I just got the call that my daughter has been accepted to a dual language/language enrichment school that is ~15 min from home, but on my way to work, so now we are debating what school to choose. Our local school has a higher student count - 30 students and Kindergarten is only from 8 am to 11:20 am. Although the student number is high, they say that they break the class up into four groups (depending on their academic level) for 1/2 hour each day for a little more specialized teaching for those who are more advanced or those who need more help in certain areas. We've been accepted in the language enrichment program which is different from a dual language program in that they are only given Spanish 1 hr per day (rather than 50% of the day) and the number of students is a little less - 24 students. This school runs kinder from 8am to 2pm. I toured both schools and really like both for different reasons. I really like the idea of the bilingual aspect, but one of the major considerations though is that I know growing up, I loved playing with friends from school who lived only blocks away, so if we choose a further school, my kids won't experience that. I have seen that times have changed a bit from when i grew up though and many kids have after school activities like soccer, dance, swim, etc. where they don't just "play" like we use to. Also, with the local school, I will have to figure out daycare before and after school, whereas the other school has a daycare run by YMCA, so that is one less worry. Any thoughts?
I would choose the dual language school. Playing with neighborhood friends is great, but learning another language is better. Plus, it will make life easier for you with the aftercare YMCA program. And if your daughter is in aftercare, she won't have time to play afterschool with neighbors. On the weekends, she'll start making local friends as she's out and about in the neighborhood anyway.
Even if you go with the school further away there will be others like you who are traveling for the better program. My guess is you will find someone close enough to do play dates with. And really, if you are at work and she is in daycare when is she going to play with neighborhood kids anyway? Only on the weekends until she is old enough to be on her own. When we were kids we mostly went home after school. This generation goes to daycare. Its a different world. If I were you I'd pick the best school with the best daycare program since that's where she will be spending her week. Then on the weekends you can play with neighbors or kids from school, whichever she is closer with!
Personally, I would choose the superior school, even if it was 15 minutes away. What a gift to give your child. I wish we had that choice.
Both my kids went to the local elementary school and they didn't develop the friendships (kids close by) that I thought they would. Same thing with another friend in my area. She was hoping her child would have neighborhood friends and it didn't pan out. She ended up switching schools (15 minutes away) and her daughter thrived socially and academically.
I switched my daughter to a farther school (15 minutes) and she's happier. She has playdates and the kids are farther (15 minutes) but it's not a big deal.
We have kids in our neighborhood who just have different values than we do and it's been "challenging." So challenging that my son is better off leaving the house (in prior years) to be away from certain neighborhood children. While having neighborhood friends is ideal, it doesn't always work out.
I'd definitely choose the other school. You can always go back to your neighborhood if you absolutely hate it.
I agree with others to suggest that you choose the dual language, smaller student teacher ratio school and access to a longer school day and the daycare program. Remember this is only the beginning of your relationship with a school, did you also look at the 4th and 5th grade classes to see what teaching styles each school has?
The suggestion I'd like to add is to work at getting to know your neighbors by hosting pot lucks or helping to coordinate a block party by putting fliers on your neighbors doors. If you don't yet know which houses have kids look for signs like play equipment, bikes or scooters out front or minivans in the driveway. Maybe you and a few families you do know, could go in and rent a bouncer at your house or on your street. A bouncer gets the kids wanting to go and the neighborhood parents want to meet each other. If you have the block party at the beginning of the summer you may find that you have made matches for playdates for the vacation months and weekends which is when you want to fill the kids schedules with playdates any way. Another suggestion is to join a local church or synagogue so you can have another way to meet others from your area. This way they have two or three or four sets of friends (school, sports, neighborhood and maybe church/synagogue).
Good luck.
My son did a full day kindergarten at 4 with the dual immersion program here. It was invaluable. His reading comprehension is amazing and he can pronounce anything after reading and writing spanish before english. He was school from 7:45-2:05pm. The school was not near our home. Never had an impact on the friends from the neighborhood. In fact the boys across the street when to another dual immersion school....so they wouldn't have gone to the same school anyway. Forget the social aspect, she'll be fine. Give her the best education. She'll find the right social fit for her.
My daughter is in a dual immersion program (Chinese)...and LOVES it...It has been wonderful for her. It is also not our 'local' school...however, it's not terribly far away (less than 10 minutes, exact time depends on traffic and construction). She does have a friend down the street that she plays with fairly regularly and she gets invited to bday parties and occasionally gets together with kids from the dual immersion program. She's not a super social butterfly or anything and it has not been a problem at all for her. She's content playing with them at school and spending the afternoon reading to her chickens :p...with an occasional playdate thrown in here and there :).
I would choose the language enrichment without a doubt! Being bilingual can only help her in life. My husband is tri lingual(english, spanish, sign) and we have periods where we only will speak spanish or sign to our children(a 3 year old and 5 year old). The smaller class sizes are definitely a plus for her too! Slightly more individualized attention. For you the positives are pretty obvious such as day care being taken care of and right on your way to work!
The language enrichment school sounds like the best choice for her, 30 kids in one class sounds terrible! Learning a second language is SO beneficial, and they have an after school program. She can still play with kids in the "hood" My son plays with our closest neighbors because they live next door and behind us and its convenient, they are not in the same grade so they do not see each other at school.
Academically, smaller class size is always better. Also, make life easier on yourself with the YMCA daycare.
Good luck!
