Anonymous
03/04/2016 13:19
Subject: post your PK3 application lists here!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Ward 3 family with no IB and no pk3 options anywhere near home. Aiming for options near work, not far from the ballpark.
1. Hyde-Addison
2. Appletree Lincoln Park
3. Appletree SW
4. Van Ness
5. Eagle Academy
May also get cold feet and back out of the whole process. Our current daycare is expensive and unreliable, but may still be easier for our family to take than a rough commute/schedule.
I'd add Amidon Bowen
Hyde is not close to the ballpark...
It's probably on OPs way to work. However, they took only IB kids for prek3 in Round 1 last year.
It's not too far out of the way. Appletree SW is probably the closest to "actually pass it on the way to the office." We have an older child who will be in K at our IB school (which, PPs correctly noted, does not offer PK3, so we have no IB preference or options closer to home than Hyde).
Did some more thinking about the list and kicked ATLP down to the bottom of the list. It's too far past the office and probably not so far superior to ATSW to justify the extended commute. Van Ness is also past the office ... but friends on the Hill have a child there and recommend it, as did a PP. What makes it special? It's only a couple blocks roundtrip of extra shlep.
Talk to me about Amidon Bowen. I thought Appletree SW was in that building, and (I guess wrongly) assumed that this meant the DCPS school closed.
Appletree SW had to leave when Amidon Bowen decided to use the space for additional classrooms. Fwiw, I'm not the poster who recommended you add it to your list, but my child went there for PK when we lived there and I would rank it ahead of Appletree SW. I think their PK program was really good with small student/teacher ratio (15 kids and 3 teachers I think) and a really supportive environment for the little ones. If I remember correctly a couple of the assistant teachers (who were phenomenal) were former Appletree teachers anyway, and having more experienced teachers at Amidon Bowen was a plus IMO. Another bonus, Amidon Bowen's playground is nice and much more spacious.
I've now done the research I probably should have done before. Appletree is colocated not with Amidon, but with Jefferson Middle School. Suddenly it looks a lot more grim. Do the little kids interact with the middle schoolers at all? I attended a K-8, and some of my worst childhood memories involve sharing the school bus to kindergarten with the mean big kids.
DC attends Appletree SW and it is a phenomenal school! The principal is fantastic and the teachers really care about the kids. The school is partitioned off from Jefferson and there isn't any interaction between the students. They do use the Jefferson auditorium for performances, but I've never seen Jefferson students around during these times. FWIW we applied out this year to independents and DD was accepted at 2 and WL at 1 (we applied to 4 of some of the more coveted schools), so she must be getting something academically (we do supplement heavily at home though. Hope this eases your mind some. My only concern is that it is on PK3-4, but they are working to partner with a few schools to aid in the transition.
Anonymous
02/29/2016 09:54
Subject: Re:post your PK3 application lists here!
Anonymous wrote:Check out Dorothy I. Height Elementary School on 13th and Allison NW. They are a Reggio Emilia Inspired DCPS that believes Every Child, Every Day, Excellence! www.dorothyheightes.org
I don't know anything about this school. Would love more info, please!
Anonymous
02/29/2016 01:18
Subject: post your PK3 application lists here!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Ward 3 family with no IB and no pk3 options anywhere near home. Aiming for options near work, not far from the ballpark.
1. Hyde-Addison
2. Appletree Lincoln Park
3. Appletree SW
4. Van Ness
5. Eagle Academy
May also get cold feet and back out of the whole process. Our current daycare is expensive and unreliable, but may still be easier for our family to take than a rough commute/schedule.
I'd add Amidon Bowen
Hyde is not close to the ballpark...
It's probably on OPs way to work. However, they took only IB kids for prek3 in Round 1 last year.
It's not too far out of the way. Appletree SW is probably the closest to "actually pass it on the way to the office." We have an older child who will be in K at our IB school (which, PPs correctly noted, does not offer PK3, so we have no IB preference or options closer to home than Hyde).
Did some more thinking about the list and kicked ATLP down to the bottom of the list. It's too far past the office and probably not so far superior to ATSW to justify the extended commute. Van Ness is also past the office ... but friends on the Hill have a child there and recommend it, as did a PP. What makes it special? It's only a couple blocks roundtrip of extra shlep.
Talk to me about Amidon Bowen. I thought Appletree SW was in that building, and (I guess wrongly) assumed that this meant the DCPS school closed.
Appletree SW had to leave when Amidon Bowen decided to use the space for additional classrooms. Fwiw, I'm not the poster who recommended you add it to your list, but my child went there for PK when we lived there and I would rank it ahead of Appletree SW. I think their PK program was really good with small student/teacher ratio (15 kids and 3 teachers I think) and a really supportive environment for the little ones. If I remember correctly a couple of the assistant teachers (who were phenomenal) were former Appletree teachers anyway, and having more experienced teachers at Amidon Bowen was a plus IMO. Another bonus, Amidon Bowen's playground is nice and much more spacious.
