NCRC or Little Folks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of NCRC kids at Sidwell, GDS, Beauvoir, Maret and other private schools. But also at public schools by choice. Wonderfully, diverse, down to earth community, best trained preschool teachers in town. It’s a happy place. And the community stays with you. But you can’t go wrong at either school.

This is great to hear.

You’re replying to a 3 year old thread.

[Anonymous]

Old thread notwithstanding, anyone have any misgivings about either school? We're deciding between NCRC, Little Folks and one other school and truly having trouble making the decision. All are such good options.

[Anonymous]

We LOVE LOVE LOVE Little Folks. The community is warm and kind, the teachers are amazing, and the school leadership knows every child and parent by name. I can’t say enough good things. They also have parent events and holiday events.

[Anonymous]

Little Folks is an absolute gem. We chose it over NCRC initially because we wanted DC to have a full day. So glad we did. It's a warm and loving place and she really thrived there. We were sad to leave! She's at a big 3 now if that matters to you.

[Anonymous]

And another happy LFS alum at a big 3 - got into our first choice school.

[Anonymous]

If you’re picking between these two - which are both great and highly regarded - why not make it easier on yourself (and your DC) by going with the school that’s closest to home?

[Anonymous]

Little folks is mixed age classrooms, ncrc is not. More ncrc teachers have a masters degree in education. Both have their pros/cons. Depends on the learning environment you want for your little one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lfs is such a special place. It’s like family.

We found the LFS parent community very insular and cliquish, with a few friendly exceptions of course. But perhaps things have improved in the last couple of years.

+1 (and it hasn't improved the last few years)

And the insular cliquish LFS parents continue the tradition at elementary school. It’s a good thing our school is large enough so they don’t matter.

[Anonymous]

I have experience at both schools and found the parents at NCRC to be much more friendly and down-to-earth. Also preferred NCRC’s facility (their own playground, for example), and the curriculum seemed more structured and organized. I also didn’t like the mixed-age classrooms at LFS — too many disruptive younger children distracting from older kids’ needs.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any thoughts on NCRC vs. LF vs. St. Columba's? Location is doable for all three compared to home, work, grandparents, etc.

[Anonymous]

Can’t speak to the others, but NCRC is really in a league of its own. Every aspect of the program is so well thought out and articulated. The play-based & emergent curriculum meets kids where they are and then helps them grow. The teachers are outstanding and the community is warm and friendly. It’s been many years since we left but we’re still friends with families we met during that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any thoughts on NCRC vs. LF vs. St. Columba's? Location is doable for all three compared to home, work, grandparents, etc.

Currently have kids at a "big three," not a fan of that term but oh well. Alot of their classmates went to one of the above-mentioned preschools. My kids went to St. Columba's--the absolute best sweetest most wonderful school! Can't endorse that school more strongly.

I have no personal experience with Little Folks but have only heard good things about it and the head, James Gilroy, is a great leader and person. It been a while but when we visited NCRC we found it overpriced and pretentious. Again, we know people who rave about that school. You cannot go wrong with any of the three schools. Echoing what others have said, all things being equal, proximity wins out.

[Anonymous]

I would ask about outplacement. We just had excellent prek acceptance results coming from a non elite preschool and our school consultant made a comment about how we had a leg up since we aren’t coming from NCRC, Little Folks, etc. Schools can’t take the entire class from those schools. We had a family story that made sense and was very different from this profile and I think it helped since we are white, full pay but not wealthy, and no hooks like family money or DC famous jobs. I would be worried about ability to compete against classmates when you do outplacement. Coming from elsewhere helped us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would ask about outplacement. We just had excellent prek acceptance results coming from a non elite preschool and our school consultant made a comment about how we had a leg up since we aren’t coming from NCRC, Little Folks, etc. Schools can’t take the entire class from those schools. We had a family story that made sense and was very different from this profile and I think it helped since we are white, full pay but not wealthy, and no hooks like family money or DC famous jobs. I would be worried about ability to compete against classmates when you do outplacement. Coming from elsewhere helped us.

I agree with this. Outplacement competition is much stronger than at other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anyone aware how successful LFS was with outplacement this year vs NCRC? There hasn’t been much said about it.