Total Shut Out---any suggestions of schools to apply in Washington, DC (independent school)

[Anonymous]

02:03 DD was at BSW for 5 years. However, we are no longer scheduled to return overseas for work and therfore prefer an American School System Approach. The early years were great. DD could read by 4 and was no longer printing by 2nd grade. They teach the basics a lot sooner then most schools. I do believe by 4th or 5th grade it all balances out. It's British so there are things to get used to like being called mum instead of mom, their grading method is based on the UK system and can take some time to get used too (took me 3 years to really get it) and all the teachers are British. Tution is less then the other schools but not by much, 22,000. They do not offer financial aid. Clearly, they did a good job with my DC as we applied to 5 schools an got into each one. Best of Luck!

[Anonymous]

WES - lots of DC folks go there, its not far across the line, they won't have spots now, but likely will in a month after accepantances come in. PK classes have not been full past few years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:02:03 DD was at BSW for 5 years. However, we are no longer scheduled to return overseas for work and therfore prefer an American School System Approach. The early years were great. DD could read by 4 and was no longer printing by 2nd grade. They teach the basics a lot sooner then most schools. I do believe by 4th or 5th grade it all balances out. It's British so there are things to get used to like being called mum instead of mom, their grading method is based on the UK system and can take some time to get used too (took me 3 years to really get it) and all the teachers are British. Tution is less then the other schools but not by much, 22,000. They do not offer financial aid. Clearly, they did a good job with my DC as we applied to 5 schools an got into each one. Best of Luck!

Thanks! That's good to know since previous posts about BSW have been pretty mixed. It sounds like BSW was the right choice for your DD for the time she was there.

[Anonymous]

Call an educational consultant. Schools with openings will call them looking for candidates. WES and Norwood are at least as strong academically as the schools you mention, and they might have openings. What grade did you apply for?

[Anonymous]

Ditto PP, also check out Lowell, NPS, and depending on where you live, Concord Hill and Harbor School.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live / work? It is hard to tell from where you applied / your comments it appears that you are litteraly all over the map.

[Anonymous]

Harbor School has an exceptional Junior Kindergarten program.

[Anonymous]

CommuniKids Preschool in Tenleytown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call an educational consultant. Schools with openings will call them looking for candidates. WES and Norwood are at least as strong academically as the schools you mention, and they might have openings. What grade did you apply for?

This is absolutely what you should do. Call School Counseling Group, or others, and they are notified of openings. They can also contact Beauvoir and lobby for your DC's acceptance if they feel your child is a good fit. They also know of the issues the schools face, and can be well worth it in many ways. I went this route and my DC was well-placed in a Big Three.

[Anonymous]

Before you frantically move forward in finding a spot, you might want to contact CHDS or WIS (since they may have more time than Sidwell) and ask, in the interest of finding a better fit, why your child was denied a spot at their school. If you are ready to hear it, they may provide some feeback about the WPPSI, playdate or other interactions which may help you understand your child better as a student. I would call tomorrow before they get too busy. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where do you live / work? It is hard to tell from where you applied / your comments it appears that you are litteraly all over the map.

Live in DC now, work in DC...applied to all schools in DC...thanks!

[Anonymous]

How about School for Friends? It has a nice PK (my daughter did it and it was as good as the one at her private now, which we opted not to do and started in K). They tend to have space at that age as kids go on to free DC Pre-K programs if they can!

[Anonymous]

Metropolitan Methodist has a very nice preschool, way lower key than many of the others in NW DC -- which has its plusses and minuses as you can imagine. Suggest you try it.

Also, kids leave preschool midyear when families relo, so keep in touch with the preschools (this probably won't help w/ the fancy PK-12s you applied to).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PK-4, Girl

Sidwell-reject
WIS-reject
CHDS-reject
Beauvoir - WL

Total shut down - unbelievable! As a new parent, I was not aware of the scarcity of slots. I would have applied at 3 or more schools. Now I am in the terrible position of trying to find a school after the admission deadlines. We are without a home school, since current school is not geographically ideal for the next school year. All suggestions will be researched and seriously appreciated...thanks!

ugghghghghghhghghghghghghghghghhghg!!!! help.......

The Beauvoir WL totally moves. You may still have a good chance. Call the AD and express your interest on Monday and follow-up weekly. We were able to get off the list last year by being persistent.

Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before you frantically move forward in finding a spot, you might want to contact CHDS or WIS (since they may have more time than Sidwell) and ask, in the interest of finding a better fit, why your child was denied a spot at their school. If you are ready to hear it, they may provide some feeback about the WPPSI, playdate or other interactions which may help you understand your child better as a student. I would call tomorrow before they get too busy. Good luck.

It is on my "to do" list for Monday, priority #1!