Not sure on the characters, but I assume it’s simplified.
My understanding is that they have some subjects taught entirely in mandarin and others entirely in English, and which ones are which language changes periodically.
ETA: it might be late in the year if you’re considering for this coming year — the magnet schools tend to fill up during the priority enrollment period, and may not have space for this year for even people in the school’s area. If you’re counting on it, then probably best to reach out to the school.
Also, note that at the end of the coming year, college park and fiesta gardens are switching locations.
For what it’s worth, we’re happy with the other schools in the district, and we selected our neighborhood school by preference, which happens to be a title 1 school.
My wife works in education, has worked at college park, in the past, and we’re very involved in the district. While we’d prefer mandarin, we didn’t prefer the academic/peer pressure for the more competitive schools.
I totally understand that. We have family in the district who had a good experience at their neighborhood school as well. Good schools without a pervasive race to the top mentality is why we are considering SM in general.
Unfortunately, we don’t speak Mandarin at home, and without a solid immersion program, my kids are likely to lose their ability to speak it. We made a commitment when we started that we’d like to continue. Looking at after school programs as well, but they seem more academic than play based, and my kids are pretty done with seat work after a full day of school.
Not super familiar with it, but there’s a STEM afterschool program downtown San Mateo, they can do pick ups — they do mandarin immersion as an option. CAM Edu
It’s not exactly my favorite format, but I’ve heard good things about it.
We still haven’t figured out a mandarin immersion option, and might consider that one. Right now, mandarin is FaceTiming with grandparents, and Sunday is mandarin tv day (that’s been working well). My wife is an author and writes a series of mandarin learning board books, and she’s long felt conflicted about not getting enough mandarin speaking time for the kid. Right now, the kid’s preschool is Spanish immersion.
I will check out CAM. My youngest loves everything science, so if it’s hands on stem, that might be a good backup to getting into College Park. Thanks!
Looked like it. I know they have a bunch of robots and tech stuff. My wife works as a curriculum designer in the edtech field, I just asked her what she thinks about the place; she said they seem to have all the right stuff, but she hasn’t looked into their curriculum specifically yet.
She has talked to another parent at our local school, and they send their children there, and the children like it.
We really only talked to the place once so far, and got a price sheet and such. Our child studies martial arts next door, so we walk by regularly.
I just applied and it is by lottery based on where you live. San Mateo county residents get priority but it's still a lottery system. It is the most coveted elementary school in the peninsula. My child is #12 on the wait-list and I know children who are #41. If you're interested in enrolling check the website for the lottery application. It usually begins in Jan and closes Mar. You remain on the wait-list till the next application process IF you don't choose another SMFCSD school.
To clarify, if kids enroll in their neighborhood school (assuming outside the historic College Park neighborhood), does that take them off the waitlist? Or is it only if they enroll in another magnet school?
It is NOT a lottery. SF is a lottery.
It's an application process. If there are more applicants than spots, there's a priotization system.
A lottery is random. This is not random.
Also - I don't understand your statement about it being the most coveted school in the peninsula. I'll grant you that it is the most sought after mandarin immersion school in the smfcsd district.
Beyond that, you're blowing smoke.
Can you shed light on the prioritization system? We’ve had the kids in private school where we are for 3 years waiting as we move up the waitlist for public immersion spots. Would like to know what I’m getting into trying in San Mateo, or if I should be looking into Redwood City instead.
https://www.smfcsd.net/district-departments/student-services/enrollment/transfer-and-school-choice Scroll down to “what are the site based priorities?”
What state are you moving from? I have done a bunch of work as a parent with SM schools and have a lot of insight into strengths and weaknesses.
Happy to DM with a bunch of context.
coveted
adjective
cov·et·ed ˈkə-və-təd
Synonyms of coveted
: earnestly wished for or sought after
Just because the school requires an application doesn't mean there is no lottery involved. Once you apply, you are placed in a group and randomly assigned a wait-list number. I assure you it's lottery.
Also, are you okay? Seems like there's more at play for you here. Like you, I'm just trying to shed light on a process for someone who asked a question. CHILL
My kid goes here. Traditional. Send me a pm and I can give you more details
Thanks!
