B&M school for AL Kindergartener. Which would you choose?

[JulieA97]

DS will be starting Kindergarten in the fall. We had considered homeschooling, in fact I had already planned out curriculum but we are now thinking B&M for several reasons, including an extreme extrovert child with 2 very introverted parents and no siblings. I don't know that he is gifted but he does seem to be bright and advanced on every level. Our options:

 

1-local charter school that has a good reputation for academics and the arts. Everyone I know that goes there loves it. Negatives are getting in is via lottery so no guarantee, insane amounts of homework every night and weekends even in K, no lunch service and no cafeteria so they eat in their classrooms. 1 30 minute recess per day. They could not provide specific details on how they would keep a student who is advanced challeged other than they would work with him on what he needs.

 

2-private school that is tops academically, sports and the best arts program in the area by far. Minimal homework in younger grades but far above academically than any other area school. Ability to get into and do well in any college he wishes when he graduates. 2 recesses a day plus the teacher will take them outside to play for a bit if they need it. Smaller school than the charter-2 Kindergarten classes of max 20 students each versus charter school of 5 classes 20-22 students. Teachers are warm and caring, classrooms and hallways are filled with students art work and are homey feeling. Negatives-cost. We got an unofficial financial aid offer that puts it well within our budget but have to wait for final offer that depends on our taxes. 50% of the students there receive some sort of financial aid but he would be with families that make WAY WAY more than we do. I have been assured by the school and other parents I know that this is not a concern at all.

 

I am obviously leaning towards the private school, I think it would fit him like a glove. Many of the students there are advanced so they have things in place to challenge them. But oh the cost! When you add it up over K-12 its staggering and we worry that there will be a time we can't afford it even with the financial aid. Also if he gets in the charter for K and turns it down, his chances of getting in later are slim to none until middle school.

 

Which would you choose?

Edited January 31, 2016 by JulieA97

[Arcadia]

The private one you describe is like the public school my DS11 attended for kindergarten. He had a wonderful year there. Homework was done in less than 20mins per week.

 

In terms of tuition cost, I'll take it a year at a time. You may be able to find social outlets and homeschool him from 1st grade.

 

My oldest loves social outlets so our first year schooling at home was hard because we haven't done our homework on meeting his social needs. After that was easier, just lots of car time to outside events and classes.

 

For example, yesterday we spent 5 hours at a library STEM event. My kids get their social hour for free and I get to read nearby.

[wapiti]

From what you have written, the private school would be superior in every way except for the cost.  The charter sounds like a poor fit.

 

Recognize that whatever you choose, middle school and high school are common times to switch schools.  (My kids all have.)  Plan to re-evaluate at those times.  My boys' current middle school didn't even exist when they started elementary school - the available options may change over time.

Edited January 31, 2016 by wapiti

[SKL]

I would take the private route if you could do it without going into debt or seriously straining your resources.

 

Even if you switch to public school later, the benefits of the private school education until then will remain with your child.

[Jackie]

I would plan on the private school while keeping an eye on what social opportunities exist while homeschooling. I know a few parents who put their extroverted kids into school, only for the kid to be miserable because there was so little actual social time at the school.

[zejh]

I was coming here thinking about asking a similar question about my 3yo dd... We still have a year or two before we need to decide (different age cutoffs to complicate things), but there's a charter and a private school getting my attention when I've been thinking about homeschooling for a long time. I don't have enough experience to really say for your case, but between my brief time as a substitute teacher and my experience so far with my daughter, I'm inclined to avoid anything with too little recess and too much seatwork for young kids. But I haven't even made up my own mind yet.

[daijobu]

2-private school that is tops academically, sports and the best arts program in the area by far. Minimal homework in younger grades but far above academically than any other area school. Ability to get into and do well in any college he wishes when he graduates. 

 

I would take the bolded with a grain of salt.  What schools are being attended by the previous year's graduates?  Are they all getting into their first choice schools?  

[Janeway]

Here was out experience...

 

I do not know how GT your child is...but my oldest was reading chapter books by kinder. He was tested in at high 3rd grade level for his reading. He was also adding and subtracting 3 digit numbers in his head. We were going to home school him, but our church had a last second opening in their kinder. I sent him. I quickly regretted it. They were supposed to be such a great kinder, but the entire class had to do the exact same thing. I had met with them and explained his learning differences and described how advanced he was. They swore they would differentiate. But then they did not. He spent the year doing hundreds tables and being punished when he complained. They literally did one of those every week. They also spent the year learning the alphabet and by 2/3 of the way in the year, started on basic reading skills. THEN, the teacher complained endlessly about how terrible home schooling was and my son grew to refuse to home school. Two years of public school after that. He came home after 3 years of brick and mortar school at the same level as where he started. 

 

IF I did it over again, I would consider public school as they seem more capable of differentiating than a very small private school. Or, if I had the money, there is one Montessori school near me that actually lets children go at their own pace. Many schools will slap on the Montessori title but are not truly Montessori. or I would home school.