tough pre-school choice

Karenin

My son will start this fall (he's just turning three) and we have two options for preschool (he has a spot in both) and I don't know what to do.

Option 1: Great school we love. It is $450 per month (sadly cheap for where we live) and while I currently take public transit to work, I'd have to drive and do the pick up/drop off with him, and that would also add costs since we live in a big city where parking by work is pretty expensive even with validation (another $200 per month). This added $650 a month is a lot for our budget.

Option 2: Preschool through our local parks district. Very inexpensive- $800 for the whole year, same hours as option 1. Right across the street, nanny could take our infant and do pick up and drop off easily. Our nanny sees this class at the playground and says the teachers seem fine but not fantastic when she observes them with the kids at playground time. We have toured this place and it seems perfectly fine but nothing extraordinary.

We plan to move back to our home state in a year, so for age 4 he will likely be in a different program. I feel very torn about what is "best" for our son in this circumstance. Any advice?

jesselayne8

I would do option #2 since you plan on moving.

ashiscute

I would do option #2.  Personally I could not justify that huge of a price difference.  Unless option #2 is a poorly run place then I would do it.  

Aurora_Borealis

Option #2 all the way. Why spend nearly $7000 extra per year to make your life more complicated? Bank the savings to do other educational/enriching things with your children. Or put it in a college fund.

SusieBW

Aurora_Borealis said:

Option #2 all the way. Why spend nearly $7000 extra per year to make your life more complicated? Bank the savings to do other educational/enriching things with your children. Or put it in a college fund.

All of this.  Especially since you know you're moving in a year anyway.

fjamil1

I go with option #2 if you'll be moving in a Year. 

sunnyday016

Definitely #2. Not even a question, IMO.