Reply to ITS v CMI waitlist decision

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[quote=Anonymous]We realize we're crazy lucky to be in this position, but would still really appreciate constructive advice:

Our kid's just started pk3 at ITS, and is happy so far, as are we.  Our only waitlist was cmi, and we've rather quickly dropped to spot 5 in the past couple of days. Trying to give it some thought now since we know they give little time to decide (understandably). Our gut is that we should stay put.  Both are wonderful schools with many similarities, so why switch now?  We know that kids generally adapt well, but ours had some major social anxiety in the past that led to not speaking to classmates at all for 1.5 years of preschool, yet is already happily speaking and playing with the new classmates.  So we would be concerned about a regression if we suddenly switch now, which could be pretty bad as far as social development.

The only two things that have made it hard to decide (and to remove ourselves from the waitlist, which we'll do if we decide to stay put), are class size and after-school activities.  I think we actually are fine with ITS's larger class sizes because the teachers seem to handle them extremely well.

ITS aftercare has been fine so far too - the teachers seem lovely and it is calm and well organized.  But - when our kid and younger sib are older, do you think we'll wish there were more activities to choose after school?  We both work full time, so the kids will likely have full afternoons at school, and neither of us can drive then around to things in the afternoons.  So what's doable at the school will be it for them, as far as activities and social life, on weekdays at least.  Given that, it's hard not to drool over CMI's listing of after-school clubs, with so many choices depending what your kid is into as s/he grows.

Am I being crazy, or is this a reasonable thing to wonder about? Basically we feel that it would be easier short-term to stay, but know that it's a long-term decision (up to eleven years for each kid!), and want to make sure we're giving enough consideration to real difference between the schools.

In a related question, why is the difference in after-school options so stark between two otherwise very similar schools?  I've seen talk on here about concern that cmi's model prices some people out, even with discounts.  I'm definitely sympathetic to that, but couldn't there be some happy medium, with a sliding scale that goes to zero?  I'll try to engage on this with other ITS parents in person, of course - but wanted to see if anyone on here has ideas, since there may not be time before we hear from CMI.

Thanks so much in advance.[/quote]

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