TA vs. TI vs. TS | Imamother

amother

Sat, Jan 09 2021, 10:59 pm

Can people from Baltimore tell me about the boys' schools?

What is each school like?

Between TA and TI, which one is warmer?

Are they equally frum, or is one considered more right-wing than the other? Or are they both community schools like Bais Yaakov?

Is TS established enough that I can send there without worrying about the typical problems of non-established schools?

If we were to move there, at what point would we need to apply to ensure that our child had a spot? Are they selective or does pretty much everyone get in?

How does tuition compare?

What are the academics like in each school?

amother

Taupe

Sat, Jan 09 2021, 11:15 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

All are excellent. All are warm and accepting. And in my opinion, all are just as frum. TI parents may disagree (they try to be more like a cheder and we sent there for a year but other than the longer school year, its no different than TA really). . But all are community schools like BY and Bnos. TS is new and smaller and has lets spots. TA and TI wont turn away.

You sound like you are moving here from Lakewood/NY. Forget the trope about an “established” school. Thats not an issue here. Baltimore is one big warm community. See each school and pick the one that resonates with you. But you cant go wrong. All of our schools are amazing.

amother

Sat, Jan 09 2021, 11:31 pm

amother [ Taupe ] wrote:

Please don't judge me so quickly. I'm not a typical New Yorker. I asked that only to find out if there's going to be a financial issue in the school. For reference, we have looked into Passaic and heard that the Cheder there didn't open at times because of financial issues. The same thing happened to Lakewood schools. That's all I care about; I don't want my kid to suddenly have no school!

What do you mean about the longer school year in TI?

amother

Taupe

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 12:00 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

I’m not judging you. I mentioned location because those cities have a thing about “established schools” and thats not a thing here. So I’n saying forget that. Leave it behind and enjoy a different kind of thought process when choosing a school. Its easier here! If you means will the school open because its newer and may not have funds, then say that Wink

. TS has not had any issues since they first opened.

amother

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 12:02 am

amother [ Taupe ] wrote:

. TS has not had any issues since they first opened.

That's my point; my mentality isn't about "established" at all. When I used that word, I meant established financially. I'm sorry that I didn't realize it has a different connotation. Perhaps that shows you that my mentality is not like other New Yorkers'!

mommylev

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 12:04 am

TI mother here. Toras Simcha has a good name. Everyone I've spoken to who sends there has been happy. It sounds like they are willing to work with the parents for what the child needs. I do disagree that there is no difference in TA. Both are very fine schools. Academically they are basically equal. Torah Institute is considered more right wing. Although in both schools there are boys with smartphones/music/movies, in TA the boys are more comfortable talking openly about it, while TI boys would be more abashed to do so. Also, both TA and TI have FANTASTIC preschools.

amother

Jetblack

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 1:02 am

Of the three TI is the frummest. TA is the most community school like, and TS is between the two. All are good frum schools. All are warm and welcoming. I don't know much about TS but parents love it there and kids are happy and the principal is a great person. It is also the smallest of the three. TA and TI have fantastic preschools and my kids are in TA and love it there.

TI is much frummer than TA. I'm surprised anyone is telling you different. They run more like a cheder, have less english, have frummer hashkafa, and the parent body on a whole is frummer.

TA is the biggest with 4 to 5 classes per grade. They have great rebbis and the education is fine. Not the best in the world but decent and my kids are doing well and learning well.

I think tuition wise they are probably all similar but you get an extra month from TS and TI so I guess it's cheaper since you pay for less camp.

TS is established enough that this doesn't need to be a factor unless you need special resources then TA is probably better for you.

amother

Taupe

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 7:47 am

amother [ Jetblack ] wrote:

In terms of resources, I think TA has a learning center and a special education class for kids who need it. Plus they have kriyah and reading specialists. Just a perk of big schools. I'm not sure what the other schools offer in terms of this.

TA’s resource program is k-5th grade and is actually not TA but Shemesh, a program of the Associated. There is an extra fee for this program - my son is part of it and it is excellent. The teachers all have masters in special ed and the head, Mrs. Danziger, is phenomenal.

amother

Taupe

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 7:59 am

amother [ Jetblack ] wrote:

Do you really want to say TI is much more frum? I did’t feel the need to go there, but... My husband taught at TI and TA and also teaches at Shlangers, where many of the TI grads go. My son went to TI for a year... all due respect to TI but no, it is not much frummer than TA. They want to think they are maybe. Maybe some of the parent body is..: TA has some moms who don’t cover all of their hair and who push the tznius limits, but TI had moms who push also. My boys have long peyos (we are chassidish) and were made fun of mercilessly at TI for it, as was my husband by his 8th graders there. There are no kids/very few kids with long peyos there. TA has many, and the kids there are more receptive and more open to things that are out of their box. The chassisish families in town (who are not part of the kollel) send to TA. When I begged for help at TI with the teasing, I got no where. The emphasis on kodesh does not make a school more frum, it makes it lack general studies. It’s part of the image they want to project maybe. Also, like Mommylev said, both TI and TA boys are exposed to shows, smartphones, movies etc) but the TI crowd makes it all hush hush. Thats not more frum. TI has many more strictly yeshivish parents, but most people I’ve spoken to agree with my assessment.

