Stuck looking for pre-k (Austin, Cedar Park: low income, 2009, credit)

[TX transplant]

We are currently looking for a public pre-k school for our 3 y.o. who will be 4 in mid-Sept. This would be to start school in September 08.

Anywhere between Cypress Creek and Braker Lane accessible from 183 would be ideal but we're willing to consider anything in and around Northern Austin and Cedar Park.

We were told our kid must be 4 by Sept. 1 to attend some of the schools, which makes no sense and means she will only be able to start their pre-k program in 2009 when she will be 5. She is currently attending a private school and we would hate for her to regress by spending one more year back in a daycare environment. Anyone ever beat the system? Seriously!

We're also looking at Stepping Stone schools and Spicewood Country school which seem to fit our present needs. Any feedback on both would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a bunch!

[gigi927]

When you say a public pre-K school....I assume you mean a non church related school and not a real public school? As far as I know, most public schools do not offer a pre-K program - with the exception of special needs preschool (which my son has attended) and underprivileged/low income programs.

I live in NW Austin and a good friend of mine has sent all of her children to Spicewood Country both for preschool and for summer camps and has had nothing but wonderful things to say about it. I don't know what the wait list is like. You might also look at First Foundations and the Goddard School - both are in Cedar Park (Goddard is just one building north of Cypress Creek).

However, most of the 3 YO programs are not considered pre-K, they are considered regular preschool. Here most pre-K programs are for 4 year olds minimum.

If you are willing to look at church based schools, you'll have a lot more options but their wait lists are always horrendous. You'll need to start deciding which registration processes you'll want to participate in now for the fall as registration begins usually in February and 3 yo spots are very difficult to get at the last minute.

Another non-church option is Primrose.

[neddy]

To get into a public pre k program you have to have a reason for the state to provide it. English as a second language, proven social problems, lower income....something of the sort the school can tell you better. I have never heard of anyone beatting the system when it comes to age. Those rules are set by the state. We were at the stepping stone up here in Cedar Park and my kid did not learn a thing I think. Never came home with any paperwork, heck at one point they warned the parents about a "staff" infx..that got me thinking and then one time when I Went to pick up my son he was in an adult size shirt..what the...he had a change of clothing and they said he had a problem and then another one right away. No one ever called I knew then that was not the right place. We switched over to Primrose the next week and we have been so happy with it. He loves the place. Is learning lots of stuff, letters sounds a lot better teacher ratio and he loves his teacher who at this place has a degree and is a former paramedic. At S. Stone he never had the same teacher for more than 3 days in a row for the 2 months that he was there. I would not think stepping stone is a place to go if you want to learn, babysitting ok.

[Cherokee Girl]

My daughter's bday was in November, and she was begging to go to "regular" school when she was four years old. Here's the deal with the birthday thang. If your child's birthday falls after August, you have to enroll your child in an accredited private school and have him/her stay there through first grade, after which you can transfer your newly minted second grader to public school. As far as I know, there are no exceptions.

[Austin Newby]

My son is in private pre-K (Children's Courtyard in Riverplace) and is 5 years old. He was born in October. There are several kids in his class who are fall babies or born early in the year, so he may be one of the oldest but not by much. I think the other poster is correct, that at age 3 they are considered pre-school and at age 4 in September, she may be able to go to pre-K (depends on where it is) or it may be what they call "junior pre-k".

In my opinion, I don't think it matters all that much in terms of how much ahead they are at age 5 if they are going to public school. Pre-K teachers look for readiness for Kindergarten; a lot of it is maturity/independence and not so much intellectual. Going to a private college prep school is a different story though-- the earlier you can teach them the better. I think private schools are a bit more flexible on the entrance requirements (birthday).

The Children's Courtyard in Riverplace is really great and my son is learning a lot there (his writing is improving already). Every Tuesday they have a Spanish teacher come in and teach them Spanish.

[mimimomx3]

If at all possible, I would wait until your child is older to start 'regular' school. People are holding their kids back more and more, and you may find that your 5 year old in kindergarten is the youngest in a class of almost 7 year olds!

[jwb123]

People are holding their kids back more and more, and you may find that your 5 year old in kindergarten is the youngest in a class of almost 7 year olds!

Which I think is a totally ridiculous thing to do. My 7 yr old is in 2nd grade - he's been reading since 2-3 and is now on to pretty high level learning. A 7 yr old in kinder? What a serious deficit for that child.

[gigi927]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

Which I think is a totally ridiculous thing to do. My 7 yr old is in 2nd grade - he's been reading since 2-3 and is now on to pretty high level learning. A 7 yr old in kinder? What a serious deficit for that child.

Jenbar - I have heard that in Texas, some people hold their kids (particularly sons) back not for academic or maturity reasons, but for athletic reasons - let the kid be the tallest and biggest so as to excel at football, etc. Sort of blows my mind.

My kid is going to be a young 5 in kindergarten and we plan on sending him and not holding him back despite having been in special ed for developmental delays. Will he be at the top of his class? probably not, but I'd rather teach him to work hard for what he has than to hold him back and have him excel simply because he's a year and a half older than his peers!

[Austin Newby]

have heard that in Texas, some people hold their kids (particularly sons) back not for academic or maturity reasons, but for athletic reasons - let the kid be the tallest and biggest so as to excel at football, etc. Sort of blows my mind.

I haven't heard of that!!! My 5 year old is really really small (10th percentile for both height and weight) and I was counting my blessings that he was born in October. I wouldn't hold him back just for size.

[EasilyAmused]

Yes they do this in many parts of Texas. My sister's child is in third grade, which is traditonally all 8 year olds turning to nine year olds. Several have already turned 10 in the class.
This make the "right age" child seem developmentally retarded and socailly immature despite the intellect.