Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Community, do you have any comments on Breakthrough? Thank you!

New executive director this year and some people were let go to the surprise of the staff and community.

The former ED had been with the community for like 10+ years though, so nothing worrisome there. She and her family are moving out of the area I think. The new ED was a Breakthrough admin member in the past so knows the school well. I have high hopes for her!

The two staff members who were let go were definitely a surprise to us though. The school cited budget cuts as the reason.

I have found Breakthrough to be an amazingly warm community for our family the past couple years. My kid has thrived in the primary classroom. I don't have experience with upper el there, so can't weigh in. I'm not sure we will stay through the terminal grade as I'm not sure Montessori will be the best fit for my child later.

Anonymous wrote:Community, do you have any comments on Breakthrough? Thank you!

New executive director this year and some people were let go to the surprise of the staff and community.

Community, do you have any comments on Breakthrough? Thank you!

Step One: Find the Montessori Schools through School Finder: https://find.myschooldc.org/?programs=19

Step two- look at the historic waitlist data to get a sense of which schools are harder or easier to get into: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay

The PP saying that it's easy to get into these schools at 1st grade is right about some schools, but dead wrong about others- You have a good chance in 1st grade at Breakthrough but basically no chance at Latin American Montessori Bilingual (LAMB). As PP mentioned, DC Lottery gives sibling preference, so if one of your kids gets in, they will more than likely pull the other kid in, so pay attention to those numbers.

Step Three- figure out which schools you like and work for where you will live. Some of these schools are more or less Montessori- some are AMI and some are AMA. Some are still working on certification. Note that DCUM is pretty harsh on Montessori- there seem to be some folks here who post a lot and don't like it so there's a lot of bad press here on schools that from my research or personal experience are good schools. There are others that I chose against. It will be harder to do real research from a distance because the best research is seeing the schools, talking to teachers and admin, and talking to parents.

Step Four- Make sure you qualify. You only need an address to enter the lottery. You need to verify to enroll. This year that was April 30th. A letter from an employer won't count. A paystub with a DC address would.

Good Luck!

Anonymous wrote:I don't think we'll end up moving until next summer which is after the lottery of course -- would a letter from an employer be enough to enter the lottery?

You can enter the lottery from anywhere but must be a DC resident at the time you enroll. If you match in the lottery you have to enroll in late spring. If you get in off a waitlist, then you enroll when you receive the waitlist offer.

DC Montessori schools can vary in quality. Try looking at the website for each, making a list of those you would be willing to attend, and then we can help you strategize.

I don't think we'll end up moving until next summer which is after the lottery of course -- would a letter from an employer be enough to enter the lottery?

Anonymous wrote:Hi -- moving to the DC area in the next year and getting oriented on (primary) Montessori schools, ideally tuition free. Can anyone share insights into how hard it is to get into these schools for a 1st grader and PK4? And thoughts on which schools to consider? It's all rather overwhelming..!

We can help you. When are you moving exactly? Will you be here in time for the lottery next year?

Generally 1st is pretty easy admissions at Montessori schools and that should give your PK4 a sibling preference, so it will probably work out.

Hi -- moving to the DC area in the next year and getting oriented on (primary) Montessori schools, ideally tuition free. Can anyone share insights into how hard it is to get into these schools for a 1st grader and PK4? And thoughts on which schools to consider? It's all rather overwhelming..!

Anonymous wrote:I went to a public Montessori through high school and it was great. Super high-performing and rigorous. It absolutely can work, whether or not it works in DCPS is a different story. But Montessori itself is just an academic pedagogy, if done well, it can be excellent. Like all approach to teaching, it can be done well or poorly. Its success, like all school success, is dependent on the quality of the teachers, the resources of the school, the curriculum, etc

Education professional and I have seen Montessori work well for older students too. I can't comment on how it's being implemented at DC charters or public schools though because I don't have enough experience with them.