Private kindergarten recommendations in MoCo?

[Anonymous]

My kids miss the cutoff so we are thinking of enrolling them in private K. Anyone have suggestions for good schools (church based or other) in Gaithersburg/Rockville/Potomac/North Potomac/Germantown area. Our current preshool does not offer K so we have to look elsewhere. Many of these are upwards of 14K. Are there others that are under 10K, but at the same time good?

Any inputs on the following:

Gaithersburg Presbyterian
Fellowship Christian School (Germantown)
Avalon
Academy at Stonemill
Butler Montessori
Seneca Academy
Franklin Montessori
Epworth preschool

Thanks

[poholeguy]

I'm an educator, and I don't usually recommend for parents to do this. There is also another aspect that needs to be considered which is emotional maturity.

Please don't forget that Maryland is the #1 state in the Nation in education and Mo. Co. is #1 county in state. This means that our children are expected to do so much in Kinder and On. For this reason is best to hold them back. I believe that their self esteem can in jeopardy if they feel that they are always being pushed to do more. Is best to be the oldest in the class and feel confident of your skills.

Don't forget that we are very lucky in this county. We are in the "creme of la creme of school systems"

I wish you the best

BTW. If I had the $$$ I would have placed my boys at Concord Hill School. HANDS DOWN!!! THEY have a 10:1 ratio. So this may be a good option, this way your kids still received individualized attention.
BEST.

P.

[Anonymous]

You have to do K and 1st private to easily transfer into 2nd. We went to Winchester in Silver Spring. I was a great experience and my child thrived there. They have several early entry kids there. Redwood Montessori was also willing to be flexible. I'm really glad we did it/no regrets. I can't imagine holding my child back a year.

[Anonymous]

@23:17 just checked Concord..wow..if only we had the $$$ - that is beyond our reach lol..

I do understand what you are saying, but I thought my kids will get bored repeating Pre-K..and if we put them in K, maybe we could test them for 1st grade..from what I read here and also from friends who live in MoCo, many implied that the kids are bored in K-3? something about the new 2.0?? curriculum and dumbing down of kids?

[Anonymous]

@23:20 Thanks..Winchester is too far for us. Redwood is also a bit far..We are in the Great Seneca Highway/270-corridor..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:@23:17 just checked Concord..wow..if only we had the $$$ - that is beyond our reach lol..

I do understand what you are saying, but I thought my kids will get bored repeating Pre-K..and if we put them in K, maybe we could test them for 1st grade..from what I read here and also from friends who live in MoCo, many implied that the kids are bored in K-3? something about the new 2.0?? curriculum and dumbing down of kids?

Most people say the curriculum is hard, but my child was bored transferring into MCPS as its very slow and many things were learned in 1st. I would not transfer in 1st. They have to test in and do six weeks in K before being allowed to transfer in 1st. In 2nd, they legally can go in without testing.

[Anonymous]

I hate the assumption that it's always best to be the oldest kid in the class. It will always depend on the kid.

But yeah, there's still a birthday cutoff for 1st grade in MoCo, so you have to find a private school for 1st, too.

Have you looked around for transitional-K classes? They are designed for kids who miss the cutoff, so at least your near-5 yo will be with similarly aged kids.

[Anonymous]

Harbor has a transitional junior k.

I definitely would not jump into a Montessori school at this point. That's really a three year program from 3-5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate the assumption that it's always best to be the oldest kid in the class. It will always depend on the kid.

But yeah, there's still a birthday cutoff for 1st grade in MoCo, so you have to find a private school for 1st, too.

Have you looked around for transitional-K classes? They are designed for kids who miss the cutoff, so at least your near-5 yo will be with similarly aged kids.

I checked Epworth for their transitional K class. Can't say I'm that impressed. Anyone have experience there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harbor has a transitional junior k.

I definitely would not jump into a Montessori school at this point. That's really a three year program from 3-5.

Where is Harbor located?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harbor has a transitional junior k.

I definitely would not jump into a Montessori school at this point. That's really a three year program from 3-5.

Where is Harbor located?

NP here. In Bethesda, near Potomac, near the corner of Bradley and Seven Locks.

Putting DC in the Harbor JK was one of the best decisions we ever made. Great transitional year.

[Anonymous]

Seneca Academy kindergarten is magical. The other grades are good, but don't compare to K.

[Anonymous]

poholeguy wrote:I'm an educator, and I don't usually recommend for parents to do this. There is also another aspect that needs to be considered which is emotional maturity.

Please don't forget that Maryland is the #1 state in the Nation in education and Mo. Co. is #1 county in state. This means that our children are expected to do so much in Kinder and On. For this reason is best to hold them back. I believe that their self esteem can in jeopardy if they feel that they are always being pushed to do more. Is best to be the oldest in the class and feel confident of your skills.

Don't forget that we are very lucky in this county. We are in the "creme of la creme of school systems"

I wish you the best

BTW. If I had the $$$ I would have placed my boys at Concord Hill School. HANDS DOWN!!! THEY have a 10:1 ratio. So this may be a good option, this way your kids still received individualized attention.
BEST.

P.

Not sure where you get your stats about MD being #1 in the country and MOCO being #1 in the state because Howard County is number 1 in the state.

[Anonymous]

poholeguy wrote:I'm an educator, and I don't usually recommend for parents to do this. There is also another aspect that needs to be considered which is emotional maturity.

Please don't forget that Maryland is the #1 state in the Nation in education and Mo. Co. is #1 county in state. This means that our children are expected to do so much in Kinder and On. For this reason is best to hold them back. I believe that their self esteem can in jeopardy if they feel that they are always being pushed to do more. Is best to be the oldest in the class and feel confident of your skills.

Don't forget that we are very lucky in this county. We are in the "creme of la creme of school systems"

I wish you the best

BTW. If I had the $$$ I would have placed my boys at Concord Hill School. HANDS DOWN!!! THEY have a 10:1 ratio. So this may be a good option, this way your kids still received individualized attention.
BEST.

P.

MD? No. You must be thinking of Mass.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies. I will check Seneca Academy. Harbor might be too far for us. Ideally anything in Germantown, Gaithersburg (355 or MV), North Potomac and Rockville (closer to 28/great seneca) will suit us best. But I will keep Harbor in mind if I'm not happy with what I see in schools closer to me..