Bridges PCS

[Anonymous]

I have a good wait-list number for Bridges, and hoping to get in.

Out other options are Bethune and Dorothy I Height, IB school is Whittier.

If my child was to accept an offer from Bridges, what happens after the 5th grade?

Any current/past Bridges parents care to weigh in.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

This is the first year Bridges has had any students in 5th grade so there isn't any track record to go on.

But Bridges ends at 5th. Students entering 6th will either enroll in their IB DCPS, lottery for another charter or lottery for an OOB slot at a DCPS school, apply to a private school, etc.

[Anonymous]

We live near you and have had a very good year at Bridges. We only have experience with preschool but have found the teachers warm, the school facilities nice (clean, bright, welcoming) and other parents friendly. (I do wish there was a bit more school involvement for families but don't know what I was expecting either.)

We are a bit worried about what will come in the later years and then how we'll move from elementary to middle (figure we'll be back in the lottery game). But I think that would be a worry no matter where we landed.

I will also say the aftercare has been good for us. Super easy (no waitlists etc.) and well run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the first year Bridges has had any students in 5th grade so there isn't any track record to go on.

But Bridges ends at 5th. Students entering 6th will either enroll in their IB DCPS, lottery for another charter or lottery for an OOB slot at a DCPS school, apply to a private school, etc.

Thanks for the response. Sounds like I will keep playing the lottery and save for private school. I wonder how much will change in 5 years? For now the plan is to stay in the present and over time I see something working out. I also am not ruling out home school and in maybe 5 years I will have a better feel for this option as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live near you and have had a very good year at Bridges. We only have experience with preschool but have found the teachers warm, the school facilities nice (clean, bright, welcoming) and other parents friendly. (I do wish there was a bit more school involvement for families but don't know what I was expecting either.)

We are a bit worried about what will come in the later years and then how we'll move from elementary to middle (figure we'll be back in the lottery game). But I think that would be a worry no matter where we landed.

I will also say the aftercare has been good for us. Super easy (no wait-lists etc.) and well run.

Thank you!!! DS will be starting PK3. I love the option to bike over and take metro from there to office in DuPont Circle then doing the same thing in reverse. I have done enough worrying for the past year anticipating the results of the 4/1/18 DCPS lottery. Time to chill I guess and nonetheless just keep playing the lottery just as you stated which would have been the same outcome for any school other than our #1, #2, #3 etc.

I have been debating about before and aftercare. Do I reduce my schedule so he does not have an extended day? Or is the extended day actually worthwhile as he may be doing things like Yoga, and I can work a few more hours for the mulah.

I remember aftercare as a child and it was ran by teens who just let us be free in the cafeteria until our parents came to pick us up. I was not fond of it and it made for a long day. I would hope that DS was still being loved on and shown attention. Also debating on keeping an Aupair for at least another year to keep up the Spanish and allow for me time and longer office hours if need be. My partner lives in NYC, and only around on Thursdays, Fridays, and the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live near you and have had a very good year at Bridges. We only have experience with preschool but have found the teachers warm, the school facilities nice (clean, bright, welcoming) and other parents friendly. (I do wish there was a bit more school involvement for families but don't know what I was expecting either.)

We are a bit worried about what will come in the later years and then how we'll move from elementary to middle (figure we'll be back in the lottery game). But I think that would be a worry no matter where we landed.

I will also say the aftercare has been good for us. Super easy (no wait-lists etc.) and well run.

Thank you!!! DS will be starting PK3. I love the option to bike over and take metro from there to office in DuPont Circle then doing the same thing in reverse. I have done enough worrying for the past year anticipating the results of the 4/1/18 DCPS lottery. Time to chill I guess and nonetheless just keep playing the lottery just as you stated which would have been the same outcome for any school other than our #1, #2, #3 etc.

I have been debating about before and aftercare. Do I reduce my schedule so he does not have an extended day? Or is the extended day actually worthwhile as he may be doing things like Yoga, and I can work a few more hours for the mulah.

I remember aftercare as a child and it was ran by teens who just let us be free in the cafeteria until our parents came to pick us up. I was not fond of it and it made for a long day. I would hope that DS was still being loved on and shown attention. Also debating on keeping an Aupair for at least another year to keep up the Spanish and allow for me time and longer office hours if need be. My partner lives in NYC, and only around on Thursdays, Fridays, and the weekend.

Aftercare is very flexible there which has been great for us. You can use it daily, just a couple days a week, or on a drop in basis. The teachers are very loving. My kids don't go that often and get teary when I arrive and they need to leave.

[Anonymous]

My kids also like the Bridges aftercare. That said, they prefer spending the afternoon with Mom or Dad more. I think that especially for the youngest kids, a school day + aftercare is long day. But if you need the childcare coverage, Bridges aftercare is a good option.