PK3 Lottery: SWS vs Peabody/Watkins

[Anonymous]

People seem to love SWS. We are IB for Peabody. Commute to Peabody and SWS are roughly the same (car), but Watkins is pretty close (walkable). Which should we list first? FWIW, we would probably want their younger sibling to follow the same path.

[Anonymous]

Nice to have two good options near you! We sent both our kids through SWS, PK-4th. (We would have happily stayed through 5th but aren't zoned for Stuart-Hobson, so we needed to find a good middle school.) It's a very good school with some FANTASTIC teachers. In particular, I LOVE the upper grade teachers--some of whom were hired from Watkins. I think you'd be happy there. I don't have firsthand knowledge of Watkins I'd vote for SWS, even with the two-year relocation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People seem to love SWS. We are IB for Peabody. Commute to Peabody and SWS are roughly the same (car), but Watkins is pretty close (walkable). Which should we list first? FWIW, we would probably want their younger sibling to follow the same path.

SWS will be modernized from Jan 2021 - August 2022 and located in modular swing space adjacent to Spingarn HS during the renovation (Benning Rd near 2 Rivers Young and Phelps HS). There will be a shuttle from SWS to Spingarn. Depending on your priority for commuting convenience that may be a factor. The flip side is a newly renovated SWS school building in August 2022.

[Anonymous]

We were at Peabody for three years and had a positive experience. We then did a year at Watkins and happily switched to SWS, which we absolutely love.

For us the choice was clear. But schools change so quickly, that my experience could be dated, especially for someone entering Pk3.

[Anonymous]

Another way to look at it is that, if you are inbounds for Peabody/Watkins, you are guaranteed a spot there but not at SWS.

We did the lottery last year (got a terrible draw so stayed at our private daycare) and had to make the same choice. I listed SWS first because I figured there was no way PK3 and PK4 could be that different/better at either and since we had a guaranteed spot at Peabody starting at K, I'd try for SWS and switch if I needed to.

Doing the lottery again and doing the same order for the same reason. Here's hoping we have a better master number this time around.....

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another way to look at it is that, if you are inbounds for Peabody/Watkins, you are guaranteed a spot there but not at SWS.

We did the lottery last year (got a terrible draw so stayed at our private daycare) and had to make the same choice. I listed SWS first because I figured there was no way PK3 and PK4 could be that different/better at either and since we had a guaranteed spot at Peabody starting at K, I'd try for SWS and switch if I needed to.

Doing the lottery again and doing the same order for the same reason. Here's hoping we have a better master number this time around.....

Good luck!

Um, being inbounds does NOT guarantee you a spot at Peabody for PK-3. We are IB and were 37 on the PK-3 waitlist at Peabody two years ago and never moved up. Many IB kids (especially if you don’t have a sibling preference) do not get into Peabody. Maybe the PP meant you are guaranteed a spot for K, but OP seems to be looking for PK-3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another way to look at it is that, if you are inbounds for Peabody/Watkins, you are guaranteed a spot there but not at SWS.

We did the lottery last year (got a terrible draw so stayed at our private daycare) and had to make the same choice. I listed SWS first because I figured there was no way PK3 and PK4 could be that different/better at either and since we had a guaranteed spot at Peabody starting at K, I'd try for SWS and switch if I needed to.

Doing the lottery again and doing the same order for the same reason. Here's hoping we have a better master number this time around.....

Good luck!

Um, being inbounds does NOT guarantee you a spot at Peabody for PK-3. We are IB and were 37 on the PK-3 waitlist at Peabody two years ago and never moved up. Many IB kids (especially if you don’t have a sibling preference) do not get into Peabody. Maybe the PP meant you are guaranteed a spot for K, but OP seems to be looking for PK-3.

I am the poster you are quoting. Did you even read my post? I KNOW PK-3 is not guaranteed, hence why I indicated that I figured PK-3 and PK-4 couldn't be too different/better at either (since both are good options), and we did have a guaranteed spot at Peabody starting at K, we tried for SWS. The plan being to switch at K or later if need be. The possibility of doing the opposite (switching to SWS after Peabody), while possible, is MUCH less likely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another way to look at it is that, if you are inbounds for Peabody/Watkins, you are guaranteed a spot there but not at SWS.

We did the lottery last year (got a terrible draw so stayed at our private daycare) and had to make the same choice. I listed SWS first because I figured there was no way PK3 and PK4 could be that different/better at either and since we had a guaranteed spot at Peabody starting at K, I'd try for SWS and switch if I needed to.

Doing the lottery again and doing the same order for the same reason. Here's hoping we have a better master number this time around.....

Good luck!

Um, being inbounds does NOT guarantee you a spot at Peabody for PK-3. We are IB and were 37 on the PK-3 waitlist at Peabody two years ago and never moved up. Many IB kids (especially if you don’t have a sibling preference) do not get into Peabody. Maybe the PP meant you are guaranteed a spot for K, but OP seems to be looking for PK-3.

I am the poster you are quoting. Did you even read my post? I KNOW PK-3 is not guaranteed, hence why I indicated that I figured PK-3 and PK-4 couldn't be too different/better at either (since both are good options), and we did have a guaranteed spot at Peabody starting at K, we tried for SWS. The plan being to switch at K or later if need be. The possibility of doing the opposite (switching to SWS after Peabody), while possible, is MUCH less likely.

Whew, you are aggressive, neighbor. Chill out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were at Peabody for three years and had a positive experience. We then did a year at Watkins and happily switched to SWS, which we absolutely love.

For us the choice was clear. But schools change so quickly, that my experience could be dated, especially for someone entering Pk3.

