Kindergarten - help us decide!

[Anonymous]

Primary Day parent here. It is such a special school and we could not be happier with our decision to send our children here! Happy to answer any questions you may have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How important is the K-8 model to you? That’s the real decision here.
If I had to pick among those three I’d choose Beauvoir because I’d weigh the better outplacement options higher than the K-8 model.

Better how? Outplacement in 3rd? Much rather my child go through that process at 8th. They know themselves and their needs better. They are closer to college, and that experience in 8th will prepare them better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering Beauvoir, WES, and Primary Day

Definitely Primary Day. Their graduates go on to a variety of great, independent schools. So you will have a lot of options once your.DC gets to second grade.

[Anonymous]

We chose Primary Day. My husband attended a K-8 and felt strongly that he did not want that model for our kids. He found the transition at 9th to be very challenging socially (he went to a top K-12 for high school).

If you are set on NCS/STA, Beauvoir makes sense. Otherwise, I would absolutely choose PDS. It has been a fantastic experience for our family and our children have thrived. Several strong outplacement options for third grade.

[Anonymous]

We chose primary day as well. Wanted to consider other choices at a point younger than 8th (including potentially public), but also wanted a school that was concentrating literally all of its resources at the youngest age levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How important is the K-8 model to you? That’s the real decision here.
If I had to pick among those three I’d choose Beauvoir because I’d weigh the better outplacement options higher than the K-8 model.

Better how? Outplacement in 3rd? Much rather my child go through that process at 8th. They know themselves and their needs better. They are closer to college, and that experience in 8th will prepare them better.

Talk to some parents who have been through it before you conclude that. 8th grade exmissions is extremely competitive and the transition to high school can make 9th a lonely and hard year. It works fine for some kids, but it's very easy to gloss over what it will be like when you're an incoming K parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering Beauvoir, WES, and Primary Day

If you think you might want Big 3 in the future, absolutely Beauvoir. Neither WES nor PD have the relationships. WES parents in particular complain all the time on this board about how their kids don’t get into the Big 3.

+1 to the poster who said 9th grade admissions are now extremely competitive. 7th and 6th are also becoming pretty competitive due to people realizing that 8th is too late to apply for the top schools.

[Anonymous]

We chose WES over Beauvoir and NPS for the community, and we are very happy. Pick whichever is closest to your home. One small thing to consider is that the years fly by, and you have to think if you will feel up for another application process again in just a few years.

[Anonymous]

We were in Primary Day but I always felt that we were not truly accepted as part of their community. And we are normal people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How important is the K-8 model to you? That’s the real decision here.
If I had to pick among those three I’d choose Beauvoir because I’d weigh the better outplacement options higher than the K-8 model.

Better how? Outplacement in 3rd? Much rather my child go through that process at 8th. They know themselves and their needs better. They are closer to college, and that experience in 8th will prepare them better.

Talk to some parents who have been through it before you conclude that. 8th grade exmissions is extremely competitive and the transition to high school can make 9th a lonely and hard year. It works fine for some kids, but it's very easy to gloss over what it will be like when you're an incoming K parent.

This is precisely why it’s important to do it in 8th—because they will know themselves and what is important to them far better for choosing a college.

[Anonymous]

Primary Day parent here – We really appreciated the focus on the first four-years. Our dd grew and changed so much between ages four and eight, and the experience supported her every step of the way. The placement process for third grade was excellent!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How important is the K-8 model to you? That’s the real decision here.
If I had to pick among those three I’d choose Beauvoir because I’d weigh the better outplacement options higher than the K-8 model.

Better how? Outplacement in 3rd? Much rather my child go through that process at 8th. They know themselves and their needs better. They are closer to college, and that experience in 8th will prepare them better.

Talk to some parents who have been through it before you conclude that. 8th grade exmissions is extremely competitive and the transition to high school can make 9th a lonely and hard year. It works fine for some kids, but it's very easy to gloss over what it will be like when you're an incoming K parent.

This is precisely why it’s important to do it in 8th—because they will know themselves and what is important to them far better for choosing a college.

FWIW, having been thru 8th grade exmissions and college admissions, the 9th grade admissions process was not particularly helpful. The truth is there are not very many private schools and because admissions has become competitive, you have to apply widely. It’s also my experience that most people do not get their true first or even second choices, so “fit” becomes secondary to feasibility. I think it often works out, but it’s not as much about true choice as you go into it anticipating. In comparison there are thousands of colleges students can choose from. It’s a much different process and kids entering college are so much older and more in control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Primary Day parent here – We really appreciated the focus on the first four-years. Our dd grew and changed so much between ages four and eight, and the experience supported her every step of the way. The placement process for third grade was excellent!

That's great to hear. What schools did you consider post PDS? It seems like such a wonderful school. What is the community like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How important is the K-8 model to you? That’s the real decision here.
If I had to pick among those three I’d choose Beauvoir because I’d weigh the better outplacement options higher than the K-8 model.

Better how? Outplacement in 3rd? Much rather my child go through that process at 8th. They know themselves and their needs better. They are closer to college, and that experience in 8th will prepare them better.

Talk to some parents who have been through it before you conclude that. 8th grade exmissions is extremely competitive and the transition to high school can make 9th a lonely and hard year. It works fine for some kids, but it's very easy to gloss over what it will be like when you're an incoming K parent.

This is precisely why it’s important to do it in 8th—because they will know themselves and what is important to them far better for choosing a college.

Spoken with the ignorant confidence of someone who’s never been through the process and doesn’t know the scene. Can’t tell you how many parents I know who waited until 9th whose children had to settle for a school that wasn’t the best fit.

9th grade admissions is fiercely competitive and only getting more so. Your DC might be brilliant and turned down by all of their top choices. If you want a decent chance at the top schools, apply in the earlier grades, no later than 6th so you have time to reapply if your DC doesn’t get in during the first round.

If you think a 13-year old knows themselves and has a clue about what colleges would best fit, let me tell you about this bridge I have to sell…

By 9/10, you should have a sense of your child’s personality and their strengths and inclinations. Of course things can change, but a math/techie kid is not suddenly going to turn into an artistic genius.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kindergarden may be the most important year of school. Don't underestimate the impact it will have. Choose the best one for your child.

No, it isn't. Not even close.