Any free pre-schools?? How much is the average pre-school cost?

angelrue522 · February 2012

So I figured once I could get my son in pre-school things would be cheaper, but it seams everywhere I checked pre-schools are just as expensive and only for HALF days. How much you you guys pay on the average for a good pre-school?

My son is turning 4 in April and in a home daycare. I dont think he thrives there as he could in an actual pre-school setting or somewhere with a pre-school program.

KathrynMD · February 2012

have you tried Head Start?

hs & js baby #1 · February 2012

We've been looking at preschools for DS (turns 4 in May). In our area, it was around $2K/year for 4 half days. The pre-K through the district is $2500 for 5 half days.

angelrue522 · February 2012

We make too much for headstart. Last year we paid 5500 for the home daycare, I have another baby on the way which will have to be in daycare as well! I dont see how we can possibly afford it with preschool and 2 daycare payments. My husband and I work full time and would not be able to pick him up in middle of day everday to transition to a daycare

franciscaz · February 2012

Some states have a lottery program for free pre-school. I would also look into small church pre-k's since money is an issue. They tend to be cheaper.

You said you all go to a small in-home one. Bigger day cares often have pre-school rooms and you could kill two birds with one stone b/c it wouldn't be half day and your baby will be in the same place.

jlw2505 · February 2012

I think it really depends on the area and the type of school. My younger DD is currently in a daycare based preschool full time (5 days week, full days) which includes breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks a day and I pay $233 a week. My older is currently in a PreK program at the elementary school that is run through the districts Early Childhood programs and is a full time (5 days a week, full days) program for kids the year before kindergarten. The program includes breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks a day plus they do fieldtrips about once a month. This costs me $904 a month. Both programs are basically open year round and include a summer "camp" program.

jlw2505 · February 2012

I meant to add that many of the school districts around here offer part time preschool through the schools early childhood programs (Early Childhood Family Education). I am not sure of the cost as it was never an option for me since I work full time but I know a lot of people do them and really love them. I know my district has the full time option that I do and also a part time one that is a lot more flexible in regard to going 2, 3 or 4 half days a week.

Alex26 · February 2012

We are having the same issue. Our school district offers free pre-school, BUT only if you are low income, which we are not. Private pre-school is the same if not more expensive that our daycare, and thats only for half days. I still havent researched the whole pre-school thing becasue I just learned that DS will have to go to kinder a year later than I anticipated because of the cut-off date per our school district.

KL777 · February 2012

The only free preschool that I know of is through the state and the state that I live in they let students have first pick only if they test low on some type of academic test. After all of the students who tested low are admitted, then they open it up to anyone in that district.

The average preschool (non state based) will vary based on the cost of living location and the type of school.

katmacwv · February 2012

In my hometown, there are some free all day pre-schools, but I don't know of any in the town where I live now. This is strange to me because I live in the state capitol which is much larger than the town I grew up in 40 minutes away. We pay $138/wk for DD's pre-school, which includes full day care. It is an accredited program, but they still charge a full rate because they say that from noon until the end of the day is child care rather than school.

Jinsy80 · February 2012

Ours is $150 a month for MWF 9-12pm. It's one of the cheapest church nursery schools around (but it's not religious based).

ougrad1 · February 2012

Anywhere from 2000 to 5000 per ten month period for the 4 year old class, half days.

RoxBride · February 2012

We pay 220 a month for 2 days a week, 930 -3.

There are no free preschools in our area. Public schools offer preschool, but you will still pay for it.

There is free preschool if you qualify based on a developmental delay, or specific situations such as low income + two parents without HS education, etc.

zschick4ever · February 2012

We pay $60 a month for 3 yr old preschool, 2 days a week for 2.5hrs each at the local elementary school. When my son goes to 4yr preschool next year we won't have to pay because it's a state funded program!

MallardDucky · February 2012

Sorry I am a lurker, but needed to share

In our area the public school system has a PreK program. For those that make the cut off of 4 years old. This program is free, but their are only a number of slots. But with this town being as small as it is, my ds was enrolled 3 weeks after school started and there was plenty of room left. (we moved back to the states from being overseas).

Edit to add that he goes to school M-F 8am-3:10pm

boysx2 · February 2012

DS goes two half days (2.5 hrs) a week and its $116 a month for the 9 months they are in school, so $1044 for the school year.

shopgirl78 · February 2012

MallardDucky:
Sorry I am a lurker, but needed to share

In our area the public school system has a PreK program. For those that make the cut off of 4 years old. This program is free, but their are only a number of slots. But with this town being as small as it is, my ds was enrolled 3 weeks after school started and there was plenty of room left. (we moved back to the states from being overseas).

Edit to add that he goes to school M-F 8am-3:10pm

This is true for our PreK3 & 4. DS1 is in Prek3 but its half day and free.

shouldbworkin · February 2012

Most daycare centers have some sort of preschool curriculum. My DS was in an in home daycare too and while it was great, we reallyl wanted to put him in preschool too. His DCP ended up closing to relocate to another state when he was 3 and it was a blessing in disguise. He ended up at a Montessori center where we paid the same as we did for FT care for FT PS and before/after care. DD went there as well since they took infants.

this year DD is in a PreK class through our school district that is FT and has before/after care. The downside for working parents is that they take off all of the same holidays/vacations as the school district. But, I love the program and it is comparable to daycare centers around us, but with the school district curriculum, which I like.

Ready4life · February 2012

Alex26:
We are having the same issue. Our school district offers free pre-school, BUT only if you are low income, which we are not. Private pre-school is the same if not more expensive that our daycare, and thats only for half days. I still havent researched the whole pre-school thing becasue I just learned that DS will have to go to kinder a year later than I anticipated because of the cut-off date per our school district.

We have this same problem. Cut off is Sept 1st and her bday is Sept 3rd.

WestCoastMommy · February 2012

We pay $195 a month for a private church preschool that is 2 day's a week from 9:00-12:00.

Next year for the 4's program it goes up to $240 a month for 3 days a week 9:00-12:00.

Class size is 26 kids with 4 teachers. Its an awesome school.

ChubbyCheekiesMom · February 2012

My son is 3 and in a toddler class right now, it's $70 a month for 1 day a week from 9:30-11. Next year he will start preschool and that will be $145 a month for Tue/Thur 3 hours. I love his school because ALL the teachers have degrees in early development education. They also work with the area schools and have some children assessed before going on to Pre-K or Kindergarten. My son will do Preschool there next year and is already set to do Pre K when he is 4 going on 5.

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Any free pre-schools?? How much is the average pre-school cost?

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