What is the most elite NYC preschool?

[Anonymous]

40-50 mins for a toddler is insane. Imo preschool is not worth crossing the park. I'd rather move

[Anonymous]

50 minutes is way too long, especially if you have a solid “local” option which it looks like you do based on your options listed.

It’s not just getting to school that’s impacted but also the broader social element. Playdates, activities, meetups at park, are all going to be a massive headache and in practice it means your child may just get left out of a lot of stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:50 minutes is way too long, especially if you have a solid “local” option which it looks like you do based on your options listed.

It’s not just getting to school that’s impacted but also the broader social element. Playdates, activities, meetups at park, are all going to be a massive headache and in practice it means your child may just get left out of a lot of stuff.

Totally agree with all of this. make your life easier and go to WSMS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are trying choose between WSMS and Episcopal

WSMS is more convenient in every way, but we are getting pressure from long time NYC parents/grandparents to choose Episcopal

What would you do?

Convenience is what has counted the most in our experience, and if you can pair that with a school like WSMS, that sounds like a jackpot. WSMS has great relationships with Brearley and Trinity, and lots of other schools. We've consistently heard that teachers at WSMS do amazing work, and there's much less pressure on kids than at Episcopal. So I'd consider going with WSMS a clear choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts from parents on which school below to pick? Location-wise, Christ Church and PCSD are much better for us, but we do like the staff and director of STMPG. Want to send our daughter to a SS TT k afterwards.

Christ Church;
PCDS;
STMPg

PCDS or Christ. PCDS felt warmer and more down to earth. I liked that the teachers were very seasoned. Facilities were my criticism, but proximity to the park made up for that. Christ loved the rooftop, didn’t like the elevator up to the school (seems like dropoff/pickup could be messy). Community felt warm but leaned fancier.

Exmissions felt the same, PCDS more single-sex leaning (more of our friends went co-ed from Christ) if that is what you’re looking for.

Can I ask what you did not like about/would turn you off STMPG?

Wasn’t on our radar. Too buttoned up, everyone I know felt like a bit of an outsider because they weren’t “staffed up.” Just not our life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts from parents on which school below to pick? Location-wise, Christ Church and PCSD are much better for us, but we do like the staff and director of STMPG. Want to send our daughter to a SS TT k afterwards.

Christ Church;
PCDS;
STMPg

PCDS or Christ. PCDS felt warmer and more down to earth. I liked that the teachers were very seasoned. Facilities were my criticism, but proximity to the park made up for that. Christ loved the rooftop, didn’t like the elevator up to the school (seems like dropoff/pickup could be messy). Community felt warm but leaned fancier.

Exmissions felt the same, PCDS more single-sex leaning (more of our friends went co-ed from Christ) if that is what you’re looking for.

Can I ask what you did not like about/would turn you off STMPG?

Wasn’t on our radar. Too buttoned up, everyone I know felt like a bit of an outsider because they weren’t “staffed up.” Just not our life.

We liked the school but we really disliked the artificial light, lack of classrooms (one big basement with dividers) so tons of noise and hearing each class, and no windows. We’re not motivated only by the facilities (i.e. our tour at Brick was awful and self-guided despite the pretty building and lore the school has) but for the grandeur STMPG is going for with pretty uniforms etc. their facility leaves a lot to be desired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts from parents on which school below to pick? Location-wise, Christ Church and PCSD are much better for us, but we do like the staff and director of STMPG. Want to send our daughter to a SS TT k afterwards.

Christ Church;
PCDS;
STMPg

PCDS or Christ. PCDS felt warmer and more down to earth. I liked that the teachers were very seasoned. Facilities were my criticism, but proximity to the park made up for that. Christ loved the rooftop, didn’t like the elevator up to the school (seems like dropoff/pickup could be messy). Community felt warm but leaned fancier.

Exmissions felt the same, PCDS more single-sex leaning (more of our friends went co-ed from Christ) if that is what you’re looking for.

Can I ask what you did not like about/would turn you off STMPG?

Wasn’t on our radar. Too buttoned up, everyone I know felt like a bit of an outsider because they weren’t “staffed up.” Just not our life.

We liked the school but we really disliked the artificial light, lack of classrooms (one big basement with dividers) so tons of noise and hearing each class, and no windows. We’re not motivated only by the facilities (i.e. our tour at Brick was awful and self-guided despite the pretty building and lore the school has) but for the grandeur STMPG is going for with pretty uniforms etc. their facility leaves a lot to be desired.

For what it's worth, we really felt like STMPG was the most devoted to learning and actually getting to know each individual kid of any of the schools we looked at, and will consequently be choosing it over a number of the other schools mentioned in these threads. We are neither "staffed" nor buttoned-up

[Anonymous]

What do we think about Garden House (Park Avenue)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do we think about Garden House (Park Avenue)?

Very traditional . Great exmissions especially for the unconnected. These are the types of schools that the unconnected folks will benefit from if they want TT exmissions. You are not competing with a deluge of legacy and sibling and faculty kids.

[Anonymous]

Does being at a school with fewer siblings and legacies really help with emissions ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does being at a school with fewer siblings and legacies really help with emissions ?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Between Christ Church and Garden House any thoughts on community / what types of families would do well at each? Not very familiar with either but have offers at both. Seems like emissions are comparable for TT K for non legacy families so for us it will really be about fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does being at a school with fewer siblings and legacies really help with emissions ?

No.

[Anonymous]

Any current All Souls parents here? Do you see any downsides?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts from parents on which school below to pick? Location-wise, Christ Church and PCSD are much better for us, but we do like the staff and director of STMPG. Want to send our daughter to a SS TT k afterwards.

Christ Church;
PCDS;
STMPg

PCDS or Christ. PCDS felt warmer and more down to earth. I liked that the teachers were very seasoned. Facilities were my criticism, but proximity to the park made up for that. Christ loved the rooftop, didn’t like the elevator up to the school (seems like dropoff/pickup could be messy). Community felt warm but leaned fancier.

Exmissions felt the same, PCDS more single-sex leaning (more of our friends went co-ed from Christ) if that is what you’re looking for.

Can I ask what you did not like about/would turn you off STMPG?

Wasn’t on our radar. Too buttoned up, everyone I know felt like a bit of an outsider because they weren’t “staffed up.” Just not our life.

We liked the school but we really disliked the artificial light, lack of classrooms (one big basement with dividers) so tons of noise and hearing each class, and no windows. We’re not motivated only by the facilities (i.e. our tour at Brick was awful and self-guided despite the pretty building and lore the school has) but for the grandeur STMPG is going for with pretty uniforms etc. their facility leaves a lot to be desired.

For what it's worth, we really felt like STMPG was the most devoted to learning and actually getting to know each individual kid of any of the schools we looked at, and will consequently be choosing it over a number of the other schools mentioned in these threads. We are neither "staffed" nor buttoned-up

I’m the one who wrote the above and fully agreed. We liked the school and everyone we met working there. We know a ton of alumni families from it too and they aren’t any more “staffed” than having a nanny because parents work.