Feedback on LAMB--Admitted Need Advice

[Anonymous]

We were lucky enough to be admitted to LAMB. I never even attended an open house b/c I assumed that there was know way we would get in. Do any current parents have any feedback. We put down a large non-refundable deposit at a private preschool that we're pretty excited about. I've only heard good things about LAMB. I'm sure that the school has flaws just like every other school. What are LAMB's weaknesses? What are its strengths? If you left LAMB for another school, what was your reason? I really appreciate everyone's input!

[Anonymous]

Didn't leave.

It's a great public school. Good sense of community and commitment to their Montessori and dual language mission.

Communication with parents has never been its strong suit - you won't likely get detailed reports on what your child did today/this week that you would with a private preschool or even some daycares.

[Anonymous]

Search the archives, there have been threads on this in the past.

[Anonymous]

It's a wonderful school. I have absolutely no complaints. If you ask about your child's progress, they will absolutely bend over backward to tell you. You can also observe the classroom at any time. If you put a deposit down at a private, I would go there since you were obviously more serious about going to whatever private school you were considering.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We were excited about the private school bc our local school isn't very good and I thought that we had little to no chance of getting into a good charter like LAMB. Now that LAMB is an option, we're definitely reconsidering private (especially since our preschooler has a younger sibling.

[Anonymous]

OP - if you decide to send your child to LAMB talk to your accountant about the nonrefundable deposit.

We were able to use the one we put down and lost a few years ago as a tax deduction since it was no longer related to tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were lucky enough to be admitted to LAMB. I never even attended an open house b/c I assumed that there was know way we would get in. Do any current parents have any feedback. We put down a large non-refundable deposit at a private preschool that we're pretty excited about. I've only heard good things about LAMB. I'm sure that the school has flaws just like every other school. What are LAMB's weaknesses? What are its strengths? If you left LAMB for another school, what was your reason? I really appreciate everyone's input!

The time to visit LAMB is after you're admitted. Call the school and set up a time to come in, observe a classroom, and talk to the principal.

Like you, we didn't even consider the chance that we might get in, and it took me a few days after we got the call to readjust my brain. But once we started, we haven't looked back - it's really a wonderful school, and we love it.

Losing a nonrefundable deposit is a pain, but paying private school tuition for all of elementary school is even more money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - if you decide to send your child to LAMB talk to your accountant about the nonrefundable deposit.

We were able to use the one we put down and lost a few years ago as a tax deduction since it was no longer related to tuition.

This is tricky because don't you receive something of value for the deposit, because a space is held for your child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - if you decide to send your child to LAMB talk to your accountant about the nonrefundable deposit.

We were able to use the one we put down and lost a few years ago as a tax deduction since it was no longer related to tuition.

This is tricky because don't you receive something of value for the deposit, because a space is held for your child?

np. we did the same thing when we got into a charter (not lamb) - school wrote us a a letter to give to IRS. At the end of the day, it WAS a donation, not a deposit. And it was also like 3,000 (egads!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a wonderful school. I have absolutely no complaints. If you ask about your child's progress, they will absolutely bend over backward to tell you. You can also observe the classroom at any time. If you put a deposit down at a private, I would go there since you were obviously more serious about going to whatever private school you were considering.

Why would you say that? OP was playing her odds. What makes you say "obviously more serious..."? Anyway OP, I'd forget the deposit. Getting into LAMB is a long term decision for your DC and sibling. I wouldn't blink twice about losing the deposit. Hundreds of people would pay what you paid as a deposit times 10 for a long term solution like Lamb for two kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - if you decide to send your child to LAMB talk to your accountant about the nonrefundable deposit.

We were able to use the one we put down and lost a few years ago as a tax deduction since it was no longer related to tuition.

This is tricky because don't you receive something of value for the deposit, because a space is held for your child?

No as the school will fill the spot for another kid.

[Anonymous]

We are a LAMB family and feel like we won the Powerball lottery every day we go. We feel so fortunate. Give up that deposit for a long term solution and don't look back. Congrats!

[Anonymous]

OP - don't give up the deposit until you've driven to/from your assigned campus in rush hour (and not spring break rush hour).

If you are assigned to MO Ave, drive SD too as that may well be where your child attended grades 3-5.

[Anonymous]

OP here. When do you find out your assigned location? i thought the MO campus had pk-5 classrooms. Can the school change your location after you've started attending? The MO location is much better for us. Also, are there any parent-organized shuttles?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. When do you find out your assigned location? i thought the MO campus had pk-5 classrooms. Can the school change your location after you've started attending? The MO location is much better for us. Also, are there any parent-organized shuttles?

Call them after spring break and ask (a week from Monday). Usually people are told which campus when they are notified of their admittance.

The MO campus only has PK-3. All 4th-5th graders are at the other campus.

I don't think there are any shuttles but there are certainly parents who carpool.

Also at some point in the future - but no one knows exactly when - LAMB has space on the former Walter Reed campus and has said they will open some classrooms there. What grades, how many, when it will begin to be renovated - all open questions. Certainly possible by the time a fall 2016 PK3 is ready for upper grades, but not necessarily something one should count on shaking out in the way you might hope.