What is the most elite NYC preschool?

[Anonymous]

Anyone get into a connected preschool for 3s AFTER applications were due? Is it just about luck at that point? Looks like we’ll be moving uptown as our older got into a TT. Christ church would be the most convenient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone get into a connected preschool for 3s AFTER applications were due? Is it just about luck at that point? Looks like we’ll be moving uptown as our older got into a TT. Christ church would be the most convenient.

People move so it can definitely happen. Luck a little bit necessary but possible

[Anonymous]

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Thank you so much for the comprehensive analysis. I heard from a Korean WSMS parent that 7 out of 7 get Brearly this year, including her daughter. Is this data normal or highly based on legacy/sibling? In addition, is it true that kid compete against each other in the same class when they apply for the same school, say, trinity? Is that mean trinity gives a fixed spots to WSMS each year so that more kids with legacy/siblings, less opportunity for kids without connections? Thank you so much for your time and analysis. I am curious its your estimate or fact since I heard the process is like a black box.

WSMS has big connection to Brearley. Always had a number of girls going to Brearley. Seven is a little higher than before. At least two out of seven are siblings. Also, don’t forget this was HOS’ last year so results were great all around. The last hurrah.

With Trinity, the connection seems based on legacy, faculty and staff of Trinity, and siblings. There are a decent number going this year as well partially due to Hos retiring.

With the new HOS, I am not sure if the connection will change.

Thanks for the valuable insight. We are concerned about it bc we have signed the contract and will attend WSMS this coming Fall, but we have no legacy/siblings privilege. (We do have Alma mater school connections with some of TT’s AO and will ask for coffee chats before applying K, but it def not stronger than legacy.) Anyway, fingers crossed. Our target is Trinity, Brearly, Dalton, Chapin, Spence, Sacred Heart, Marymount, CGPS, the School of Columbia.(My wife will do part time PhD at Columbia)Any thoughts on those schools and the likelihood of admission for each one? Appreciate it!

Are you entering in the 2s or for the older age group? Did you look at other preschools?
What does alma mater school connections with TT's AO mean?
Don't worry, you should be fine for most of these schools, especially if you are full pay - Dalton is very large at 90 kids, so easier to get in, and SH, MM, CPGS and School of Columbia will take your kid unless some glaring defect. Trinity will be tough and will depend on luck of the draw for your year. B/S/C One of them will pull through, esp C/S if WSMS is sending siblings to Brearley and there's less competition for Chapin and Spence.
Will also depend on your kid and how they stack up with the other children. If your child doesn't thrive in Montessori and doesn't get good reviews, then not sure they would advocate as hard for your kid. They have to be honest in the ISAAGNY report.

Thank you so much for the thoughtful notes! My daughter got the toddler class offer from WSMS so she will attend toddler class this fall and will go to muti-age class next year. For the second question, it means that I did some research and found out some of the Admission directors at TT and my wife/I went to the same college, so we are alumni. I know it's nothing compared to legacy/siblings but maybe it could create chemistry a bit after coffee chats. Lastly, I appreciate your analysis that gives me a lot of confidence, haha. One more thing is that I know some of these schools have pre-k (Dalton, HM, SH) and some don't. If we are lucky to get pre-k offer from these schools, do you think it's necessary to apply Trinity/B next year? or just take it. Thanks agian!

Yup, no preK for dalton. They had one like 30 years ago.

If you get HM 3s or HM preK, definitely take it!! Riverdale also has a preK.

CGPS also has preK.




Some schools are easier to get into than others. TTs are definitely harder. Like the poster said, if there is a prek available, take it. I heard HM 3s is hard to get in but there are more spots available than pre-K.

Also, 7 out of 7 to Brearley does not sound right considering the number of kids in WSMS and popularity of Brearley. I’m pretty sure there were more kids applying to Brearley than 7.



Agree re more than 7 girls applying to B from WSMS. Such a big school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone get into a connected preschool for 3s AFTER applications were due? Is it just about luck at that point? Looks like we’ll be moving uptown as our older got into a TT. Christ church would be the most convenient.

Christ would be hard because its main entrance is 2s. Episcopal is 3s, MAPCDS might have spots… I’d just call around like, now. They likely won’t know until after decisions the end of this month but you never know!

[Anonymous]

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It’s for next year. We live in UWS so I’m curious about their reputation, TT offer rate, etc. Thanks!

No matter how much research I did, at the end of the day it was my child who decided based on which preschool they liked the most during assessment.

My kid was 18 months at her assessment for preschool (applying for 2s). It seems silly to base a decision on the opinion of a child that age. YMMV.

To the poster asking about UWS schools, you really can’t go wrong with any of the three you listed. I would pick the one that is closest to your apartment, unless you feel strongly about a certain educational philosophy as they are all different.

I second you. Btw, I heard the Head of school and admission officer who worked in WSMS for decades will retire this month. I wonder if it would affect the TT conversion rate in the future. It's really hard to say the school legacy lasts or people connection weigh more.

Same with PCDS. Their head of school (big Brearley connections) is retiring.

Betsy retired last year. This year 5-6 kids got into Brearley from PCDS. And it’s a much smaller school (20ish kids to place).

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:
It’s for next year. We live in UWS so I’m curious about their reputation, TT offer rate, etc. Thanks!

