s/o is Bethune moving?

[Anonymous]

Bethune doesn't need 100s of thousands in renovations. It's a nice little school already. Great outdoor space. Good neighborhood. If Lee it SS get it I can't imagine it would need that much of an overhaul?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad that Bethune is working out for some families, but I am really bothered that we were never give a call that said we got off the wait list. We had a under 10 wait list number and I find it difficult to believe that we never got a spot. Obviously we found another spot elsewhere that we love, but the way they are running their wait list is giving me doubt about the opacity of the process.

They are a train wreck. I got a call the week before school opened, asking if I planned to enroll my child(who won a spot in the lottery, but we enrolled elsewhere months ago). Were they really going to give us a spot when we were MONTHS past the enrollment deadline?! They should be forced to join the common lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad that Bethune is working out for some families, but I am really bothered that we were never give a call that said we got off the wait list. We had a under 10 wait list number and I find it difficult to believe that we never got a spot. Obviously we found another spot elsewhere that we love, but the way they are running their wait list is giving me doubt about the opacity of the process.

They are a train wreck. I got a call the week before school opened, asking if I planned to enroll my child(who won a spot in the lottery, but we enrolled elsewhere months ago). Were they really going to give us a spot when we were MONTHS past the enrollment deadline?! They should be forced to join the common lottery.

Are you kidding?! Urgh. They should be shut down! Forget the common. No wonder they've got the highest recorded rate of residency fraud. It might not even be intentional, just sheer incompetence.

[Anonymous]

We had a similar experience with Bethune a few years ago. The waitlist, enrollment, and tour process was totally haphazard and chaotic. It made me think they didn't have their stuff together. Also I had grave doubts about the aftercare program. We enrolled elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Out of curiosity, those of you who applied to Bethune, are your inbounds so bad that you put down Bethune? Or is there something about the school (like their programs) that attracted you to the school? There isn't anything that stands out about the school based on what I read on their web-site. And these stories about how they run their lottery and enrollment are eye-opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Out of curiosity, those of you who applied to Bethune, are your inbounds so bad that you put down Bethune? Or is there something about the school (like their programs) that attracted you to the school? There isn't anything that stands out about the school based on what I read on their web-site. And these stories about how they run their lottery and enrollment are eye-opening.

We are a new family there and it was kind of a toss up between Bethune and our in-bounds school. We knew going in that the administration was a mess, but we've thus far had good interactions with the teachers and principal and have talked to others who have likewise had good experiences in the classroom. Also, the dual-language instruction was a plus that our in-bounds school doesn't offer.

(and we didn't get in anywhere else)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Out of curiosity, those of you who applied to Bethune, are your inbounds so bad that you put down Bethune? Or is there something about the school (like their programs) that attracted you to the school? There isn't anything that stands out about the school based on what I read on their web-site. And these stories about how they run their lottery and enrollment are eye-opening.

Fallback option that was close to home. We got in elsewhere, fortunately. Echoing a poster above, we also had a <10 waitlist number and never got a call.

[Anonymous]

What a joke. Absolutely no reason they should be allowed to excuse themselves from the common lottery if they're allowed to continue as a school, but if you can't get this fundamental thing correct how can you be trusted to educated a school full of children?

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. I'm assuming you haven't heard anything from them or they haven't insinuated that they're moving or closing the campus? Someone mentioned earlier that they'd been told the upper grades would be moving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP that attended the open house, and I have to say that I was thrilled. The administration seemed wonderful. The teachers are all Masters prepared in education and early childhood development. This definitely wasn't the case at our "well respected" private. Two of the Spanish teachers are starting there after leaving Mundo Verde. I tried to get them to spill why they left, but it was understood that they weren't happy at MV. I grilled them one-on-one about the curriculum that they use and they both felt strongly that it was the best that they've ever taught. Because they just opened the 16th st campus, they still have plenty of spaces. So the class size in our PreK 4 is only 10 students with 2 real teachers. (Not a teacher plus assistant). Volunteering is something that is really important to me after leaving a co-op preschool and they were so excited about the opportunity of regular parent involvement in the classroom.

I know the upper grades may not have the best scores, but we are dealing with our immediate needs. And they really seem to have it together in the early childhood program. I'm not posting this to debate the merits of the school but really as a PSA to those that are still looking and are willing to stray away from the "hot" school of the moment.

And to be fair, we haven't started yet and my impression could change. However, we did talk to several parents at the open house who are entering another year and they were very pleased with their experience. I have the feeling that the administration is really trying. And seeing as how they were approved for a second campus, there seems to be reason to believe that they are doing better and will begin to exceed expectations.

Sorry. I meant the sbove post for this poster.

[Anonymous]

Any Bethune parents here? Has there been no inkling of their shutting down the ward 5 campus? Are they just operating as usual?

[Anonymous]

No mention whatsoever. I think it's just wishful thinking by some Lee parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Out of curiosity, those of you who applied to Bethune, are your inbounds so bad that you put down Bethune? Or is there something about the school (like their programs) that attracted you to the school? There isn't anything that stands out about the school based on what I read on their web-site. And these stories about how they run their lottery and enrollment are eye-opening.

My inbounds is so great that it is impossible to get a spot for PK3 or PK4. I wanted to have a backup. Ending up getting a spot in our top choice charter.

I almost felt like calling them and asking about our spot just to hear what they had to say. Apparently they have less movement than any other school!