ICS Non-Immersion Program

[BBQ KING]

I am looking for information from parents of children in the ICS non-immersion program.
I have kids that will be 8 and 5 next fall (3rd and K). Both in private school now; good but pricey.

If easier to ping me off-line, that would be great.

Interested in impressions of quality of education and ability to met kids that are doing above or below grade (can you keep the ones doing well challenged, and support those that are having challenges).

Also, is there an after school program? Impressions?

[annie]

FYI, the main point of entrance to the school is the kindergarten lottery. There is sibling preference but I don't know how it works when the sibling is older. The upper grades have waitlists. I don't know how feasible it is to expect both to be admitted next year.

[Dolemite]

FYI, the main point of entrance to the school is the kindergarten lottery. There is sibling preference but I don't know how it works when the sibling is older. The upper grades have waitlists. I don't know how feasible it is to expect both to be admitted next year.

I'm not positive but I believe older siblings are given preference when a spot opens up in the later grades so they basically get bumped to the front of the wait lists.

As for the education the Spanish Enhanced and the Immersion have the same curriculum it's just that the Immersion is taught in all Spanish K-4 except for certain subjects which aren't taught by the classroom teacher. For 5 -8 there is less immersion with some rotation of what subjects are taught in Spanish and which in English. They also mix the students in the English taught subjects.

I think they probably do a good job with kids below grade level. With advanced kids not so much. At one point they had a separate instructor and a pull out gifted program. That slowly decayed and now they don't have any gifted program. As for challenging the advanced students that mainly depends on the individual teachers in the lower grades obviously some are better than others. In middle school the only formal thing I know is that Math is tracked. They have 3 or 4 levels and the top students are accelerated so that they will do Algebra I in 8th grade.

After school. The school itself beginning next year won't really have anything after school. They have relationships with numerous afterschool programs that pick kids up and take them off site. They use to have clubs but will no longer have those due to budget constraints. There will be a couple of Parent run clubs but that will be all.

[BBQ KING]

Thanks for the feedback. Helpful.

Regarding sibling admissions, if one gets in the other is put at the top of the waiting lists or is given a spot if there is one.

[Dolemite]

Thanks for the feedback. Helpful.

Regarding sibling admissions, if one gets in the other is put at the top of the waiting lists or is given a spot if there is one.

Siblings are given preference. If an older sibling is already enrolled then for kindergarten the younger sibling is automatically accepted as long as you turn in the application in time. If a younger sibling is already enrolled then the older sibling is given preference so if there is a spot s/he is accepted otherwise bumped to the top of the waiting list. I believe this is correct but not 100% certain.