Moving (suddenly!) to DC/Columbia Heights, what great (or good) PK3 can we get into mid July?

[Anonymous]

Good luck, OP! It's a crazy system here for sure. So we can continue to help, what schools have you contacted so far?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UPDATE: Wow, so after calling around to a LOT of schools, even though I knew and you've all been telling me, it's really sinking in just HOW IMPOSSIBLE the timing of our move is making this. There's nothing we can do about that, things happened when they happened, but now I'm wondering what our Plan B can be....

Our neighborhood school is Bruce Monroe at Parkside, and looking at what I've seen of their student achievement rates, I seriously ask myself if it's better to not send her to school at all than to go to a school that seems (from the scores anyway) so challenged? No offense to anyone on here that might have a student there (and if there's great stuff we should know about Bruce Monroe, please let me know! I'd love to hear good things!)... but I'm pretty terrified now of what our options will be. We're moving for my job, which is a great opportunity, but because it's so sudden my husband doesn't have a job yet. He's been an incredibly hands on dad to our daughter up to now, but if he has to be a stay-at-home dad for more than a few months I worry they'll both need therapy after that!

We can't afford private daycare with what we're now paying in rent (and definitely can't afford a nanny), so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that something will open up miraculously, but I'm also getting crazy anxious.

I've checked out just about every school that's been mentioned in this thread, and I guess our timing (plus the huge demand in DC for PS3 slots) is, well it's nothing you can imagine would be so difficult if none of your DC friends have kids so they couldn't warn you!

Y'all are some strong amazing folks to be able to go through all the uncertainty of the lottery and all... I haven't even done it yet and I'm getting advance anxiety just from this experience now! I truly had no idea what this process would look like, it's so different from where we are now... and of course we have 2 salaries here to work with.

SORRY, just needed to vent. Thanks again for all your help everyone, so so so much appreciated!

It is completely understandable. This is a very rational vent. I don't know anything about Bruce Monroe, but keep in mind that many people choose the local schools for just the very early grades and then pull out way before 3rd grade, which is when the tests have historically begun (they are starting in 2nd next year, but that is not relevant to this topic). Hopefully someone else has better information.

But, seriously, try Appletree. For the past several years, they have had actual openings soon after school starts. The chances are extremely good that you will get in. I might also try Butler, as they have a great reputation, are not way too far away, and often have openings due to the low income demographics. You are also in a great spot for next year. You now have a jumpstart on your research, and there are many more openings for pre-k4, so whatever you choose now only has to get you through one year.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm, who haven't I contacted!

So far we're (far down) on the waiting lists for:
2 AppleTrees
Creative Minds
Inspired Teaching
Shining Stars
Bridges
Barnard
Harriet Tubman

And I've tried to reach but have not yet gotten through to:
DC Bilingual/CentroNia
Easter Seals Columbia Heights


One thing a friend (who is in Education but doesn't live in DC) suggested is Cooperative Daycares/Preschools? Are there any that aren't still really expensive in DC? Someone mentioned a school in an early post that I looked at, but even if your child is only in that Coop for a few days a week it was too expensive for us.

Since my husband won't have a job at least initially, anyone know of affordable Coops that might have 3 yr old spaces?

And are there any good websites that license or report licenses and inspections for in-home daycares? I'm not against going that route, I just know where I'm moving from you really need to look up the reporting on different places but I haven't found a similar site for DC.

Thanks for your help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It is completely understandable. This is a very rational vent. I don't know anything about Bruce Monroe, but keep in mind that many people choose the local schools for just the very early grades and then pull out way before 3rd grade, which is when the tests have historically begun (they are starting in 2nd next year, but that is not relevant to this topic). Hopefully someone else has better information.

But, seriously, try Appletree. For the past several years, they have had actual openings soon after school starts. The chances are extremely good that you will get in. I might also try Butler, as they have a great reputation, are not way too far away, and often have openings due to the low income demographics. You are also in a great spot for next year. You now have a jumpstart on your research, and there are many more openings for pre-k4, so whatever you choose now only has to get you through one year.

Thank you, that really is helpful to keep in mind. I spoke to one school today (just called out of curiosity about how long their wait list was - I knew it would be impossible) and I about fell over when she told me that many schools open their applications for the following academic year before the end of this year! So you're right, as long as we can hang in for this year, this initiation-by-fire will hopefully come in handy next year.

Thanks for the reminder!

[Anonymous]

Look on the DC Dept of Rec website -dc.dpr.gov for coop preschools. There are a few in Columbia heights area.

[Anonymous]

You can find info on the coop play here - http://dpr.dc.gov/DC/DPR/Programs+and+Services/Educational+Programs/Cooperative+Play/Cooperative+Play

We did this for a year at the Girard Street location.

Have you tried West? We are leaving after 4 great years and I cannot say enough good things. We are only leaving because our twins need to be split into two classes. They are entering 2nd grade and both are reading at late 2nd grade level already and doing mid second grade math - fractions, 2 digit subtraction with borrowing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It is completely understandable. This is a very rational vent. I don't know anything about Bruce Monroe, but keep in mind that many people choose the local schools for just the very early grades and then pull out way before 3rd grade, which is when the tests have historically begun (they are starting in 2nd next year, but that is not relevant to this topic). Hopefully someone else has better information.

