Chances of getting into Marie Reed for PK3 IB?

[Anonymous]

I live IB for Marie Reed and my son is bilingual Spanish/English (not sure which one is dominant because he has never used English with me, although he uses it at daycare without problems). What are the chances of getting in for PK3 for IB families in any of the language options? I am a bit worried since OOB with siblings have preferences over IB families... Are my chances better with the Spanish dominant track?

I know I don’t have a chance as OOB in any of the other schools except perhaps Meridian... Any thoughts? Any other schools I should consider in the area? have listed them in my preferred order, prioritizing only commute (I work in Foggy Bottom and I’m not planning to be in DC after PK)

1. Marie reed - sp
2. Marie reed - en
3. SWS Francis stevens
4. Stevens early learning center
5. Cooke
6. Hyde-addison
7. Thompson
8. Apple tree early learning
10. Garrison
11. Seaton
12. Meridian

[Anonymous]

There's some chance at Thomson and Garrison and Seaton, but not a very high one. Maybe like 5%. But if your number is really good you'll


Use this: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/node/61

and this: https://public.tableau.com/profile/aaron2446#!/vizhome/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData/MSDCPublicDisplay

It seems like your chances as IB Spanish are pretty good, and your chances as IB English are pretty bad as a non-sibling. So I'd focus on really pushing the Spanish with him, work on his ability to speak Spanish with new adults, and be sure that a Spanish-speaking parent is the one who brings him to the exam.

[Anonymous]

You have just as good a chance at Appletree and Stevens as anyone else (well, anyone else without a sibling there but there aren't too many people with both PK3 and PK4 kids). Agree on ensuring your kid will test as Spanish dominant. Also look into the Community Based Options (free private PK)--there are several near you, many bilingual, including Jubilee Jumpstart and CentroNia. They're listed on the myschoolDC site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have just as good a chance at Appletree and Stevens as anyone else (well, anyone else without a sibling there but there aren't too many people with both PK3 and PK4 kids). Agree on ensuring your kid will test as Spanish dominant. Also look into the Community Based Options (free private PK)--there are several near you, many bilingual, including Jubilee Jumpstart and CentroNia. They're listed on the myschoolDC site.

Stevens has an at-risk preference, so not quite the same chance as anyone else there.

[Anonymous]

If your child is Spanish dominant and IB for MR you will almost certainly get in. Does your child have another parent and what language does the child speak with them?

[Anonymous]

OP here - thank you! Yes, there is another parent, didn’t mention it earlier to avoid confusion: my husband speaks only Italian with DS (and he replies in Italian) and I speak only Spanish. Talking to each other we sometimes switch to English, but never with DS, and he goes from Spanish to Italian without a problem. DS also spends a couple of months a year with my family in Spain, and speaks Spanish with everyone there, but back in DC is mostly English except at home, so difficult to say which one is dominant... do you know what do they ask during the test to establish which language is dominant?

I was worried because I read in an earlier post that some IB families got waitlisted at Marie Reed for PK3, but I guess that is for the English track? I will look into the community options... thanks a lot for the info!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thank you! Yes, there is another parent, didn’t mention it earlier to avoid confusion: my husband speaks only Italian with DS (and he replies in Italian) and I speak only Spanish. Talking to each other we sometimes switch to English, but never with DS, and he goes from Spanish to Italian without a problem. DS also spends a couple of months a year with my family in Spain, and speaks Spanish with everyone there, but back in DC is mostly English except at home, so difficult to say which one is dominant... do you know what do they ask during the test to establish which language is dominant?

I was worried because I read in an earlier post that some IB families got waitlisted at Marie Reed for PK3, but I guess that is for the English track? I will look into the community options... thanks a lot for the info!

Yes some IB English dominant students are waitlisted. There are far fewer Spanish dominant people are the boundary than there used to be.

The test isn’t a ‘test’ with a set group of questions - they do realize the kids are 3 yo’s! It is a conversation, they will play some and ask questions etc. You will not be with your kid during it.

[Anonymous]

Your chances are better with the Spanish track. Your child should be fine as they speak Spanish with you (and Italian with Dad), just remind them to speak Spanish with the teachers and they'll be fine, and speak Spanish to your child when you bring them for the test. Good luck!