Timely post Chitra. It’s unbelievable that the admission process starts off this early indeed. The points that you have summarized are valuable indeed.
Another point that parents may want to look at is the number of after school activities offered. While most of the schools have basic exposure to art, a lot of them do offer a decent variety of classes as an after school activity.
And BTW - Looking at some of the recent comments on Zeeksha, it looks like Shishu Griha has already accepting applications for Montessori :).
-Ganapathy
Comment by Ganapathy — September 8, 2009 @ 11:11 am
[…] It is that time of the year when parents are gearing up for school admissions. Here’s a post about the factors we considered for narrowing down on a school for our kids. Read more here. […]
Thank you for this timely and wonderful post Chitra ! It’s crystal clear and it’s true the different criteria you put down on the post.
Obviously the ideal school in my opinion would be the fairly mainstream schools that have adapted with a super easy commute. And affordability too, since it’s not a question of what we can afford or not today, but for the next 10-15 years, plus the peer group that my kids interact with - we don’t them living in an expensive bubble.
I do not want to put my child through the horror of a long terrible commute.. One of my readers had an interesting point - the school you pick may today be 15 mins away by van, just add 5-10 mins for every year - can you imagine what will happen by the time they’re in higher classes and need to spend more time studying?
So, yes if I make sure that these are my criteria, and stick to it, I’ll probably be able to compromise on other factors (class ratios, extra curricular etc) and pick a school - and hopefully get admissions there!
Thanks Chitra. This was a very helpful post.My daughter has to get into LKG next year and I have been thinking on the same lines. Every single point you mention is very valid.
Excellent post, Chitra. In the US, we are used to not having to make so many choices for our kids’s schools. We intend to head back to India soon, and are mentally preparing ourselves for this painful process.
Can you tell us which school you chose for your kids? For other R2I-ers like us, it might be helpful to know which school you finally chose
Nicely written chitra, since I have been through this admission process once before for my older son, this time for my second son I am very watchful. One of the most reputed schools in Malleshwaram has started giving applications for pre-nursery starting from today and most of the school on this side of Bangalore will start giving the application from 1st week of October as soon as they re-open after mid-term vacation.
Comment by Rashmi Gopalakrishna — September 10, 2009 @ 8:09 am
Thanks Ganapathy. True, some of the schools do include extra-curriculars after school hours.
I heard about Sishu Griha too. Thanks again.
Poppy, your 2nd para sums it up nicely for you. All the best with your search. Like I have already told you when I met you, your choices from that part of town are those that you already know of.
I am not sure, I understand your reader’s concern of adding of 5-10 mins more per year. Does she mean the traffic will keep worsening, that what takes you 15 mins now will take you an hour a few years later?
Thanks Collection of Stars. Glad the post was of help.
Radhika, thanks. I do not want to divulge the name of the school on the blog, but if you email me, I can tell you more.
Rashmi, thanks. Can you please share with us which is this school that has already given out forms? Thanks.
Poppy, I know Rashmi. Let me see how I can contact her.
Hi, I have to get my son into LKG next year can somebody tell me about Frank Anthony Public School in Ulsoor and about the admission procedure they follow.
Timely post Chitra. It’s unbelievable that the admission process starts off this early indeed. The points that you have summarized are valuable indeed.
Another point that parents may want to look at is the number of after school activities offered. While most of the schools have basic exposure to art, a lot of them do offer a decent variety of classes as an after school activity.
And BTW - Looking at some of the recent comments on Zeeksha, it looks like Shishu Griha has already accepting applications for Montessori :).
-Ganapathy
Comment by Ganapathy — September 8, 2009 @ 11:11 am
[…] It is that time of the year when parents are gearing up for school admissions. Here’s a post about the factors we considered for narrowing down on a school for our kids. Read more here. […]
Pingback by Chitra Aiyer | Time for school admissions — September 9, 2009 @ 2:36 am
Thank you for this timely and wonderful post Chitra ! It’s crystal clear and it’s true the different criteria you put down on the post.
Obviously the ideal school in my opinion would be the fairly mainstream schools that have adapted with a super easy commute. And affordability too, since it’s not a question of what we can afford or not today, but for the next 10-15 years, plus the peer group that my kids interact with - we don’t them living in an expensive bubble.
I do not want to put my child through the horror of a long terrible commute.. One of my readers had an interesting point - the school you pick may today be 15 mins away by van, just add 5-10 mins for every year - can you imagine what will happen by the time they’re in higher classes and need to spend more time studying?
So, yes if I make sure that these are my criteria, and stick to it, I’ll probably be able to compromise on other factors (class ratios, extra curricular etc) and pick a school - and hopefully get admissions there!
Comment by Poppy — September 9, 2009 @ 3:07 am
Thanks Chitra. This was a very helpful post.My daughter has to get into LKG next year and I have been thinking on the same lines. Every single point you mention is very valid.
Comment by Collection Of Stars — September 9, 2009 @ 9:10 am
Excellent post, Chitra. In the US, we are used to not having to make so many choices for our kids’s schools. We intend to head back to India soon, and are mentally preparing ourselves for this painful process.
Can you tell us which school you chose for your kids? For other R2I-ers like us, it might be helpful to know which school you finally chose
Comment by Radhika — September 9, 2009 @ 7:44 pm
Nicely written chitra, since I have been through this admission process once before for my older son, this time for my second son I am very watchful. One of the most reputed schools in Malleshwaram has started giving applications for pre-nursery starting from today and most of the school on this side of Bangalore will start giving the application from 1st week of October as soon as they re-open after mid-term vacation.
Comment by Rashmi Gopalakrishna — September 10, 2009 @ 8:09 am
Oh lord which school is this that has started giving the applications already in malleswaram. Chitra do you know Rashmi?
Comment by Poppy — September 15, 2009 @ 10:16 am
Thanks Ganapathy. True, some of the schools do include extra-curriculars after school hours.
I heard about Sishu Griha too. Thanks again.
Poppy, your 2nd para sums it up nicely for you. All the best with your search. Like I have already told you when I met you, your choices from that part of town are those that you already know of.
I am not sure, I understand your reader’s concern of adding of 5-10 mins more per year. Does she mean the traffic will keep worsening, that what takes you 15 mins now will take you an hour a few years later?
Thanks Collection of Stars. Glad the post was of help.
Radhika, thanks. I do not want to divulge the name of the school on the blog, but if you email me, I can tell you more.
Rashmi, thanks. Can you please share with us which is this school that has already given out forms? Thanks.
Poppy, I know Rashmi. Let me see how I can contact her.
Comment by Chitra — September 16, 2009 @ 6:12 am
Poppy,
Purna Pragna Education Center and Sri Vidya Mandir have already issued the applications. ( if you are interested in state syllabus).
Comment by rashmi gopalakrishna — September 17, 2009 @ 9:13 am
Thanks Rashmi,
I’m not interested in state syllabus right now, but thanks a million for coming back and letting me know!
Comment by Poppy — September 22, 2009 @ 6:32 am
Hi
We are also returning to India.
Are there any good schools (not international) near Electronic City to enroll my kid for LKG?
Thanks
Comment by Lakshmi — September 25, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
just one clarification, about Admission fee.. is this charged every year?? or is it a one time payment?
Comment by Sunita — October 28, 2009 @ 3:26 pm
Sunita, admission fees is charged only once and not every year.
Comment by prithvi — November 11, 2009 @ 3:21 am
Hi, I have to get my son into LKG next year can somebody tell me about Frank Anthony Public School in Ulsoor and about the admission procedure they follow.
Comment by shalu — November 14, 2009 @ 12:08 pm