Public Preschools and Where Offered? (Cincinnati, Mason: house, school districts, subsidized)

[sunnyspring]

Does anyone know if publicly funded preschools are available in all school districts in the Cincy Metro? Is this a state-wide program or offered by district? I saw that Milford Public Schools has a preschool program listed on the school district website, but I didn't see any such thing on the Wyoming Public Schools website. If anyone knows these are the areas I would like to know about: Loveland, Wyoming, Anderson Twp., Fairfax (Mariemont Schools), Newtown.

Thank you all! Getting close to picking a house and plan to be moved by end October so in my final stages of research. My kids will start preschool in another year or two depending on starting age requirement by program.

[mimi in cinci]

Generally there are no publicly funded preschools in the Cincinnati metro area. Most do a tuition based preschool (Indian Hill, Mariemont, Mason, Loveland,Terrace Park) or a combination of tuition and Head Start like Cincinnati Public Schools and Forest Hills.

If you have a child with special needs or if you qualify for a federally funded program like Head Start there will be free tuition and free transportation in many districts.

There are a plethora of good private preschools through out the Cincinnati metro area in addition to the public school offerings. Many of the private preschools have smaller class sizes with similar tuitions.

[SalamanderSmile]

As far as I know they should all offer the mandated "inclusive" preschool option which is free for kids with, for example, autism and has a fee for neurotypical kids. This is usually a very small program limited to a 50:50 ratio. So most kids are served by private preschools.

Both Mariemont and Madeira host a for-profit private preschool run by "Champions" and housed in their elementary schools. Mariemont's inclusion public preschool is in Terrace Park elementary. Additionally the Mariemont Community church runs a very affordable preschool in the church next to the elementary school. If you need full-time work hours preschool the Mariemont options are Champions or The Goddard School (on Redbank Rd.)

[sunnyspring]

Thank you both. I never figured there was a free option but I thought maybe a discounted/publicly subsidized preschool option existed since I saw that listed on the Milford PS website. After much consideration I think I have narrowed down where to resettle and my preference is to be closer in, Anderson Twp, Wyoming, and although not close in I would take Loveland since it has a nice downtown. You have both clarified how preschool works there and this helps with my decision making.