Pre-K 3 Option 2012-2013 School Year (NW/NE DC)

[KMcFarlane]

Hello-

My husband and I just moved back to the DC. We live in the Petworth/Manor Park/Takoma area (we are not zoned for Bernard). DC seemed to be the midpoint between our two jobs. Plus we really like the city. We are ready to plant roots in the DC Metro. My husband works in old town Alexandria, VA. I work in Potomac, MD. (we both have a 30min commute) from our current location. We both work from 8am-4:30pm.

We also have a three year old who will need to go to Pre-K 3 next year. We are open to both DCPS and DC Charter schools as long as they are top performing.

I would love if the school could have a few of these:
•Before and After Care (I will likely drop off at 7:30am) (My husband wil pick up no later tha 6pm)
•Immersion (preferable Spanish)
•BONUS: Feeds into a good middle school


When do we apply to the lottery? What schools are you applying for Pre-K3?

Thanks so much for your help.
Kari

[Anonymous]

LAMB, Sela, Bridges, Capital City are probably your best bets, if you want something near you. Should be online applications available. Common application deadline is March 15, 2013 and lottery date is March 22, 2013.

[Anonymous]

Sela isn't opening a PS3 class.

[Anonymous]

Mundo Verde

[Anonymous]

If you have a three year-old, won't you need pre-K 4 next year?

[Anonymous]

Your email says 2012-13; that is the current school year. Is this correct? It is unlikely that you will get a placement at a top-performing charter in the middle of the year.

In fact, you should resign yourself to the possibility (probability?) that you will not get a placement at a top-performing Spanish immersion charter. LAMB, Stokes and Mundo Verde run waitlists in the hundreds, so while you might get lucky in the lotteries, you might not. New charter school Sela will be close to you and Hebrew immersion, and your chances will probably be good there since there are no siblings yet and many people will not want to take a chance on a new charter.

Now is the time to go to open houses for various DCPS and charters so you can apply for a range of options and maximize your chances of getting into something that works for your schedule and commute. There are lots of options out there. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Right, Sela and Yu Ying are for PK-4.

[KMcFarlane]

Hi -


Typo-


My son is 3 years old. He just turned three October 17th, 2012. He won't make the four year old cut off by the start of school.

He's currently in a daycare. I'm looking for Pre-K3 for the 2013-2014 school year. Wooo where did the time go? I really love Yu Ying. However, they don't have a PK-3 class. (That I know of) I looked at them before we even moved to DC.

Thanks for your help!

[Anonymous]

Takoma Education Center is not top performing, but folks seem to like the preS 3 program. The neighborhood 3 yos have all left by the 3rd grade testing year.

so, I'd put Takoma on your OOB choice. Also West has a good rep. Brightwood has a lot of spanish families, so though not immersion, child would hear a lot of spanish from classmates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Education Center is not top performing, but folks seem to like the preS 3 program. The neighborhood 3 yos have all left by the 3rd grade testing year.

so, I'd put Takoma on your OOB choice. Also West has a good rep. Brightwood has a lot of spanish families, so though not immersion, child would hear a lot of spanish from classmates.

Not so, the kids speak English while they are on the playground.

[Anonymous]

Isn't Bruce-Monroe dual instruction? I don't know how that would work with your commute....

[Anonymous]

Not Bruce Monroe, the OP wants a top performing school. PPs have listed some good options but you need to prepare for the fact that you probably only a have a 5-10% chance of getting into LAMB, mundo verde etc...

[Anonymous]

In DCPS, Powell and Bancroft both have preschool programs that offer dual-language

[Anonymous]

Bancroft is just as hard to get into as some charters but with worse scores. In fact, we got off of LAMB's waitlist before Bancroft's waitlist (which was late Sept. and a better wl number).

[Anonymous]

You could also try Takoma Children's School, which is a great private pre-K - and then try your luck for pre-K 4 at YY, Sela, or another pre-K 4, if you don't get into a top pick for pre-K 3. Many people in the neighborhood do this because TEC is not up to snuff.