AppleTree Public Charter preschool - candid opinions please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do working parents deal with all the days off in the Apple Tree calendar? We were waitlisted, so it's probably a moot point for us anyway, but looking at the calendar really gave me pause. I understand the importance of professional development, but when you factor in a PD day once a month, spring break, and federal and DC holidays, (and of course unscheduled sick days for your kids that you have to take off work) with no camp or care options available, I just don't know how we would be able to swing that as two working parents.

How do you know you were wait listed? Is it on their website?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do working parents deal with all the days off in the Apple Tree calendar? We were waitlisted, so it's probably a moot point for us anyway, but looking at the calendar really gave me pause. I understand the importance of professional development, but when you factor in a PD day once a month, spring break, and federal and DC holidays, (and of course unscheduled sick days for your kids that you have to take off work) with no camp or care options available, I just don't know how we would be able to swing that as two working parents.

How do you know you were wait listed? Is it on their website?

I called the school.

[Anonymous]

To the person mentioning MD parents, there are at least three children that I know of (2 in my DS class and 1 upstairs) who have divorced or separated parents. I generally see the mothers drop off and the fathers pick up, so I'd assume they share time. I know it's the knee jerk reaction to think "CHEAT" but it's not always the case.

As far as impressions, we also love it, but like previous posters we worry about what to do after PK. For that reason we did enter a number of lotteries for the upcoming school year. So far we are WL every where, so we may do our PK year here as well.

I would ask what campus the OP got in at? Our good friend attended another campus this past school year and did not have a good experience.

[Anonymous]

Question from a future applicant--when you apply, do you do so for a specific campus? We woul be interested in some, but not all, I the locations based on location. Thx.

[Anonymous]

Son is at LP campus. HE loves his teachers and has learned a ton. I must say it is VERY academically focused ( too much for my overall liking) but his teachers are wonderful and make it all fun.

In terns of MD plates-- I see them everywhere too. I see it in a lot of charters. They need to step it up for sure. I know what large SUVs yo uare talking about too. I feel like we get emails at least once a month telling us not to park illegally. Oh well.

[Anonymous]

We have big MD SUV's at my school (Peabody) too. Very visible.

[Anonymous]

Many schools have a lot of days off - at least monthly, in addition to regular holidays. Finding care on these days (either taking work off yourself or finding other childcare) is SO much less expensive than a year (or nine months) of childcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question from a future applicant--when you apply, do you do so for a specific campus? We woul be interested in some, but not all, I the locations based on location. Thx.

Yes. I can't remember how many you can apply to, but we applied to two. It may be three total? You are waitlisted separately at each.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many schools have a lot of days off - at least monthly, in addition to regular holidays. Finding care on these days (either taking work off yourself or finding other childcare) is SO much less expensive than a year (or nine months) of childcare.

I realize that many schools have a lot of days off; however, many also offer camps or extended aftercare for professional development days. Apple Tree doesn't. It's simply not feasible for us to take all those days off, even if we split between my husband and me. I was wondering what, specifically, other parents do in this situation. I can't imagine that it would be very easy to find a once a month nanny...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question from a future applicant--when you apply, do you do so for a specific campus? We woul be interested in some, but not all, I the locations based on location. Thx.

Yes. I can't remember how many you can apply to, but we applied to two. It may be three total? You are waitlisted separately at each.

You can apply to two campuses. Once you accept at one, you get taken off the waitlist of the other.

[Anonymous]

My son was also admitted to Apple Tree, and I've heard such great things. Here is my question. How difficult is it to get into a school at the kindergarten level after the 2 years at AT are up? We got into a DCPS school that we feel lukewarm about (Tyler Traditional), and I'm trying to figure out if it's smart to give up a spot at Tyler which goes all the way until 5th (although who knows if we would stay that long) for a school that only goes for 2 years. Thoughts? Those whose kids went to AT for 2 years, how difficult was it to get into a school for K?

[Anonymous]

^^ you are guaranteed a spot at you IB K, if that helps any. Is yours that bad?

[Anonymous]

Good question about all the PD days! We were accepted but I'm wondering about that. Anyone have a good solution?

[Anonymous]

Good question about all the PD days. Anyone have suggestions?

[Anonymous]

We were at Appletree (CH) last year and loved it. As pp mentioned, its a worry to try to get into a school for K. We decided to up our chances and played the lottery for PK. We were able to get a great long term solution but I was sad to leave Appletree a year early. If you are really happy with Tyler then go for it. If you are not, then I would recommend Appletree and playing again next year. It is a wonderful preschool. Also for the PD days most the working parents we knew either already had a nanny for younger kids or did drop in at their previous daycares.