Ward 3 PK 4 options?

[Anonymous]

My youngest didn't do any preschool until PK4 at Eaton. I learned from my older kids that pre-school before then is really not that necessary (for the kids). So there is that option.

For the last 2 years, I understand that Eaton has filled PK4 with IB and OOb with sibling, with more OOB siblings on the waiting list. So it would be unlikely that you would get a spot.

I know a family that got an OOB PK4 spot at Murch last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know families who did time at Hearst before they cleared the sibling waitlist at a preferred school. The families were OOB but not originally from Janney - did you shun them as well?

Nobody is shunned at Hearst. It's a warm and welcoming community. While, fewer and fewer families leave Hearst, it's always sad for kids to have to say goodbye to friends. If someone gets a spot and plans to stay for only a year, that's their right. We just hope that they will be engaged and active while at Hearst. FWIW there are several families at Hearst who are zoned for JKLM's and who liked Hearst so much they decided to stay .

[Anonymous]

Janney should just add more space during the next renovation if they need more room to accommodate PK4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, don't be selfish OP. Don't take a spot at a school for just one year, everyone will know you are planning to leave. I would never do this.

Oh, for goodness' sakes. Anyone who wants a seat IB is guaranteed one for K. If OP takes a PK seat at Hearst/etc. and then frees up that seat the following year, an IB family can still claim it, and stay there through fifth grade, as OP intends to do at Janney. People make it seem like lotterying into a PK seat (IB or OOB) is a privilege reserved for families who can and will commit to stay all the way through MS. Guys? It's public school. You go where you live, and if you can't, then you go where there's room. If your IB school doesn't have room for you right away, there shouldn't be a penalty at either end when you leave an OOB school to return IB once that school can accommodate you.

It's a public school, but PK4 is not universal. No one is being "penalized" if they don't get a spot in their IB school for PK4. It is not guaranteed. I agree that if they don't get into their IB school they should find an option other than an OOB seat at another school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know families who did time at Hearst before they cleared the sibling waitlist at a preferred school. The families were OOB but not originally from Janney - did you shun them as well?

Boy, way to make Hearst sound like a punishment or prison.

And that is a bit different, since they are not guaranteed a spot at their "preferred" school so theoretically they could wind up staying at Hearst. But to your question-- no, I don't shun them. In most cases I don't have to, since they don't participate in anything I barely ever meet them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know families who did time at Hearst before they cleared the sibling waitlist at a preferred school. The families were OOB but not originally from Janney - did you shun them as well?

Boy, way to make Hearst sound like a punishment or prison.

And that is a bit different, since they are not guaranteed a spot at their "preferred" school so theoretically they could wind up staying at Hearst. But to your question-- no, I don't shun them. In most cases I don't have to, since they don't participate in anything I barely ever meet them.

Who in their right mind would send their little 4 year old to a place where they consider going to prek "doing time"?
Not a Hearst parent but I am really annoyed for them right now.

[Anonymous]

I'd look into Shepherd. Easy drive right over the park, about a mile north of military up 16th (against traffic). Great school. One of the best EOTP. Although it is gwtting more popular.

[Anonymous]

I would second (third? fourth?) the suggestion of Apple Tree Columbia Heights: Not too far away, focused on early childhood education, meant to feed somewhere else, and high chance of getting into. I know several WOTP families there for PK3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd look into Shepherd. Easy drive right over the park, about a mile north of military up 16th (against traffic). Great school. One of the best EOTP. Although it is gwtting more popular.

Great school, but Shepherd had PK3 for the first time this year and it was all IB families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd look into Shepherd. Easy drive right over the park, about a mile north of military up 16th (against traffic). Great school. One of the best EOTP. Although it is gwtting more popular.

Great school, but Shepherd had PK3 for the first time this year and it was all IB families.

PP here--just realized OP is interested in PK4. Shepherd PK4 had plenty of OOB students this year.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- thanks to all who posted helpful replies. Re AppleTree, I appreciate the suggestion, because I hadn't heard of it before. Will definitely see if they have open houses coming it and give it some consideration.

As for those taking a negative view of families going OOB for PK4 if their IB school can't accommodate, I'm sorry to hear that some of you have had bad experiences with families not being engaged in their children's school. I would hope that the community of any school is open and welcoming to any parents who are interested and willing to participate, and we would certainly be engaged, as we currently are in our child's preschool.

I was certainly taken aback by one poster's suggestion that people in my own neighborhood might behave in a hostile manner should we end up taking a spot in an OOB school for just one year. We've been living in our neighborhood for a while now, and have never witnessed that kind of behavior (or have just been blissfully unaware of people feeling/acting that way). In any event, that kind of hostile attitude shouldn't have a place in our community.

And, as one poster pointed out, bottom line is that this is public school -- you go where you live or go where there's room if you can't be accommodated. DC made pk-4 universally available to all District residents after all. We have been living here for a while now, plan to be lifelong residents, and are committed to DC public schools.

If you would only apply to your IB school or go private, good for you, but certainly others are within their rights in availing themselves of a benefit designed for everyone living in the District.

[Anonymous]

Also, thanks for the suggestion re Shepherd -- another school that I had overlooked!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- thanks to all who posted helpful replies. Re AppleTree, I appreciate the suggestion, because I hadn't heard of it before. Will definitely see if they have open houses coming it and give it some consideration.

As for those taking a negative view of families going OOB for PK4 if their IB school can't accommodate, I'm sorry to hear that some of you have had bad experiences with families not being engaged in their children's school. I would hope that the community of any school is open and welcoming to any parents who are interested and willing to participate, and we would certainly be engaged, as we currently are in our child's preschool.

I was certainly taken aback by one poster's suggestion that people in my own neighborhood might behave in a hostile manner should we end up taking a spot in an OOB school for just one year. We've been living in our neighborhood for a while now, and have never witnessed that kind of behavior (or have just been blissfully unaware of people feeling/acting that way). In any event, that kind of hostile attitude shouldn't have a place in our community.

And, as one poster pointed out, bottom line is that this is public school -- you go where you live or go where there's room if you can't be accommodated. DC made pk-4 universally available to all District residents after all. We have been living here for a while now, plan to be lifelong residents, and are committed to DC public schools.

If you would only apply to your IB school or go private, good for you, but certainly others are within their rights in availing themselves of a benefit designed for everyone living in the District.

Clearly you are within your rights to go to other schools. Have you even tried to think about it from the other perspective, though? Even for just a second, to try to get where others are coming from? To understand why they'd rather have families commit to the school long-term rather than have a sizable percentage of the PK class disappear after one year?

[Anonymous]

I had my child at a school for one year and had the chance to upgrade and did not look back. We were very active for the year we were at our previous school.

I can assure you that the move was both the best for my child and that the families still at the school have carried on without us just fine.

OP, do what is best for your child and family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had my child at a school for one year and had the chance to upgrade and did not look back. We were very active for the year we were at our previous school.

I can assure you that the move was both the best for my child and that the families still at the school have carried on without us just fine.

OP, do what is best for your child and family.

With an attitude like that my guess is that the old school didn't miss you.