What is the most elite NYC preschool?

[Anonymous]

And how is it one year only? My child would do 3s, 4s, 5s at Brick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child didn't get in for twos so we are sending him to a twice a week parochial program and a twice a week program at Diller Quaile School of Music.

What are the chances of getting into a UES preschool for 3s? We are planning to apply to all the usual suspects, but it would be good to know if it's unlikely or if there is a legitimate chance at specific schools because they add a new class at 3s, etc.

The main entry point to Brick is 3s, and if you’re open to an afternoon spot your chances are pretty good.

Not sure where this is coming from; 92NY, Brick, Episcopal usually do not add for one year only unless connected.

My child got in for 3s unconnected and Farley told me that it’s their main entry point. Coming from personal experience. I know several who got in this year for 3s unconnected just in my small circle of friends.

Apologies, this was meant to go to the person mentioning entry at 4's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child didn't get in for twos so we are sending him to a twice a week parochial program and a twice a week program at Diller Quaile School of Music.

What are the chances of getting into a UES preschool for 3s? We are planning to apply to all the usual suspects, but it would be good to know if it's unlikely or if there is a legitimate chance at specific schools because they add a new class at 3s, etc.

The main entry point to Brick is 3s, and if you’re open to an afternoon spot your chances are pretty good.

Not sure where this is coming from; 92NY, Brick, Episcopal usually do not add for one year only unless connected.

Did you mean that preschools like 92NY, Brick, Episcopal typically do not add new students that will only be in their school for one year only, then graduate.

So the kid has to enter at threes program and do fours program as well. So minimum 2 years in their school before graduating?? And not just one year…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child didn't get in for twos so we are sending him to a twice a week parochial program and a twice a week program at Diller Quaile School of Music.

What are the chances of getting into a UES preschool for 3s? We are planning to apply to all the usual suspects, but it would be good to know if it's unlikely or if there is a legitimate chance at specific schools because they add a new class at 3s, etc.

The main entry point to Brick is 3s, and if you’re open to an afternoon spot your chances are pretty good.

Not sure where this is coming from; 92NY, Brick, Episcopal usually do not add for one year only unless connected.

My child got in for 3s unconnected and Farley told me that it’s their main entry point. Coming from personal experience. I know several who got in this year for 3s unconnected just in my small circle of friends.

Apologies, this was meant to go to the person mentioning entry at 4's.

Happy for your family that your child got accepted at 3’s. We missed the application window and couldn’t apply for the 3’s program anymore. The earliest chance we can have is to apply at 4’s.

Would you know what are the chances a family can get in at 4’s if unconnected…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child didn't get in for twos so we are sending him to a twice a week parochial program and a twice a week program at Diller Quaile School of Music.

What are the chances of getting into a UES preschool for 3s? We are planning to apply to all the usual suspects, but it would be good to know if it's unlikely or if there is a legitimate chance at specific schools because they add a new class at 3s, etc.

The main entry point to Brick is 3s, and if you’re open to an afternoon spot your chances are pretty good.

Not sure where this is coming from; 92NY, Brick, Episcopal usually do not add for one year only unless connected.

My child got in for 3s unconnected and Farley told me that it’s their main entry point. Coming from personal experience. I know several who got in this year for 3s unconnected just in my small circle of friends.

Apologies, this was meant to go to the person mentioning entry at 4's.

Happy for your family that your child got accepted at 3’s. We missed the application window and couldn’t apply for the 3’s program anymore. The earliest chance we can have is to apply at 4’s.

Would you know what are the chances a family can get in at 4’s if unconnected…

It’ll likely be based on attrition in 4s. So you’ll have to apply broadly because you’re hoping someone is leaving.

Have you tried calling neighborhood schools and inquiring if they have spots for 3s? There are lots of lovely preschools. I’m sorry you missed the application window!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child didn't get in for twos so we are sending him to a twice a week parochial program and a twice a week program at Diller Quaile School of Music.

What are the chances of getting into a UES preschool for 3s? We are planning to apply to all the usual suspects, but it would be good to know if it's unlikely or if there is a legitimate chance at specific schools because they add a new class at 3s, etc.

The main entry point to Brick is 3s, and if you’re open to an afternoon spot your chances are pretty good.

Not sure where this is coming from; 92NY, Brick, Episcopal usually do not add for one year only unless connected.

Did you mean that preschools like 92NY, Brick, Episcopal typically do not add new students that will only be in their school for one year only, then graduate.

