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Forum -> Chinuch, Education & Schooling
Which CH school is right for my kid?



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amother
OP  


 

Post Sat, Nov 16 2024, 11:31 pm
Really I want to know for kids, bc I have a daughter who is still a baby and a son who is about to turn school age/3.

I'm a BT mom with no one to really ask about the schools in the area. So if you're in Crown Heights and have sent kids to school, tell me about them.

Does the school teach secular subjects? If so, what's the ratio of time spent on Jewish studies to secular studies?

What's the schedule like? What grades do they even go to for each school?

What's the reputation like? The teachers? If you've switched a kid from one school to another: why and did it work out?

Is there an expectation or reputation for the types of families that send to the school?

Tell me your good experiences and your bad experiences.

Please I'm looking to hear a lot of opinions and thoughts on all the school options and I have no idea where else to start.
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amother
Begonia  


 

Post Sat, Nov 16 2024, 11:35 pm
What are you looking for?

Most schools are 845/9-3 for preschool and until 4 for elementary
Those that have secular subjects usually have the morning dedicated to Kodesh and afternoon for secular studies

That's in general
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amother
Starflower  


 

Post Sat, Nov 16 2024, 11:36 pm
For boys or girls?
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amother
  Begonia  


 

Post Sat, Nov 16 2024, 11:37 pm
Also it's probably good to speak to neighbors/any mom acquaintances even as a light conversation - asking where they send, and what they like about that school
Asking multiple people this light question might give you a feel for some things in the schools
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amother
  Begonia


 

Post Sat, Nov 16 2024, 11:37 pm
amother Starflower wrote:
For boys or girls?

Shes asking about both
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amother
  OP  


 

Post Sat, Nov 16 2024, 11:40 pm
amother Begonia wrote:
Also it's probably good to speak to neighbors/any mom acquaintances even as a light conversation - asking where they send, and what they like about that school
Asking multiple people this light question might give you a feel for some things in the schools


I asked a few friends but they only have some experience with the school they sent to. I'm looking for broader opinions and experiences, from people who sent to each school.
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newinbp




 
 
    
 

Post Sat, Nov 16 2024, 11:42 pm
it's also where you get in. beis rivkah is the biggest and most accepting for girls. There are lots of smaller schools as well if you want a more niche school or smaller environment.
Not sure what to tell you about boys. Ask around! Smile but nows the time if your son is turning 3. hatzlacha!
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amother
  Starflower  


 

Post Sat, Nov 16 2024, 11:46 pm
To echo poster above, you need some IRL mom friends Smile. Try the women's circle or the motherhood center to meet more people in your stage, it'll make a huge difference.

Boys:
Oholei Torah - big school, no secular studies, lots of resources, teachers are hit or miss, some amazing and some less amazing, wide range of boys but they try to attract the type with higher standards
ULY - slightly smaller, yes secular studies in the later part of the day, slightly more progressive in teaching methods than OT, wide range of boys, most from families with not super high standards but not low. Not sure how to explain that well
Darchai - individual attention for kids with some learning challenges, very warm, small school
ULY Ocean Pkwy - not in CH proper but caters to CH kids, more eclectic student body, kids from lots of Chabad lite home but also some with higher standards, some excellent teachers, definitely more progressive in methodology
Ohr Menachem - Small cheder, meshichist, Yiddish speaking, very warm, not very progressive, no secular studies
OYYL - very very small, meshichist, very out of the box, I don't know much about the school itself


Girls:
Beis Rivka - community school, wide range of kids, very big, secular studies, some great teachers, some less so
Bnos Menachem - not huge, not small, pretty selective, high standards, secular studies
Beis Chaya Mushka - a bit smaller than bnos Menachem, Yiddish focus, secular studies start in third grade I think, used to be considered extreme meshichist but recently started becoming more mainstream
Ateres Chaya Mushka - small, very individual, don't know much about them


I'm for sure missing many, but hope this helps
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zigi  




 
 
    
 

Post Yesterday at 12:03 am
It is harder to get into uly crown street. Also bnos Menachem they are both smaller schools.
Smaller schools I mean only 2-3 parallel classes per grade

Bais rivkah is a community school, also ohelei Torah. They are bigger but have principals for every few grades. The principals in bais rivkah knew both of my daughters and it didn't seem like it was such a big school- I am an out of towner so it seemed overwhelming.

