private vs public schools

vanessaNOV2 · September 2012

Before we had kids i told dh i wasnt going to homeschool our kids. I grew up in public education and turned out ok. He was homeschooled and thinks public school is awful with high student to teacher ratios and kids not being pushed to thier highest levels. So the only school option left is private schools.

Now that ds is turning 3 soon ive found a private preschool in our neighborhood that i feel would be a good fit. It is 3 times a week for 2 and half hours and cost 175 a month. Now dh thinks that is way too much. I think its reasonable. Our third baby is on way so im assuming he is calculating that times 3 and it is stressing him out.

If you dont mind how much does your preschool cost if any???

mzovoce · September 2012

We are using a Waldorf school and DS goes 5 days a week, so a LOT more than what you are paying.

jlw2505 · September 2012

We used a daycare based preschool that included all food and was full time, 5 days a week and my girls were there around 8-9 hours a day (drop off at 7 and pick up between 4 and 5). We paid $334 a week. The PreK program my DD is currently in is $904 a month and is also full time, includes breakfast, lunch and a snack plus field trips and includes the summer (DD is there from 7am to 4pm). This program is located at the elementary school and is part of the districts Early Childhood Programs and is a true year before kindergarten program that follows the Emilio Reggio Model which is amazing.

Stackeye210 · September 2012

DD goes to preschool 3 days per week for 2.5 hours (same as yours), we pay $120 per month. It's a private preschool as well.

goldenleaves · September 2012

We pay $46 a month for one day a week and it's only 2 hours. It's only cheap because it's a co-op. Next year when he goes to "real" preschool instead of a young 3's program we'll be paying a heck of a lot more!

penguingrrl · September 2012

We're paying $170/month for 2 1/2 days of preschool. Our public elementary school just started a preschool program, but it's far more expensive than the private one. Free school starts at K here.

We will be sending our kids to public for K-12 and chose what town we're settling in based on having a top school district (top 100 in the country). We're sacrificing a lot because it's a very expensive area, but good schools are our top priority.

julie1408 · September 2012

$275 a month for 3 hours, 3 times a week. It is a private bilingual, performing arts preschool in a MCOL area. A good preschool is totally worth the money. They will learn so much more (or at least different things) than you can teach them. DD's socialization skills and ability to work independently have really improved since starting preschool.

Mama-Bear · September 2012

We pay $100/month for M-F from 9-12 at the YMCA. At JR's old preschool, we paid $60/month for 1 day and it would be around $130/month for 3 days from 9:00-11:30. I preferred the old preschool because it was in line with our beliefs.

ldcoffel · September 2012

$265/ 3 days a week, 3 hours public school

I worked really hard to get us into this school district. The best in the area.

Had we lived where we were before, private school would have been our path. The public school system was awful... And I taught for them!

honeybee111 · September 2012

DD will be attending private preschool in Jan. and it will cost about 5 times what yours costs. However, that is for preschool + 2 hours of after care since DH and I both work. The same hours you're going with would cost us $450/month. Why don't you show your DH some comparable preschool costs around your area, so he gets an idea of how much preschool costs?

shannm · September 2012

I am not billed weekly but assuming 36 weeks in his school year, it comes out to about 350/week at his new school for full time preK.

The daycare that we just left also had a preschool curriculum and it was 265/week full time.

If your DH is so set against public schools, he better get ready for the tuition bills! Check out the public schools in your area. They may be great.

chloephoebecali · September 2012

The cost is going to really depend on where you live. We pay $216 a month for 2.5 hrs, two days a week in the pm. If we did the am session, it would be $266. It also follows the local school calendar/closings, so we don't even always have two classes a week and haven't even started yet.
Personally, I don't think the three year old program is all that necessary, but DD could use some time away and DS could use some one on one with me. At first it seemed expensive, but it is not much more than a gym or dance class if you break down the hourly rates.
I think you should do some more research and price out a bunch of programs and present them to DH. If it is really important to you that your LO goes, maybe cut back in some way. It seems like you have two issues - he thinks preschool is too expensive and may not even want to have your child in any school system outside of your own. Most preschools are private, so it is not a public/private issue.

Worcbride · September 2012

That's an awesome price! The private preschool I sent DD to last year was 2 days/week for 2.5hrs each day and was $200

jnksmom · September 2012

DD is going to a private preschool associated with a private K-12 school. We pay $175/month for 3 mornings/week 8:30-11:30. She has the option to stay until 2:30 and that is an extra $11/day and we provide her lunch.

DS went to a preschool associated with a church last year and it was $140/month for 3 mornings/week 9-11:30.

KatieLG04 · September 2012

DS is going to full time, private school pre-k and it comes out to around $120/week.

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