If DS doesn't get into the two private preK schools we applied to...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:... is the the fault (in part) of his daycare? He has been going to this national (Bright Horizons) daycare center since he was two and they do have an accredited preschool. However, none of the children in his class are going or applying to private school and I just found out that few from this daycare center ever have gone into private school.

DS had his assessment (I wasn't in the room) and we had our interview as a family (so the reason for his rejection could always be DH and me). We have always tried to do interesting things for him on the weekends and read to him every night.

You cannot blame the day care. It’s more of a reflection on the parents. And as you know, if you don’t get into the right preschool, the path to Harvard will contain many obstacles, most of which are insurmountable.

Nope, it's obviously the kid's fault. He's obviously not private preK caliber. He's clearly mediocre. Give up on him now, OP, and have another. Maybe the next one will be better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:jesus OP you are terrible and have horrible values. ps I am pretty sure my child's public K far outstrips privates in terms of the quality of instruction and teacher qualifications.

Did you attend public school, PP? Because that would explain a lot about your post.

Yes, I did. I went to a public high school whose college admissions and National Merit stats far ourstrip any DC area private or public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:jesus OP you are terrible and have horrible values. ps I am pretty sure my child's public K far outstrips privates in terms of the quality of instruction and teacher qualifications.

Did you attend public school, PP? Because that would explain a lot about your post.

Yes, I did. I went to a public high school whose college admissions and National Merit stats far ourstrip any DC area private or public.

(TJ aside, I admit!)

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would blame both you (for not doing your homework) as well as the daycare if the schools you wanted differed greatly in philosophy - like a Montessori going into a Waldorf.

[Anonymous]

It's a little late for you to be worrying about his now.

[Anonymous]

No it's obviously YOUR fault, OP, for not hiring a nanny who can teach your kid another language.

[Anonymous]

I see the Unkind Brigade on DCUM is out in force today.

OP, pre-K admission in this area can be quite competitive if they are the pre-K programs of the "Big 3" and other top schools. There's a limited number of slots, lots of applicants, and preference for siblings, legacies, and people who can donate a lot.

Your child's WPPSI, behavior on the playdate, and the like, affect their chance of admission. But so does the admission committee's opinion on whether your family -- which basically means you and your spouse, really -- will be a "good fit" for the school.

If your child doesn't get in, it's highly unlikely to be the fault of their daycare. It's far more likely to be you -- whether the way that you came off in your application, or the parent interview. Or your kid might just not be a good fit (which is again far more about your family than the daycare). Or they just don't have any slots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait!! There are feeder schools for Pre-K??

Sort of, yeah. But Bright Horizons isn't one of them. For strivers like OP, the thing to have done would have been to hire a high quality bilingual nanny, PLUS get into one of the "better" playgroups with kids who have siblings in the highly ranked independent schools.

But to complain because the totally fine generic preschool you chose because it was near your office or whatever didn't get your kid into a private preK? Nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again - why the hostility?! There are definite "feeder schools" - why would daycare be any different?

What on earth are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

The only "reason" I would blame bright horizions would be if you asked them to complete a form and they did not.

BUT - there are local daycares and preschools that have strong relationships with the privates. Lesson learned for you. If this is a path that is important for you, send you child to NCRC next year and apply from there for K. (But if your child is currently 4 1/2 - he will 5 in June???)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We tried to get my DD into parochial school from a Bright Horizons and she was rejected. Yes, I do blame the daycare in part.

It is not about getting a child into HYPS for college. It is about wanting the best education for your child.

What? Yes, and if you wanted the best for your child you would not have sent them to a Bright Horizon center in the first place. Not the daycares fault, it is yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Your kid is...what, 3? 4 at most? And you’re concerned about your “feeder” daycare? Are you worried this puts the kid on the wrong path for HYP?
People are hostile because it’s a little kid. Not even in preschool. They are still eating glue and drawing on walls at this age. It’s not a predictor of future success.

OP here. He is 4.5 and in Bright Horizons preschool and daycare. It is not about his future in an Ivy League - it is about wanting him to attend the best school possible for him. He is a bright but shy little guy.

I would ask for feedback... Did my child refuse to talk or engage at all during the assessment?

If he takes a while to warm up, and the assesor was rushing him, that's the school's loss!

Also... from what I hear, private schools interview for very few spots and will take your waitlist or application fee happily. Depending on your budget and values, a college educated nanny, or immersion preschool in ethnic area can teach him much more than a place that seems high end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait!! There are feeder schools for Pre-K??

Sort of, yeah. But Bright Horizons isn't one of them. For strivers like OP, the thing to have done would have been to hire a high quality bilingual nanny, PLUS get into one of the "better" playgroups with kids who have siblings in the highly ranked independent schools.

But to complain because the totally fine generic preschool you chose because it was near your office or whatever didn't get your kid into a private preK? Nope.

+ 1
This.

[Anonymous]

When my DC went to a Bright Horizons in 2011-2012 they specifically talked to us about where kids matriculated, it was definitely a selling point at that time. I'm not sure if that center is still around - it was Covington Kids.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered that maybe it is YOUR FAULT that your kid didn't get into the fancy Pre-K school? Listen to yourself--it's Pre-K!