Moving (suddenly!) to DC/Columbia Heights, what great (or good) PK3 can we get into mid July?

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone, this is my first ever post in this forum. My family and I (including 3 yr old DC born mid-Dec 2008) are moving to DC in mid-July. I've been researching 3 yr old PreKs and the only public schools I read great things about are charters which I assume we have zero chance of getting into now.

Anyone know of great (or at least good) public PreK3 schools anywhere near Columbia Heights/Petworth that we might have a shot of getting into?

Also, since we're moving from somewhere where 3 yr olds are in daycare and not school, I have no idea how summer works. Are there any great full time (at least 8:00-6:00) summer programs for 3 yr olds or are there year-round PreKs for 3yr olds?

Total newbie, have tried to do some research but still many questions and this move is so sudden!

THANKS for any advice!

[Anonymous]

Look into DC JCC. Full time care year round. They are in Dupont Circle.

[Anonymous]

Try Appletree. You are super-late to this game.

[Anonymous]

In that neighborhood the only shot you have at public is AppleTree Columbia Heights.

For Private - Sacred Heart Catholic School
http://sacredheartschooldc.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=156

Little Flower Montessori

[Anonymous]

You may find this post useful (not quite your neighborhood, but still useful):

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/239957.page

Also, pre-k won't start until Labor Day or thereabouts, so you will need a summer camp from mid-July until school starts. There are full-day camps for 3 year olds, but you need to start looking now as they tend to fill up. You can post on the camp/classes forum on DCUM for more information on that front. Also, if you are in a bind, chances are you will be able to find a college student as a summer nanny, who can take your 3 year old to the free parks/pools, library story hours, etc.

FYI, re the DC JCC poster, that place is well-regarded, but it is private and not public so it will be pricier than finding a place at a DC public pre-k.

[Anonymous]

Welcome! Columbia Heights is a great place to live. We moved here when my son was 3 - we got places quickly at Amazing Life Games (which we turned down - but people I know loved it) and Kinderhaus on Conn Ave (not Columbia Heights or
Petworth) but convenient to work -my kid did great there - but it is obviously not a DCPS. Good luck and again welcome!

[Anonymous]

Maybe try Center City Perworth. Not sure. Just an idea about where you might have a chance. Don't think you're going for
great at this point in the game. I've met the principal and she seems very competent.

[Anonymous]

Another idea is Takoma Ed campus. It's a DCPS with a Reggio Emilia program. Likely only a one year solution but that's what you're going to get at this point.

[Anonymous]

Per the news today Columbia Heights and Shaw are the places to be if you're white. Can one assume that CHEC, Cardozo and Dunbar will become the new haven for children in DCPS high schools? Finally, Wilson will no longer have to carry the burden. Yippeee! Y'all getting newly refurbished and/or built high schools too. Soon it will be great to be white in the DCPS high school setting. Happy days are here again...

[Anonymous]

Dc bilingual, Munro verde, creative minds and bridges are also in the neighborhood. All full with long wait lists but there is a lot of movement later in the summer

[Anonymous]

Avoid the DCJCC at all cost: very expensive and entirely incompetent. The director of the school has no clue on what a preschool should be. Chaos. This place is pure chaos.

As people said at this point you may want to settle for a "quick" and temporary solution.
I would also suggest some home-based day care in the neighborhood. Usually for younger kids but open year around, with 7 AM to 6 PM schedule and on a "month-by-month" basis.
Not the perfect solution (lack of playground, not a huge amount of stimuli, ...) but could be a life saver until you get in the place you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dc bilingual, Munro verde, creative minds and bridges are also in the neighborhood. All full with long wait lists but there is a lot of movement later in the summer

Thanks so much to ALL of you for sharing your thoughts!

To the poster above, are you saying that despite the crazy wait lists I've read about, there's some level of possibility (even if it's a very low level) that getting on the post-lottery waitlist at those 4 schools might still yield a spot? I get that no one knows, and no one is guaranteeing anything, but I wasn't even going to apply/get on those waitlists because I thought it was impossible. It's maybe a little possible?

And to those suggesting in-home daycare, are there any websites that license and rate daycares (including in-home) for DC?

If any more of you have thoughts you haven't shared, please do! I know we're probably not likely to get "great" at this stage, but I'm not one to lose hope so any further ideas on good or great, much appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dc bilingual, Munro verde, creative minds and bridges are also in the neighborhood. All full with long wait lists but there is a lot of movement later in the summer

Thanks so much to ALL of you for sharing your thoughts!

To the poster above, are you saying that despite the crazy wait lists I've read about, there's some level of possibility (even if it's a very low level) that getting on the post-lottery waitlist at those 4 schools might still yield a spot? I get that no one knows, and no one is guaranteeing anything, but I wasn't even going to apply/get on those waitlists because I thought it was impossible. It's maybe a little possible?

And to those suggesting in-home daycare, are there any websites that license and rate daycares (including in-home) for DC?

If any more of you have thoughts you haven't shared, please do! I know we're probably not likely to get "great" at this stage, but I'm not one to lose hope so any further ideas on good or great, much appreciated!

. There is absolutely no way that you would get into Mundo Verde. CM and Bridges are long-shots, but go ahead and apply. DC Bilingual is doubtful, but there is a chance. Apply to Appletree ASAP.

[Anonymous]

I am the original poster re bridges, mundo verde, etc. There is a possibility but yes it is slim. The applications only take a few min so no harm done. I wld of course follow up with all the schools, especially later in the summer as well as after thebschool year begins.

[Anonymous]

Thanks again. We'll apply to Appletree immediately.

3 more questions:

1. Is DC Bilingual the same as Centronia? It looks like they're the same school but I don't think I saw anything actually named "DC Bilingual" - want to make sure I have right place (even if it's a longshot).

2. What do people think of Shining Stars Montessori, am I right that it seems to be public/free, and how hard/impossible is it to get in there? I haven't seen in mentioned so far in the threads I've read....

3. A few people (including staff at Haynes) have suggested we look at Center City. But that looks like a charter school too, which I assume will have similar impossible odds as other charters. Is there something about Center City that makes it more likely to get into, since a few people (here and on phone) have suggested it? What do you guys think of it as a school?