UES: 92 Street Y, Episcopal (these are the "big 2"), Temple Emanu-El, Brick Church, All-Souls, STMPG, The Madison Playgroup. Those are all the tippy-top (aka Baby Ivies).
Some other great, connected schools are: Westside Montessori, The Washington Market School, Park Children's School, First Presbyterian Church Nursery School
Keep in mind that ongoing schools have been purposely trying to diversify and expand the preschools (and even daycares) from which they draw, so it may be to your advantage not to attend a "TT" preschool unless your family/kid really stands out and you can be sure that the PSD will advocate for you.
I would agree with the caveat that a connected or at least "in the know" PSD is... pretty much essential unless you are a URM. They might not all broker but they'll make sure everyone gets in somewhere, will be able to push if an interview doesn't go so well, will have ongoing schools into the classroom to see the children in a place that's comfortable to them (obviously not now though) and will know how to help "package" your child and yourself for best results.
This has not been my experience at all. Unfortunately, your kid will not get into a good private school if you send them to a neighborhood daycare unless you are legacy or have some other connection.
@anonymous DC is at a great NYC private from a neighborhood daycare (our first choice - not legacy - not URM). Maybe we are an anomaly, but I think overall, most daycare families don't even apply to private (at least at our daycare). But it is possible!
A TT preschool pretty much guarantees you will get into at least one ongoing school. They have enough pull with some schools. However, if you are TT or bust and you have no other connections, you will have a harder time standing out.
Yes, a PSD will advocate for you and make sure you are not lost in the shuffle, but you will be up against siblings, legacies, and well-connected/well-educated/wealthy families as a general rule. Also, applications for K have been on the decline for the past several years, particularly to non-TT schools, so it's not as common these days to get shut out completely so long as one applies broadly.
Everything that was already said. We were at one of the connected schools and are at TT. From what I've seen, they all feed in somewhere but may be better connected to certain schools vs others. That said, I've seen children who probably wouldn't have gotten in anywhere from your neighborhood daycare get into very solid ongoing as well as people getting FA from TT. I don't think you can get that from your neighborhood daycare. If you have a very strong child, you will have several very desirable options, if you are average or below, you will still have at least one or two accepts.
Also PSD will steer you in the right direction to make sure you are being realistic and help you manage the process, the kids get observed in the classroom (sometimes more than once) and teachers know exactly how to show the children in the best possible light, write the recommendations etc.
I think the top ones are tricky bc so many kids are legacy at trinity etc, so you really won't have a chance there unless you are also a legacy or very connected. We are applying to k now so we'll see how it goes. We are at a great preschool now but not one mentioned above.
UES: 92 Street Y, Episcopal (these are the "big 2"), Temple Emanu-El, Brick Church, All-Souls, STMPG, The Madison Playgroup. Those are all the tippy-top (aka Baby Ivies).
Some other great, connected schools are: Westside Montessori, The Washington Market School, Park Children's School, First Presbyterian Church Nursery School
Thanks! For the UES ones, do they feed into all of the TT/2T/etc privates or are certain ones better for progressive/traditional independent schools?
"Big 2" is a new one for me! Did you just make that up?
@anonymous Yes! Well, I made up the name but I would say those are considered the two best/most-connected preschools in Manhattan.
Keep in mind that ongoing schools have been purposely trying to diversify and expand the preschools (and even daycares) from which they draw, so it may be to your advantage not to attend a "TT" preschool unless your family/kid really stands out and you can be sure that the PSD will advocate for you.
I would agree with the caveat that a connected or at least "in the know" PSD is... pretty much essential unless you are a URM. They might not all broker but they'll make sure everyone gets in somewhere, will be able to push if an interview doesn't go so well, will have ongoing schools into the classroom to see the children in a place that's comfortable to them (obviously not now though) and will know how to help "package" your child and yourself for best results.
This has not been my experience at all. Unfortunately, your kid will not get into a good private school if you send them to a neighborhood daycare unless you are legacy or have some other connection.
@anonymous DC is at a great NYC private from a neighborhood daycare (our first choice - not legacy - not URM). Maybe we are an anomaly, but I think overall, most daycare families don't even apply to private (at least at our daycare). But it is possible!
A TT preschool pretty much guarantees you will get into at least one ongoing school. They have enough pull with some schools. However, if you are TT or bust and you have no other connections, you will have a harder time standing out.
Yes, a PSD will advocate for you and make sure you are not lost in the shuffle, but you will be up against siblings, legacies, and well-connected/well-educated/wealthy families as a general rule. Also, applications for K have been on the decline for the past several years, particularly to non-TT schools, so it's not as common these days to get shut out completely so long as one applies broadly.
Everything that was already said. We were at one of the connected schools and are at TT. From what I've seen, they all feed in somewhere but may be better connected to certain schools vs others. That said, I've seen children who probably wouldn't have gotten in anywhere from your neighborhood daycare get into very solid ongoing as well as people getting FA from TT. I don't think you can get that from your neighborhood daycare. If you have a very strong child, you will have several very desirable options, if you are average or below, you will still have at least one or two accepts.
Also PSD will steer you in the right direction to make sure you are being realistic and help you manage the process, the kids get observed in the classroom (sometimes more than once) and teachers know exactly how to show the children in the best possible light, write the recommendations etc.
I think the top ones are tricky bc so many kids are legacy at trinity etc, so you really won't have a chance there unless you are also a legacy or very connected. We are applying to k now so we'll see how it goes. We are at a great preschool now but not one mentioned above.
Preschool is so neighborhood dependent. Where do you live?
Lol this is so cute
Which preschools are connected to which ongoings?