No matter how much research I did, at the end of the day it was my child who decided based on which preschool they liked the most during assessment.

My kid was 18 months at her assessment for preschool (applying for 2s). It seems silly to base a decision on the opinion of a child that age. YMMV.

To the poster asking about UWS schools, you really can’t go wrong with any of the three you listed. I would pick the one that is closest to your apartment, unless you feel strongly about a certain educational philosophy as they are all different.

I second you. Btw, I heard the Head of school and admission officer who worked in WSMS for decades will retire this month. I wonder if it would affect the TT conversion rate in the future. It's really hard to say the school legacy lasts or people connection weigh more.

Same with PCDS. Their head of school (big Brearley connections) is retiring.

Betsy retired last year. This year 5-6 kids got into Brearley from PCDS. And it’s a much smaller school (20ish kids to place).

Were those 5-6 kids siblings or legacy at Brearley?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:
It’s for next year. We live in UWS so I’m curious about their reputation, TT offer rate, etc. Thanks!

No matter how much research I did, at the end of the day it was my child who decided based on which preschool they liked the most during assessment.

My kid was 18 months at her assessment for preschool (applying for 2s). It seems silly to base a decision on the opinion of a child that age. YMMV.

To the poster asking about UWS schools, you really can’t go wrong with any of the three you listed. I would pick the one that is closest to your apartment, unless you feel strongly about a certain educational philosophy as they are all different.

I second you. Btw, I heard the Head of school and admission officer who worked in WSMS for decades will retire this month. I wonder if it would affect the TT conversion rate in the future. It's really hard to say the school legacy lasts or people connection weigh more.

Same with PCDS. Their head of school (big Brearley connections) is retiring.

Betsy retired last year. This year 5-6 kids got into Brearley from PCDS. And it’s a much smaller school (20ish kids to place).

Were those 5-6 kids siblings or legacy at Brearley?

A couple got in early (connected). The rest just got in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone get into a connected preschool for 3s AFTER applications were due? Is it just about luck at that point? Looks like we’ll be moving uptown as our older got into a TT. Christ church would be the most convenient.

This is tricky but not necessarily impossible. You could also maybe to something not as TT and then apply the following year for TT preschool.

I know a lot of the preschools (ours included) in the UES will already have a long waitlist of people who applied for this coming school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone get into a connected preschool for 3s AFTER applications were due? Is it just about luck at that point? Looks like we’ll be moving uptown as our older got into a TT. Christ church would be the most convenient.

I know of a couple people who got kids into Brick this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone get into a connected preschool for 3s AFTER applications were due? Is it just about luck at that point? Looks like we’ll be moving uptown as our older got into a TT. Christ church would be the most convenient.

I know of a couple people who got kids into Brick this way.

Wouldn’t they give any available spots to those on the waitlist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone get into a connected preschool for 3s AFTER applications were due? Is it just about luck at that point? Looks like we’ll be moving uptown as our older got into a TT. Christ church would be the most convenient.

It’s doable but luck. And actually more likely later than it would be right now post applications but pre decisions. Later on, you’ll occasionally have spots that open up from people moving to suburbs or other cities, though it can be a little random which schools they are (so no guarantee Christ church has a spot, but almost certainly a couple will open at feeder preschools somewhere)

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Anyone get into a connected preschool for 3s AFTER applications were due? Is it just about luck at that point? Looks like we’ll be moving uptown as our older got into a TT. Christ church would be the most convenient.

I know of a couple people who got kids into Brick this way.

Wouldn’t they give any available spots to those on the waitlist?

6

It wasn't me, so I do not know the specifics. I think it was probably just luck and good timing. I feel like there is always a chance that a family or two will move during the preschool years, so I suspect the timing just worked out that they took a spot that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone get into a connected preschool for 3s AFTER applications were due? Is it just about luck at that point? Looks like we’ll be moving uptown as our older got into a TT. Christ church would be the most convenient.

I know of a couple people who got kids into Brick this way.

Wouldn’t they give any available spots to those on the waitlist?

Most schools require you to pay around half the tuition some time in late spring or early summer, on top of the deposit. So after that point the waitlist isn’t really an option and the school either leaves the seat open or fills it with a later person moving to the city. So, sometimes you get lucky and there just happens to be space, and they think you otherwise clear the bar for acceptance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of these answers... no. Here is the ranking of all the TT pre-schools in Manhattan:

TT of the TT: Episcopal and 92 Street Y

Then: Temple Emanu-El, Brick Church, Park Children's Day on the UWS (huge connections at Brearley)

Then: STMPG, All Souls, West Side Montessori, Washington Market, Garden House, Christ Church

(But even the third tier of the TT are very TT).

This is correct - signed a consultant/UES parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of these answers... no. Here is the ranking of all the TT pre-schools in Manhattan:

TT of the TT: Episcopal and 92 Street Y

Then: Temple Emanu-El, Brick Church, Park Children's Day on the UWS (huge connections at Brearley)

Then: STMPG, All Souls, West Side Montessori, Washington Market, Garden House, Christ Church

(But even the third tier of the TT are very TT).

This is correct - signed a consultant/UES parent

I've heard Washington Market accepts everyone. Not sure they are still TT.