I sent to uly ocean Pkwy it is a smaller boys school only 1 class per grade it depends each year.

Ohr Menachem Yiddish boys school smaller school

Gan academy has both boys and girls both small class sizes. They have English

Ohelei Yosef Yitzhak small school with both boys and girls.

Ateres Chaya mushka small girls school

Bais Chaya mushka- Yiddish English starts later

Amc is a good daycare but it's easier to get your kids in a school if they start in nursery and schools are more willing to work with ieps if the kids start there than transferring in pre -1 a or transition

Ohelei Torah has a preschool in East Flatbush too. It's a smaller school. They also have have preschool in the main location
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amother
  OP  


 

Post Yesterday at 12:04 am
amother Starflower wrote:
To echo poster above, you need some IRL mom friends Smile. Try the women's circle or the motherhood center to meet more people in your stage, it'll make a huge difference.

Boys:
Oholei Torah - big school, no secular studies, lots of resources, teachers are hit or miss, some amazing and some less amazing, wide range of boys but they try to attract the type with higher standards
ULY - slightly smaller, yes secular studies in the later part of the day, slightly more progressive in teaching methods than OT, wide range of boys, most from families with not super high standards but not low. Not sure how to explain that well
Darchai - individual attention for kids with some learning challenges, very warm, small school
ULY Ocean Pkwy - not in CH proper but caters to CH kids, more eclectic student body, kids from lots of Chabad lite home but also some with higher standards, some excellent teachers, definitely more progressive in methodology
Ohr Menachem - Small cheder, meshichist, Yiddish speaking, very warm, not very progressive, no secular studies
OYYL - very very small, meshichist, very out of the box, I don't know much about the school itself


Girls:
Beis Rivka - community school, wide range of kids, very big, secular studies, some great teachers, some less so
Bnos Menachem - not huge, not small, pretty selective, high standards, secular studies
Beis Chaya Mushka - a bit smaller than bnos Menachem, Yiddish focus, secular studies start in third grade I think, used to be considered extreme meshichist but recently started becoming more mainstream
Ateres Chaya Mushka - small, very individual, don't know much about them


I'm for sure missing many, but hope this helps


Thank you,this is very helpful! At the very least now I know of more schools to look into! Had only really heard of a few of these
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amother
  OP


 

Post Yesterday at 12:06 am
You've both said OT and BR are community schools...what does that mean?
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amother
  Starflower  


 

Post Yesterday at 12:06 am
zigi wrote:
It is harder to get into uly crown street. Also bnos Menachem they are both smaller schools.
Smaller schools I mean only 2-3 parallel classes per grade

Bais rivkah is a community school, also ohelei Torah. They are bigger but have principals for every few grades. The principals in bais rivkah knew both of my daughters and it didn't seem like it was such a big school- I am an out of towner so it seemed overwhelming.

I sent to uly ocean Pkwy it is a smaller boys school only 1 class per grade it depends each year.

Ohr Menachem Yiddish boys school smaller school

Gan academy has both boys and girls both small class sizes. They have English

Ohelei Yosef Yitzhak small school with both boys and girls.

Ateres Chaya mushka small girls school

Bais Chaya mushka- Yiddish English starts later

Amc is a good daycare but it's easier to get your kids in a school if they start in nursery and schools are more willing to work with ieps if the kids start there than transferring in pre -1 a or transition

Ohelei Torah has a preschool in East Flatbush too. It's a smaller school. They also have have preschool in the main location


I forgot Gan Academy. Much more progressive methods, secular studies for both boys and girls, attracts a more modern crowd, has some amazing amazing teachers
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  zigi




 
 
    
 

Post Yesterday at 12:10 am
amother OP wrote:
You've both said OT and BR are community schools...what does that mean?

There a mix from chabad lite till really chassidish. They both are less expensive than the other schools. They work with you on tuition more.
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amother
  Starflower


 

Post Yesterday at 12:14 am
amother OP wrote:
You've both said OT and BR are community schools...what does that mean?


They try to accept every child as much as possible because they are the schools with the responsibility to the community. There are definitely exceptions and kids that have not been accepted but it's very rare, they're the "main" schools
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