Best neighborhoods in ATL (Atlanta, Columbus: preschools, living in, centers)

[RainyRainyDay]

In the US, the term "kindergarten" is reserved for the first year of formal schooling, normally at age 5. Those tuition rates you're seeing are for the private schools in your area.

You want to be looking for pre-schools or "pre-K" programs. Note that Georgia offers publicly funded pre-K for four year-olds. I have an impression those programs would already be full by January, but others here would know much more than me.

[darekk]

Originally Posted by RainyRainyDay

In the US, the term "kindergarten" is reserved for the first year of formal schooling, normally at age 5. Those tuition rates you're seeing are for the private schools in your area.

You want to be looking for pre-schools or "pre-K" programs. Note that Georgia offers publicly funded pre-K for four year-olds. I have an impression those programs would already be full by January, but others here would know much more than me.

I know Europe is way different, but where I live 95% of elementary schools are public. Probably 80% of kindergartens (in our case its for kids 3-6) as well. But public ones are usually just as good as privates. Is this the same in States (or ATL)? Do I really have to pay 16K for pre-school (per kid) or can I go to public and have a good place for my kids to grow?

[blackrabbit]

Originally Posted by darekk

That's the type of recommendation I've been looking for.

I already started looking around for some kindergartens (pre-schools you call them?). I want my kids to quickly pick-up English and develop at the same time. They will be 2y8m and 4y8m old by January. But what I found in google maps in the neighborhood are kindergartens with annual tuition of almost 17.000 USD per kid! Is this really what you pay in the States? Back home I pay something like 2.000. Top premium ones would set you back 4.000 maybe.

I'm not looking for a Harvard-like kindergarten, but a good place for my kids to spend time, have fun, develop some social skills and learn the language. That's it.

We live close to Chastain and pay about 15k per child for a 2 and 4 year old. The going rate is between 14k and 17k. This is actually a lot cheaper than London where it was costing us with the dollar conversion about 22k per child.

[darekk]

Originally Posted by blackrabbit

We live close to Chastain and pay about 15k per child for a 2 and 4 year old. The going rate is between 14k and 17k. This is actually a lot cheaper than London where it was costing us with the dollar conversion about 22k per child.

that's a bit steep. but well, if you say that's the regular thing...

what about the public ones (if they exist) - you say it's a no-go?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by darekk

I know Europe is way different, but where I live 95% of elementary schools are public. Probably 80% of kindergartens (in our case its for kids 3-6) as well. But public ones are usually just as good as privates. Is this the same in States (or ATL)? Do I really have to pay 16K for pre-school (per kid) or can I go to public and have a good place for my kids to grow?

States within the US can be **VERY** different in the way they handle schools. The Atlanta metro is so different from the Twin Cities metro, for example, that it might as well BE in a different country.

I think the large size of school district organizations here is a large part of the quality problem, but I don't think it's an easily solvable problem, either.

[new2atlanta]

Next to Post Chastain is the kindergarden annex of Sarah Rawson Smith Elementary School. I don't have kids, but I hear this is one of the best elementary public school.
There is a treat at the beginning of the forum with school info.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by darekk

I know Europe is way different, but where I live 95% of elementary schools are public. Probably 80% of kindergartens (in our case its for kids 3-6) as well. But public ones are usually just as good as privates. Is this the same in States (or ATL)? Do I really have to pay 16K for pre-school (per kid) or can I go to public and have a good place for my kids to grow?

95% of elementary schools here are public, also. The quality varies (possibly much more than in your home country) depending on where you live. So if you want public schooling, the quality of local schools is one of the things to take into consideration when choosing housing.

Some folk here might well be inclined to tell you, or imply to you, that yes, you have to pay those rates for your children to be decently educated. However, I advise you to keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of Americans are educated in public schools. It's difficult to know what to believe when you're coming from abroad, I know. I can only advise you to do some reading about schools.

[lastminutemom]

What you want is a pre-school not a full time program, correct. You should pay about 3000 - 5000 (annually) maybe for a 5 morning a week program, less for program with fewer days.

The challenge will be finding space. I am listing some of the more reputable/respected programs in the area and you should contact them about openings... In Metro Atlanta, for preschool, it is as much about quantity of spaces as it is about quality of programs.

home | Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool
Cathedral of St. Philip (Episcopal), 2744 Peachtree Rd., 30305, (404) 237-8777
Holy Spirit Preschool, 4465 Northside Dr., 30327, (404) 252-8008
Northside Drive United Methodist Church, 2799 Northside Dr., 30305, (404) 351-1107
Northwest Presbyterian Church, 4300 Northside Dr., 30327, (404) 237-5593
Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, 3180 Peachtree Rd., 30305, (404) 266-1520
St. Anne's Episcopal Day School and Enrichment Program, 3098 Northside Pkwy., 30327, (404) 237-8051

St. James United Methodist Church, 4400 Peachtree-Dunwoody Rd. 30342, (404)

[darekk]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

home | Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool
Cathedral of St. Philip (Episcopal), 2744 Peachtree Rd., 30305, (404) 237-8777
Holy Spirit Preschool, 4465 Northside Dr., 30327, (404) 252-8008
Northside Drive United Methodist Church, 2799 Northside Dr., 30305, (404) 351-1107
Northwest Presbyterian Church, 4300 Northside Dr., 30327, (404) 237-5593
Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, 3180 Peachtree Rd., 30305, (404) 266-1520
St. Anne's Episcopal Day School and Enrichment Program, 3098 Northside Pkwy., 30327, (404) 237-8051

St. James United Methodist Church, 4400 Peachtree-Dunwoody Rd. 30342, (404)

Thanks for those. But there is a small "but". They all seem to be related to religious institutions, is that correct? I mean, I don't mind, as I am a Christian myself, but they are not focusing on religion above everything else, right? I want my kids to develop in all dimensions and not only in their awareness of biblical messages (as much as I value them). I hope this question does not insult anybody here - I am just not accustomed with church-schools as they are almost non-existent where I live.

Would they accept a child which is raised in Christian family, but Catholic one? (I would say that over 90% of Poles are Roman-Catholics - we do not know what a religious diversity really means ). I really do not mind my children attending schools at Protestant parishes - I think the values we have are just the same.

[lastminutemom]

These are pre-schools, mostly they teach holidays (ie Christmas, Easter) when it comes to religion. They are not indoctrination centers-- in fact, at some of them you will find Jews, athehists,etc...

The very best 1/2 day preschools are generally run by churches, synagogues, etc.

Also, while Church members generally get priority (makes sense as the churches usually subsidize the programs) there is no religion requirement...