Can you buy into a different school district? (Smithtown, Mineola: day care, how much)

[amoret68]

My husband and I are looking to sell next year and move to an area that is closer to where we work (3 Village or Smithtown district). My kid starts kindergarten this year and we'd hate to start her in one school only to move her next year.

I've heard a rumor that one could essentially buy into another district by paying a tuition instead of taxes. Does anyone have any information they could share on this topic?

[amoret68]

Oh, and the reason why we can't move this year is family-related (and is thus not something that could be changed).

I know how sensitive people are about their districts on LI, so I hope my request isn't offensive to anyone.

Thanks for any replies.

[Arron]

I'm pretty sure that's a big no, unless there's something I haven't heard about!

[MikeyKid]

Many school districts do offer a tuition option... It can get expensive and you are responsible for transportation.

You'll need to check with the district for how they handle it.

[amoret68]

Thanks MikeyKid. I wouldn't mind paying a high tuition for a year or two until we could move (we're currently paying over $13 in daycare!)

[MikeyKid]

Originally Posted by amoret68

Thanks MikeyKid. I wouldn't mind paying a high tuition for a year or two until we could move (we're currently paying over $13 in daycare!)

Middle Country Schools wanted $7k for an Elementary school year - not sure if it varied for older kids.

If you call the Superintendent's office in the district you're interested in, they'll have the details you need.

[amoret68]

Thanks, again, MikeyKid for the helpful, specific info.

[WJFM]

I think its possible. I am thinking of the same for my daughter.. since she is born on Dec 8th, and will be late by one week for joining school ( Most schools have a deadline of Dec 1 .. i.e. your kid must be 5 by Dec 1 of that year to start kindergarden). If it looks she is ready for school, and my school refuses to take her in, I would not like to have her stay in Day care for one more year when she could be learning.

I was told by the Kindergarden principal of Mineola's Willis ave school that they would charge 15000$ for out-of-district students. Mineola's deadline is Dec 31. I am also aware that someone who is in the westbury school district is sending his kids to jericho schools by paying additional tuition.. though I am not sure how much that is.

[WJFM]

On a side note, does anyone know if I can surpass the deadline by one week. Are schools very strict with this deadline? Can they administer tests to test readiness of a child for kindergarden is she is really close to the deadline?

[MikeyKid]

Originally Posted by WJFM

On a side note, does anyone know if I can surpass the deadline by one week. Are schools very strict with this deadline? Can they administer tests to test readiness of a child for kindergarden is she is really close to the deadline?

My 2nd son is Dec 21st and we've found "very strict" is an understatement - they won't budge because if they do, they release the flood gates.

The common way to beat the deadline is sending the child to private Kinder and then "transferring" them into 1st grade. It's really the same theory as paying to go to a district that has a more flexible cutoff.

We went back and forth and ultimately decided to just honor the cutoff and let him be the oldest kid in class.