I've now done the research I probably should have done before. Appletree is colocated not with Amidon, but with Jefferson Middle School. Suddenly it looks a lot more grim. Do the little kids interact with the middle schoolers at all? I attended a K-8, and some of my worst childhood memories involve sharing the school bus to kindergarten with the mean big kids.
I still work in the area and from what I recall the space is partioned off from the middle school and whenever I go by in the morning it doesn't seem the older kids have any interest in the little ones anyway. The trailer actually looks quite spacious, it's the outdoor play area that is tiny.
Anonymous
02/28/2016 14:16
Subject: post your PK3 application lists here!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Ward 3 family with no IB and no pk3 options anywhere near home. Aiming for options near work, not far from the ballpark.
1. Hyde-Addison
2. Appletree Lincoln Park
3. Appletree SW
4. Van Ness
5. Eagle Academy
May also get cold feet and back out of the whole process. Our current daycare is expensive and unreliable, but may still be easier for our family to take than a rough commute/schedule.
I'd add Amidon Bowen
Hyde is not close to the ballpark...
It's probably on OPs way to work. However, they took only IB kids for prek3 in Round 1 last year.
It's not too far out of the way. Appletree SW is probably the closest to "actually pass it on the way to the office." We have an older child who will be in K at our IB school (which, PPs correctly noted, does not offer PK3, so we have no IB preference or options closer to home than Hyde).
Did some more thinking about the list and kicked ATLP down to the bottom of the list. It's too far past the office and probably not so far superior to ATSW to justify the extended commute. Van Ness is also past the office ... but friends on the Hill have a child there and recommend it, as did a PP. What makes it special? It's only a couple blocks roundtrip of extra shlep.
Talk to me about Amidon Bowen. I thought Appletree SW was in that building, and (I guess wrongly) assumed that this meant the DCPS school closed.
Appletree SW had to leave when Amidon Bowen decided to use the space for additional classrooms. Fwiw, I'm not the poster who recommended you add it to your list, but my child went there for PK when we lived there and I would rank it ahead of Appletree SW. I think their PK program was really good with small student/teacher ratio (15 kids and 3 teachers I think) and a really supportive environment for the little ones. If I remember correctly a couple of the assistant teachers (who were phenomenal) were former Appletree teachers anyway, and having more experienced teachers at Amidon Bowen was a plus IMO. Another bonus, Amidon Bowen's playground is nice and much more spacious.
I've now done the research I probably should have done before. Appletree is colocated not with Amidon, but with Jefferson Middle School. Suddenly it looks a lot more grim. Do the little kids interact with the middle schoolers at all? I attended a K-8, and some of my worst childhood memories involve sharing the school bus to kindergarten with the mean big kids.
Anonymous
02/27/2016 14:26
Subject: Re:post your PK3 application lists here!
Check out Dorothy I. Height Elementary School on 13th and Allison NW. They are a Reggio Emilia Inspired DCPS that believes Every Child, Every Day, Excellence! www.dorothyheightes.org
Anonymous
02/27/2016 13:00
Subject: Re:post your PK3 application lists here!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Capitol Hill parents, no CHML?
The Fancy Charters I like had shorter waitlists than CHML so I figure why waste a spot.
Not PP but another Capitol Hill Parent. Many of the prospective Prek3 parents I know are leaving CHML off their lists. You only have so many spots for hard-to-get-into schools and this school doesn't really impress. Maybe it will be easier to get into for people who try for it, but it is definitely not a hot ticket in my cohort.
Different poster here-
Every honest CHML parent I know with a kid past the pre-K years is desperate to find another spot for their kid. You definitely hear glowing reviews on MOTH, but behind closed doors there is real worry. My friend is a tutor there and told me some horror stories. I love Montessori but even with its accreditation it somehow lets kids fall through the cracks. I took a tour just to be sure and would not send my children there. I'd rather move to VA. It is a shame but the weak principal with the two "doing everything else but their jobs vice principals" do not add up to a good school. With their demographics they should be out-scoring JKLM, but they are scraping along at the middle-bottom. Hard pass for our family.
We are at CHML now and I'm still deciding on wether to enter the lottery. I couldn't agree more with the above comments regarding the office leadership and its a big deal. BUT our teacher is AMAZING. Seriously amazing. My kid is happy and we are happy, but I know there are better schools out there. Its a tough call for us. There are really some great aspects of the school and its hard to watch the weak admin staff bring it down.
Anonymous
02/27/2016 10:46
Subject: post your PK3 application lists here!
We are a Ward 3 family , commuting downtown for work . Applying to Shining Stars (hopefully through elementary), Stokes, MV and of course we have our IB.
Anonymous
02/27/2016 09:56
Subject: Re:post your PK3 application lists here!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Capitol Hill parents, no CHML?
The Fancy Charters I like had shorter waitlists than CHML so I figure why waste a spot.
