What is the Best DCPS PS-K on the Hill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Brent really paly based? I'm a Brent parent and although my kids absolutely LOVE school and they have lots of fun, I'm not sure I'd say it is play based. I got the impression that SWS is the best for play based. But I wonder how diffuclt it is to get into SWS. Maybe move into Brent area, but also try to get into SWS. Your odds are good (but not 100%) that you will get into Brent if you are in-boundry.

Brent is moving to a Reggio Emilia program for early childhood in the fall of 2013. This is the same program as SWS.

[Anonymous]

Brent is not really play based. No way. Just look at the kindergarten classrooms. Kids bent over seat work and toys deemed educational. Not a dress up corner, home corner, bucket of play people in sight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Brent really paly based? I'm a Brent parent and although my kids absolutely LOVE school and they have lots of fun, I'm not sure I'd say it is play based. I got the impression that SWS is the best for play based. But I wonder how diffuclt it is to get into SWS. Maybe move into Brent area, but also try to get into SWS. Your odds are good (but not 100%) that you will get into Brent if you are in-boundry.

Odds look a good deal worse at Brent for PreK3 this year than last. There are more families with siblings and multiples entering the lottery this year, the Turtle Park crowd. I estimate that at least 1/3 f the 38 spots are already sewn up, with 40 - 50 kids whose parents would take a slot going for the remaining two dozen. Knowing this and being IB, we're playing it safe, applying to half a dozen charters and for OOB slots where are lots (e.g. JO Wilson).

[Anonymous]

But do you regret living IB for Brent? Is there another school you wish you were IB for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brent is moving to a Reggio Emilia program for early childhood in the fall of 2013. This is the same program as SWS.

Is this information from the principal? The open house? I have a child at Brent and haven't heard, but would be interested in knowing more.

[Anonymous]

One thing to consider is trying to target a location which is in bounds for one school and gives you proximity preference for another. For example, you can live in bounds for Peabody and in some locations have proximity preference for Tyler. Same for the Brent/Tyler line on 7th Street. And also with J.O and Ludlow Taylor (Nothing against those, but I wouldn't select them as in-bounds and would rely on them more as fallback). I'm not familiar enough with the districts for some of the other schools to know where the overlap is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brent is moving to a Reggio Emilia program for early childhood in the fall of 2013. This is the same program as SWS.

Anonymous wrote:Is this information from the principal? The open house? I have a child at Brent and haven't heard, but would be interested in knowing more.

From the Principal - ask him about it. It has been discussed at LSAT and PTA Board meetings too. Also, speak with the Early Childhood teachers - they are the ones who initiated the change.

[Anonymous]

This is great news for Brent. Another good call by staff and principal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Brent really paly based? I'm a Brent parent and although my kids absolutely LOVE school and they have lots of fun, I'm not sure I'd say it is play based. I got the impression that SWS is the best for play based. But I wonder how diffuclt it is to get into SWS. Maybe move into Brent area, but also try to get into SWS. Your odds are good (but not 100%) that you will get into Brent if you are in-boundry.

Odds look a good deal worse at Brent for PreK3 this year than last. There are more families with siblings and multiples entering the lottery this year, the Turtle Park crowd. I estimate that at least 1/3 f the 38 spots are already sewn up, with 40 - 50 kids whose parents would take a slot going for the remaining two dozen. Knowing this and being IB, we're playing it safe, applying to half a dozen charters and for OOB slots where are lots (e.g. JO Wilson).

Yea, that sounds right.

[Anonymous]

Brent had something like 9 in-bound PS3 applicants who were waitlisted last year (there were a significant number of in-bound siblings). I believe this was the first year that all in-bound applicants could not be accommodated, but am sure how many of those waitlisted may have enrolled.

[Anonymous]

OP: One question you want to consider is the importance of socio-economic diversity in a PS/PK program. FWIW, you will find relatively very little at Brent. On the other hand, you also need to consider K and up in terms of academic rigor and quality of teachers/aides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brent is moving to a Reggio Emilia program for early childhood in the fall of 2013. This is the same program as SWS.

Is this information from the principal? The open house? I have a child at Brent and haven't heard, but would be interested in knowing more.

Early childhood teachers started training this week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing to consider is trying to target a location which is in bounds for one school and gives you proximity preference for another. For example, you can live in bounds for Peabody and in some locations have proximity preference for Tyler. Same for the Brent/Tyler line on 7th Street. And also with J.O and Ludlow Taylor (Nothing against those, but I wouldn't select them as in-bounds and would rely on them more as fallback). I'm not familiar enough with the districts for some of the other schools to know where the overlap is.

Is this true for PreK? I was under the impression that there is no proximity preference for PreK, since nobody has a right to a spot, just for K and above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brent is not really play based. No way. Just look at the kindergarten classrooms. Kids bent over seat work and toys deemed educational. Not a dress up corner, home corner, bucket of play people in sight.

This is Kindergarten, not a Montessori daycare or a gulag. In any event, there are plenty of play items stored away for use at the appropriate time. Frankly, I have not heard any parents complain about the curriculum. If anything, most want students pushed and challenged even more academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing to consider is trying to target a location which is in bounds for one school and gives you proximity preference for another. For example, you can live in bounds for Peabody and in some locations have proximity preference for Tyler. Same for the Brent/Tyler line on 7th Street. And also with J.O and Ludlow Taylor (Nothing against those, but I wouldn't select them as in-bounds and would rely on them more as fallback). I'm not familiar enough with the districts for some of the other schools to know where the overlap is.

Is this true for PreK? I was under the impression that there is no proximity preference for PreK, since nobody has a right to a spot, just for K and above.

From DCPS FAQ:

• Applicants will be placed into available seats in their particular grade at each school based on their preference and random number order.

See below for the order of preferences for the Preschool and Pre-­?k Lottery:

1. Students who live in-­?boundary with a sibling at the school are placed first, in random number order.

2. Students who live in-­?boundary without a sibling at the school are placed next, in random number order.

3. Students who live out-­?of-­?boundary with a sibling at the school are placed next, in random number order.

4. Students who live within reasonable walking distance* of the school without a sibling at the school are placed next, in random number order.

5. Any remaining seats will go to students who receive none of the above preferences, in random number order.