I have not read this entire thread so sorry if this has been said before, but I have to say that convenience is a huge factor. We turned down a spot at one of the so-called "top ten" b/c I couldn't handle the drop off situation when I had an infant and a toddler. We went with a neighborhood preschool, and our DC subsequently got accepted into our next school of choice. I was revisiting this board, b/c we're trying to figure out what to do with DC#2, b/c I want more than the 2 days that our neighborhood preschool offers, but I truly think I'm going to stick with it. I think if your child is going to start reading and writing in preschool, then most schools will cultivate it -- I don't think the schools are teaching reading per se.

Please dont get caught up in the preschool. Remember, the kids are two, and there are many opportunities to go to different schools, even Sidwell ro STA (if those are your goals), regardless of what you read on this board.

If you are in Montgomery Co., I'd say Harbor School, Geneva Day School, Grace Episcopal, Oneness Family School, Evergreen Montessori, Wonders, Center for the Young Child at U. Maryland. A lot depends on your family and what environment you will be comfortable with. Go and observe. Most of the montessori schools (or rather the teachers) I visited really turned me off and I would not want to subject my child to them. Likewise, I was also turned off by the Waldorf program I sat in on. So just reading about the school and their philosophy on the web is not enough. You need to visit and follow your gut.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:does anyone know when st. johns sends to all the rest of us?

There should be a date in your admissions materials or on their website. All I remember from the year we got in was that the letter arrived before it was supposed to, which I really appreciated.

Says they mail March 7 for new-to-school applicants.

St. Columba's goes until 2 or 3, I think.

Montessori School of Chevy Chase has full day and extended day starting at two years old.

You can get full day at Franklin for 3 year olds and up.

CommuniKids Preschool in Tenleytown is full day.

Anonymous wrote:does anyone know when st. johns sends to all the rest of us?

There should be a date in your admissions materials or on their website. All I remember from the year we got in was that the letter arrived before it was supposed to, which I really appreciated.

Aidan has full time extended day, but not for the youngest class. I think they have to be three? St Pats can get you most, but not all, of the way, and I think Little Folks has full time hours for everyone.

the only full-time programs I have seen in DC are school for friends and smithsonian. not sure about suburban programs (we're city dwellers so I'm not looking out there). good luck!

I can't believe how old this thread is, but as a mom of a preschooler who will be applying next year, are the original programs suggested still considered to be the "best"? E.g., St. Johns, Little Folks, NCRC, Franklin, Aiden, St. Patricks, School for Friends, am I missing something?

Do any of these schools have full-time options for working parents? What about some of preschools in NoVA? I've heard that St. Anthony's in Old Town is also top knotch. Does anyone know anything about it? Just trying to do some research in advance, and this thread is now 2-3 years old.

does anyone know when st. johns sends to all the rest of us?

That sucks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are parishoners and just found out that our son did not get into St Johns

I'm sorry to hear that. Part of the charm is the small size, but that's also what makes it so tough to get in.

Any word on siblings? Were there any that weren't accepted?

Yes.

Anonymous wrote:We are parishoners and just found out that our son did not get into St Johns

I'm sorry to hear that. Part of the charm is the small size, but that's also what makes it so tough to get in.

Any word on siblings? Were there any that weren't accepted?