I would do SWS over Watkins. Everyone I know at Watkins is unhappy by Grade 3 or 4. Everyone loves Peabody though. (FWIW, I am a huge proponent of going to your IB, I really think there are all sorts of unconsidered advantages... For Brent, Maury or L-T, based on the folks I know, I'd go IB. I just know too many unhappy Watkins families; again, all in the upper grades... I have never heard a bad word about Peabody.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another way to look at it is that, if you are inbounds for Peabody/Watkins, you are guaranteed a spot there but not at SWS.

We did the lottery last year (got a terrible draw so stayed at our private daycare) and had to make the same choice. I listed SWS first because I figured there was no way PK3 and PK4 could be that different/better at either and since we had a guaranteed spot at Peabody starting at K, I'd try for SWS and switch if I needed to.

Doing the lottery again and doing the same order for the same reason. Here's hoping we have a better master number this time around.....

Good luck!

Um, being inbounds does NOT guarantee you a spot at Peabody for PK-3. We are IB and were 37 on the PK-3 waitlist at Peabody two years ago and never moved up. Many IB kids (especially if you don’t have a sibling preference) do not get into Peabody. Maybe the PP meant you are guaranteed a spot for K, but OP seems to be looking for PK-3.

I am the poster you are quoting. Did you even read my post? I KNOW PK-3 is not guaranteed, hence why I indicated that I figured PK-3 and PK-4 couldn't be too different/better at either (since both are good options), and we did have a guaranteed spot at Peabody starting at K, we tried for SWS. The plan being to switch at K or later if need be. The possibility of doing the opposite (switching to SWS after Peabody), while possible, is MUCH less likely.

Whew, you are aggressive, neighbor. Chill out.

I suppose, but aggressive is also responding to/quoting a post after only reading the first sentence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were at Peabody for three years and had a positive experience. We then did a year at Watkins and happily switched to SWS, which we absolutely love.

For us the choice was clear. But schools change so quickly, that my experience could be dated, especially for someone entering Pk3.

I would do SWS over Watkins. Everyone I know at Watkins is unhappy by Grade 3 or 4. Everyone loves Peabody though. (FWIW, I am a huge proponent of going to your IB, I really think there are all sorts of unconsidered advantages... For Brent, Maury or L-T, based on the folks I know, I'd go IB. I just know too many unhappy Watkins families; again, all in the upper grades... I have never heard a bad word about Peabody.)

So you're a "huge proponent of going to your IB" only if it's rich and majority white?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were at Peabody for three years and had a positive experience. We then did a year at Watkins and happily switched to SWS, which we absolutely love.

For us the choice was clear. But schools change so quickly, that my experience could be dated, especially for someone entering Pk3.

I would do SWS over Watkins. Everyone I know at Watkins is unhappy by Grade 3 or 4. Everyone loves Peabody though. (FWIW, I am a huge proponent of going to your IB, I really think there are all sorts of unconsidered advantages... For Brent, Maury or L-T, based on the folks I know, I'd go IB. I just know too many unhappy Watkins families; again, all in the upper grades... I have never heard a bad word about Peabody.)

So you're a "huge proponent of going to your IB" only if it's rich and majority white?

What? L-T has the same demographics as Watkins, basically. If anything it’s a bit less white and less rich. So this is a stupid comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I would do SWS over Watkins. Everyone I know at Watkins is unhappy by Grade 3 or 4. Everyone loves Peabody though. (FWIW, I am a huge proponent of going to your IB, I really think there are all sorts of unconsidered advantages... For Brent, Maury or L-T, based on the folks I know, I'd go IB. I just know too many unhappy Watkins families; again, all in the upper grades... I have never heard a bad word about Peabody.)

What made them unhappy at Watkins by this age? (Academics, facilities, teachers, bullying??)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I would do SWS over Watkins. Everyone I know at Watkins is unhappy by Grade 3 or 4. Everyone loves Peabody though. (FWIW, I am a huge proponent of going to your IB, I really think there are all sorts of unconsidered advantages... For Brent, Maury or L-T, based on the folks I know, I'd go IB. I just know too many unhappy Watkins families; again, all in the upper grades... I have never heard a bad word about Peabody.)

What made them unhappy at Watkins by this age? (Academics, facilities, teachers, bullying??)

There is virtually no differentiation; the principal (who just announced her resignation) was opposed. All the focus of extra resources is in bringing up the bottom. No pullouts for advanced learners at all. (For comparison, L-T has substantially more differentiation including pull-outs on both ends of the spectrum.) Its also a big school with a tendency towards chaos. Friends with quiet kids were unhappy with the environment. Not sure it’s worse on this front than comparable schools though, except that it’s quite large for the Hill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were at Peabody for three years and had a positive experience. We then did a year at Watkins and happily switched to SWS, which we absolutely love.

For us the choice was clear. But schools change so quickly, that my experience could be dated, especially for someone entering Pk3.

I would do SWS over Watkins. Everyone I know at Watkins is unhappy by Grade 3 or 4. Everyone loves Peabody though. (FWIW, I am a huge proponent of going to your IB, I really think there are all sorts of unconsidered advantages... For Brent, Maury or L-T, based on the folks I know, I'd go IB. I just know too many unhappy Watkins families; again, all in the upper grades... I have never heard a bad word about Peabody.)

So you're a "huge proponent of going to your IB" only if it's rich and majority white?

What? L-T has the same demographics as Watkins, basically. If anything it’s a bit less white and less rich. So this is a stupid comment.

It's a more recent change that familiea are staying at LT. Look at the lower grade demograhics - definitely richer and whiter.