Need a private primary school in Brookyn, NY for British 4 year old!

[strawberryrhubarb]

My husband is being relocated to Manhattan with work (we found out yesterday) and I am in a blind panic about finding a school place for our 4 year old. She was due to start reception in SW London in September 2014 at one of the local private schools which is fairly academic.

When we move the company will cover private school tuition. We will have use of a schools consultant, but I am hoping to get some ideas about the best options before I contact them. I am worried that we will be offered a place in an average school by the schools consultant simply because there are no places anywhere else.

We will be in NYC for 3-5 years. We will then be returning to London and would like our child to be prepared to re-enter the British private school system (I realise this may require some tutoring). We are planning to live in Brooklyn, but haven't narrowed the area down yet (husband going to visit in next few weeks).

Any and all help much appreciated!

I don't have any recommendations for schools in NY.

I just want to ask why you think your child will require tutoring upon return to the UK?

I believe that the perception that the British school system is superior to the US system is out dated and does not hold to be true.

Hi, OP, I've just posted today in AIBU about chance of moving to NY! There's been over a hundred responses, and although we haven't covered private schooling, there may be facts and ideas that are of use to you too!

Hubby worked in NY lady year for 9 weeks last year, staying in Brooklyn, and DS1 and I were flown out to visit him for 2 weeks. I can give some info about Brooklyn and where is good, if you are interested. I did quite a bit of research as we thought we might be moving there. It's reared its ugly head again now, but NJ is mooted now instead.

Wishing you luck... We really liked Brooklyn! The mummies there are sooooo friendly. Because most people are in apartments, without gardens, they all hang out in the park and by the fountains in the summer, and we loved that. Great restaurants too.

Children start K at five in the US, so you'll be looking for a private preschool. St. Ann's and Packer Collegiate are the best schools in Brooklyn.

There's the British International School in Murray Hill in Manhattan, if you think you'll be moving back and want your daughter to follow the national curriculum.

As for Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill and Dumbo are a closer commute for Midtown and Downtown, with Park Slope being a lovely area and near Prospect Park, but it is a schlep if your husband will be working in Midtown.

I did a similar move a few years ago at roughly the same time. Our schools consultant was very helpful but he didn't 'offer us a place' anywhere. They will research schools to find out what kind of school will suit you and where there might be places available. To be honest though, the schools that are going to have spaces available now for September are not going to be the highly sought after ones. The application deadlines for NY schools are generally in November/December, so in addition to looking for pre-k spaces now you might also want to consider looking for a pre-school place and applying for kindergarten spaces in the fall. That said, it's a very mobile community in NYC so if you get on waiting lists spaces might come up.

This is a list of NYC private schools which gives a brief overview of your main contenders in Brooklyn. I know people who are very happy at Friends and Poly Prep.

If you are willing to commute to Manhattan for school, there are two British curriculum schools there - the British International School of New York and the World Class Learning Academy. They are both relatively new schools and so more likely to have places available. I believe the UN school also keeps some spaces open for families moving into the area after that main application season.

Please feel free to PM me.

strawberryRhubarb i am in a very similar position - blind panic probably describes how infeel too! Cookie tramp could you link to your thread please? Can't find it in AIBU but it would be really useful to see your thread and responses!
Thank you

And thanks to vulgarwretch too - very useful info.

CookieTramp I've found your other thread now and will read with interest thank you x

Why not use the public schools at 5? American public schools can be really, really good.

Between now and 5 you can get your DD into various different activities and classes all over the place if you don't fancy sending her to one single preschool (which you are looking at for a 4 year old). My DCs did swim and gym in the YMCA, classes geared to preschoolers at a major art museum, exploring nature courses at a huge and fabulous arboretum, and music and dance at a private academy (plus a brush with Steiner watercolouring classes that I do not recommend at all)..

The beauty of going a la carte is you are not stuck for a whole year with tuition due every month if your child isn't happy or if you find your family isn't fitting in, and you can normally go for an 8 week, one or two days a week thing in classes offered at various institutions, so if everyone comes down with the dreaded stomach flu over the winter or you decide to go to the UK for an extended stay over Christmas you just avoid that particular session and you are not out of pocket.

Take a good look at public schools and find the district and catchment boundaries so you know where to look for accommodation for the family if you decide to use the public schools.

District and catchment boundaries are strictly enforced. Generally, a place that is pleasant to live in, low crime, fairly expensive housing, will have decent schools

Hi all,

Thanks so much for all of your helpful tips.

I've had a bit of success after trying to be resourceful and have found her a place at a Brooklyn private pre-school. The private schools all shut me down with one email saying they are completely oversubscribed. There are apparently zero places left for pre-K at any of the major Brooklyn players that vulgarwretch mentions (not surprised). I think we will probably try again for private kindergarden places in the autumn once we are physically living in NYC. We will try to rent in an area that has a good local public school as a back up.