But, seriously, try Appletree. For the past several years, they have had actual openings soon after school starts. The chances are extremely good that you will get in. I might also try Butler, as they have a great reputation, are not way too far away, and often have openings due to the low income demographics. You are also in a great spot for next year. You now have a jumpstart on your research, and there are many more openings for pre-k4, so whatever you choose now only has to get you through one year.

Across DC there may be more openings for PreK 4, but in her neighborhood there is not going to be a fundamental shift.

Over the last 2 years, there have been a handful of great early education charters that have opened that have eased up some of the demand - but once there programs are operational, we will be back to there being low chances for PreS and PreK to get into a good elementary.

Changes for 2011: Mundo Verde, IT, Shining Stars, LAMB new campus and a bunch of campuses for AppleTree Opened as well as the expansion for Yu Ying
Changes for 2012: Creative Minds opening and expansions for Mundo Verde, IT, CCPCS and Bridges

Next year, many of the PreS spots for these schools will be taken by siblings, I am not sure which charters have expansion classes or expansion spaces for PreK.

You should be able to get into AppleTree next year and probably Bridges - and your next best plan would be to get your lottery application in for Charters that create the waitlist based on when the applications are received (Yu Ying, Elsie Stokes - not sure which others)

[Anonymous]

Look into the Kipp Shaw location and the Hope schools. I do know PS is important, but seriously try not to let a 50% score for 3rd graders dissuade you from a what could be a decent option for preschool program (essentially social emotional development and ABCs). Monroe is actually a sought after school for PS even if you got on the list there now, you wouldn't have any preference and there are 60+ waiting in front of you including siblings and in boundary. Consider some church daycares that may have a PS feel but less $. See the daycare forum.

[Anonymous]

We were on several wait lists last year and almost all the movement was in late summer, mainly after school had started. Of course, the uncertainty is terrible and it will be tougher as you are literally last on the waitlist but it could happen. I wouldn't plan on it though and have other arrangements (ideally flexible in case you do get in) lined up. I feel incredibly blessed that PS-3 and PK-4 are even offered and we were lucky to get in. I know it is incredibly frustrating but from what I understand DC is an aberration in this regard.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the Parks and Rec suggestion - will check that out.

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried West? We are leaving after 4 great years and I cannot say enough good things. We are only leaving because our twins need to be split into two classes. They are entering 2nd grade and both are reading at late 2nd grade level already and doing mid second grade math - fractions, 2 digit subtraction with borrowing.

I don't think I've tried West, or is West the same as West Campus? What's the proper name for the school? Glad to hear you've had a really good experience with them - I'll check them out too.

And to the poster re: Monroe, thanks for that reminder too, we won't rule Monroe out. So I guess I misunderstood what the DC public schools staff person told me - she said that once you establish which school is your "neighborhood school" (does "neighborhood school" = "in boundary school"?), that school is required to have a slot for your child. If we'd be on the waitlist with 60+ people, does that mean the school actually does NOT have to provide a slot for my child? That's what I understood the person in the DC public schools office to tell me, but maybe I heard what I wanted to hear!

Re: Kipp Shaw, that didn't even come up on the radar up to now. I'll check them out tomorrow too.

Thanks all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Thanks for the Parks and Rec suggestion - will check that out.

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried West? We are leaving after 4 great years and I cannot say enough good things. We are only leaving because our twins need to be split into two classes. They are entering 2nd grade and both are reading at late 2nd grade level already and doing mid second grade math - fractions, 2 digit subtraction with borrowing.

I don't think I've tried West, or is West the same as West Campus? What's the proper name for the school? Glad to hear you've had a really good experience with them - I'll check them out too.

And to the poster re: Monroe, thanks for that reminder too, we won't rule Monroe out. So I guess I misunderstood what the DC public schools staff person told me - she said that once you establish which school is your "neighborhood school" (does "neighborhood school" = "in boundary school"?), that school is required to have a slot for your child. If we'd be on the waitlist with 60+ people, does that mean the school actually does NOT have to provide a slot for my child? That's what I understood the person in the DC public schools office to tell me, but maybe I heard what I wanted to hear!

Re: Kipp Shaw, that didn't even come up on the radar up to now. I'll check them out tomorrow too.

Thanks all!

Re Monroe: once you establish that it's your in-boundary ("neighborhood") school, you'll move to the top of the wait list. (No guarantees until K.) You'll then get in as soon as wait lists start to move in August, if not earlier. You definitely should do that, even as you continue to explore other possibilities.

[Anonymous]

There is no guarantee for a spot for PS or PK, just a preference in the lottery. Beginning with K you are guaranteed a spot at your in boundary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Re Monroe: once you establish that it's your in-boundary ("neighborhood") school, you'll move to the top of the wait list. (No guarantees until K.) You'll then get in as soon as wait lists start to move in August, if not earlier. You definitely should do that, even as you continue to explore other possibilities.

I thought the waitlist order was set and if you missed the lottery window they added you to the end of it - even if you were inbounds. The only way you could jump now is if you have a sibling enrolled.

Is my understanding incorrect?

[Anonymous]

OP, have you contacted any DCPS schools yet? All the ones you list are charter schools. DCPS you could try include:

Garrison
West
Powell
Marie Reed
Francis-Stevens
Tubman

[Anonymous]

Agree you should try DCPS schools. You can call and they will tell you where you would have a shot.

Agree with adding Hope. Also know someone who went to Shining Star Montessori this year. Check that out as well.