there's been a lot of school talk lately on HB & with a lot of friends going to preschool registrations. since we're house hunting, school district shopping is a big part of that. a couple of the towns we're looking at have public preschools, but most don't.
does your area have public preschools, if so what is the tuition? is it similar to private preschool cost or a significant savings? are they decent enough where you'd consider sending your child there? was this a selling point for you?
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
No public preschools here except for Head Start, and we obviously don't qualify. We just made sure that the preschool we were leaning towards was near enough to our house that we wouldn't mind the commute. It's actually not far from my work, so it makes drop off very convenient.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
We have public preschools and I think it's it's about $170 a month for 3 days which are 2.5 hour days.
persimmon / 1479 posts
Head Start is our only public option for 3 year olds. And then there is 4 year old kindergarden. Both of them are free.
bananas / 9628 posts
@mrsmenow: 4 year old kindergarten? do they go to kindergarten again at 5 or start first grade early? i haven't heard of that!
i guess i can add, the city we live in now has free half day preschool for 4 year olds, i wouldn't consider sending our children to it though. our top choice town has public preschool and the tuition depends on how many days your child goes, each day is 2.5 hrs, and it ranges from $183.34 for 2 days- $351.44 per month for 5 days. there is a lottery because of the high demand. our second choice town doesn't have public preschool outside of the head start program and a special needs school.
persimmon / 1479 posts
@mrs. bird: 4 year old kindergarden is for all 4 year olds (no requirements like head start) and they go part time (some districts do 2 full days, ours does 3 half days a week). And then when they turn 5 they go all day everyday kindergarden.
bananas / 9628 posts
@mrsmenow: oh ok! most places around here don't have full day kindergarten or there is a small lottery and most people don't get in, but if you do you pay $3,200 tuition for the extra half day.
honeydew / 7488 posts
We have public pre-K here for 3 and 4 yr olds who are considered at risk. Maybe that is officially Head Start. There is a tuition based pre-K with the public schools and it is available both half day and extended, and it is $2700/ yr for half day. There is also a pre-k for students with disabilities. I actually just looked all that up and didn't even know it was available until DD turned 4. I don't know anyone who have sent their kids there, and the kids have been enrolled in Montessori day care since birth almost, so I just kept them there for pre-school.
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