So the kid has to enter at threes program and do fours program as well. So minimum 2 years in their school before graduating?? And not just one year…

That is correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child didn't get in for twos so we are sending him to a twice a week parochial program and a twice a week program at Diller Quaile School of Music.

What are the chances of getting into a UES preschool for 3s? We are planning to apply to all the usual suspects, but it would be good to know if it's unlikely or if there is a legitimate chance at specific schools because they add a new class at 3s, etc.

The main entry point to Brick is 3s, and if you’re open to an afternoon spot your chances are pretty good.

Not sure where this is coming from; 92NY, Brick, Episcopal usually do not add for one year only unless connected.

Did you mean that preschools like 92NY, Brick, Episcopal typically do not add new students that will only be in their school for one year only, then graduate.

So the kid has to enter at threes program and do fours program as well. So minimum 2 years in their school before graduating?? And not just one year…

That is correct.

I know of at least two families who were accepted to and attended Brick only for the last year of preschool. Granted both had an older sibling at a TT co-ed, so I am sure that helped.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone provide insight on pre-school exmissions for City and Country, Dwight, and IPS? I know the locations are all different and I assume they would place differently as well given their educational style differences. How do they rank and how did former families find the schools for their children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone provide insight on pre-school exmissions for City and Country, Dwight, and IPS? I know the locations are all different and I assume they would place differently as well given their educational style differences. How do they rank and how did former families find the schools for their children?

I think most families stay at City and Country and Dwight for kindergarten— ongoing schools like this aren’t known as being particularly helpful in finding you a spot in another school if you could stay in their school. If you want to apply more broadly for kindergarten I’d go to a standalone preschool like IPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone provide insight on pre-school exmissions for City and Country, Dwight, and IPS? I know the locations are all different and I assume they would place differently as well given their educational style differences. How do they rank and how did former families find the schools for their children?

I think most families stay at City and Country and Dwight for kindergarten— ongoing schools like this aren’t known as being particularly helpful in finding you a spot in another school if you could stay in their school. If you want to apply more broadly for kindergarten I’d go to a standalone preschool like IPS.

Thank you for that info. How does one go about the application process for kindergarten if you wanted to apply out to the Hill Schools + Trinity + Dalton? How well regarded are City and Country, Dwight, and IPS?

[Anonymous]

Our child got accepted at a preschool with decent exmissions. It is NOT one of the feeder preschools that are usually mentioned in this forum. Child will start in that school in September in their 3's program.

Is it better if we do 3's and 4's program in that preschool? or is it better if we attend 3's program in this preschool, then try to apply and see if we can get in at a feeder preschool for 4's program? 4's program is child's last year of preschool. After 4's program, child will be in kindergarten. We are an unconnected family by the way. No legacy, no siblings in any of the NYC schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone provide insight on pre-school exmissions for City and Country, Dwight, and IPS? I know the locations are all different and I assume they would place differently as well given their educational style differences. How do they rank and how did former families find the schools for their children?

I think most families stay at City and Country and Dwight for kindergarten— ongoing schools like this aren’t known as being particularly helpful in finding you a spot in another school if you could stay in their school. If you want to apply more broadly for kindergarten I’d go to a standalone preschool like IPS.

Thank you for that info. How does one go about the application process for kindergarten if you wanted to apply out to the Hill Schools + Trinity + Dalton? How well regarded are City and Country, Dwight, and IPS?

]

You'd have to tell City and Country and Dwight in the early fall that you are applying out for kindergarten and ask them to fill out your ISAAGNY paperwork. You will likely not get feedback about how the process is going from the schools you're applying to, nor will C&C or Dwight schools really advocate for you at the schools you're applying to. They are expecting you to stay at their school long term and have incentive (read: tuition) to keep you. You're basically telling them they're not good enough or not fulfilling your child/family's needs. The schools you listed are some of the hardest to gain entry to (HM, Trinity, Dalton and Riverdale all likely have 5-10% acceptance rates), so if that is your entire kindergarten list, you must consider the odds of entrance and weigh that against sullying your relationship with C&C/Dwight if you don't get in and must go to kindergarten at one of those schools. It is a gamble I wouldn't have the stomach for and I would choose IPS and apply to kindergarten from there-- a school where your director will give you feedback about the kindergarten process *and* advocate for your placement in kindergarten because there is no option to stay at IPS. All that said, applying to those 5 schools and those 5 schools only for kindergarten is kind of crazy unless you have a solid backup plan for kindergarten. A school like Trinity will have about 20 spots and 600+ applications. The numbers are bad at every school you listed.

