- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
-
Hello All,
My son got accepted to Beaubien RGC 1st grade. This was our first choice. He is currently in a good neighborhood school (Sauganash), so we are a bit torn. Any insights or experience with the school? Would really love to connect. Thank you so much!
-
I have a kid at Beaubien RGC. We’ve been happy. They do jump right into 2nd grade material. There is a solid science emphasis with accelerating that a year and a science lab as a special rotation. There’s a librarian which many schools don’t have. Good community and the kids seems to get along well. One spelling to-do and one math worksheet a night for homework. The parents are down to earth. Anything in particular you are wondering about?
If your other option is your neighborhood, you can always try Beaubien and easily return to neighborhood if that’s your preference.
If you search this forum for Beaubien you will see several people talk about it from years past. “Hidden gem” is often used to describe it.
-
Sauganash is great. IMO it comes down to convenience for your family. Drop off at Beaubien is atrocious and start time is 745. If you can walk to Sauganash that is a big deal. Also are there silblings to consider? Getting multiple kids into the RGC is tough and not a given. Do not underestimate the value of neighborbood friends and an easier life for parents…esp when your neighborbood school is that good.
-
Would you pick Beaubien RGC over Coonley as the neighborhood school, for first grade?
-
I saw your post on the other list as well. I do think #1 on Beaubien will move since it’s an entry year (1st grade)—-It did my child’s year from what other parents said.
We drive from just north of Lincoln square and it’s been worth it for us. It’s not quite as far as Coonley though. Our child wasn’t happy with the Challenge/stimulation level (lack there of) in K at our neighborhood school. But Coonley might be different. You can always revert back to your neighborhood school. No idea if McPherson will move. They should have three new seats in first grade (28 up from 25). Happy to answer Beaubien questions.
I disagree that drop off is a nightmare, we park two blocks away and it’s fine. We just don’t drive all the way to the school and stay to the east of the school.-
Thank you, this helps a lot. How is your experience so far at Beaubien? The teachers? The academic level? I’m also a bit afraid for the little one to not be overwhelmed.
How was the traffic in the morning with the 7:45 drop off?
-
-
-
Beaubien is indeed a hidden gem! The options program is integrated into the neighborhood program so the children have specials and recess/lunch together. I think this is a benefit. We do not live in the neighborhood and must drive everyday, if you arrive before 7:35 there is no issue with parking about 1 block away and walking. We also pick up everyday and follow the same, arrive 10 minutes early and park 1-2 blocks away. Teachers are lovely and engaged. There is a true sense of community.
-
Thank you. We’re also #5 at McPherson but not sure if that lists move or whether it’s the better option in case we wait for it. Beaubien sounds great though.
-
-
My son is #5 on the Tier 3 waitlist for Beaubien’s 1st-grade entry. What are the chances of him getting in? Thanks in advance!
-
Probably not super helpful but from a FOIA release others posted here looks like one year there were 9 offers for tier 3 and another year 2 offers for tier 3. So I think it’s not clear one way or the other and will depend on what people decide this year.
-
We have not been happy with Beaubien options at all. Our child started in 1st grade and will be in 3rd this coming year. The school has a good community but the academics have been disappointing. As someone as pointed out they just completely skip 1st grade material and start w 2nd grade. This would make sense at a classical school where all the kids tested above grade level in reading and math, but not for the RGC test. If your child is not reading fluently before 1st grade, they will struggle and there is no help or differentiation. The teachers just let those kids struggle. At one point we actually asked the first grade teacher and the gifted coordinator if we should switch back to our neighborhood school bc it did not seem like they were equipped to deal with kids at different academic levels and they assured us there would be differentiation, but there was not. I really wish we had left our daughter at our neighborhood school but now she has friends at Beaubien and I don’t want moving her back to make her feel like she failed. The specials are also a mess. Last year her class got 10 weeks of art/spanish and they claim to have Spanish instruction. She doesn’t know anything except “hola”. The music teacher seems to lose classroom control often and they are told they have to sit in silence for 5 to 10 minutes… in MUSIC CLASS. sit in SILENCE. Our older child is at Edison and there differences are ASTOUNDING. The academics are not even comparable. If your neighborhood school is good, I would not recommend sending your kid here. We have been really disappointed.
-
Thanks for sharing your experience. My little one is doing well in math, already doing 2nd grade stuff, but probably the reading is in the late 1st grade stage, still struggles with unusual words. So hopefully she will do well. It might be worth a try since you can always go back to the neighborhood school and she won’t miss any curriculum really. But your concerns were definitely mine as well.
-
-
