Opinions: Appletree: Lincoln Park for Pre-K or Maury

[Anonymous]

Good evening all.

I'm looking for an opinion from any current or former parents of prekindergarten parents at Appletree. Our son currently attends the Lincoln Park Campus, and we have loved it. The atmosphere of the school has been fabulous (after some initial problems), and we love the teachers and the small campus setting (there are just three classes at this school). We did not enjoy our experience with the principal, as we found her to be inconsistent and sometimes harsh; however we have heard that she is leaving for the next school year, so that is not going to be an issue. Unfortunately DS was waitlisted for every one of our first choice schools for pre-k. Now we are faced with the choice between our neighborhood school, which is Maury, or remaining at AT.

Our questions are: is the prekindergarten curriculum and experience at AT worth staying for another year? Or would it be better to move DS to Maury now, in case we are waitlisted again next year, so that he will be familiar with the school? Are there any current Maury parents who can weigh in on their prekindergarten program?

[Anonymous]

"I'm looking for an opinion from any current or former parents of prekindergarten parents at Appletree."

I'm sorry, that should read that I am looking for an opinion from former parents of prekindergarten students.

[Anonymous]

I am a parent at the Parklands campus. My husband and I love this school! When we moved to the area, we were looking for a school with high quality instruction and we found it. The Principal and Sam are very knowledgable and are always welcoming. I haven't been able to participate in as many functions as I would like due to my work schedule but I am always kept well informed. Im not a prek parent so my child will be returning next year. The only concerns I have are with the late before care time. I would like it to begin before 7:30 AM and the Principal and sam being split between two schools. I feel as though they wouldnt let that happen in a community more well off. (if you know what I mean) Im sure your LP school doesn't have a 1/2 time sam and principal or does it? I have seen other blogs addressing this concern before. Me and my hubby love the administrators at Parklands. maybe you should transfer to our site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our questions are: is the prekindergarten curriculum and experience at AT worth staying for another year? Or would it be better to move DS to Maury now, in case we are waitlisted again next year, so that he will be familiar with the school? Are there any current Maury parents who can weigh in on their prekindergarten program?

I can't speak to much else but can chime in by saying that there is a lot of continuity between the Maury pre-K and K classes, very few new kids. Which points to two related issues to consider, that it's close to impossible to get into K if you're not inbounds and that people stay. But classes get remixed. So your child won't the the only "new" one. I'd say K is more pivotal. In terms of early childhood curriculum, Maury relies on the Creative Curriculum and has an amazing team of early childhood educators, PS and pre-K working closely together.

[Anonymous]

Maury is her inbounds school, so getting into K isn't an issue.

Baswed on that, I would stay at AT for another year and allow another kid a chance at Maury. (Thats what I did.)