Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Was curious what schools were considered the better nursery/pre-K schools in LI.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

I have not seen that in my research on LI.

But I wasn't looking for it either

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

My girlfriend sends her kids to Shalom in Plainview and loves it.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

What happens in an "elite" pre-school that doesn't happen in a "regular" one?

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

I always thought ivy league preschool in happaugue area was considered one.

For those that were wondering the difference, I believe they have interview processes and your child is not just accepted.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Message edited 4/21/2009 11:56:33 AM.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Buckley Day County School in Nassau is probably one of the best schools on Long Island.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

There is a preschool for gifted children in West Islip. Children have to pass a test to be accepted.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Just to throw this out there..... NO FLAMES PLEASE!!!

I went to these so called"elite" schools in CT starting at the age of 3. Some REALLY REALLY WELL KNOWN ONES!

My grandparents/parents spent a small FORTUNE to put me in these schools. While my education was wonderful and I did very well. I got into numerous IVY League Universities, many with Scholarships and I did attend one for a year. I was miserable and ended transferring to Stony Brook where I also excelled and was SO MUCH HAPPIER.

THe amount of PRESSURE put on a child at such a young age at these schools to compete not just academically but socially as well is EXHAUSTING!!! I was totally burned out at 20 years of age.

My DH on the other hand went to all public school. I think he did do Montessouri when younger but primary, grade school and high school was all public. By his Junior year of High school he was taking all AP classes as well as classes at PACE because he was so advanced. He graduated High School a year earlier and got his BS in 3 years and interned and worked at REALLY well known companies such as IBM and Microsoft at a young age.

He was working at a Senior Level only 3 years into the work force and have people 2X his age working under him.

In my opinion, these types of schools do NOT mean your child is going to be smarter or necessarily get a better education.

Honestly, I think it has to do with the IQ of a child, parent involvment in education and the individual child themselves.

I feel my DH had a better education experience because he didn't have this CONSTANT pressure and enjoyed himself more. At 28 I am still mentally burned from my schooling........

I think there is SOOOO much pressure these days to have your child "be the best" that children have to grow up too fast and have WAY too much unecessary pressure put on them at a young age. THey only have a few years to be children and play and have fun, which in my opinion is the best way to learn. THey have their whole adult lives to be stressed and pressured.

Just somethign to throw out there

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

i think the whole experience is just different in the burbs-- it's about supply and demand. most nursery schools in the city and just outside cost $$$$$. my friend spends like $12K/year for 3 days a week in brooklyn-- and i don't recall her having a rigorous acceptance process-- it was more about just getting in somewhere that was a place you *want* to send your kid. this is just part of the reason we plan to move soon.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Posted by Blissful

Just to throw this out there..... NO FLAMES PLEASE!!!

I went to these so called"elite" schools in CT starting at the age of 3. Some REALLY REALLY WELL KNOWN ONES!

My grandparents/parents spent a small FORTUNE to put me in these schools. While my education was wonderful and I did very well. I got into numerous IVY League Universities, many with Scholarships and I did attend one for a year. I was miserable and ended transferring to Stony Brook where I also excelled and was SO MUCH HAPPIER.

THe amount of PRESSURE put on a child at such a young age at these schools to compete not just academically but socially as well is EXHAUSTING!!! I was totally burned out at 20 years of age.

My DH on the other hand went to all public school. I think he did do Montessouri when younger but primary, grade school and high school was all public. By his Junior year of High school he was taking all AP classes as well as classes at PACE because he was so advanced. He graduated High School a year earlier and got his BS in 3 years and interned and worked at REALLY well known companies such as IBM and Microsoft at a young age.

He was working at a Senior Level only 3 years into the work force and have people 2X his age working under him.

In my opinion, these types of schools do NOT mean your child is going to be smarter or necessarily get a better education.

Honestly, I think it has to do with the IQ of a child, parent involvment in education and the individual child themselves.

I feel my DH had a better education experience because he didn't have this CONSTANT pressure and enjoyed himself more. At 28 I am still mentally burned from my schooling........

I think there is SOOOO much pressure these days to have your child "be the best" that children have to grow up too fast and have WAY too much unecessary pressure put on them at a young age. THey only have a few years to be children and play and have fun, which in my opinion is the best way to learn. THey have their whole adult lives to be stressed and pressured.

Just somethign to throw out there

Message edited 4/21/2009 1:50:48 PM.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Posted by wannabemom

Posted by Blissful

Just to throw this out there..... NO FLAMES PLEASE!!!

I went to these so called"elite" schools in CT starting at the age of 3. Some REALLY REALLY WELL KNOWN ONES!

My grandparents/parents spent a small FORTUNE to put me in these schools. While my education was wonderful and I did very well. I got into numerous IVY League Universities, many with Scholarships and I did attend one for a year. I was miserable and ended transferring to Stony Brook where I also excelled and was SO MUCH HAPPIER.

THe amount of PRESSURE put on a child at such a young age at these schools to compete not just academically but socially as well is EXHAUSTING!!! I was totally burned out at 20 years of age.

My DH on the other hand went to all public school. I think he did do Montessouri when younger but primary, grade school and high school was all public. By his Junior year of High school he was taking all AP classes as well as classes at PACE because he was so advanced. He graduated High School a year earlier and got his BS in 3 years and interned and worked at REALLY well known companies such as IBM and Microsoft at a young age.

He was working at a Senior Level only 3 years into the work force and have people 2X his age working under him.

In my opinion, these types of schools do NOT mean your child is going to be smarter or necessarily get a better education.

