Ross vs. Mundo Verde (or other charter)

[Anonymous]

Unlikely, I know, but anyone had to make this choice? We have IB preference at Ross, which seems like a great school and I loved what I saw at the Open House. However, language immersion is something we are pretty interested in, and our daughter has had three years of Spanish immersion daycare.

If you turned down a spot at Ross, what were your reasons? The only real negatives we could see are the lack of before-care the small size, which limits some opportunities for extras, etc, but we also see the small size as a positive. The staff and parent community seem very warm.

Thanks for any feedback you might have as we get close to the lottery application due date!

[Anonymous]

Even though they don't have before care as a program, you should ask how early the children may arrive and be left by parents. My child's school, Barnard does not have a formal before care program that we pay for, but children are welcome to come to school as early at 8 a.m. Because breakfast is free city-wide, I have to think that children are welcome to arrive at Ross early enough to have breakfast. Anyway, I just wanted to point out that not having before care might not be as big of a hurdle as you might assume. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I wish I had this choice, OP! We are OOB for Ross so no way are we wasting a slot on it. But I would say that real negative of Ross is that it feeds to Cardozo, and of course that could change in the boundaries/feeder review. Personally, I think the ease of going to a neighborhood school, especially one as good as Ross, would trump a charter that is further away (and in kind of a crappy part of town in their new location). How important is the dual language to you?

[Anonymous]

Agree - wish we were IB for Ross. Take the Ross spot!

[Anonymous]

How important is language to you? I'm a MV parent who loves everything about the school, but if I had your choice and I didn't feel that MV was absolutely perfect for my family, I would choose Ross. There are many benefits to neighborhood schools. Then again, I do think MV is perfect for my family and would definitely choose it over Ross (or actually any other school in the region). What are your priorities?

[Anonymous]

don't forget DCI! If you get into one of the 5 immersion member schools then you're set through middle and high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:don't forget DCI! If you get into one of the 5 immersion member schools then you're set through middle and high school.

If it ends up being a desirable option in eight years. Personally, I am focusing on elementary school as a prospective PK3 parent. I'm applying to Cap City but don't know that I would want my kid to go the the middle school there unless it drastically improves between now and then. Ditto with Haynes. DCI has not even opened, and it's clear that a lot of students clear out for privates or the 'burbs in middle school. I'm not assuming it's going to be a real solution to the middle school problem even if my kid goes to a feeder.

[Anonymous]

I'm a charter school parent. I love my school and would follow it no matter where it moved.

That said, there is a lot to be said for the benefit of a neighborhood school. It's a tough choice - good luck and know that if you do have to choose between one of the excellent charter schools and Ross, you most likely will be happy either way.

[Anonymous]

Does Ross have just one PK3 and one PK4 classroom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:don't forget DCI! If you get into one of the 5 immersion member schools then you're set through middle and high school.

If it ends up being a desirable option in eight years. Personally, I am focusing on elementary school as a prospective PK3 parent. I'm applying to Cap City but don't know that I would want my kid to go the the middle school there unless it drastically improves between now and then. Ditto with Haynes. DCI has not even opened, and it's clear that a lot of students clear out for privates or the 'burbs in middle school. I'm not assuming it's going to be a real solution to the middle school problem even if my kid goes to a feeder.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Ross have just one PK3 and one PK4 classroom?

Yes. Just one of each.

[Anonymous]

I think that thinking this through is a valuable exercise, but the bilingual charters are so difficult to get into, that I think this is an academic exercise.

If you are serious about immersion, though, one of the DCPS immersion schools may be your best bet. They tend to take mostly in bounds kids when the lottery is first run, but several of them do reach pretty far into their waitlists over the summer. In that case, you would really need to prioritize, since you could rank those programs above Ross, get in at Ross and then get in over the summer to the immersion program. However, if you by some chance got into one of the immersion schools in the first round, Ross would be off the table for you until K.

[Anonymous]

I would give the language charter a shot, since you can always go back to Ross for K. Then at least you have that a shot, if you have the option.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Is there ANY chance of getting into Ross OOB for PK3? I mean, even a 1 in 500 chance? Or is it not even worth putting on the lottery application?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there ANY chance of getting into Ross OOB for PK3? I mean, even a 1 in 500 chance? Or is it not even worth putting on the lottery application?

No. IB people don't get in. It's a waste.