Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, a true "safety" school is a school that has gone through all or almost all of its PK3 waitlist in the past 1-2 years. The only schools I can think of that even come close to your location criteria and that are/were true safeties in the past 1-2 years are: Garrison, Langley, Walker-Jones.

There are several other schools that may or may not fill with IB kids and that take some OOB - these are not safeties, but you (may) have a chance at getting in OOB. Most of them filled up their PK3 classes, or nearly so, with IB kids last year. They include: SWWFS, Seaton, Van Ness, HD Cooke, Thomson, Cleveland.

I think Langley is still a safety, although less each year. If they add a classroom this year, then it's definitely safe. If you can go that far east I would definitely consider it. I went to the open house and it seems like a really sweet little school. Tons of outdoor space, a gardening program, AND a really nice gym for indoor PE. It's on our list.

Langley is ABSOLUTELY, HANDS DOWN, a "safety school", in the sense that you'll likely get in. Every year Bloomingdale parents get together and say that they will send their kids there but virtually none of them do.

I don't mean that in a negative sense, since I've been very impressed by the principal but very few of the families responsible for the baby boom around Langley send their kids there. Also, it's not at all convenient for OP.

But Seaton is. Last year was the first year that Seaton actually had a waitlist and they still went through it significantly. So yes, apply to Seaton.

If Langley meets the convenience test for OP and s/he has room on her list, I would strongly consider it. I'm a current PK3 parent there (we are IB, living in Bloomingdale) and happy enough that we said no to two WL offers and will only leave in the <1% probability scenario that a commute-friendly language immersion offer comes up. And we know other Bloomingdale/Eckington parents in our child's PK class who feel the same.

If OP or any others are interested, we have another Open House / Open Gym this Saturday starting at 9am. I'll be there to answer any questions about our experiences as current Langley parents and to enjoy the kid energy burnoff!

Anonymous wrote:Amazing Life Games, 16th and Varnum NW, Co-op

Amazing Life Games is not a safety. We paid to apply, including writing essay and all and didn't get in. You'll need to be volunteering time as part of the co-op as well.