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School enrollment advice...
I have been looking at the public schools in our neighborhood for DS, who will be 4 in January. Because we are in a weird little pocket, there are 3 schools for our entire neighborhood. We enroll via the school choice form, in which we can select up to 5 choices in priority order of school/program combos.
I really liked 2 of the 3 schools, and I really didn't like the 3rd, so that makes things kind of easy. Almost. Here are the two options:
School 1: Established K-8, awesome PTA, great student:teacher ratios and class sizes for DPS, specials for ECE kids on up every day, foreign language, great vibe. Teachers and kids seemed really engaged. At the open house, the teachers' love for working with and for the individual kids just shone. It seems like they work really hard to make a great educational experience for the whole child. Has advanced kinder in house if you need it. Probably my best gut feeling. The kicker? They have 1 full day ECE-4 class, 2 half day classes, and last year almost every spot was filled by a child who had priority because they had an older sibling. Even if we put it as our first choice, it is unclear if we have a decent shot at a spot. It's walking distance from our house.
School 2: Newer, an innovation school running an IB program. I love IB, and did it in high school, but it doesn't seem to be well defined how it will play into the curriculum at all here. It's a K-5 school, but is only filled out K-3 for now. Teachers won't have tenure and will be on annual contracts - I see pluses and minuses here. They will have 2 full day ECE-4 classes, and 1 half-day. I really liked what I saw in the classrooms here too, however. Seems like chances of getting a spot are better here. They have fewer specials, and the class ratios as well as where PTA money goes are a little fuzzier.
The way DPS runs enrollment, I can pick my first 5 choices - like SChool 1 - full day, school 1 half-day, etc. WWYD? I really want to start DS where we can see him staying, even if things change later. Worst case, he could stay at the private preschool where he is now for ECE-4, but I don't think it's a great fit for him.
Re: School enrollment advice...
From what you wrote, it sounds like you are leaning towards...
1. School 1 - Full Day
2. School 1 - Half Day
3. School 2 - Full Day
4. School 2 - Half Day
5. Random pick the next area over, but might not take and would probably stay private one more year (fine to turn down IMO)
It seems from your post that this might work the best for you guys.
Are you united with the CCOKCs?
That's kinda what I'm leaning toward. It's somehwat tough to navigate. Honestly, I think they're both good - I just wonder a little more about how School 2 would turn out. It seems like with School 1 we'd be following the wave after it got really good, instead of with SChool 2, where we'd be right ahead of it.
We were in a charter public school for preK. He honestly had great teachers, but they were unsupported by the admin and there were some untested curriculum adn school direction issues that weren't worth it for us. Honestly, I admire those parents who wanted to stick it out and be uber-involved to get their kid a great education, but it was just too political for me and caused a little stress when you could read underlying tone and fundraising issues with every school communication. Plus the admin really was a problem and b/c the teachers weren't often at that school long, some were wild cards (i.e.less experienced and in need of mentoring) and others were fantastic and very well experienced.
My kid has done great in Montessori and a traditional classroom - he's very pliable at this time of his life and it works great that he can adapt and thrive at both.
Are you united with the CCOKCs?
Oh and and far as fundraising...I've found that non-profit preschool, public charter school pre-K, and public (better funded - different state) traditional K all have lots of fundraising going on at all times. Schools just need money and that's the truth.
However, I also won't sell anything anymore, I just donate directly to the cause with $20-$40 each time instead of trying to sell or buy a ton of crap that I don't need.
Are you united with the CCOKCs?
It's not actually a charter school, it's "normal" or whatever you call it
B, you have to reapply for kindergarten, so what he gets into next year won't necessarily be where he goes for elementary school. I'm torn on what to do to, but will probably stick with the closest school to us (which is #2) because once they draw lines then she'll actually be going to school with our neighbors.
Need help with high fat food ideas? Chunky Monkey
Schoolsout, you would know better than I do....
In DPS, it sounds like an innovation school is somewhat akin to a charter school. It sounds like the principal has independent discretion to hire/fire teachers (tenure doesn't apply), set school schedules and days off, as well as deviate from the regular curriculum. This all sounds like double-edged swordy stuff to me. My experience from way back when in IB was not that we had all of those things going on.
For example, at this school, they have decided they will require a full month's tuition as deposit in Spring for ECE/kinder kids who want to go there. Even though DPS doesn't require it generally. Stuff like that.
They also were talking about how they needed to fundraise at least $100k "for IB." I'm also all for the IB program, but I want to know for what. Is it for the 1/2time IB coordinator they want to hire? For materials? They were really focused on the methodology and inquiry part of the IB program, but other than doing Singapore math, they didn't have any comments on how IB would change the subject matter or deepen the curriculum.
