I'm the parent of a current cmi preschooler and think you should try it, if at all possible. It is super inclusive (I think that might be the nature of most preschool age programs, but I've heard the atmosphere continues) and we just love it. The sibling preference is your golden ticket. It may allow you to get the younger into cmi or, if you can handle two dropoffs for one year, you could decide what's best for both and claim sibling preference in next years lottery.

The two schools have very different approaches, but both have very (very, maybe too very) close knit communities. If I were in your shoes, I'd try to gauge if your daughter would be coming into a 1st grade as one or two only new kids at CMI. Will she be able to assimilate to a group that has been together, mostly, for 3 years? I'm sure you could have both kids at the same place. If you enroll your 1st grader and do a post-lottery application for your PK3 kid, s/he would go to the top of the waitlist (thereby angering a lot of DCUM readers)

Any CMI parents think there is too much technology used in the classrooms? In their promo video kids are playing video games. Seriously??

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't the 3-year old get sibling preference

Yes.

So couldn't they both go to CMI next year?

Her 3 year old would go to the top of the list.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't the 3-year old get sibling preference

Yes.

So couldn't they both go to CMI next year?

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't the 3-year old get sibling preference

Yes.

CMI. More established, place to grow, and if your child is having difficulties - I believe CMI specializes in dealing with that.

Would switch in a heartbeat.

If you can do two commutes put one in CMI and the other at Lee. Montessori is great but if not a good fit then CMI Is a great second option. It will likely be easier to get the younger one into CMI later with sibling preference. We do two different commutes (one Montessori) and although it is a lot--being in two different school communities-- it has worked out and each kid is at the school that is the best fit for her.

Wouldn't the 3-year old get sibling preference

She'll be going into first and i know that lower el is supposed to be different from primary but she'll probably be placed with the new lower el teacher and she honestly doesn't have any friends and is highly social along with the focus issues. of course now everyone will know who we are. . . Lee is a pretty small community- which i love, but i have more friends than she does. .

Planning on starting a middle school means nothing. If a middle school path is important move the older child now.

In bounds nothing- CMI has a middle school starting next year and Lee is planing on starting one with the other montessori charters sometime in the future

Which grade is your older child entering? If 1st, do you think that the transition to lower el will help him/her find a better place at Lee?

What are your middle school options?

my older dd got offered a spot at CMI (we are currently at Lee) and she's had some difficulties fitting in, I am anxious that the focus issues are just her and will follow her no matter what and I love the montessori philosophy (potentially it might be a better fit for her if she does indeed have add) but its just not been a good fit for her. Our youngest is also set to start PK3 at Lee next year. Now I am torn should I just deal with the two drop offs and two school communities and try CMI out or have both stay at Lee- i know getting in pk3 at CMI for the youngest is a long shot. I feel like Montessori will be a good fit for my 3 year old. Drop offs will be a challenge but not a deal breaker. The community aspect at Lee is also pretty great..

what should I do????