| My family is moving from nyc for the 2016-2017 school year. My oldest will be entering 2nd grade and my little one will be 3. We have housing on w street NW near 14th. I think zoned for Garrison? The apartment is where we will be living - this is non negotiable. Right now my dd is in one of the best gifted and talented schools in nyc (public that she tested into for Kindergarten). She's about a grade ahead academically. What public/charters should I be looking at for her? And is there sibling preference? I like a small community school with extracurriculars and individualized attention above rigorous academics. Thanks! |
Will you only be in DC for the one year? Is their a way your kids could stay in NYC for that year? |
| Garrison is not for you. Double check by putting your exact address in the school locator on the dcps website. You will need private or parochial or charter if you are zoned for Garrison. |
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No sorry I wasn't clear. That's the school year we're moving in. We'll be permanent.
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That was my guy reaction to what I read about garrison. Do people like charters in dc? They're not well liked in nyc. |
Yes. People love charters in DC. I like the principal over at Garrison but as others have mentioned the school is struggling to keep its head above water and needs a renovation sooner rather than later. Can you swing private while you wait for an out of boundary or charter slot to open? |
| OP, you should consider other housing given you have a full year... |
She said the housing was non-negotiable. Not sure why - perhaps the employer provides their housing... |
Private would just be for the eldest while the Pre-schooler can attend Garrison until you figure out where you want to send them both. |
| Do you have proof of address now, since the apartment is non-negotiable? That could allow you to participate in the lottery for the 16-17 school year, right? |
| Definitely private 4th grade is a good entry year for a bunch of schools. BASIS would be a consideration for 5th, it is a charter. |
| With PK3 and a 2nd grader, you have a decent chance getting into good charter or OOB DCPS with the other child joining through sibling preference. |
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OP - go to myschooldc.org and read the handbook info on how the DC lottery works. If you don't like your inbounds school and can't/don't want to do private you must enter the lottery and try to get into another DCPS public or a charter school.
Once you get either child in somewhere - there are DCPS and charters with PK for 3 yo's - your other child can get a sibling preference but admission isn't guaranteed. The lottery deadline for 15-16 hasn't been announced yet but will likely be in Feb / Marvh depending on child's age. Good |
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Read these boards. A lot. Old threads about the lottery this year etc.
You have time to play the lottery for the 15-16 school year. Hopefully you can come down and visit schools. Definitely recommend that. Garrison should be fine for your 3 yo. Some popular charters on DCUM Creative Minds Inspired Teaching Two Rivers Cap City Lee Montessori (though this only just finished its first year) Popular immersion charters (but difficult to enter so late, with no language background: Mundo Verde (Spanish) Stokes (Spanish and French) Yu Ying (Chinese - but wow that would be really hard!) Hope this helps. |
| PS Definitely enter both kids in the lotteries though! |