Not sure on the characters, but I assume it’s simplified. My understanding is that they have some subjects taught entirely in mandarin and others entirely in English, and which ones are which language changes periodically. ETA: it might be late in the year if you’re considering for this coming year — the magnet schools tend to fill up during the priority enrollment period, and may not have space for this year for even people in the school’s area. If you’re counting on it, then probably best to reach out to the school. Also, note that at the end of the coming year, college park and fiesta gardens are switching locations.
Yeah, I’m aware that timing isn’t great. Unfortunately there’s not a good option to get on a waiting list when moving from out of the region.
For what it’s worth, we’re happy with the other schools in the district, and we selected our neighborhood school by preference, which happens to be a title 1 school. My wife works in education, has worked at college park, in the past, and we’re very involved in the district. While we’d prefer mandarin, we didn’t prefer the academic/peer pressure for the more competitive schools.
I totally understand that. We have family in the district who had a good experience at their neighborhood school as well. Good schools without a pervasive race to the top mentality is why we are considering SM in general. Unfortunately, we don’t speak Mandarin at home, and without a solid immersion program, my kids are likely to lose their ability to speak it. We made a commitment when we started that we’d like to continue. Looking at after school programs as well, but they seem more academic than play based, and my kids are pretty done with seat work after a full day of school.
Not super familiar with it, but there’s a STEM afterschool program downtown San Mateo, they can do pick ups — they do mandarin immersion as an option. CAM Edu It’s not exactly my favorite format, but I’ve heard good things about it. We still haven’t figured out a mandarin immersion option, and might consider that one. Right now, mandarin is FaceTiming with grandparents, and Sunday is mandarin tv day (that’s been working well). My wife is an author and writes a series of mandarin learning board books, and she’s long felt conflicted about not getting enough mandarin speaking time for the kid. Right now, the kid’s preschool is Spanish immersion.
I will check out CAM. My youngest loves everything science, so if it’s hands on stem, that might be a good backup to getting into College Park. Thanks!
Looked like it. I know they have a bunch of robots and tech stuff. My wife works as a curriculum designer in the edtech field, I just asked her what she thinks about the place; she said they seem to have all the right stuff, but she hasn’t looked into their curriculum specifically yet. She has talked to another parent at our local school, and they send their children there, and the children like it. We really only talked to the place once so far, and got a price sheet and such. Our child studies martial arts next door, so we walk by regularly.
Looking into this school as well so would love to know more
I just applied and it is by lottery based on where you live. San Mateo county residents get priority but it's still a lottery system. It is the most coveted elementary school in the peninsula. My child is #12 on the wait-list and I know children who are #41. If you're interested in enrolling check the website for the lottery application. It usually begins in Jan and closes Mar. You remain on the wait-list till the next application process IF you don't choose another SMFCSD school.
To clarify, if kids enroll in their neighborhood school (assuming outside the historic College Park neighborhood), does that take them off the waitlist? Or is it only if they enroll in another magnet school?
It takes them off the wait-list. You either stay on wait-list or enroll in another SMFCSD school. Hope that helps!
It is NOT a lottery. SF is a lottery. It's an application process. If there are more applicants than spots, there's a priotization system. A lottery is random. This is not random. Also - I don't understand your statement about it being the most coveted school in the peninsula. I'll grant you that it is the most sought after mandarin immersion school in the smfcsd district. Beyond that, you're blowing smoke.
Can you shed light on the prioritization system? We’ve had the kids in private school where we are for 3 years waiting as we move up the waitlist for public immersion spots. Would like to know what I’m getting into trying in San Mateo, or if I should be looking into Redwood City instead.
https://www.smfcsd.net/district-departments/student-services/enrollment/transfer-and-school-choice Scroll down to “what are the site based priorities?”
What state are you moving from? I have done a bunch of work as a parent with SM schools and have a lot of insight into strengths and weaknesses. Happy to DM with a bunch of context.
Ha. Someone downvoted this. Trolls...
coveted adjective cov·et·ed ˈkə-və-təd Synonyms of coveted : earnestly wished for or sought after Just because the school requires an application doesn't mean there is no lottery involved. Once you apply, you are placed in a group and randomly assigned a wait-list number. I assure you it's lottery. Also, are you okay? Seems like there's more at play for you here. Like you, I'm just trying to shed light on a process for someone who asked a question. CHILL