When do I need to get on a waitlist for private PK3?
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Anonymous
| We're doing the lottery for PK3 this year, and while we've included a couple schools that historically have been "safe" to get into, we aren't comfortable sending our DC to our inbound school and we aren't willing to commute all over the city, so there's some chance we will strike out. I'm starting to look into private options as a backup and am curious how competitive it is to get into a decent private PK3. By "decent," I do not mean like the top privates in DC - I mean a program that is on par with well-regarded charters and DCPS schools. Do I need to make a deposit somewhere now, or can I wait to see how the lottery shakes out? We live in the Columbia Heights/Petworth area, if it makes a difference. |
Anonymous
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If you aren’t willing to send your child to your inbounds public school, you will need a lot of luck not to strike out.
Where is your child in care now? Can you keep him or her there next year? If not, get on waitlists now. You may be too late for official “preschools” that have you formally apply a year ahead, so consider daycares in your area. |
Anonymous
We have listed 2 schools that went through about 95% of their WLs last year, so I don't think we will need a lot of luck to merely not strike out. But we recognize it's entirely possible that we could be extraordinarily unlucky and get a terrible number and/or the safeties we listed aren't as safe this year. I should note that we got on the WL a few months ago for three nonprofit PKs that are part of the DC PK expansion program as well. But I do want to make sure that we have our options covered. Our son is in a nanny share now and we really want him to go to school next year for socialization reasons, so staying put isn't an option. Do private preKs really fill up a year in advance, even though so many leave for DCPS/charters for PK3? Money isn't an object here, just commute (needs to be somewhere roughly between Petworth and Farragut, with a little bit of wiggle room to go outside of that direct commute). |
Anonymous
| The well-regarded private “preschools” (as opposed to daycares) are typically part-time (sometimes with aftercare offered) and require an application the fall before you wish to enter your child, sometimes with testing or an interview/evaluation. The decisions on admission are made in the spring. |
Anonymous
This is for PK3?? What could be so terrible about your IB school? In general, PK3/4 is thought to be fine anywhere in DC. |
Anonymous
Lack of availability of aftercare spots plus some concerns about not taking my child's allergies seriously. What is the dividing line between "daycare" and "preschool"? I've looked at several places (Bambini, CentroNia, JCC) that say they are preschools and follow the Creative Curriculum and none have said anything about an interview or application, but they do all have waitlists. To be clear, I am NOT talking about places like The River School, Washington International, etc.! |
Anonymous
I consider it a preschool and not a child care provider if the tuition is for the school day (e.g. 9-3) or half a day, and before- and after-care as well as summer is extra. If it serves infants and/or has one rate for a full day (e.g. 8-6) it's a child care provider. Child care providers are set up to serve WOHPs so they are not usually shutting down in the summer unless they are really just serving school teachers. That being said, "preschools" are technically providing child care and "daycares" often also provide preschool curricula. |
Anonymous
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Apply everywhere that has a full day 3 year old program - you need a child care center or "full day preschool" since you are looking for a full day for your child. JCC, Bambini, CentroNia are child care centers. They, of course, have preschool curriculum - whether they are good, great or neither is based on your visiting and deciding.
Also look at School for Friends near Dupont Circle and Takoma Children's School in Takoma, DC if that can work for you. Both are full day programs. |
Anonymous
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But applications are due NOW, LIKE FEBRUARY, for programs like School for Friends, Takoma Children's School and perhaps others.
JCC, Bambini and CentroNia might not have application deadlines, just "go on the wait list" but my bet is they'll have space in their preschool program because so many children leave for public prek3 in August/September. |
Anonymous
| Thanks, this is helpful. Per the discussion above, I guess I am looking for a "child care center" - I just want some place with an actual curriculum and a classroom-like setting. Looking at getting on waitlists now. |
Anonymous
Many daycares use formal curricula -- mostly commonly the Creative Curriculum. |
Anonymous
For me, the difference between a "child care center" and a "preschool" is whether they also have classrooms with infants and toddlers. I have had kids at 3 different daycares in this area, and all 3 of them have preschool classrooms where children ages 2.5-5 do the same kinds of activities that happen in a DCPS preschool. They use a curriculum, have structured activities as well as unstructured activities, have a learning component, etc. A good daycare preschool will have hours from 7ish until 6ish and operate year-round, vs. DCPS schools which are only 8:45-3:15 unless you use before and/or aftercare. They also have winter break, February break, spring break, and summer break, plus a bajillion professional development days. |
Anonymous
| Is it hard to get into private PK3? I've heard that it's actually pretty easy (at least in DC) because of public PK3. I would look at some of the federal centers if the lottery doesn't shake out. I think you'll be fine. |
Anonymous
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I’m also looking at private options and so far only Scrilli in Brookland has a deadline that hasn’t passed. Save your money and go to Appletree CH, Stevens Early Childhood, or one of the Community-based programs in CH (Barbara Chambers, CentroNia).
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Anonymous
OP here - Appletree CH and Stevens are on our list, and we are on the waitlist at both Barbara Chambers and CentroNia! Just making sure that we truly have all of our bases covered in case we get a completely awful lotto # and BC/CN don't clear their waitlists. Maybe I'm being too paranoid, though. |