc for a few years and regret it.

[Anonymous]

my neighbors kid took a private bus from Brooklyn to NEST. my kids went to the very good private down the block. I was never ever jealous of the education they were getting at NEST.

I'm not saying it's not great, it is .. but it's not better than the PS29s or 321s or 58s of the world. What are your local public options? Having local friends is a lifelong gift. My kids are in college and that community of kids and their parents is my community too.