List of schools for Pre-k3, will move to the area for k and 1st graders

[Anonymous]

You might consider looking at the school report cards on the OSSE website for a more cumulative picture of school quality - the methodology is also explained there. You also mentioned science of reading... all DC Public Schools (district schools) use science of reading-aligned instruction and have for a while; not all of the DC charters (which are also public schools) do. You can contact the schools you're interested in to ask for more information about their reading programs, which curriculum, etc. I'm not sure about Virginia. The other thing to keep in mind is that "good on paper" schools aren't always the right fit for your kid, esp. if they have specific learning needs - sometimes the best teaching and learning isn't happening in the schools with the wealthiest families.

[Anonymous]

I still say shoot for Hyde-Addison for your two older kids. They will pull in your youngest for PK4 a year later with the sibling preference.

Meanwhile, your PK3 kid can get into Communikids, St Albans Early Childhood Center, or one of the other "community partners" that provide a PK3 education paid for by DCPS from 830am-3pm every day. The good thing about these centers is that you can optionally pay for before-care, after-care, school holiday coverage, and summer camp for your PK3 kid.

We currently have a PK4 at Hyde-Addison. It was a big scramble last summer to find care for our kid after PK3 ended in June at Hyde. The major summer camps in DC only go for 6 weeks because they mostly employ college students and graduating HS seniors. We had to scramble to find care for most of August - it was pretty rough for our kid. Had he done PK3 at a community partner, he would've had (paid) care all summer and transition smoothly into PK4 at Hyde.

Personally, I think Hyde now has the most desirable feeder pattern. Hardy MS is a lot smaller than Deal MS. And the new MacArthur HS in the Palisades is a lot smaller than JR and will have a higher performing student body by the time our kids go there in 10 years.

Good luck!