Preschool Director's Role in Admissions

[Anonymous]

I know that most independent schools require teacher recommendations as part of the admission process. But what role (if any) do the preschool directors play in all this? Do they have relationships with the directors of admission at Sidwell/Beauvoir/Maret/GDS/etc such that they advocate for the children in their preschool? Are parents asking their preschool directors to make calls on their behalf or write letters of endorsement (in addition to the teacher recommendations)? Or are the director's thoughts incorporated in the teacher's recommendation?

[Anonymous]

Anyone?

[Anonymous]

NYC mom relocating to DC here.

I can give you perspective from how it works in NYC, which is an exaggerated version of the DC process. It depends on the preschool and the preschool director (PSD). Some PSD's have well-developed relationships with DOA's (directors of admissions) at private schools and some do not. Accordingly, some PSD's have a lot of pull in the process. Competition to get into those preschools is more intense than other preschools.

When people are looking at preschools in NYC, they look at the "exmissions" of the preschool (at what ongoing schools the children ended up being accepted into) to evaluate the desirability of the program. In other words, they choose a preschool in large part based on its success getting its students into the ongoing school that is their goal for their child.

However, in NYC, there are also sometimes (unpublished) "quotas" for how many children from a specific preschool the ongoing school will accept. So PSD's have greater power than they might in some other cities because they "broker" children in their efforts to make sure that all the children in the graduating preschool class get placed somewhere. It can be a very complicated and crazy-making process because there is a lot that goes on that is behind the scenes.

I have no idea what aspects of these processes are applicable to the situation in DC.

[Anonymous]

NYC Mom: By "broker' do you mean that the PSDs help the ongoing schools with the selections? I guess what I'm getting at is that if there is a quota, and there are more students from the preschool who want to go to a certain ongoing school, does the PSD endorse certain kids in the preschool and not others?

For those familiar with DC, are there quotas for how many children the ongoing schools will accept?

[Anonymous]

NYC relocating mom here.

By "brokering" I mean they take an active role in the process (keep in mind that not all the PSD's do this - and this is in NYC, I have no idea if this happens in DC).

For example, a PSD of a Ideal Preschool has children 1, 2 and 3 who are all applying to ongoings. The ongoing schools are called A, B and C - with A being considered "top tier", ie the one with the best reputation so everyone applies there no matter what. School B is also very good and top tier but not quite as prestigious. School C is slightly "lower tier.

Children 1 and 2 go on playdates to schools A and B. Child 3 goes on playdate to all three schools because child 3 has lower test scores and the parent recognize that schools A and B might be long shots.

After the playdates, the PSD talks to the DOA's of all of the schools and gets feedback on what they thought of the children. School A says we loved child 1 and are considering child 2, but child 3 is likely a wait list candidate at best. School B says we loved 1 and 2 and are considering 3 also because 3 had an especially great playdate. School C says that they love child 3 and feel like 3 is a great fit for them.

PSD goes back to the parents of all the families and asks them what their "first choice" schools are - what school they would definitely enroll their child in if the child is accepted. Parents of child 1 and 3 say that School A is their first choice. Parents of child 2 say that School B is their first choice - they just feel like it's a better fit for their child than A. PSD tells parents of child 3 that School A is not likely for them and asks how they would feel about making School C their first choice. They say no but they would be willing to first choice School B because they just loved their interview and playdate experience.

PSD goes back to the schools and tells School A that Family 1 is very interested and would definitely attend if offered a spot, but that Family 2 isn't so interested. PSD tells School B that Family 1 is not so interested but would they be willing to consider Child 2 AND Child 3, instead of Child 1, because both of these families would definitely enroll if offered a spot.

School A accepts Child 1 but not Child 2 or 3. School B accepts Child 2 and Child 3, but not Child 1. PSD of Ideal Preschool has succeeded in placing all three children, and the Schools all have increased their "yield" ratio (the ratio of spots accepted to spots offered which is used by the Schools' Boards for various purposes).

That's an oversimplified and idealized version of what happens in some situations in NYC.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for starting this topic and thank you NYC Mom for your valuable input. I do have a question - what happens when a PSD leaves the school mid year and you have no one to advocate for your child? Our Director left in December and has yet to be replaced. The assistant Director who is filling in is very competent, but I do not think she has any connections with the Admission Directors. Should I contact the schools and let them know the name and phone number of the Assistant Director?

[Anonymous]

My impression is that few if any preschool directors here play the role NYC Mom describes, with the possible exception of the director/admissions director at NCRC.

[Anonymous]

NYC mom here.

Tough choice. I would probably not do that. I would trust the AD and the schools to work their way through this.

Contacting the schools directly runs the risk of making you look like - what is known in NYC as - a PITA parent (pain in the ass). Schools aren't excited about PITA parents.

But, please, know that I am in a "NY state of mind" still, so different logic might apply in DC

[Anonymous]

NYC Mom, you are starting to get on my very last nerve. DC is not NYC, repeat after me, DC is not NYC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NYC Mom, you are starting to get on my very last nerve. DC is not NYC, repeat after me, DC is not NYC.

Jeez, she's just trying to be helpful. If her posts bother you, stop reading and walk away from the computer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NYC Mom, you are starting to get on my very last nerve. DC is not NYC, repeat after me, DC is not NYC.

NYC relocating mom here.

I lived in DC for more than a decade before moving back to NYC, so I am well aware of this attitude. I have also repeatedly qualified my remarks by noting that NYC is not DC.

As the PP notes, I was offering the info in a spirit of helpfulness. So, take in the parts that are helpful, and leave the parts that aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that few if any preschool directors here play the role NYC Mom describes, with the possible exception of the director/admissions director at NCRC.

My PSD has asked if we would like calls (to our first preference school) made on our behalf. I wasn't exactly sure what that meant until after reading this thread. I didn't know if such calls were the norm and/or would be well-received by the ongoing schools and/or whether she had any "pull" and/or whether she was doing this for everyone applying out.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you ask her? I think that's perfectly reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, that was probably unclear--I meant "why don't you ask her these questions," not "why don't you ask her to call on your behalf."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NYC Mom, you are starting to get on my very last nerve. DC is not NYC, repeat after me, DC is not NYC.

I have to say for this very reason, I appreciate her posts. I didn't think anything could make me feel better about the application process at this point, but now I can say, at least we're not in New York!