Of course this is a huge generalization, but in a community like Baltimore where we all live together and get along so well, you cant really say one is far more frum. And again, both kids and parents generally are happy with both.

amother

Lavender

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 8:42 am

amother [ Jetblack ] wrote:

TS has two resource room teachers for Hebrew and I believe they have one for English as well. They also pull the boys out regularly to assess where they are holding in terms of kriah. We recently moved here from NY and are very happy in the school! My boys came from a much bigger school and I am thrilled with the smaller class size as it enables the rebbe and teachers to really be on top of all aspects of the boys development. They are very hands on at recess and there a zero tolerance for bullying.
The highest grade right now is 5th and as a matter of fact that class has new boy who just transferred from another big school where he was bullied terribly.
They teach in a very hands on manner and again I have to say that I am very impressed! My boys are extremely happy.
Space is very limited
My son will be in nursery next year and I believe there are only 9 slots...
I’d be happy to answer any other questions.

amother

Aqua

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 9:55 am

Old time Baltimore here. TI used to be way more yeshivish. When it opened it was yiddish only and had no chol. The boys were bussed to TA for chol. Even when I grew up, I'd say it was more yeshivish. Now I'd say less so. Both schools have a mix. Maybe TI's ratios are smaller in terms of mix, but still has the mix.

I ultimately sent to TA. 2 of my boys are in yeshiva already. A regular mainstream one, with both TA and TI boys there. My last son is in TA. I will say I am very impressed with the rabbaim there. The warmth and love is clear. My son absolutely loves and loved all his rabbaim. He's happy to go to school and comes home happy. He is learning well and loves to learn. They stress midos,which is important to me.

In the end both send to the same yeshivos after 8th (yes some boys stay in TA highschool, but I know a couple TI boys who went to TA highschool too).

I don't know much about TS, but hear people are very happy there. Both TI and TS have an 11 month school year, where as TA is 10 months.

Visit each school and send to the one that "talks" to you. None are bad options. But one will be the best for you and your children.

Hashem_Yaazor

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 10:37 am

TS is growing by a grade a year, and average class size is probably around 15 and they don't want it to get bigger, so it might be hard to join. Very happy parents there.

I'm surprised at the posts claiming that TI and TA are the same. Their hashkafa balancing kodesh and chol is quite different. TI does have a resource room system in place, new in the past few years. And chassidish boys went to TI just a few years ago at least (my sons were in school with Eichenstein boys)

amother

Slateblue

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 10:52 am

TI is definitely more yeshivish. They emphasize learning and kollel. All the mothers in ti cover their hair fully and dress tznius. Ti goes through July and starts school on Sunday earlier.

Ta is an excellent school. Rabbi kahana is warm and greets every boy but I heard he’s leaving. The secular subjects are better in TA. TA boys will watch movies and talk about it and all types of kids kippa sruga and velvet yarmulke together.

TS is yeshivish not trendy type. My friend who sends there says it’s not the leggings type. Her 2 year old wears pants not leggings

amother

Rose

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 11:08 am

Ta is community school, much bigger mix of kids/types. Way more internet/smartphones/even TVs. More like a day school/girls school schedule (no yeshiva in summer, start sundays at older age).

Ti Is more yeshivish. Cheder thru July, sundays start in pre1a. Som fam w internet/smartphones but kept much more quiet. Kids not talking about shows/etc... )most prob really don't watch anything). English and resources have been improving last several years.

Ts is smaller/newer. I don't know much about about it

amother

Green

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 11:53 am

amother [ Taupe ] wrote:

I'm so sorry that your son did not have a good experience at TI. That's terrible.

But OP, I'm pretty sure that if you would ask anyone (TA and TI parents), they would mostly agree that TI translates into a frummer environment and caters to a more homogenous clientele.

amother

Green

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 11:55 am

amother [ Taupe ] wrote:

Some of the chassidish families in town who are not a part of the kollel send to TI.

amother

Lavender

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 12:03 pm

amother [ Slateblue ] wrote:

Regarding your last line- what is her 2 year old doing in TS? Please clarify
My two boys are there and next year I will have 3 iyh- (as I said earlier my now 4 year old will be in nursery next year).My almost two year old wears leggings and my boys are dressed more New York type
I think the difference is that nobody cares and more importantly nobody judges.

Op TI has a very long day. My first grade neighbor gets home around or a bit after 5. He comes home around 2 on Sunday.
It’s a lot More Hebrew than English. I think it boils down to what your looking for in a school. The people who sent to each school are for the most part happy bec they researched and sent to the school that speaks to them hashkafically etc