Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 19:45     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anyone have any thoughts about Merricat's Castle School, York Avenue Preschool, or The International Preschools? Our son got into all three (those are all three that he applied to) and struggling to decide.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 19:04     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Any waitlist movement?
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 15:36     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD attended a non-feeder preschool. At that time we applied blindly to the nearest school. She now attends a SS TT. We felt her kindergarten admission relied a lot on our efforts, her performance, and luck. PSD was definitely engaged but they just had weaker connections. Now about to apply for DS’s preschool, we’re debating: stay or switch to a feeder school given tougher competition for boys.

Advice welcome! Thanks!


Why is the competition for boys tougher than girls SS?


DD being at a SS TT will be a leg up here, though not on the same level as sibling/legacy.

The main leg up you may get is that you can articulate a powerful understanding of the value of SS education. Having the inside view and being an active parent at a TT SS makes you pre-vetted in some ways vs. dual finance/law couple #251 applying with their first kid.

Hopefully your PSD can introduce you to other alumni parents that have had the same outcome -- I would recommend asking them this question and getting a highly personalized take.

Judging by the number of Spence/Chapin/Brearley parents having a DS go to Collegiate, this can't be a coincidence.


Thanks! We’re actually looking at coed options for DS and are curious if that puts us at any advantage or disadvantage. One of the coed TT schools we’re considering is one where we previously turned down an offer for DD—we wanted to make the best decision for each child individually. Would that be seen as a red flag when we apply for DS?
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 14:43     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Any one here has good or bad experiences at MAPCDS?


I have heard you need to prep them for K on the side as the school is very Reggio and some of the traditional elements may be lacking. N of 1, though…


Neither good nor bad but it is very, very granola. The child-led inquiry is very literal. This can mean your child spends weeks just learning about trees or circles or rain. If anyone has ever described you as Type A it may not be the school for you.


We are a finance/consulting couple #589 and yes we’ve been described as Type A so I was wondering about the learning philosophy. We liked though how the school was thoughtful of meeting the kids where they are and teaching them how to learn, not what to learn. So confused by our options. The more traditional option we loved waitlisted us so we’re sort of waiting.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 14:16     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Just found out about this platform... Why are we discussing NYC preschool in a dc platform LOL.
Quite surprised by this year's results. Given how competitive this year's admission was, I was worried if I put my kid at a disadvantage when I mentioned my child had feeding issues in the past during parents' conversation. Any thoughts?
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 13:41     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Any one here has good or bad experiences at MAPCDS?


I have heard you need to prep them for K on the side as the school is very Reggio and some of the traditional elements may be lacking. N of 1, though…


Neither good nor bad but it is very, very granola. The child-led inquiry is very literal. This can mean your child spends weeks just learning about trees or circles or rain. If anyone has ever described you as Type A it may not be the school for you.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 13:38     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD attended a non-feeder preschool. At that time we applied blindly to the nearest school. She now attends a SS TT. We felt her kindergarten admission relied a lot on our efforts, her performance, and luck. PSD was definitely engaged but they just had weaker connections. Now about to apply for DS’s preschool, we’re debating: stay or switch to a feeder school given tougher competition for boys.

Advice welcome! Thanks!


Why is the competition for boys tougher than girls SS?


DD being at a SS TT will be a leg up here, though not on the same level as sibling/legacy.

The main leg up you may get is that you can articulate a powerful understanding of the value of SS education. Having the inside view and being an active parent at a TT SS makes you pre-vetted in some ways vs. dual finance/law couple #251 applying with their first kid.

Hopefully your PSD can introduce you to other alumni parents that have had the same outcome -- I would recommend asking them this question and getting a highly personalized take.

Judging by the number of Spence/Chapin/Brearley parents having a DS go to Collegiate, this can't be a coincidence.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 12:46     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD attended a non-feeder preschool. At that time we applied blindly to the nearest school. She now attends a SS TT. We felt her kindergarten admission relied a lot on our efforts, her performance, and luck. PSD was definitely engaged but they just had weaker connections. Now about to apply for DS’s preschool, we’re debating: stay or switch to a feeder school given tougher competition for boys.

Advice welcome! Thanks!


Why is the competition for boys tougher than girls SS?


Mainly because there are fewer SS boys’ schools at the TT level and/or offer K-12.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 11:20     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Any thoughts on Grace Church School (Brooklyn Heights)? Curious about their exmissions

Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 07:54     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:DD attended a non-feeder preschool. At that time we applied blindly to the nearest school. She now attends a SS TT. We felt her kindergarten admission relied a lot on our efforts, her performance, and luck. PSD was definitely engaged but they just had weaker connections. Now about to apply for DS’s preschool, we’re debating: stay or switch to a feeder school given tougher competition for boys.

Advice welcome! Thanks!


Why is the competition for boys tougher than girls SS?
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2025 23:54     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:Any one here has good or bad experiences at MAPCDS?


I have heard you need to prep them for K on the side as the school is very Reggio and some of the traditional elements may be lacking. N of 1, though…
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2025 22:15     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Question: some preschools seem to have a very active PTA scene and seem to have events nearly every few weeks involving the community. We are two working parents that cannot attend all these events. Do we lose out on networking with the administration and potentially hurting DC chances for support to a top kindergarten? Do the people who are heavily involved in the PTA and donate a ton to the annual fund get favored?
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2025 22:13     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:DD attended a non-feeder preschool. At that time we applied blindly to the nearest school. She now attends a SS TT. We felt her kindergarten admission relied a lot on our efforts, her performance, and luck. PSD was definitely engaged but they just had weaker connections. Now about to apply for DS’s preschool, we’re debating: stay or switch to a feeder school given tougher competition for boys.

Advice welcome! Thanks!


Stay. I just really do not see how one can compete with siblings and legacies. They cannot take too many from one preschool.
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2025 21:19     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
DD attended a non-feeder preschool. At that time we applied blindly to the nearest school. She now attends a SS TT. We felt her kindergarten admission relied a lot on our efforts, her performance, and luck. PSD was definitely engaged but they just had weaker connections. Now about to apply for DS’s preschool, we’re debating: stay or switch to a feeder school given tougher competition for boys.

Advice welcome! Thanks!
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2025 17:22     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Any one here has good or bad experiences at MAPCDS?