I agree w pp. My friends in the burbs would kill for free day care!

Thank you for being honest. In a related note corcerning the "free day care" ....

Please don't take a preschool spot at Bancroft if you have absolutely no intention of staying for K and beyond. ... it's not good for the poor Hispanic kid whose spot you've taken and whose family can't afford to pay for preschool

Thank you, too, for also being honest.

If you do not live in boundary don't bother applying to Tyler Immersion or Oyster, the wait lists are unreal for out of boundary applicants and even in boundary with siblings, for preschool.

OP I would suggest you also look at Stokes, LAMB, and
why not AppleTree and Bridges...there is no guarantee you will get in anywhere so you might consider expanding your options since there is no limit to how many charters you can apply to.
Visit Marie Reed which has a Spanish program not a lot of people know about, I think it's a class thing (maybe they are shocked to discover a school in the heart of Adams Morgan is not populated by hipster's kids but by mostly working class Hispanic and AA children.) It's a backup choice but could get the language instruction rolling if you do not get into another school.
One nice thing about Haynes pre-school is that the neighborhood is still pretty affordable, once you get in you could get a sweet rowhouse for a lot less than in upper NW. It's green and quiet with only the occasional shooting, I say that with love because I live there too.

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but in a similar situation and I know that I would love to get my kid into a good program so that I don't have to move at K or fifth grade. Not all of us can afford private or plan to move out of the city. I'd love to hear real answers to his/her questions.

The real answer is that you should apply to every charter school that interests you, and as many DCPS as possible. EL Haynes is not an easy school to get into. Most of those 3 y.o. spots are going to be taken by the younger siblings of current students who will get preference over your child. They'll get a few hundred applications for a dozen or so spaces. Your odds are not good. People who expect to get into Haynes and don't understand the lottery system are likely to be disappointed.

MV & IT are new enough that your odds will be much better. Some people won't commit to a school that doesn't have a permanent location. They're both probably going to be very popular schools though, as time goes by.

Bancroft is probably the easiest to get into.

If you're interested in Spanish (which I'm guessing based on your interest in MV), you should also have a look at LAMB and Stokes (charter schools) and Tyler Immersion (a DCPS on the Hill).

knowing your intention for K when your child is in PreS is unknowable. Parents with the strongest "commitment" to the school find their particular kid doesn't thrive there for whatever reason. Parents who are lukewarm about the school stay, surprising themselves.

So, please don't plead for people to not take slots. Presidents of PTAs have disappeared to the other side of the park in the middle of the night, OOB calls. . ..

Bancroft parent here. In our second year (preS, then preK this year). Sixteen kids, one teacher, and one instructional aide in the preschool classes. We really like the school, the teachers we've had, the sense of community, the pleasure of being able to walk two blocks to school. This year Bancroft adopted Tools of the Mind in preschool classrooms, which is sort of like Montessori with an emphasis on self-regulation. We're happy with it.

PP is correct that Bancroft still loses a lot of kids after the early years. (Of course "most kids leave" is code for "most middle class kids leave.") However, the principal is only in her third year and has been making a lot of changes to try to improve test scores and meet the needs of more advanced kids. We have a new assistant principal (formerly at DC Bilingual) and a huge influx of middle class neighborhood families in preS this year. To my mind the new playground has made an enormous difference. We now have a wonderful, safe space for our kids to play and where parents of toddlers who are considering Bancroft can get to know each other.

It's true Bancroft faces plenty of challenges. It's also true that when I've visited the charters or talked to parents there, I've sensed a lot more energy, probably more innovative things going on in the classroom. But to me there's a lot to be said for a diverse, nearby, bilingual school where my child has made friends who live just a few blocks away.

One thing I would add. Please don't take a preschool spot at Bancroft if you have absolutely no intention of staying for K and beyond. It's not good for the school, and it's not good for the poor Hispanic kid whose spot you've taken and whose family can't afford to pay for preschool (but needs it much more than our kids do).

I'm long onrecord of hating our crazy lottery system with a passion. What happens is people apply everywhere that is "good" because they need to get in somewhere, rather than really looking at each program and applying for those places that are the best fit.

If you're lucky enough to get in more than one place, then you can think about fit, I guess. But seriously, are you committed or even strongly interested in bilingual? Then MV or Bancroft might work. If you're not really, truly committed, you shouldn't feel this pressure to apply just to max your chances of getting in somewhere. I don't know how to fix this other than to have more slots than applicants and have it sort itself out.

That said - are you attracted to the year round calendar? Then Haynes could be for you. We did not apply because we did not want the year round calendar. ALso, commute was an issue.

Bilingual is a driving force? THen MV. I will say the only school I'm not getting on your list is Bancroft. THere's a long-term desire for Bancroft to improve and more families are choosing it for young grades, but to date, despite strong community effort, it really does seem like most kids leave after the early ed years. Bancroft has not quite gotten over the hump of becoming a long term choice. I don't know why - I do know we live close by, and maybe familiarity breeds contempt - it's not a school we even considered. I wish it was, but it's just not. So I am speaking more on gross impressions from the MT P enighborhood, where it seems hardly anyone sends their kids to the local schools. I wish it would change.

Parent of a PK4 student at ELH here (the PS and PK classes are combimed, OP). Regardless of whether you think PK is school or daycare, it is the most common entry point for the lottery, which sets you up for the elementary school years. OP would be crazy to just look for PS/daycare options and not try to get into a program she'd be happy with for the next 5-10 years.

OP, we've been very pleased with ELH thus far. We plan to stay for at least the next 3.5 years (through second grade). At some point, it becomes an annual evaluation - is the school meeting your kid's needs - but I'm confident that we'll be good through early elementary school. Good luck in the lottery.

Anonymous wrote:I agree w pp. My friends in the burbs would kill for free day care!

IT parent here of a PS3'er and I don't consider this free day care. My child is learning by leaps and bounds every day. Some kids who have come from daycare are having transition issues: the demands here are much more than what is expected of them in a care-setting. The teachers are challenging the kids to think, interact, inquire, learn, play, and grow.

I think you'd be better off doing a DCUM search on each to get specifics. However, it will likely come down to which one you are lucky to get into. It will be dificult to get into one of these schools, yet alone be forced to make a decision. We are currently PS at IT, which will be just as hard as other highly sought after schools next year. Great school with even better teachers. 22 kids with 2 teachers and an aide. It would be wise to attend all open houses to get a true feel. We really wanted Haynes but ended up 300+ on the WL but are extremely happy about IT. Again, the lottery system will likely make the decision for you. I would even add a safe choice (not as desired, but better than daycare and save $15-$20k avg cost in daycare).

Not OP but in a similar situation and I know that I would love to get my kid into a good program so that I don't have to move at K or fifth grade. Not all of us can afford private or plan to move out of the city. I'd love to hear real answers to his/her questions.

I agree w pp. My friends in the burbs would kill for free day care!

Honestly, if you can get your kid in at any of them, consider yourself lucky. It is FREE and your kid is THREE. As long as they are safe and having fun it is fine. When it gets time for K and above you can start stressing this type of thing much more. At that point many people will move to upper NW, burbs or suck it up and pay for private school.

As opposed to being school specific, I think it is very much teacher specific.

Am eager to hear honest impressions, praise and criticism of the various programs. I will be applying to all four for my son who turns three in July. Please also note how many kids and teachers are in each class. I hope to have some options and want to start the research ASAP. In advance, thanks for your thoughts.