Centers aren't a bad concept. If the activity in each center is age-appropriate, child-centered, and thoughtful then who I'd rather my kid rotate through centers than sit at a round table completing worksheets.

And obviously urban schools are more limited space-wise; don't expect a Waldorf or farm-type experience out of DCPS.

Anonymous wrote:That;s funny - I just toured a Title 1 school that is not that sought after and immediately asked myself why we were paying a lot of $$$$ for a fancy upper northwest private preschool. Other than the fact that all the kids weren't white, title 1 school seemed very similar to the fabulous preschool we are at now. Next year we are switching to public for Pre-k 4 (assuming we don't get shut out).

As a teacher I loved title I schools, they always had great resources, even more than some wealthy schools.

That;s funny - I just toured a Title 1 school that is not that sought after and immediately asked myself why we were paying a lot of $$$$ for a fancy upper northwest private preschool. Other than the fact that all the kids weren't white, title 1 school seemed very similar to the fabulous preschool we are at now. Next year we are switching to public for Pre-k 4 (assuming we don't get shut out).

We have been very happy with our child's PK 3 and 4 experience at an EOTP Title 1 but changing school that does the Tools of the Mind curriculum. It is a PUBLIC school and things can get a little chaotic at drop off / pick up / changing classrooms but again, it IS a public school. We don't get a lot of feedback from their teachers but that's OK - I think that our child is doing fine and if there was a problem, I am sure that they would tell us. You need to be OK with this kind of stuff. And if you aren't - that's OK. Just go private.

Anonymous wrote:Look a AppleTree, it's exactly what you describe and hands down the best early childhood education in the city (if not the country).

My friend's kid goes to apple tree and she's looking forward to leaving. they had a fire drill and left my friend's kid behind in the classroom. It was terrible

I suggest you look at the tools of the mind program because they have a lot of play-based center time.

I've heard from a few charter school preschool teacher that off in the curriculum in preschool at charters is an afterthought and is not always very good for the students

Anonymous wrote:Check out Creative Minds. You will find what you are looking for there.

Creative Minds and Insipired Teachering literally are what you described OP. Are you being purposefully obtuse?

What about Montessori?

OP, which programs seemed like they didn't cater to the whole child? Most PreK programs will get you your lists except perhaps Socio economic diversity, depending on the school.

Try first baptist church dupont

Agree with PP. Also most schools don't have to sell their early Ed as they will have mile long lists. Elementary is where need to show what makes them great. If I were a mother with a kid entering PS, I would be more interested in what happens in 1st, 2nd and 3rd to see if it's going to be a good long term fit for us. We pretty much feel great about any early Ed DCPS a or Charter with a reasonable commute from us (wards 1-5).

OP, your conclusions are baffling. DCPS/DCPCS early childhood programs are almost all entirely about development, socio-emotional, and are largely play-based. There are variations of course. We loved Reggio at SWS, others really like Tools of the Mind. Except for KIPP maybe.

Check out Creative Minds. You will find what you are looking for there.

OP here. These responses are super helpful. I think the difference is that when I was looking at schools last year, I was primarily looking at schools that were preschool only, or primarily preschool so they did a really good job explaining their early childhood programs. At the open houses I've been attending, school officials have been primarily selling their elementary programs.

Early childhood learning is so different because many kids do not have expansive language abilities and the socio-emotional aspects of learning are crucial. I'm not really looking for something super structured and academic, quite the opposite. I'm looking for a program that really caters to the whole child and uses different techniques: sensory, dramatic play, outside time to develop the building blocks of learning.

Really I guess what I want is our private preschool with a better commute, lower cost and more socio-economic diversity. Probably not going to happen.

Maybe school within a school?

Then don't send your kid. dCPS is not good enough for your kid. Save a spot for someone else.