Chances of getting into Seaton for PK3?

[Anonymous]

Can anyone advise me on getting into Seaton for PK3? We live in the Walker-Jones boundary but Seaton is more appealing and also I love that it is by the metro. I can see they had a long waitlist last year. What do people think our chances are?

[Anonymous]

So hard to tell --- the waitlist situation changed dramatically last year as compared to the year before. Two years ago I would have said it was a sure thing. Last year a few handfuls of people did get in OOB, but many did not. If the trajectory continues it will be harder next year.

Apply, though. We are IB and my child is in Prek 3 and loves it. All three teachers are stars.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it is getting any less popluar. We are IB for Walker Jones and ranked Seaton pretty high last year and were in the 40s on the waitlist. We went a bit in the wrong direction and never broke 40 ulitmately. Clearly we had a bad master number, but there are OOB families still getting in and you may be one of them. I really liked their ECE program and what I saw of the school overall, it was one of my two favorites. The lack of before care and limited aftercare was a concern for us though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it is getting any less popluar. We are IB for Walker Jones and ranked Seaton pretty high last year and were in the 40s on the waitlist. We went a bit in the wrong direction and never broke 40 ulitmately. Clearly we had a bad master number, but there are OOB families still getting in and you may be one of them. I really liked their ECE program and what I saw of the school overall, it was one of my two favorites. The lack of before care and limited aftercare was a concern for us though.

OP here, thank you for your helpful comment. I am dismayed to hear that you did not make much progress on the list! Would you mind sharing what other schools were on your list and where you ended up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So hard to tell --- the waitlist situation changed dramatically last year as compared to the year before. Two years ago I would have said it was a sure thing. Last year a few handfuls of people did get in OOB, but many did not. If the trajectory continues it will be harder next year.

Apply, though. We are IB and my child is in Prek 3 and loves it. All three teachers are stars.

This is OP, thank you for your comment. What do people do for beforecare and aftercare at Seaton?

[Anonymous]

There is no before cate at Seaton, but drop off starts at 8:15. Aftercare is a problem. It is first come, first serve when registration opens but at least at the beginning of this year, there were only about half the spots needed compared to the number of people who wanted aftercare. School will have to deal with that. But we are at Seaton and love it.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who goes there.... Many people have babysitters/nannies for after school. The school is actively trying to figure out a solution, so hopefully next year everyone who wants a space will have one. The reason it seems to be a problem is that our (really really excellent) principal doesn't want a two-tiered system, where kids can buy 'better' aftercare. She wants all the kids to feel equal -- I think that sentiment is part of what makes the school amazing and all the kids feel like friends. Clearly there is a logistical problem though, so I'm hoping they can come up with a solution. One possible solution being discussed is for the PTA to somehow make up the funds

[Anonymous]

If you pull an OK number, then you're chance is probably decent. The interest around Seaton doesn't seem to be dying down, which is great, but it looks like they still gave several PK3 seats to OOB kids this year.

[Anonymous]

OP, where else are you applying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it is getting any less popluar. We are IB for Walker Jones and ranked Seaton pretty high last year and were in the 40s on the waitlist. We went a bit in the wrong direction and never broke 40 ulitmately. Clearly we had a bad master number, but there are OOB families still getting in and you may be one of them. I really liked their ECE program and what I saw of the school overall, it was one of my two favorites. The lack of before care and limited aftercare was a concern for us though.

OP here, thank you for your helpful comment. I am dismayed to hear that you did not make much progress on the list! Would you mind sharing what other schools were on your list and where you ended up?

I don't remember the order, but our top 4 were Mundo Verde, Two Rivers 4th, Inspired Teaching, and Seaton. We got into and are attending our 5th choice, Friendship Armstrong. I liked their Reggio PreK the best of all we visited, Seaton was second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no before cate at Seaton, but drop off starts at 8:15. Aftercare is a problem. It is first come, first serve when registration opens but at least at the beginning of this year, there were only about half the spots needed compared to the number of people who wanted aftercare. School will have to deal with that. But we are at Seaton and love it.

That’s an important issue if you need aftercare. We were offered an OoB slot for seaton pk3 2 years ago in mid-September but had to turn it down because there were no aftercare slots left.

[Anonymous]

I was #26 for Seaton last year and made it down to #5. So, it's getting a lot harder to get in. Plus, it would have been difficult off the waitlist because there would have been no aftercare available. But I loved the school on the tour!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was #26 for Seaton last year and made it down to #5. So, it's getting a lot harder to get in. Plus, it would have been difficult off the waitlist because there would have been no aftercare available. But I loved the school on the tour!

Wow. This is WORLDS apart from what it was just three or four years ago. Safety no more!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was #26 for Seaton last year and made it down to #5. So, it's getting a lot harder to get in. Plus, it would have been difficult off the waitlist because there would have been no aftercare available. But I loved the school on the tour!

Wow. This is WORLDS apart from what it was just three or four years ago. Safety no more!

Also keep in mind that, like most DCPS schools, Seaton increases class sizes at PK4 and K. While it sounds like PK3 is increasingly filling with IB kids and/or OOB siblings, OOB chances for a spot at Seaton may be significantly better for PK4 or K.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone, it is good to know PK4 is a possibility. We live in the southwest corner of the Walker-Jones zone so geographically it is tough to find other options. Does anyone have a child at Walker-Jones?