Correction to pp's post -- Beauvoir is PK (age 4) - 3 and NPS is Nursery (age 3) - 6. Also, Primary Day (PK-2) should not be overlooked. Amazing place and the kids go on to the top schools -- Sidwell, GDS, Holton, etc.

Previous poster here. Not sure why there are smiley faces on my post but it's supposed to read: K thru Eight.

Hi fellow Texan-- Ft. Worth here.

Knowing the schools that you mentioned in Dallas-- it sounds like the Potomac School in Mclean, VA is a place to see. Norwood in Potomac, MD (K-8), St. Patrick's in DC (K-8) and Sidwell. The longer you live here you may also learn that there are some schools that go K-3 (Beauvoir) or K-6 (NPS) and should not be overlooked. While some of the schools I listed are "religious" schools I don't think there is too much of a focus on religion. Some have daily or monthly chapel services and there's a big focus on inclusion.
I hope this helps and best of luck getting to know the area schools.

I would check out the preschool posts this fall. When your child is 2 or 3, you can apply to some pre-schools that go up to pre-K. Before applying to the PK level, a lot of these smaller programs provide social skills, early learning, and (believe it or not - teacher recommendations!) that help in the application process. Some of the names I've heard a lot are NCRC, Little Folks, Blue Igloo, CCBC Children's Center (this last one is where we sent our kids, and starts as young as 18 months, for two or three mornings a week),

OP -- it really depends on where your child can get in...you won't know that for awhile. Everyone is vying for the same sort of schools. Work on establishing relationships now with your neighbors, church folk, and fellow employees. The more people you know -- the better. You can ask for advice from all of them when the time is right. Often, friends and co-workers will be helpful in making the "right introductions" for schools that interest you.

We knew no one when we moved here. Ultimately, my husband's boss wrote a letter for our DD and helped to get her into a top school here. Good luck!

Be as helpful as you can be to others -- people remember people who are decent, nice and cooperative.

Anonymous wrote:PK is 4 years old. There are a few schools that have a Pre-pre-K, but they don't go to 12th grade. So, yes, it is way to early.

Pre-kindergarten (also called Pre-K or PK) refers to the first formal academic classroom-based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States. It begins between the ages of 3-5 depending on the length of the program.

GDS (Georgetown Day School) in dc may be of interest.


Maret (in dc) and Potomac (Virginia but close to Maryland) might also be good, though they both start at k rather than pre-k.

Sidwell Friends might also be a good fit, though it is a Quaker school. There are many posts about the degree to which the school is religious. Reviewing the archives may be useful.

Best wishes and welcome to the dc area!