private preschool compared to DCPS PK3-PK4?

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the school (and the individual teachers at those schools). We have experience with two different DCPS PK3 programs, in two different schools. One was very play-based. Lots of outdoor time and while students were expected to be kind to each other and not hurt each other, there were otherwise very low expectations for behavior (in other words, the classroom was not particularly calm or orderly). I can't say much academic learning took place but it was a positive introduction to "school". At our other DCPS the children are expected to be calm and follow more rules and there is much less free play. There is not much tolerance for craziness. It is too early in the year for me to see "academic" progress but I am told to expect all the children to be writing their names at the end of the year. I think you need to look carefully at your particular DCPS, and compare it to whatever private program(s) you are considering. In theory, I suppose, your DCPS PK3/4 programs will be more aligned with whatever the expectations are for kindergarten at that school, but again some DCPSs are better than others about making sure that there is a logical flow from one grade level to the others, especially in the early years before "testing" kicks in.