If there a test for proficiency to get in? If my dS isn't admitted in the 1st, I'd like him to test for 2nd. He's in private lessons now and is "advanced" per the teacher.

It was certainly sudden! Her letters were brief and she gave the community a day notice. Seems insulting from someone who has been there for over 20 years. That poor AP's head must be spinning. She had been there for less than a year.

We have a rising 1 st grader we hope to attend the immersion program. Does anyone have an opinion on:
The pricipal's retirement
The closure at herndon and impact on admissions at KG
Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:^^ My DS is taking immersion lessons now and becoming proficient, but not a fluent speaker. Would he be considered to back fill?

If he is not fluent, probably not. Ask if there is a test.

^^ My DS is taking immersion lessons now and becoming proficient, but not a fluent speaker. Would he be considered to back fill?

Anonymous wrote:So in reality, there really isn't any availability due to sibling preference. Any pref. for someone proficient in French later if they don't get in until later years?

Yes, they can backfill openings with children who are native French speakers.

So in reality, there really isn't any availability due to sibling preference. Any pref. for someone proficient in French later if they don't get in until later years?

Anonymous wrote:Kent Gardens is not guaranteed admission to those in the attendance zone. Its lottery for everyone with a 60% pref for people in the zone and 40% out of the zone. Can someone chime in here? Not sure if the program starts in K or first and how many kids join in latter years. Anyone know?

The French Immersion starts in 1st grade. It is Immersion that is not guaranteed admission in bound. In bound go to Kent Gardens non-immersion, no lottery. If you are out the boundary, your child will go to your in boundary ES for kindergarten and transfer to Kent Gardens if you get in.

Old data, but we we looked into for our now rising Junior, there was ~25 non-sibling out of boundary slots. The wait list after those slots were filled was over 100. At that time siblings got priority. I do not know if that is still the case. I do remember that a few years after we looked at it, the siblings took up nearly al the spots.

Kent Gardens is not guaranteed admission to those in the attendance zone. Its lottery for everyone with a 60% pref for people in the zone and 40% out of the zone. Can someone chime in here? Not sure if the program starts in K or first and how many kids join in latter years. Anyone know?

Bump. Also would like current info. My neighborhood school is not Kent Gardens, but awfully close. We'd like to try the lottery especially because the middle school that we're assigned to is the middle school for KG. anyone been through this?

^^ Very interesting! Thank you for this. I called the school and am waiting for feedback from them. In the meantime, if anyone has experience with this school, could you chime in. Especially interested in how children do entering at K and/or 1st. I wouldn't want DS overwhelmed with both starting a new school and language. Thanks so much for any info. The school situation has been just brutal for me.

Anonymous wrote:Could someone provide current insight into the lottery for K. I'll be moving near the school, but out of boundary. What's the likelihood to get a slot? Does language ability matter at all? Thanks for any info. (Including posting any links).

I would try to call someone at the school, or maybe one of the contact persons identified at this link:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/worldlanguages/immersionschools.shtml#twowayschool

I also thought this map was interesting. It suggests that the immersion program at Kent Gardens has resulted in that area having the highest concentration of native French speakers in the county:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/demogrph/langmaps/elemsch-french.pdf

Could someone provide current insight into the lottery for K. I'll be moving near the school, but out of boundary. What's the likelihood to get a slot? Does language ability matter at all? Thanks for any info. (Including posting any links).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nice kids and nice parents. I have not seen any bullying (at least not in early grades). It's a crowded school, though--large class size.

This has been our experience so far.

Almost every ES in McLean has large class size except for Sherman.

Anonymous wrote:Nice kids and nice parents. I have not seen any bullying (at least not in early grades). It's a crowded school, though--large class size.

This has been our experience so far.