Anonymous wrote:NP here. So, imagine you were walking distance to Langley, Cleveland, Garrison, and Seaton. How would you rank those schools?

I'll play!

1) Seaton! Good principal, nice enough facility, academically the strongest of the group. If I were choosing for a child in K or older, this would be the only one I would list.
2) Langley-- can't believe how it has transformed in the past few years. The new principal and some relentless parents have really turned things around. Love you guys! Academically of course, the scores are distressing, but for PK3 I hear good things.
3) Garrison because the new principal seems good and I love the idea of a music program. Great playground and I so appreciate them having it open on the weekend. But academically there's a way to go.
4) Cleveland due to the issues that happened last year and the PTA tension. I believe they will get it together but unless you can get into Spanish as an IB (which isn't even very likely given the number of siblings in front of you), there's not much to be really excited about. I'm sure it's fine for preschool and K though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. So, imagine you were walking distance to Langley, Cleveland, Garrison, and Seaton. How would you rank those schools?

i would say

1. Seaton
2. Garrison
3. Cleveland
4. Langley

with the caveat that this person should actually rank their IB school the highest and go there -- there are huge benefits to attending your IB. All of these schools are pretty good now and will be great in a couple years.

Agree 100% with this. Langley is our IB, which means Garrison is farther than we wanted to travel (not being green line commuters), and we really do appreciate being walkable and having so many classmates in the neighborhood. It has been great. So here's how I would rank if I were doing PK3 over again. Note that this list is without regard to the availability of aftercare and before-care, which may affect your decision. I am assuming this is for PK3. If it's for an upper grade it might be different.

1) Cleveland Spanish, but there's little point if you're OOB.
2) Langley because I'm a fan of SEL and I love the building.
3) Seaton, which is also a very nice school and we have friends there with kids in 1st and 2nd. Test scores are better than Langley's, but no SEL.
4) Garrison, which is a little less impressive than Seaton.
5) Cleveland English.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. So, imagine you were walking distance to Langley, Cleveland, Garrison, and Seaton. How would you rank those schools?

i would say

1. Seaton
2. Garrison
3. Cleveland
4. Langley

with the caveat that this person should actually rank their IB school the highest and go there -- there are huge benefits to attending your IB. All of these schools are pretty good now and will be great in a couple years.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. So, imagine you were walking distance to Langley, Cleveland, Garrison, and Seaton. How would you rank those schools?

It just depends on your preferences. Nobody is walking distance from both Langley and Garrison if you are walking with 3 year old though.

Cleveland: You won't get PK3 Spanish OOB but could get it after that if you attend. Building and grounds are fine. PTA is not in a great place but will likely rebuild. Principal is new-ish but fine AFAIK.

Langley: Lively, joyful, good socioemotional program. Facility needs cosmetic things like paint but has good bones-- huge windows, two gyms, rec center. Garden is being renovated. Good principal, nice teachers. PTA is small but motivated. Don't be put off by the high special needs percentage-- it operates a program of several self-contained classrooms. Feeds to McKinley Middle, which I think is better than Cardozo.

Seaton: Lovely neighborhood feel. Principal is newish but was the AP, so no worries there. Building has seen better days, not sure if a modernization is happening in the next 5 years or so. Academically strong relative to demographics. Nice playground and field.

Garrison: Good new principal, nice renovation of building and playground. Music program for the older kids. PTA not super active but that could change.

NP here. So, imagine you were walking distance to Langley, Cleveland, Garrison, and Seaton. How would you rank those schools?

Anonymous wrote:They use that playground for recess? I thought they had a playground on campus?

There is a small playground out front for the younget kids, but the rec center is used daily for recess, PE, the Playworks program, and anything else the teachers may want to do.

They use that playground for recess? I thought they had a playground on campus?

The Harry Thomas Sr playground (which I believe Langley students use for recess) was also totally re-done in 2013 or 2014, which may have made the school more appealing to local parents.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check in beforecare and aftercare at each school, PP, as well as day-off care if you need that. Some schools guarantee it for everyone, others don't. Not sure of the status at Seaton and Garrison now.

Aftercare at Seaton is great and free, and there are spots for everyone.

Nope. Seaton aftercare is Not free. Very low cost- but not free.

Seaton aftercare is totally free this year for ECE. Not sure about the rest of the school and not sure whether that will be true next year. But I pay nothing.

Interesting- I stand corrected. I had no idea the ECE was free. K-5 Aftercare does cost money, but as stated it is still not very expensive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check in beforecare and aftercare at each school, PP, as well as day-off care if you need that. Some schools guarantee it for everyone, others don't. Not sure of the status at Seaton and Garrison now.

Aftercare at Seaton is great and free, and there are spots for everyone.

Nope. Seaton aftercare is Not free. Very low cost- but not free.

Seaton aftercare is totally free this year for ECE. Not sure about the rest of the school and not sure whether that will be true next year. But I pay nothing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check in beforecare and aftercare at each school, PP, as well as day-off care if you need that. Some schools guarantee it for everyone, others don't. Not sure of the status at Seaton and Garrison now.

Aftercare at Seaton is great and free, and there are spots for everyone.

Nope. Seaton aftercare is Not free. Very low cost- but not free.

Anonymous wrote:Check in beforecare and aftercare at each school, PP, as well as day-off care if you need that. Some schools guarantee it for everyone, others don't. Not sure of the status at Seaton and Garrison now.

Aftercare at Seaton is great and free, and there are spots for everyone.

Check in beforecare and aftercare at each school, PP, as well as day-off care if you need that. Some schools guarantee it for everyone, others don't. Not sure of the status at Seaton and Garrison now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, it you were walking distance to Langley, and walking (a longer walk) distance also to Garrison or Seaton, would you go to Langley?

no, go to Seaton.

Probably Seaton but if you are really into socioemotional learning, Langley. If you are only in the area for a few years I wouldn't think it matters which you choose.

Depends on the pace at which your child walks. And which is in the direction of work. E.g. folks may choose Langley work in Noma or take the red line, or Seaton for access to the green line.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, it you were walking distance to Langley, and walking (a longer walk) distance also to Garrison or Seaton, would you go to Langley?

no, go to Seaton.

Probably Seaton but if you are really into socioemotional learning, Langley. If you are only in the area for a few years I wouldn't think it matters which you choose.