What is the most elite NYC preschool?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have a family member who worked in the preschool at 92Y for five or six years. Incredible program with career folks who love kids. Pay is crap but many have other sources of income or low cost of living. Admin went through a big change in the late 2010’s… not sure what’s going on now.

They relayed the most cringey part was having to “interview” kids for applications to the 4’s room. The teachers and assistants can spot the prepped kids. Could work for you or against you. But on the other hand, you don’t want your kid to be a dumper (dumps out the bin of toys on the floor) - apparently that’s a NO GO. “Just be normal” my family member said.

This is good insight and didn’t know about the dumping of toys would be their demise at the toddler years. I’d expect that for K interviews more. My kid while isn’t a “dumper” at home they tend to do unexpected things when some stranger is on them 1:1. They’re only 3 so they can react a bit unpredictably and go through the toys for example in front of them without too much self-control. I can’t believe I’m even trying to explain or justify this totally normal toddler behavior. Why are they putting them through this so early. But here I am trying to get in one of these coveted preschools

To take some pressure off you if you don’t get into these preschools - if you focus on helping your child stay curious, social emotionally well developed, you still have a decent shot getting into a good private K from unconnected school or even UPK.

[Anonymous]

My DC attends a non-feeder preschool, and the school doesn’t prioritize prepping kids for private school. About half the class goes public, but every year, a handful still land spots at great privates—including multiple admits to TT schools.

If your PSD is experienced in the process and committed to helping (e.g., guiding school choices based on your DC’s profile, looping in admissions offices for feedback), that’s often enough. Sometimes it’s even an advantage. You are not competing with half a class of siblings/legacies at the same target schools. The PSD can advocate for your DC without split loyalties, and your kid’s app stands on its own.

Not saying it’s easy, but a “non-feeder” label doesn’t have to hold you back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This is good insight and didn’t know about the dumping of toys would be their demise at the toddler years. I’d expect that for K interviews more. My kid while isn’t a “dumper” at home they tend to do unexpected things when some stranger is on them 1:1. They’re only 3 so they can react a bit unpredictably and go through the toys for example in front of them without too much self-control. I can’t believe I’m even trying to explain or justify this totally normal toddler behavior. Why are they putting them through this so early. But here I am trying to get in one of these coveted preschools

Many preschools have child separation class that slowly transitions from the nanny to the preschool setting. I am not sure how many preschools switch from nanny to preschool cold turkey anymore. The entry point seems to have gotten younger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for your insight, indeed MAPCDS has better facilities. If I want to try to target St. B’s would any of these preschools provide a better prep and chance over others? Episcopal and STMPG don’t showcase their exmissions online.

I’d target Episcopal or STMPG. But I’d make sure my kid was prepared for the process coming from any of the schools you listed.

Prepped by tutors for the assessment, right?

I heard about prepping for K, but I never heard of prepping for preschool assessment. Crazy!

I meant prepping for k. I’d never prep for preschool. And I don’t think you need tutors, it can definitely be done by parents at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for your insight, indeed MAPCDS has better facilities. If I want to try to target St. B’s would any of these preschools provide a better prep and chance over others? Episcopal and STMPG don’t showcase their exmissions online.

I’d target Episcopal or STMPG. But I’d make sure my kid was prepared for the process coming from any of the schools you listed.

Prepped by tutors for the assessment, right?

I heard about prepping for K, but I never heard of prepping for preschool assessment. Crazy!

I meant prepping for k. I’d never prep for preschool. And I don’t think you need tutors, it can definitely be done by parents at home.

What is there to even prep for? Based on what these group child evaluations involve, it seems heavily play focused.

Maybe the only thing to tell kids is that there will be others, there will be toys, and they will meet some new teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC attends a non-feeder preschool, and the school doesn’t prioritize prepping kids for private school. About half the class goes public, but every year, a handful still land spots at great privates—including multiple admits to TT schools.

If your PSD is experienced in the process and committed to helping (e.g., guiding school choices based on your DC’s profile, looping in admissions offices for feedback), that’s often enough. Sometimes it’s even an advantage. You are not competing with half a class of siblings/legacies at the same target schools. The PSD can advocate for your DC without split loyalties, and your kid’s app stands on its own.

Not saying it’s easy, but a “non-feeder” label doesn’t have to hold you back.

Can you explain how a preschool would prioritize prepping for private K?

Curious because I’m awaiting preschool decisions at the end of the month, and have a feeling we will be accepted into some of the feeder preschools, but the one I liked most was a smaller, non feeder preschool that sounds like the one your DC went to… we also want to target TT K afterward and I just don’t want us to be at a disadvantage

[Anonymous]

I do not think the above poster meant that feeder preschools prep for K. I am not aware of any feeder preschool prepping for K or prioritizing “prepping”. My dc went one of the feeder preschools, and there was no prepping. Butwhat it had was PSD who had great relationships with many different schools. There are a lot of communication between PSDs and admissions directors for K. However, not everyone from from a feeder preschool go to TT. For example, if there are 6 kids from your preschool go Spence, I bet out of the 6, there are about 4-5 siblings or legacies. You are competing with legacies, siblings, and donors in your preschool.

With that being said, I agree with the above poster. Just because your dc does not go to a feeder school, does not mean dc can’t get into TT. There are some TTs that avoid having a feeder school. My dc’s K class consisted of several public and preschools that I never heard of.

