1403, if you don't mind me asking, which grade classrooms were you able to observe? I just did a tour (and granted, it is not during the school year), and was a bit concerned that the program does not seem fully rooted yet. i was told that the school was almost shuttered due to lack of interest, but was revived when parents and community and DC decided to invest in the school and save it. and last year apparently was their first "transition" year moving in the direction of new growth under the same principal as that of the SWW HS. i certainly see it as becoming a reward school in the next few years, but in the meantime, i get the imminent sense that there will be many growing pains. just my observation/speculation.

Love the school -- have been a few times and observed in a couple of different classrooms, spoken to the principal, and was very impressed. I agree it's a school to stay at, though. It's really building and I found the older kid classrooms to be equally impressive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on my research, it's a great school for pre-k, like another suggested, but we would probably keep trying to lottery for a better school beyond K. My hesitation is I'm not sure I'd want to pull DC from current school and put into SWW for one year, just to (hopefully) move again. The cost vs. no-cost is extremely enticing though. We could save a lot in that one year. Commute would not be an issue for us (SWW is close to DC's current school).

I agree that continually moving around kids isn't good. Assuming you don't have luck in the PK4 and K lotteries, what will you do? If you will move IB for a good school, then I would stick with private for now.

As someone who lives close to SWWFS but not IB and can't get a PK seat, I say if you're not at least open to sticking it out, please move along and let a family that will commit for multiple years get a shot.

+1

Another consideration is that the school is slated for renovation in the next couple of years. I do not know whether they will keep the kids in the school during the renovation, but that might be another consideration. Depending on your comfort with your in-boundary school, I might stay where you are until you can attend that school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on my research, it's a great school for pre-k, like another suggested, but we would probably keep trying to lottery for a better school beyond K. My hesitation is I'm not sure I'd want to pull DC from current school and put into SWW for one year, just to (hopefully) move again. The cost vs. no-cost is extremely enticing though. We could save a lot in that one year. Commute would not be an issue for us (SWW is close to DC's current school).

I agree that continually moving around kids isn't good. Assuming you don't have luck in the PK4 and K lotteries, what will you do? If you will move IB for a good school, then I would stick with private for now.

As someone who lives close to SWWFS but not IB and can't get a PK seat, I say if you're not at least open to sticking it out, please move along and let a family that will commit for multiple years get a shot.

Anonymous wrote:Based on my research, it's a great school for pre-k, like another suggested, but we would probably keep trying to lottery for a better school beyond K. My hesitation is I'm not sure I'd want to pull DC from current school and put into SWW for one year, just to (hopefully) move again. The cost vs. no-cost is extremely enticing though. We could save a lot in that one year. Commute would not be an issue for us (SWW is close to DC's current school).

I agree that continually moving around kids isn't good. Assuming you don't have luck in the PK4 and K lotteries, what will you do? If you will move IB for a good school, then I would stick with private for now.

Based on my research, it's a great school for pre-k, like another suggested, but we would probably keep trying to lottery for a better school beyond K. My hesitation is I'm not sure I'd want to pull DC from current school and put into SWW for one year, just to (hopefully) move again. The cost vs. no-cost is extremely enticing though. We could save a lot in that one year. Commute would not be an issue for us (SWW is close to DC's current school).

OP, if you don't have an alternative, then what are your hesitations about taking the spot? Where do you live/whatvis your IB school? I think I would hesitate if the commute would be hard.

i think the school has a lot of potential - i would go for it!

We don't have alternatives for pre k 4 or k. We'd have to lottery again if we wanted to switch again. Number 16.

Based on my visits to the school and its reputation for a strong early childhood program, I would go for it. Beyond early childhood - I'm still not sure...

Out of curiosity - what waitlist number are you?

what is your alternative for PreK4?

what is your alternative for k?

Alternative is to keep dc in small private preschool that we love but only runs through prek4 and try again w lottery next year

What do your alternative?

Anyone have advice or experience to share? We are trying to make the decision ASAP. Tia!