Preschool costs and when to apply

KristinandChris

DD is 15 months now but I'm starting to look ahead at preschool options.  Right now she goes to a wonderful in-home daycare program but I'd like for her to attend a preschool.  I've been doing some research and I like montessori (sp?) schools or preschools attatched to a church.  We also have to find one with a before and after school option during the school year because I teach full time. 

What age did you enroll your DC?  Is 3 too early?  When did you start applying for schools?  I've heard there are waiting lists.  Also, I know price varies but a ballpark range would be really helpful.  Right now we pay $160 a week which includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks, we just provide diapers. 

Thanks!

Artslvr

I did site visits to preschools when I was out on maternity leave with DD #2, so about the time DD #1 turned 2 - which was Feb. 2009.  I'd say that people start looking around and the preschools do open houses in January - May, for the kids to start either that summer or that Fall.

There were 9 spots open at the preschool we finally chose, and I hesitated a little bit because I was deciding between a non-Montessori one and her current one, and by the time we decided to go with her current one we got the second to last spot.  That was maybe April?  School year started in September. 

DD started at age 2 1/2 which was the youngest you could start at her school.  The kids have to be 100% potty trained for our particular school, so we started in May and had her potty trained in plenty of time for her September start. 

But there are tons of preschools that help you potty train, so that shouldn't be an obstacle.

Our Montessori school is physically attached to a church, but is not a religious school at all.

I'd say the normal prices I saw were about $1200 - $1400 a month and that includes lunch. 

I found it really challenging to find a preschool that had the option of all-day care.  So that noarrowed our options dramatically.  Finding a preschool, in a way, was just a logistically challenging as finding daycare for a baby, but it wasn't as mentally anguishing because I just had so few options.  I really only had three or four places close to our house that had the hours that we needed.

I am a HUGE fan of Montessori education, but I'm an educator (specifically an arts educator), and DD #1 is well suited for it, so it's a whole philosophy that I jive with.  However, I don't think Montessori is right for every child - it totally depends on the kid.  I have no concept yet whether or not DD #2 will be suited for it - we'll see as she gets older.  That's my non-expert opinion.

AgrippaRidesAgain

You're in the Woodbridge/Dumfries area, right?  Let me know, and I'll post everything I've found for this area.  I'm scoping out preschools for DS right now--he'd start at around 3-3.25 years old.  Prices seem to vary widely depending on whether you're full time or part time, need before and after school care, and other things.

Ana0927

I have also been looking at Montassoru schools for my DD. I went to this website https://www.amshq.org/ just to get a head start. They all vary at the age they can start 2, 2.5, 3. Prices vary as well. Most of the schools websites post the prices. There is one school that really cuaght my eye that has a toddler program and a preschool. The toddler program that starts at age two the kids don't need to be potty trained. In the preschool they do. So it really all depends. I would check out that sight it was helpful in locating schools in my area.

KristinandChris

AgrippaRidesAgain:

You're in the Woodbridge/Dumfries area, right?  Let me know, and I'll post everything I've found for this area.  I'm scoping out preschools for DS right now--he'd start at around 3-3.25 years old.  Prices seem to vary widely depending on whether you're full time or part time, need before and after school care, and other things.

Thanks everyone!  I am in Dumfries/Montclair and our current daycare is in Woodbridge/Manassas.  She's close to the intersection of Hoadly and Dale City.  I work in Montclair and DH Dumfries, sometimes Quantico, so we're looking in that area.  Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks! 

AgrippaRidesAgain

Ok. Here's what I've got as far as schools offering preschool + before and after care.  I have not found any church schools that offer before and after care except for those that are true schools starting with kindergarten.

Cardinal Montessori: 

1424 G Street, Woodbridge, VA 22191

Tuition:  Students under 5- 1/2 day $4,100 a year, extended day care: $3,470 a year, accepts students starting at 3 years of age.

Prince William Academy

3480 Commission Ct., Lake Ridge, VA 22192

Tuition:  Preschool/Jr. Kindergarten, 5 days, 8:30-3:00 pm, $8,528 a year, before and after school care $525 a month, accepts students ages 2 and up.

Edelen's Montessori

1337 Horner Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191

Tuition:  Full day (6 am-6:30 pm):  $144 weekly, $544 monthly, or $6048 annually, accepts students ages 2.5 and up

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The following places look more like daycares masquerading as preschools, but they do get good reviews:

Chesterbrook Academy

12960 Troupe St, Woodbridge, VA 22192

Cannot find tuition information on website

Goddard School

1790 Staples Mill Plaza, Woodbridge, VA 22193

Cannot find tuition info on website

Hope that helps!

ETA:  Of the schools listed, Cardinal Montessori and Prince William Academy get recommended the most by other moms in various playgroups I belong to.  However, I think PWA is a little too expensive for preschool. I also forgot about this one--it looks awesome but seems excessive for a 3 year old's needs and is also extremely expensive.

Creme de la Creme

16351 Navigation Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22191

I forget what tuition is--we visited one day when it first opened, but I think it's something like $1500 a month?