NOVA preschools help! (Vienna: price, area, expensive)

[eli08]

Wow. This sounds intense! lol. My daughter was born in December.

[athousandlogins]

It feels intense! But like a lot of things in Northern Virginia, we make it out to be more complicated than it really has to be If it's any comfort, I've yet to meet any parents who *couldn't* get their child into a preschool when they wanted to. Sometimes you have to settle for your second or third choice, depending on where you live, how much you're willing to spend, and the luck of the draw. But there are enough spaces out there to accommodate everyone.

[mlv311]

Originally Posted by athousandlogins

However, you have to watch the age cutoffs. If your daughter was born in November or December, she won't be eligible for a 3 year old class in 2010, because she would have to be 3 by September 30, 2010.

We have a daughter who has an October birthday so we looked at preschools with a cut-off of December 30th when she was turning 3. We had many options in our area (Burke) for 3-year old and 4-year old programs (the cut-off seems to be enforced for Pre-K). The one requirement enforced most often is potty-trained although I've seen a few programs that accept 2 1/2 year olds who are not.

One thing you might want to research is if there is some type of Preschool Fair in Alexandria. I know Burke has one every year sponsored by MOMS Group in late January. That would be an easy way to collect information on all the requirements for preschools in your area and narrow down the ones you want to visit in person.

[eli08]

So, are there any good preschools you guys recommend that aren't crazy expensive?

[HereinVA]

It might help if you define "crazy expensive". Exactly how much can you afford?
Also, I wouldn't necessarily rule out the "crazy expensive" ones, as some schools will have financial aid/scholarships.

[eli08]

we can only afford at the moment around $400 a month. Not too much. Who do they give financial aid to do you think?

[claremarie]

If your income is sufficiently low, you might qualify for a Head Start program.
Another option is a cooperative preschool, in which parents take turns working in the classroom as teachers or aides. The tuition for such programs is often lower than other schools.
In the unlikely event that either of you is qualified to teach in a preschool program, you could get free or greatly reduced tuition that way.
Otherwise, you'll need to start hunting now. Most preschools simply don't have the financial resources to offer much financial aid, unless they are part of a government-subsidized program.

[k8p]

You have plenty of time to visit a few schools and get a feel for them. I live over in the Fort Hunt area of Alexandria and some of the schools I liked were Aldersgate, St Lukes, Bethany Lutheran and Tauxemont Co-op. The only school I wasn't impressed with was St. Aidans. All of those were under $250 a month for a 3 day program.

[claremarie]

You shouldn't have a problem finding a good preschool for under $400, especially if you start looking now. Most of the really expensive programs are attached to expensive private elementary schools.

[HEATHER72]

$400 a month will certainly pay for a 3 day program. We just researched preschools in the Gainesville area. We did not look at co-ops or church related programs.

As another poster has mentioned, location is key. One neighbor recommended a program that is around $180 a month, but with its location, by the time I got home, it would feel like it was time to turn around and go pick up my child.

The one we did wind up choosing was double that price and it wasn't even the most expensive in town! Prices ranged from $360 to $475 a month.

The do it early part relates to the student-teacher ratio which is 10:1. We have our child on the list even though he isn't with us yet (adopting). This is what the principal suggested to us, so that when he does arrive in the US, she will have a slot for him.