Is pre-k difficult to get in to in your area?

meghans30

We have a lot of options where I am for pre-k. A LOT of church run programs, the YMCA, daycare options, public pre-k ... My DS #2 turns 3 in October and I haven't even begun the process. I'm pretty sure we're going to place him in the program at my high school. He'll be in pre-k for 3 years. I am amazed at what some of you have to go through to get your child a spot in a program and Belle4 does it anger you that some of the programs gave you a hard time because you have 3? Amazing.

butterbeansmama

Nope. We have a wide variety of places to choose from.

oparcm

I had to put my dd on a wait list the year before she started.  I also enrolled her at 2.9 in the 3y.o. class because they get priority moving up to the 4 year old program.  Dd will be in prek 3 years because she is a November baby and the cutoff is 5 for K by the first day of school.

Temp108743750006959

yes and no. there was definitely a rush to get into our preK program but not outrageous. some of the Jewish preschool programs and Friends preschool programs are really competitive in my corner of the world.

stillhoping

Yes it did anger me. I was irate I even called the state office who according to their website would help you if you had issues, the only help got was being told again to wait overnight in a business parking lot.

 

My children had gone to three years of a church run program, that is hard to get into but since we go to church there we got to register prior to the general public. They went there for three years and I was ready for a longer day for them. The Georgia Pre K option that I wanted them to be a part of but after the responses we decided to go with kindergarten since they met the cut off with the thought that if they had to repeat or go to transition which is a tad harder than K but not as hard as first grade.. 

juniper19

You can get into a public pre-K program for your 4yo but you aren't guaranteed anything that is nearby or of good quality.

Private preschool is like applying for college.  Essays and interviews and all.

Chrisy-Wyobride

The "best" ones....yes...in general No.  I put my DD #2 on the waitlist for her school (she starts in the Fall) when she was 1mo old.  Luckily DD#1 got in first (barely) so now we are set because we get sibling priority.

JOEBunny

You can get in pre-k here, but if you want the programs that are better, you have to be very diligent and proactive and drop some cash. 

What Belle4K is talking about is not uncommon here.  She could find a school that would take them, but it would probably not be her 1st choice. 

GA provides free pre-k, which few states do.  It is 32.5 hours a week, so a much cheaper substitute for daycare, which makes it very popular.  50% of kids in GA attend it.  The way it is administered is horrendous.  It is provided by private providers and some elementary schools.  Most kids in accredited daycare automatically get a spot, but if you don't have your child in daycare, you have to do the dance.

penguingrrl

It's so hard in NYC, and so expensive, that we'll be commuting a little over an hour to central NJ to our parents area so Julia can go to preschool next year.  We will apply for public pre-K for the year that she's 4, but will only use it  if we get a good assignment.  Otherwise we'll commute again.

meghans30

Belle4KP:

Yes it did anger me. I was irate I even called the state office who according to their website would help you if you had issues, the only help got was being told again to wait overnight in a business parking lot.

 

My children had gone to three years of a church run program, that is hard to get into but since we go to church there we got to register prior to the general public. They went there for three years and I was ready for a longer day for them. The Georgia Pre K option that I wanted them to be a part of but after the responses we decided to go with kindergarten since they met the cut off with the thought that if they had to repeat or go to transition which is a tad harder than K but not as hard as first grade.. 

I was angry just reading that!

Angela814

There's only one 4K program in my district. I have no idea if it's hard to get into. Sign ups are next week.

LanaM

No, there are plenty of places here.....  my kid is in public school pre-K. Town next door which has excellent school system (not the case here, but we're hoping to move soon), has pre-K by lottery..... if you don't get in, you don't get in.

 

stillhoping

you know I am in Georgia as well...

it is horrid.. when dh called he was told that if he made a donation to the center we would have a better chance.. Nice right..

 

No big deal they were ready any way for K.. and are doing great. 

KellyGreen

Wisconsin mandates free public pre-K.  DS will go to our local elementary school and take a bus 3 blocks to the daycare/preschool he attends now for the other part of the day.  It's only 2.5 hours per day here, I think.