if your DC goes to/ are considering a high-end private preschool....

minnasmommy

how do you justify the cost?

We recently got the news that S got into the preschool that she has been on the waiting list for since she was 8 months old.

the thing is...it is SO expensive. my ILs actually want to split it with us b.c it's supposed to be such a great preschool.  It's practically college tuition for 4 days/ week preschool.

what did you do? 

 

mattslady

What would I do?  I wouldn't do it!

Seriously?  Its preschool.  The only way I would spend THAT much money on preschool would be if I had so much money that I wouldn't even notice or if I was famous and wanted my kids to be protected from paparazzi or something.  Again - its PRESCHOOL!!

minnasmommy

matts--I know. I know. It IS just preschool.  It is good for her to have her foot in the door though if we need to fall back on it for elementary school. the district we're in now sucks and we're having a hard time finding a house we love in the town we want (which has wonderful public schools).

I really have to pull out the paperwork and remind myself why this school is so wonderful.   lol

springmom

Is this JUST for preschool, or will this get her a spot in kindergarden and on into elementary school?

penguingrrl

I personally wouldn't do it.  We're struggling right now with what to do since there isn't an affordable preschool option in Manhattan and, sadly, are pretty sure Julia is going to have to miss out on preschool due to the cost, but even if we could come up with the cheapest part  time program I've found up here I don't think I could justify spending that on preschool.  I'd rather save it in case we need to do private school later on.

Angela814

I may just agree with mattslady for the first time ever.

I would have a really hard time justifying a ton of $$ for preschool.

Is it full days? How does it compare to normal daycare costs near you?

DevonPow

We are in the same boat. DS has a spot saved in a fabulous pre-school, but it costs more than my private high school did. The expense is outrageous. He is on two other waitlists - one he has been on since he was 10 months old, and one for the "public" option (which is still $8000 a year, if you can believe it), and is basically impossible to get into. If he doesn't get off either of the other waitlists, we will send him to the expensive school.. I really struggle with it sometimes. On one hand, I love the thought of sending him somewhere I am 100% comfortable with, love, and know he will do very well in. On the other hand.. it is just pre-school. Also, just because we CAN afford it, doesn't mean we SHOULD, you know? So, I am torn as well.

mattslady

After reading other responses, let me ammend my position.  I would pay it IF it was the only way that we could get her into the elementary school we KNEW we wanted.  But if you're trying to move to an area where you would do public anyway - then no, still wouldn't.

Would also pay it if my kid need some therapy or special programming like PMQ needed and this was the only way to get it.

Would also pay it if I was a WOHM and it was only marginally more than the full time daycare I would have to pay anyway.

wellfleet04

We decided not to do it.  We found a WONDERFUL co-op that I like as well as the expensive/more prestigious preschools around here, so we are sending her there.  LOTS of my friends are doing the $$$ option, but I can't justify it.  I know for a fact that we are sending her to public K-12, so there is no earthly reason to spend big bucks on preschool.  We are not trying to get in the pipeline for later on. 

It can be hard to step off the hamster wheel in a high income area, but really think about whether it is the best place for S, or just the "best" on paper/by reputation.  If there is some reason that it will really, really be best for S, I would maybe (maybe!) consider it, but if it is just based on it being fancy I would look around more. 

What's wrong with the school she goes to now, for example?

isabella22

I would, if I could afford it.

The daycare/preschool that we send DD to is probably one of the most expensive ones in the city, but we think it is worth it.  We love it and she loves it.  I don't like to do the math and see what we pay a year...

It is private, in our neighborhood, better than standard child/teacher ratios, extras like music and yoga, etc, so easy to justify in my mind.

buffalo_buckeye

I couldn't justify it. Not at age 3 or 4. They are primarily learning to share, get along with others, be self sufficient, do crafts and a few letters, numbers etc. DS preschool has gym time, music class and dance class if you want. Anything extra I can do with him on his days off bc I stay at home.

VivaAmore

We were almost faced with this issue when we lived in DE where the public school systems were not what we were willing to accept for our kids. If it's your ONLY option, I think you could stomach the cost pretty easily, but it seems like you have options here (the real possibility of moving into a town with excellent public schools).

In all honesty, now that I've finished my education and see how things work in the real world, I don't see that much of a difference between those that spent a fortune on their education and those that didn't, and I have a few friends that are ivy leaguers.

momphd

We'll be spending over 24K next year.  It costs what it costs, IMO.  Paying for college will be a cinch after this

pincushions

We moved. There was no way we wanted to pay 7k pr kid for preschool. The 2 schools we LOVED pretty much required you to go to preschool there. It was almost the only way you could get a spot.

We moved 30 miles south of our previous neighborhood and tuition in the big private school here is half that cost.

It is insane.

We don't have to be on a waiting list here.