Anonymous
03/03/2026 16:43
Subject: Capitol Hill/Ward 6 families at a CBO for PK3?
Most CH/Capitol Hill families find a public option for PK even if they don't get into their IB PK. There are a number of less in-demand DCPS schools, plus charters.
Appletree has several campuses in Ward 6 and 7, that's a popular option.
Among the DCPS schools more likely to have spots in PK are: Wheatley, Miner, JO Wilson. Depending on exactly where you live and where you work, you could also look at schools outside W6, like Langley and Seaton.
Charters people look at: Two Rivers (easier to get a spot at Young than TR4), Center City in Trinidad, Stokes East End, Lee Montessori East End.
Then all the other usual suspects that are kind of a crap shoot but you never know: ITDS, CHML, SWS, Stokes Brookland, Lee Brookland, Yu Ying, etc.
You should also for sure lottery for your IB DCPS -- while some do not admit all IB students, your IB preference makes your chances much higher. Better chance of getting in there than the in-demand charters I just listed.
But in any case, that's what most Ward 6 families wind up doing and thus they aren't really looking at CBOs. CBOs get mentioned on this board more by families in NW whose IB school may not even have PK, and they area far from most charters. That's not true on the East Side, there are far more DCPS and charter PK spots available.
Appletree has several campuses in Ward 6 and 7, that's a popular option.
Among the DCPS schools more likely to have spots in PK are: Wheatley, Miner, JO Wilson. Depending on exactly where you live and where you work, you could also look at schools outside W6, like Langley and Seaton.
Charters people look at: Two Rivers (easier to get a spot at Young than TR4), Center City in Trinidad, Stokes East End, Lee Montessori East End.
Then all the other usual suspects that are kind of a crap shoot but you never know: ITDS, CHML, SWS, Stokes Brookland, Lee Brookland, Yu Ying, etc.
You should also for sure lottery for your IB DCPS -- while some do not admit all IB students, your IB preference makes your chances much higher. Better chance of getting in there than the in-demand charters I just listed.
But in any case, that's what most Ward 6 families wind up doing and thus they aren't really looking at CBOs. CBOs get mentioned on this board more by families in NW whose IB school may not even have PK, and they area far from most charters. That's not true on the East Side, there are far more DCPS and charter PK spots available.
Anonymous
03/03/2026 16:33
Subject: Capitol Hill/Ward 6 families at a CBO for PK3?
Anonymous wrote:Just curious about some of the places families in our area end up heading when they don't get into DCPS PK3. I keep seeing mention of trying the CBOs which would also be tuition-free, but there is only one near us: Bright Start at 2nd and K. Are spots and waitlists at those CBOs also competitive? just want to get ideas and not totally miss out on the timeline for those after being so focused on the lottery.
I also would be interested in recommendations for preschools that are <$30k. We're not interested in staying at our current daycare another year.
This was a typo. Meant to say <$20k
Anonymous
03/02/2026 21:22
Subject: Capitol Hill/Ward 6 families at a CBO for PK3?
Just curious about some of the places families in our area end up heading when they don't get into DCPS PK3. I keep seeing mention of trying the CBOs which would also be tuition-free, but there is only one near us: Bright Start at 2nd and K. Are spots and waitlists at those CBOs also competitive? just want to get ideas and not totally miss out on the timeline for those after being so focused on the lottery.
I also would be interested in recommendations for preschools that are <$30k. We're not interested in staying at our current daycare another year.
I also would be interested in recommendations for preschools that are <$30k. We're not interested in staying at our current daycare another year.