Not PP but another Capitol Hill Parent. Many of the prospective Prek3 parents I know are leaving CHML off their lists. You only have so many spots for hard-to-get-into schools and this school doesn't really impress. Maybe it will be easier to get into for people who try for it, but it is definitely not a hot ticket in my cohort.
Different poster here-
Every honest CHML parent I know with a kid past the pre-K years is desperate to find another spot for their kid. You definitely hear glowing reviews on MOTH, but behind closed doors there is real worry. My friend is a tutor there and told me some horror stories. I love Montessori but even with its accreditation it somehow lets kids fall through the cracks. I took a tour just to be sure and would not send my children there. I'd rather move to VA. It is a shame but the weak principal with the two "doing everything else but their jobs vice principals" do not add up to a good school. With their demographics they should be out-scoring JKLM, but they are scraping along at the middle-bottom. Hard pass for our family.
Anonymous
02/27/2016 08:17
Subject: Re:post your PK3 application lists here!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Capitol Hill parents, no CHML?
The Fancy Charters I like had shorter waitlists than CHML so I figure why waste a spot.
Not PP but another Capitol Hill Parent. Many of the prospective Prek3 parents I know are leaving CHML off their lists. You only have so many spots for hard-to-get-into schools and this school doesn't really impress. Maybe it will be easier to get into for people who try for it, but it is definitely not a hot ticket in my cohort.
Anonymous
02/27/2016 08:05
Subject: Re:post your PK3 application lists here!
Anonymous wrote:Capitol Hill parents, no CHML?
The Fancy Charters I like had shorter waitlists than CHML so I figure why waste a spot.
Anonymous
02/26/2016 23:26
Subject: post your PK3 application lists here!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Ward 3 family with no IB and no pk3 options anywhere near home. Aiming for options near work, not far from the ballpark.
1. Hyde-Addison
2. Appletree Lincoln Park
3. Appletree SW
4. Van Ness
5. Eagle Academy
May also get cold feet and back out of the whole process. Our current daycare is expensive and unreliable, but may still be easier for our family to take than a rough commute/schedule.
I'd add Amidon Bowen
Hyde is not close to the ballpark...
It's probably on OPs way to work. However, they took only IB kids for prek3 in Round 1 last year.
It's not too far out of the way. Appletree SW is probably the closest to "actually pass it on the way to the office." We have an older child who will be in K at our IB school (which, PPs correctly noted, does not offer PK3, so we have no IB preference or options closer to home than Hyde).
Did some more thinking about the list and kicked ATLP down to the bottom of the list. It's too far past the office and probably not so far superior to ATSW to justify the extended commute. Van Ness is also past the office ... but friends on the Hill have a child there and recommend it, as did a PP. What makes it special? It's only a couple blocks roundtrip of extra shlep.
Talk to me about Amidon Bowen. I thought Appletree SW was in that building, and (I guess wrongly) assumed that this meant the DCPS school closed.
Appletree SW had to leave when Amidon Bowen decided to use the space for additional classrooms. Fwiw, I'm not the poster who recommended you add it to your list, but my child went there for PK when we lived there and I would rank it ahead of Appletree SW. I think their PK program was really good with small student/teacher ratio (15 kids and 3 teachers I think) and a really supportive environment for the little ones. If I remember correctly a couple of the assistant teachers (who were phenomenal) were former Appletree teachers anyway, and having more experienced teachers at Amidon Bowen was a plus IMO. Another bonus, Amidon Bowen's playground is nice and much more spacious.
Anonymous
02/26/2016 22:12
Subject: post your PK3 application lists here!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Ward 3 family with no IB and no pk3 options anywhere near home. Aiming for options near work, not far from the ballpark.
1. Hyde-Addison
2. Appletree Lincoln Park
3. Appletree SW
4. Van Ness
5. Eagle Academy
May also get cold feet and back out of the whole process. Our current daycare is expensive and unreliable, but may still be easier for our family to take than a rough commute/schedule.
I'd add Amidon Bowen
Hyde is not close to the ballpark...
It's probably on OPs way to work. However, they took only IB kids for prek3 in Round 1 last year.
It's not too far out of the way. Appletree SW is probably the closest to "actually pass it on the way to the office." We have an older child who will be in K at our IB school (which, PPs correctly noted, does not offer PK3, so we have no IB preference or options closer to home than Hyde).
Did some more thinking about the list and kicked ATLP down to the bottom of the list. It's too far past the office and probably not so far superior to ATSW to justify the extended commute. Van Ness is also past the office ... but friends on the Hill have a child there and recommend it, as did a PP. What makes it special? It's only a couple blocks roundtrip of extra shlep.
Talk to me about Amidon Bowen. I thought Appletree SW was in that building, and (I guess wrongly) assumed that this meant the DCPS school closed.
Anonymous
02/26/2016 21:31
Subject: Re:post your PK3 application lists here!
Capitol Hill parents, no CHML?