As to prepping for K, I heard from a friend who enrolled her child in a group that “preps” kids for playgroups. She got spooked after seeing another child at the playgroup at one of the TTs. The child extended her hand first for a handshake and said her name to one of the administrators of the playgroup. The child took the initiative. She thought the child was clearly prepped and enrolled her dc with the group. But honestly,I do not think prepping for K is necessary. Just make sure your kids learn how to listen and play well with others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of these answers... no. Here is the ranking of all the TT pre-schools in Manhattan:

TT of the TT: Episcopal and 92 Street Y

Then: Temple Emanu-El, Brick Church, Park Children's Day on the UWS (huge connections at Brearley)

Then: STMPG, All Souls, West Side Montessori, Washington Market, Garden House, Christ Church

(But even the third tier of the TT are very TT).

LOL. Outdated. Exmissions at Episcopal is meh. The TT private schools overwhelmingly take kids from 92NY and WSMS. Everything else is a “then.” Brick Church is in shambles since the director left.

Brick’s latest reported class had 6 each Brearley/Collegiate, 5 Dalton, 3 Trinity. That counts as shambles? I only know anecdotal (couple datapoints) from 92NY so hard to compare. Does the whole class get into Trinity or something?

Such high numbers- siblings?

Good point. 3 Trinity and 6 each in Brearley/collegiate which happen to be schools with strong sibling policy seems to indicate siblings.

Brick also got 3 into Hunter which apparently was more than any other preschool and Hunter has no sibling preference

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Brick also got 3 into Hunter which apparently was more than any other preschool and Hunter has no sibling preference

Siblings as a knock against a school’s placement is also a little weird. I get legacies. But with siblings, that just means the preschool successfully got the older sibling placed into the school too? Which is a good thing. It’s not like the older sibling gets in to a good kindergarten, then the parents switch the younger child to a different preschool. Or at least is exceedingly rarely the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Siblings as a knock against a school’s placement is also a little weird. I get legacies. But with siblings, that just means the preschool successfully got the older sibling placed into the school too? Which is a good thing. It’s not like the older sibling gets in to a good kindergarten, then the parents switch the younger child to a different preschool. Or at least is exceedingly rarely the case.

NP - You are attributing the success to the preschool rather than 1. extremely gifted child, 2. family (donor potential / letter of recommendation), 3. luck (less demand during covid). There is a story in the press on how even Rupert Murdoch worried his child wouldn't be admitted to Brearley from TT preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Siblings as a knock against a school’s placement is also a little weird. I get legacies. But with siblings, that just means the preschool successfully got the older sibling placed into the school too? Which is a good thing. It’s not like the older sibling gets in to a good kindergarten, then the parents switch the younger child to a different preschool. Or at least is exceedingly rarely the case.

NP - You are attributing the success to the preschool rather than 1. extremely gifted child, 2. family (donor potential / letter of recommendation), 3. luck (less demand during covid). There is a story in the press on how even Rupert Murdoch worried his child wouldn't be admitted to Brearley from TT preschool.

Which is really true of every step along the process. Did you get into Harvard because you went to Trinity or because you are smart/connected? Did you get that post-college job at McKinsey/Goldman/Google because you went to Harvard or because you are smart/connected? And so on.

I think the reality is a little of both. And the best path is to pick the spot that is the best individual fit that maximizes your chances of learning/growing/being “smart”. Within reason though, meaning the school still needs to be “good enough” reputationally - you still want to be at a feeder, but ranking #1 vs #5 is a little ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Can you explain how a preschool would prioritize prepping for private K?

NP - It comes from the parents and not the preschool. When you start hearing about 4 year olds that can read, you start to worry whether your child is falling behind. Some preschools are play-based learning so the director will tell you not to worry and all childrens will learn to read soon enough in K. You start to feel the need to supplement outside the preschool.

[Anonymous]

The poster who said her DC is at TT K and has classmates from non feeder preschools, can you share some of the names of those preschools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can you explain how a preschool would prioritize prepping for private K?

NP - It comes from the parents and not the preschool. When you start hearing about 4 year olds that can read, you start to worry whether your child is falling behind. Some preschools are play-based learning so the director will tell you not to worry and all childrens will learn to read soon enough in K. You start to feel the need to supplement outside the preschool.

TTs want smart kids not prepped kids. Beyond being smart there are obviously other qualities that matter. I would focus more on making sure the kid is curious, enjoys learning, has a great personality, communicates well with peer and adults, and can control emotions well. Rather than teaching math or reading early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can you explain how a preschool would prioritize prepping for private K?

NP - It comes from the parents and not the preschool. When you start hearing about 4 year olds that can read, you start to worry whether your child is falling behind. Some preschools are play-based learning so the director will tell you not to worry and all childrens will learn to read soon enough in K. You start to feel the need to supplement outside the preschool.

TTs want smart kids not prepped kids. Beyond being smart there are obviously other qualities that matter. I would focus more on making sure the kid is curious, enjoys learning, has a great personality, communicates well with peer and adults, and can control emotions well. Rather than teaching math or reading early.

m


Agree. Great advice. Let them love learning and it will all fall into place. Have faith in your child and their personality.