kids should be outside almost constantly except to sleep. Once they get to k they are trapped inside for 6 hours if it is very cold or rainy and they just give each others colds and make each other miserable. Relish the all day outside when you can. When test taking and all that crap starts they never breathe fresh air again.

OP here. I'm curious about how parents feel about St. Columba's 1/2-day outside. I appreciate that preschoolers learn more from imaginary social play than from any other activity, but does half the day feel like too much?

They are both wonderful play based schools. Two of the best in the city. We love NCRC and have friends at St Columba's who love it too. I don't think you'd go wrong at either so I'd apply to both (as well as a handful of others). They both have great playgrounds; NCRC is in a lovely old (recently renovated) Cleveland Park home. NCRC is very nurturing. We get weekly email communications from the teachers about what the kids did in class -- which always wow me -- and weekly communications from the head of school. Such a great program and warm, friendly, diverse community. Love the talented teachers. Parent participation in the classroom is welcome -- whether reading to the kids or volunteering for a holiday celebration or taking pictures or just spending some time helping the kids. The teachers/staff all seem to know my child's name. Parents in our child's class are very low key and have become fast friends.

I have children at both schools. There are many similarities in programs. What would you specifically like to know? We love St. Columba's.

I'd love to hear opinions on the two schools. We have a child who will be 2.5 next fall. Not sure whether we'll send her to preschool then or wait a year. Both NCRC and St. Columba's sound appealing, but I'd love to hear from people who have experience with either school.