Current pre school (3) parents at EL Haynes, MV, IT, and Bancroft - pls give your thoughts

[Anonymous]

FWIW, we applied to 3 DCPS bilingual/immersion programs (among other schools) -- Bancroft, Marie Reed, and Cleveland ES -- and we didn't get into any of them. I think a lot of the kids who get into those schools, like many of the charters, are siblings if they're OOB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree w pp. My friends in the burbs would kill for free day care!

IT parent here of a PS3'er and I don't consider this free day care. My child is learning by leaps and bounds every day. Some kids who have come from daycare are having transition issues: the demands here are much more than what is expected of them in a care-setting. The teachers are challenging the kids to think, interact, inquire, learn, play, and grow.

Another IT parent of a PSer here. My child came from daycare and has had NO transition issues. We love the school but it is definitely not daycare. For us as working parents, we are having to transition to a part year schedule, many more holidays, PD days etc. And those camps, fill-in days can definitely be more expensive on a per-day basis than daycare (and harder to find for a 3 yo).

Anyway, my advice is to tour a lot, apply to a lot--and not just the most popular on DCUM. You'll need to investigate and get lucky too!

[Anonymous]

I think some of you are taking the "free daycare" sentiments to seriously. The point, for me at least, is to say don't be surprised if you don't get into any one of these great options. So do add some safe preschool options to your list. Your preschooler will still get social skills as well as intellectual ones at a Bridges or an Appletree. Yes, you may adjust your schedule especially for summer. However, after our first year of preschool, we saved a net of $12k (after summer programs and drop in daycare as needed).

[Anonymous]

PP again... "too seriously"

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm curious why you are not applying to Stokes, LAMB and Cap City along with these others. All of these school also have excellent PS-3 programs. Stokes and LAMB have excellent bilingual programs. All are better than Bancroft.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm curious why you are not applying to Stokes, LAMB and Cap City along with these others. All of these school also have excellent PS-3 programs. Stokes and LAMB have excellent bilingual programs. All are better than Bancroft.

She probably didn't know about them until now. Nobody would pick Bancroft if they could actually get in to LAMB. (And no, I am not a LAMB parent.) Also, if OP is specifically interested in bilingual schools, she should look at Yu Ying, though I don't think they take 3 year olds.

[Anonymous]

Stay away from Stokes as well...don't take up a space you don't intend to keep for the next 6 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bancroft parent here. In our second year (preS, then preK this year). Sixteen kids, one teacher, and one instructional aide in the preschool classes. We really like the school, the teachers we've had, the sense of community, the pleasure of being able to walk two blocks to school. This year Bancroft adopted Tools of the Mind in preschool classrooms, which is sort of like Montessori with an emphasis on self-regulation. We're happy with it.

PP is correct that Bancroft still loses a lot of kids after the early years. (Of course "most kids leave" is code for "most middle class kids leave.") However, the principal is only in her third year and has been making a lot of changes to try to improve test scores and meet the needs of more advanced kids. We have a new assistant principal (formerly at DC Bilingual) and a huge influx of middle class neighborhood families in preS this year. To my mind the new playground has made an enormous difference. We now have a wonderful, safe space for our kids to play and where parents of toddlers who are considering Bancroft can get to know each other.

It's true Bancroft faces plenty of challenges. It's also true that when I've visited the charters or talked to parents there, I've sensed a lot more energy, probably more innovative things going on in the classroom. But to me there's a lot to be said for a diverse, nearby, bilingual school where my child has made friends who live just a few blocks away.

One thing I would add. Please don't take a preschool spot at Bancroft if you have absolutely no intention of staying for K and beyond. It's not good for the school, and it's not good for the poor Hispanic kid whose spot you've taken and whose family can't afford to pay for preschool (but needs it much more than our kids do).

there were openings at AppleTree this year through October. AppleTree is a solid program and the poor Hispanic Kid would have had the opportunity to get in even if their parent missed the craziness of the lottery.

[Anonymous]

EL Haynes parent here. DS is in PreK 4 and like a pp said, the 3s and 4s are combined.

Classes are max 22 kids with usually 12 four year olds and ten 3 year olds with a lead teacher, resident teacher (teacher undergoing certification) and an aide.

We are absolutely thrilled with Haynes. It is a very positive, family oriented environment that expects good behavior, kindness, fun and hard work out of the kids. I work in a charter school and have seen my share of good, great and not so good places. EL Haynes demonstrates best practices all around. It is a very good school and is getting better and better every year.

Demographics are more diverse with the younger grades and less diverse as you go up, but I think that is changing. We will send our daughter next year who will be 3 in February.

Winning the lottery to get into Haynes was one of the biggest reliefs in my time as a parent. I feel comfortable and plan to stay there through elementary school.

Good luck OP. Please ask if you have any other questions about your options, I did the homework and it is amazing that there are some quality options for parents with children at this age.

[Anonymous]

I have family attending both MV and Haynes. Good and positive feedback on both places.