WDYT of all that, as an IB expert?
Since Im your neighbor, I know the schools your talking about (and would love to hear why you didnt like number 3, which is, ironically, my last choice of the 3).
Anyways, I want DS to go to your option 2 but I also have the luxury of having it be more established by the time DS would go there (in 2015 if he starts in K or 2016 if I keep him in private school until 1st grade). My intention is to try and get him in there for K and if he doesnt to keep him in private school and try again the next year for 1st grade. Also, it will be ECE-8th grade but the middle school is separated somehow. Im likely not going to try before that since I need full time care for DS and I *think* but may be wrong, that the ECE programs do not establish priority for K so where he goes for ECE wont necessarily be where he is later.
Ultimately, I think you cant go wrong with any of them. Maybe look to see if which "type" of education/programs/style of learning will be best for your DS.
Id love to hear about what you know about the schools and the process, etc.
whitdog - it's getting complicated!
Here's what I know....I didn't like #3, because even though they were highly ranked for test scores, I didn't get a good vibe from the teachers or administration. I have also heard too many negative parent reports from neighbors who had bad experiences with the principal, or pulled their kids to send them to school 1 and 2 (about which I've heard nothing but glowing reports).
I think that option 2 WILL be great. I'm just not sure they're great yet. It has actually separated into a K-5, and a middle school sharing the building. If elementary school students want to go to the middle school, they need to apply to choice in too.
You do have priority continuing on as an ECE student going into kinder in one of those schools - you will be either a category 1 priority (if you are also a younger sibling) or a category 2 priority (if you are not), but it's not a guarantee of a spot. However, overflow in schools 1 and 3 will result in the addition of kinder classrooms in school 2, because they have the space to accommodate it while they grow.
Clear as mud?
I thought so. When you guys get closer to the process, let me know - I'll have been through it, hopefully successfully....
So is #1 WR or WC? I'm pretty sure I know, but I'm curious if you're hearing different things than I am.
Need help with high fat food ideas? Chunky Monkey
#1 was WR. Loved it. Didn't necessarily expect to, since it's bigger, etc.
#3, where I had the most reservations, was WC.
I saw that about kindergarten. But it puts you really high priority for kindergarten if you do ECE, right?
I liked #2 a lot too. I don't think either would be a bad choice at all. Sigh. So tough to know, you know! Are you guys looking at ECE-4 as well?
I have heard a lot of the same things although I didnt realize that about ECE priority. I will need before and afterschool care (or at least after school, depending on the start time) and I kind of figure that might be harder or just as pricey until DS is a little older so I hadnt thought much about ECE. Plus, since DS is in the neighborhood, 99% of his friends are neighbors.
ijack - thats the first I heard about any kind of line drawing at any point. I feel as though the parents who petitioned for 2 would be irate if that happened, not to mention that that was a big selling point for a number of people. Is this just a rumor or do you have more info?
Lastly, Monarch was denied its charter status so it will NOT become a DPS charter school. Granted, this wouldnt matter for ECE either (their application was for either K-3 or 1-3 to start, with the hope to expand later). There are a number of concerns with this program/school so I wouldnt bet on it being public any time soon. That being said, it is less expensive than most area centers and I do love montessori education. Its also *just* far enough away to be annoying (although that wasnt really a reason we decided against it).
I know it gives you priority, but so does having an older sibling at the school, and I'm not sure which one is higher. Maybe it's just my imagination but I feel like so many of the kids will have older siblings.
We are looking at ECE, but I really have no idea what we want to do. Probably #2 because it's the closest. I think we're lucky in that none of them are "bad" choices, but we still have to choose and that's hard when you have to choose so early!
Need help with high fat food ideas? Chunky Monkey
Need help with high fat food ideas? Chunky Monkey
I worked in a non-tenure school at the Charter. It was BAD. Our administrators were BAD and made terrible staffing decisions. The board was in charge of hiring principals and hired idiots they could control. The board was made up of parents and it led to some bad politics. Is the principal hired by the district or someone independent? That could make a difference. Tenure isn't always awesome, but the turnaround there was terrible. The curriculum deviation could be ok if they're truly doing PYP IB. We definitely did not have that stuff at GW.
They'd have to do PYP training for all the teachers, which is $$. I think my week training was somewhere around $500-1000 (not sure exactly, could be more), and it was in NM bc there was none locally, so there were travel costs (I drove, but still). If they're training the whole staff... The coordinator is probably $30k ish. Then they may need new textbooks, plus there are fees to IB, etc.
The bolded part could mean they're not REALLY committed to doing IB. It's a whole methodology shift and you have to have people willing to put in the work (this is where the principal being able to have hiring discretion could be good, assuming the principal is willing to talk the talk)