How well regarded are C&C and Dwight? Depends on what you're looking for in a school. But they are wildly different in terms of pedagogy, community, and academics compared to the other schools on your list. I cannot image a family who would be happy at C&C also being happy at Horace Mann. It is apples to oranges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our child got accepted at a preschool with decent exmissions. It is NOT one of the feeder preschools that are usually mentioned in this forum. Child will start in that school in September in their 3's program.

Is it better if we do 3's and 4's program in that preschool? or is it better if we attend 3's program in this preschool, then try to apply and see if we can get in at a feeder preschool for 4's program? 4's program is child's last year of preschool. After 4's program, child will be in kindergarten. We are an unconnected family by the way. No legacy, no siblings in any of the NYC schools.

I'd stay at the non-feeder as long as they've placed kids in independent schools before and are familiar with the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child got accepted at a preschool with decent exmissions. It is NOT one of the feeder preschools that are usually mentioned in this forum. Child will start in that school in September in their 3's program.

Is it better if we do 3's and 4's program in that preschool? or is it better if we attend 3's program in this preschool, then try to apply and see if we can get in at a feeder preschool for 4's program? 4's program is child's last year of preschool. After 4's program, child will be in kindergarten. We are an unconnected family by the way. No legacy, no siblings in any of the NYC schools.

I'd stay at the non-feeder as long as they've placed kids in independent schools before and are familiar with the process.

Thanks for the response. Yes the non-feeder preschool have done exmissions to independent schools and they seem quite familiar with the process.

May I please know why would you choose / advise to stay in the non-feeder preschool instead of trying to move to a feeder preschool for 4's program?

Wouldn't going to a feeder preschool at 4's and doing exmissions from there, increase our chance to get accepted to a top-tier kindergarten program, versus exmissions from a non-feeder preschool? (as an unconnected family)

Would kindergarten programs value our child's application more if they see in the application that child is in a feeder preschool, versus if they see that child is in a non-feeder preschool?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child got accepted at a preschool with decent exmissions. It is NOT one of the feeder preschools that are usually mentioned in this forum. Child will start in that school in September in their 3's program.

Is it better if we do 3's and 4's program in that preschool? or is it better if we attend 3's program in this preschool, then try to apply and see if we can get in at a feeder preschool for 4's program? 4's program is child's last year of preschool. After 4's program, child will be in kindergarten. We are an unconnected family by the way. No legacy, no siblings in any of the NYC schools.

I'd stay at the non-feeder as long as they've placed kids in independent schools before and are familiar with the process.

Thanks for the response. Yes the non-feeder preschool have done exmissions to independent schools and they seem quite familiar with the process.

May I please know why would you choose / advise to stay in the non-feeder preschool instead of trying to move to a feeder preschool for 4's program?

Wouldn't going to a feeder preschool at 4's and doing exmissions from there, increase our chance to get accepted to a top-tier kindergarten program, versus exmissions from a non-feeder preschool? (as an unconnected family)

Would kindergarten programs value our child's application more if they see in the application that child is in a feeder preschool, versus if they see that child is in a non-feeder preschool?

Couple of reasons. First, moving a child the year you'd apply is a lot of change, not only for your child (who will then also be going on interviews, as well as having schools come observe them in their classroom), but you're an unknown entity at the new preschool-- you're going to have to play catch up. They fill out reports on your child to give to ongoing schools (and they are just meeting them, no teachers from 3s to talk to) and there is a section of the report about parent involvement in the school. It is just a lot to accomplish and juggle that fall-- transition your child to a new school environment, apply to a bunch of schools, volunteer at new preschool, interviews for you and your child, figure out who is around you at the new feeder preschool and figure out where all of those people's connections are...

And speaking of that, at a feeder preschool you are swimming amongst a pretty connected crowd (siblings, legacies, money, etc). Can that work for you? In the right scenario, yes. Feeder preschools have relationships and teachers who know how to write ISAAGNY reports. Can it also work against you? Also yes. If you think you really love X ongoing school and you show up at your new feeder preschool only to find out that there are 6 siblings or legacies of X school in your class, well, that is going to be a hard school for a new family to get a spot in.

So in this situation, I'd apply from the school with a more shallow pool of applicants and fewer transitions for my child and family. Instead I'd dig into this 3s preschool, volunteer your time, build community and relationships, and apply from there.