Offered prek3 spot for SWW-FS

[Anonymous]

OP, I would love to know what you decide and why once you make a decision. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1403, if you don't mind me asking, which grade classrooms were you able to observe? I just did a tour (and granted, it is not during the school year), and was a bit concerned that the program does not seem fully rooted yet. i was told that the school was almost shuttered due to lack of interest, but was revived when parents and community and DC decided to invest in the school and save it. and last year apparently was their first "transition" year moving in the direction of new growth under the same principal as that of the SWW HS. i certainly see it as becoming a reward school in the next few years, but in the meantime, i get the imminent sense that there will be many growing pains. just my observation/speculation.

As a current parent there, last year was good but I can guarantee there will be additional growing pains, but we're in it for the long haul and will ride them out and work with other parents/administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1403, if you don't mind me asking, which grade classrooms were you able to observe? I just did a tour (and granted, it is not during the school year), and was a bit concerned that the program does not seem fully rooted yet. i was told that the school was almost shuttered due to lack of interest, but was revived when parents and community and DC decided to invest in the school and save it. and last year apparently was their first "transition" year moving in the direction of new growth under the same principal as that of the SWW HS. i certainly see it as becoming a reward school in the next few years, but in the meantime, i get the imminent sense that there will be many growing pains. just my observation/speculation.

As a current parent there, last year was good but I can guarantee there will be additional growing pains, but we're in it for the long haul and will ride them out and work with other parents/administration.

I have heard the same from other parents there. There are challenges but also opportunities. OP, I think it depends a bit on whether you would be committed to doing work to support the school and help it reach its potential. If not, and you would prefer a stronger school from the get-go, I think you'd want to wait to get into a top charter if you have lottery luck and, if not, move in-boundary for a good school.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and to share the renovation update I received: I was told a renovation was originally planned for next summer, but some stuff happened with the budget and they have put it off. They are trying to make the renovation happen all during summer so as not to disrput the school year (that seems optimistic to me), and they are trying to complete the renovation before the school fully expands. Their expansion plan starts at the ground floor, so this year, they added a pre-k 3 class, which will naturally work its way up throughout the school and expand the student body that way.

[Anonymous]

I understand that after only one year, the school is seeing a fair amount of teacher and administrative staff turnover including an assistant principal. Does anyone know if this is accurate and if so why this is the case?

[Anonymous]

We are leaning toward giving up our spot to another hopeful family. After visiting we really felt that DC might be overwhelmed going from a small, private preschool directly to a large DCPS education campus. We have until Friday to decide (that's when everyone was asked to submit their enrollment papers), and I'll be sure to provide an update to people here.

To the pps requesting that we either commit for the long-haul or give up our spot: it's a good point that we are factoring into our decision. Wherever we end up, we want to stay, and not continue to play lottery hell.

[Anonymous]

I didn't ask that question, but I do feel that is accurate based on our tour and conversation. It was mentioned that the Principal Trogesh (?) installed two assistant principals - one for SWW FS and one for the HS.

I am guessing the natural change of course for the school is the impetus for the staff turnover. It definitely feels like a time of change, but one that will yield better opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Quick question -if they added a PK3 classroom does that mean there will be 3 classes for the 2014-2015 school year?

Also - which assistant principal left?

[Anonymous]

HS has new AP. 4th in 5 years. Community there wants new leadership devoted to HS. FS needs a lot of work and should have its own principal too. 2 schools under one principal does not work. Not surprised to hear of lots of turnover.

[Anonymous]

Yes, 3 pk3 classes this fall.

[Anonymous]

Still curious if anyone can give a sense of what lottery number they are on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, 3 pk3 classes this fall.

Since they only offered 24 spots in the initial lottery, does that mean that they are offering an additional 21 spots now? (Usually there are 15 PK3 kids per class, plus one early stages, so I think they should be offering 45 total non-early stages slots.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, 3 pk3 classes this fall.

Since they only offered 24 spots in the initial lottery, does that mean that they are offering an additional 21 spots now? (Usually there are 15 PK3 kids per class, plus one early stages, so I think they should be offering 45 total non-early stages slots.)

The school has a number of PK3/PK4 mixed classes, partially due to the blind/low vision program, so that might skew the numbers somewhat. If they've added one class, that probably means +15.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on my research, it's a great school for pre-k, like another suggested, but we would probably keep trying to lottery for a better school beyond K. My hesitation is I'm not sure I'd want to pull DC from current school and put into SWW for one year, just to (hopefully) move again. The cost vs. no-cost is extremely enticing though. We could save a lot in that one year. Commute would not be an issue for us (SWW is close to DC's current school).

Then the school is not for you.