Outside opinion needed, please (PS)

Spin313

DS currently attends a small language immersion preschool program.  It's a specialty program, so it costs a little more (there is only one other L.A. program in our area and that one is even more expensive).  Next year, the price is increasing.  DH and I were unhappy with the hike and decide to go elsewhere.  I checked out our local school program (which is excellent), met the teacher, and we enrolled DS.  I didn't say anything to DS's current school until the office manager made the end of year calls to see who was returning. 

Earlier this week, the director stopped me at pick up and was like, "Why isn't DS returning next year, we're so sad, we all adore him!"  I explained that we've been happy with the school, but that the price just wasn't reasonable for us anymore.  She asked what she could do to get us to stay and offered to let us pay the same rate we paid this year. 

Now I am torn.  If the rate hadn't changed, we really wouldn't have had a reason to look elsewhere; DS is happy there.  That said, the local school is excellent, much cheaper, and a closer drive.  I don't know if the price (nearly half at the local school) is worth leaving the other school (plus the language aspect).

Thoughts?

mrswright2006

I would probably do the closer school, since you have a younger child, and my guess is tuition will be even higher at the old school by the time #2 is old enough for PS.  Unless Language Immersion is something you feel is absolutely important.  I personally think that preschool should be about socialization not curriculum.

Erin&Rod

Hmm, that's a tough decision.  Will this be his last year in preschool?  If so, I would stay at the school he has been attending because he will be going to a new school for kindergarten the following year. 

But, all the reasons you give for changing schools are good reasons.

lilles

I think language immersion is really important. My LOs are bilingual and the oldest is attending an immersion PS in a third language. Are you planning to continue exposure in the second language past preschool? Even if you are not, the exposure at this age of a second language can have long term benefits in terms of brain development and academic/learning performance later on. So for me I would keep him in the school.

franciscaz

Follow your instincts and don't let yourself feel guilty.  

Do you want the language immersion?  Is that important still or do you not feel it is important.  If it isn't I vote cheaper/closer.  If it is than this is the age to be focusing on it and I wouldn't change programs. 

jlw2505

I think you need to look at your long term language goals and make a decision based on that.  I personal am not a fan of language immersion schools (I have lots of friends who have their kids in them and a friend who is a teacher at one) - just not my thing so for me, I would go to the closer school that is your local school.  Where will he go for elementary?  Making friends that he will be in school with is a nice perk (not that I would make a decision based solely on that).  Do you plan to send him an immersion elementary?  If so, keep him where he is but if not, I would go for the local school. 

Court0026

franciscaz:

Follow your instincts and don't let yourself feel guilty.  

Do you want the language immersion?  Is that important still or do you not feel it is important.  If it isn't I vote cheaper/closer.  If it is than this is the age to be focusing on it and I wouldn't change programs. 

This.  Exactly.

Spin313

Thanks everyone for the responses!  DH and I talked about it and we're 99.9% sure we're going to send him back (I need to talk to the director again first).  The language portion IS incredibly important to us, otherwise it would have been a no-brainer to switch.