Vulgarwretch and Stopgap - Thanks very much - all v.useful! How much of a schlep to Midtown is it really from Park Slope? We are strongly considering this area as being near the park is a big draw for us and we would like a small garden. And will I ever be able to find a parking spot if we have a car? Most of the info on the net says no.

Mathanxiety - thanks for your tips too. I didn't mention that I also have a 1 year old at home with me so I prefer the idea of nursery school half days for my eldest so I get to spend a bit of time 1:1 with my younger daughter. Eldest will probably also do swimming and something else similar to what we have set up in London on some of her afternoons off so thank you for the ideas.

Nonsensical and Cookietramp - feel free to PM if your moves end up going ahead. Always nice to have a friendly face in a new city.

Generationx2 - not really interested in debate here about tutoring. Sorry. I just don't have the time. I am working off good local info based on where we live and other expat mums with older children in DD current school.

Glad you found something for her -- my recollection of trying to find preschool places is that they fill up early in the calendar year. With DD1 I left it really late out of ignorance of how things worked, but ended up in a lovely parish school preschool anyway. When you start looking in the coming year, be prepared to have all your homework and research done by the end of 2014 for enrollment in early 2015 (Jan, Feb) for private schools. For public school, timing isn't as important, but researching good schools is, and making sure you live in the catchment.

One of the nice things about doing a lot of enrichment type classes is you meet lots of different people so you increase your chances of finding friendly people, and you hear more about various school options, places to shop, nice places to go and eat out, and importantly, you also find information on reliable babysitters. American families tend to use teens, even young teens, for babysitting. Don't be shy about asking other parents about who they use. My own DCs all babysat from age 12/13 on. Most American teens expect to make a lot of their spending money up to age 16 (when they can legally be employed in actual businesses) from babysitting. After 16 it's often supplemental or weekday/school night income they are after.

If you end up close to a middle school or parish school that goes to 8th grade (age 13/14), call the parish office or the counsellor's office and see if there's anyone they could recommend.

Park Slope Parents (website) can be a useful resource if you are looking to move here.

If you want to get your child into a private school, you will need to do the school tours (open house) in September - December and then applications are usually due in December with "interviews" in January and placements informed by early February. Most private schools have entry points at pre-K 4 or Kindergarden.

Depending on when your 4 year old turns 4 is also important. The private school cut off age is Sept - Sept (like the UK), whilst the public school is by calendar year.

There are always wait lists and persistence is key at the private schools, there is always movement and often it is a question of good timing to get a place.

At the public schools (PS321 is generally the most sought after school in Park Slope) the good ones are very oversubscribed. Applications for public school places are usually by zone. (inside schools.org or the DOE website can help). I think you apply between January and February.

In terms of the commute to midtown it can be fairly quick (30 mins). It depends how close to the subway you will live, etc.

One big challenge is finding an apartment with a garden that doesn't cost the earth. When we moved here, we found an apartment in November that was only available in February. Of course a lot depends on your budget and if you want to live in good zone for the public schools.

Feel free to PM if you would like some info. I have one child in private school and one in nursery in Park Slope.

Thanks humblebumble! All very helpful info - exactly the sort of things we need to know.
We are also considering Cobble Hill but fear we may be priced way out of the market - esp. for some outdoor space!

Out of interest which Brooklyn private pre-school did you find a place at? There are so many.

Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens is great. I love that area, lots of great restaurants, bars and shops and a good feel about it. You have wonderful access to Brooklyn Bridge Park, etc. which is always interesting, good playgrounds and fun activities happening at the weekend. You aren't as close to Prospect Park but you are close to the water, etc. so you get some space.

A garden may have to go by the wayside, ditto a parking spot.

My DCs got great mileage out of parks and playgrounds during the months of the year it was possible to play outdoors. During winter you might find you would be kicking yourself for paying rent for an un-usable patch of grass. What might be more practical would be an extra room, even a small one, in an apartment for use as a playroom.

Joining I-Go or some other car rental club might be a good idea for you? That way you could do a big grocery shop in the burbs every two weeks. DD1 manages on the east coast with no car, just membership in a rental club.

Thanks everyone for all of the feedback. I'm sorry I haven't responded to the last few posts but things have been very busy. These are all good and helpful suggestions.

I have thought of a car rental club but DH can not face the prospect of going back to life with no car. Also we have family within driving distances from NYC so want to be able to hop in the car at the weekend without too much bother.

As far as the nursery school goes humblebumble, the place is still provisional until they meet DD so would rather not say until it is confirmed. Leaning more and more toward Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens though.

Thanks everyone for all of your help.