Honestly, I think it has to do with the IQ of a child, parent involvment in education and the individual child themselves.

I feel my DH had a better education experience because he didn't have this CONSTANT pressure and enjoyed himself more. At 28 I am still mentally burned from my schooling........

I think there is SOOOO much pressure these days to have your child "be the best" that children have to grow up too fast and have WAY too much unecessary pressure put on them at a young age. THey only have a few years to be children and play and have fun, which in my opinion is the best way to learn. THey have their whole adult lives to be stressed and pressured.

Just somethign to throw out there

I agree with you completely! expensive schools can't replace a supportive /enriched home enviornment... (taking kids to museums and on intellectually stimulating vacations, a supportive/non-pressured environment, encouraging curiousity) and if a kid has a supportive intellectual home environement, a school like that isn't necessary IMO.....

I am a product of the half hollow hills school district (And a proud undergrad and grad of stony brook ) My HS teachers were openly disappointed that I didn't choose a 'better' school. frankly, it was perfect for me, and I think NO ONE would be unstimulated at SBU if they genuinely went after the challenges offered here. The profs can be super-tough. End result, I think I got top notch molecular biology training. I can easily run loops around many of my scientific peers. It's not becuase I'm fantastic (hahaha), it's becuase my training was. the faculty here are super-sharp. You cannot find better at harvard... honestly.

As for earlier ed, I did have the privilege of going to one of the first gifted programs... it was wonderful. got to dissect frogs, learn abstract math and latin... they even taught me a smidge about sub-atomic particles and biochemistry at age 10... super-cool. It was free, and a part of my school district... and had NO HOMEWORK = no pressure. As I feel it should be for a little kid. I hope Eryk can experience that.

competitive preschool is crazy IMO. Why stress a 4 year old? If the kid wants to learn, they'll ask! (I also don't believe in kaplan SAT prep... no need to burn a kid out before even getting to the university... they do as well as they can, and that's good enough) I think these schools create this pressured environment not for student benefit, rather to justify the enormous tuitions they charge.... Personally, I'll keep Eryk away from that.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Message edited 4/21/2009 2:12:29 PM.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Posted by wannabemom

Posted by babymakes3

There is a preschool for gifted children in West Islip. Children have to pass a test to be accepted.

OMG, what is the name of it? While I don't know for sure whether DS will be 'gifted', most of his cousins are, and I was, so there is a genuine chance he could benefit from that.

probably can't affod it though.... damn prof salary

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Posted by babymakes3

Posted by wannabemom

Posted by babymakes3

There is a preschool for gifted children in West Islip. Children have to pass a test to be accepted.

OMG, what is the name of it? While I don't know for sure whether DS will be 'gifted', most of his cousins are, and I was, so there is a genuine chance he could benefit from that.

probably can't affod it though.... damn prof salary

It's the South Shore Center for Gifted Preschool Children.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Message edited 4/21/2009 2:14:21 PM.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Posted by wannabemom

Posted by babymakes3

There is a preschool for gifted children in West Islip. Children have to pass a test to be accepted.

OMG, what is the name of it? While I don't know for sure whether DS will be 'gifted', most of his cousins are, and I was, so there is a genuine chance he could benefit from that.

probably can't affod it though.... damn prof salary

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

I just went onto their website.... it's a nerd's paradise It's hard for me to grasp how my little (almost 7 month old) boy will handle that situation as a 4 year old.

I think 3 would DEFINITELY be too young for that. It's pretty intense, although they seem to make everything a pressure-free game. I'm going to bookmark that webpage and revisit it in a year or so.....

I bet the tuition will be nuts I guess I need to make more contracts with Big Pharma

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Posted by wannabemom

Posted by shellybean

ETA tuition was 15,000 per year

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

My friend's son goes to South Shore for the summer program. They charge $100 for the test and I think $100 per week for the program. She said he had such a great time - it's a very active program with science experiments, art projects (like painting like Jackson Pollack) - they make learning a lot of fun. We may have DS tested because they go to school together now and have so much fun - it would be nice for them to go to the summer program together.

Re: Does LI have elite private nursery schools like in Manhattan?

Posted by wannabemom

Posted by Goldi0218

Thank you for posting this. My siblings and I all went to nursery schools in local temples and have fared rather well. We are all products of public schools. Some of us went to public universities, some went private. One went Ivy. Whoopdie-do we both work in the same place.

I have seen what happens to over programmed and over challenged children. It is not cute. It is rather sad. Many kids end up scared and nervous that they won't measure up to their peers or meet with their parents' approval. I remember one such child who ended up with a nervous tic because of parental pressures. I cannot do that to my child.

my school district was rather competitive... and frankly, the kids who were pushed a lot (practicing SATS since age 14 ) almost all dropped out either in undergrad, grad, or quit their jobs to do something less stressful. and like you said, many were SERIOUSLY bent out of shape by the experience.

Litte old me, the 'queen b' (becuase I was never pushed and therefore never got A's ) is doing what I want to do, and so far, accomplished my goals...

No parent can force a kid to be interest in something they're not... and you can't force a kid to be a robot-student with perfect discipline. Kids, like adults, burn out if pushed too far.... My goal as a parent is merely to raise a happy person who is socially well-adjusted and has a strong grasp of ethics .... that's it.

(that being said, I did have the time of my life in that gifted program.... I learned the coolest stuff! If that gifted preschool in islip is pressure-free, I'd love to expose Eryk to that... If it isn't pressure free, I'd stay away... I guess I'd have to vet them quite well...)

Message edited 4/21/2009 3:22:02 PM.