LAMB or Communikids?

[Anonymous]

We have a spot at LAMB for pk-3, and are #5 on the wait list for Communikids. I'm thinking it's likely we'll be offered a spot at Communikids and will have to make a choice. I know we are very lucky to have the options which we do, but still want to make the best choice.

LAMB pros:
bilingual education until 5th grade!
Montessori (somewhat neutral on this for the later grades)
Con:
Childcare plan for DC2 is in opposite direction from home. Almost certainly have to buy a second car, and/or pay our nanny for pickup of infant, increasing costs. Commute continues untill we change schools, move, etc- could be the next decade!!

Communikids pros:
Easier commute, particularly if we stick with the current plan for care for our younger child. However, still need to pay for pick-up some days or possibly get a second car.
Possible to be in the same location as our nanny share family, would like to keep our kids together
Con:
Limited likelihood at bilingual spot after pk-4, only Spanish language aftercare lessons.

Longer term:
Would go to our IBS, Murch, for k, if we choose Communikids (assuming we don't win the lottery and get oyster Adams!) so better ties with our neighborhood and easier to meet up with her school friends as she gets older. There is Spanish available for aftercare, so we don't entirely lose Spanish, but not the same as bilingual education.

Other:
I feel like we're unlikely to get a spot again at LAMB/other bilingual dcps school and can always switch to Murch in a year or two if we don't like it, but also feels foolish to take a worse commute when we do have a good option. DC1 already speaks Spanish; we have 3-4 years before both children are in the same school. Love our current nanny and share family and really don't want to switch if we can avoid it. We bought a house last year, so not keen to move. School boundaries and not stressing over the lottery was a large factor in the house we chose.

So basically, insight on either school? Easier commute vs bilingual longer-term? I would definitely do Communikids if I wasn't thinking beyond pre-k or we hadn't gotten a bilingual spot in the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Easier commute. The stress of drop-offs and pick-ups is not worth it in the long run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Easier commute. The stress of drop-offs and pick-ups is not worth it in the long run.

Definitely agree. And don’t underestimate the benefits of going with your neighborhood school long term.

[Anonymous]

Communikids. I believe they also have fewer days off (winter & spring break + summer + teacher work days) so you'll have some more help in that respect.

[Anonymous]

Agreed with easier commute too. You bought the house based on the IB school, I think you committed before you even got into LAMB. I heard great things about Communikids.

[Anonymous]

LAMB. The parents on the Hill are organizing a shuttle for next year. IF you care about Spanish, this is your only chance - you're right (and - Oyster or any of the rest of them are not improving your commute should you get in which is unlikely).

But if you only kind of care about Spanish, you can take the easier route and just go to your IB. I would say that - plus your plans after that, middle school and high school, if you want DCI - are your main deciders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LAMB. The parents on the Hill are organizing a shuttle for next year. IF you care about Spanish, this is your only chance - you're right (and - Oyster or any of the rest of them are not improving your commute should you get in which is unlikely).

But if you only kind of care about Spanish, you can take the easier route and just go to your IB. I would say that - plus your plans after that, middle school and high school, if you want DCI - are your main deciders.

OP's inbound is Murch, so it's not clear why a shuttle from the Hill would be helpful. And OA would be a better commute. And if kids are Spanish dominant you would have a shot OOB for PK4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LAMB. The parents on the Hill are organizing a shuttle for next year. IF you care about Spanish, this is your only chance - you're right (and - Oyster or any of the rest of them are not improving your commute should you get in which is unlikely).

But if you only kind of care about Spanish, you can take the easier route and just go to your IB. I would say that - plus your plans after that, middle school and high school, if you want DCI - are your main deciders.

OP's inbound is Murch, so it's not clear why a shuttle from the Hill would be helpful. And OA would be a better commute. And if kids are Spanish dominant you would have a shot OOB for PK4.

Commute, 100%. two drop-offs is already a nightmare and being with your neighbors at a great school is priceless. We went to a charter last year that was a 15 minute drive from our house in the wrong direction of everything, and we are leaving next year for only that reason. .... Only caveat is that you have to consider what you'd do with infant for pk3...

[Anonymous]

I'd go with commute, so CommuniKids. Also, give your LAMB spot to someone who (hopefully) plans to stay after PK4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd go with commute, so CommuniKids. Also, give your LAMB spot to someone who (hopefully) plans to stay after PK4.

Don't give up your LAMB spot until you get into CommuniKids, though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LAMB. The parents on the Hill are organizing a shuttle for next year. IF you care about Spanish, this is your only chance - you're right (and - Oyster or any of the rest of them are not improving your commute should you get in which is unlikely).

But if you only kind of care about Spanish, you can take the easier route and just go to your IB. I would say that - plus your plans after that, middle school and high school, if you want DCI - are your main deciders.

OP's inbound is Murch, so it's not clear why a shuttle from the Hill would be helpful. And OA would be a better commute. And if kids are Spanish dominant you would have a shot OOB for PK4.

My mistake I was thinking of Maury.

In any case don’t accept a Lamb spot planning to leave after preK.

[Anonymous]

We had the same choice years back in 2012. We had bought inbounds for Murch and got into LAMB.

Primarily for Spanish reasons, we chose LAMB over Murch. We have reconsidered multiple times throughout those years, and I often still wonder if this was the best decision. In fact, it was the best decision probably for 2 of our 3 children (who have SNs) ---but not for our 3rd kid who could do well anywhere and would rather be in the neighborhood. But it's hard to know how your kids will turn out and what they will need.

If you have any inkling that either of your children might have special needs, go with LAMB. They do really well with IEPs and Montessori is pretty understanding of difference. I have heard mixed reports on Much for kids with SNs. I also have compared kids with IEPs for similar diagnoses at Murch to our child, and they usually get half the hours of what the kids at LAMB are getting. You do have to advocate for an SN kid, at any school.

Unfortunately, it's really hard to know if your kids have SN when your kids are so young. One of my children was highly verbal at a very young age and everyone commented that he was super-smart when he was a toddler/preschooler. Turns out he has the most special needs of all of them! (The one who seemed a little slow to pick up on stuff as a toddler is the one that is neuro-typical and has no trouble in school). But ask yourself if SN could be a reality down the line: do we have any unusual traits in our family? Did one parent - or a grandparent - struggle to learn to read/write? Is anyone a terrible speller, or still a slower reader even though well-educated? Any awkward social skills among family members? Any high-energy folks who might have trouble, even a little, with self-regulation?

It also matters a lot where you want to send your kids to middle school. For my SN kids, I am not excited about either Deal or DCI (despite them being great options overall). For neuro-typical kid, again, either middle school will probably be good.

[Anonymous]

LAMB is incredible, but please don’t take a spot if you plan to move to Murch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had the same choice years back in 2012. We had bought inbounds for Murch and got into LAMB.

Primarily for Spanish reasons, we chose LAMB over Murch. We have reconsidered multiple times throughout those years, and I often still wonder if this was the best decision. In fact, it was the best decision probably for 2 of our 3 children (who have SNs) ---but not for our 3rd kid who could do well anywhere and would rather be in the neighborhood. But it's hard to know how your kids will turn out and what they will need.

If you have any inkling that either of your children might have special needs, go with LAMB. They do really well with IEPs and Montessori is pretty understanding of difference. I have heard mixed reports on Much for kids with SNs. I also have compared kids with IEPs for similar diagnoses at Murch to our child, and they usually get half the hours of what the kids at LAMB are getting. You do have to advocate for an SN kid, at any school.

Unfortunately, it's really hard to know if your kids have SN when your kids are so young. One of my children was highly verbal at a very young age and everyone commented that he was super-smart when he was a toddler/preschooler. Turns out he has the most special needs of all of them! (The one who seemed a little slow to pick up on stuff as a toddler is the one that is neuro-typical and has no trouble in school). But ask yourself if SN could be a reality down the line: do we have any unusual traits in our family? Did one parent - or a grandparent - struggle to learn to read/write? Is anyone a terrible speller, or still a slower reader even though well-educated? Any awkward social skills among family members? Any high-energy folks who might have trouble, even a little, with self-regulation?

It also matters a lot where you want to send your kids to middle school. For my SN kids, I am not excited about either Deal or DCI (despite them being great options overall). For neuro-typical kid, again, either middle school will probably be good.

Thanks, this is really helpful. Not too worried about SN, but it's certainly possible and too young to tell, especially for our second! I was really hoping not to think too much about middle school yet, given my oldest kid isn't yet 3... but such is the system we have

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LAMB is incredible, but please don’t take a spot if you plan to move to Murch.

Well, that's the whole dilemma. If we choose LAMB, it's with the intention to stay, as the appeal for us is bilingual throughout elementary. If I was only concerned about pre-K and planned to do Murch after, I would definitely do communikids with the easier commute.