Good Daycares & Preschools in SW or SE Atlanta (Lithonia: day cares, home)

[equinox63]

I'm looking for some good, quality daycare/preschool options in the following intown neighborhoods for a two-year old and a four-year old. I'm looking for a place that actually teaches a curriculum rather than a babysitter. I may be out of the running in terms of the APS Pre-K lottery and public charter school lotteries, so I'm open to public and private. However, I'm really not looking to spend near $1000 a month per child either. What are the best opinions in or near the following neighborhoods. Any anecdotal information would be helpful as well.

West End/Westview/Cascade
Grant Park/Summerhill/Peoplestown
Ormewood Park/Glenwood Park
East Atlanta
Edgewood
Kirkwood/East Lake
Reynoldstown
Cabbagetown

Where do people in these neighborhoods send their young children if they were not selected by a lottery?

[AtlJan]

The Nest in Grant Park! It is a Reggio-based preschool with teachers who will blow you away. . .Just go to their website. i can't say enough good things.

[red92s]

Maybe the situation for toddlers and pre-k is different, but our recent experience selecting an Eastside infant daycare was that if you were not on a couple waitlists by your second trimester, you were going to be in a bind. I'm not even talking about for super-selective and expensive daycares . . . I mean anything that didn't have a couple ride-ons in the parking lot functioning as a "playground". Demand just exceedes supply. I bet you could open two or three infant daycares charging $1k a month over here, and they'd be booked solid almost immediately.

[red92s]

Originally Posted by equinox63

However, I'm really not looking to spending near $1000 a month per child either.

Originally Posted by AtlJan

The Nest in Grant Park! It is a Reggio-based preschool with teachers who will blow you away. . .Just go to their website. i can't say enough good things.

Full Time Monthly Tuition Infant Class $1,200 Toddler Class $1,175 Multiage Class $1,150

[Danny Buckhead]

Your thread title doesn't match with your inside post. East Atlanta, Kirkwood etc aren't in South Atlanta.

Good day cares and private schools are usually in areas with people with money. Outside of the Cascade Road area there ain't much money in the southern or western parts of Atlanta.

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by Danny Buckhead

Your thread title doesn't match with your inside post. East Atlanta, Kirkwood etc aren't in South Atlanta.

Good day cares and private schools are usually in areas with people with money. Outside of the Cascade Road area there ain't much money in the southern or western parts of Atlanta.

East Atlanta is in SE Atlanta. In fact. I think Kirkwood, East Lake, and Edgewood are the only places I listed not in SE or SW Atlanta. But I see your point. I wonder if C-D will let me change the title? Do you know of anything of quality in the Cascade Road area?

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by red92s

Maybe the situation for toddlers and pre-k is different, but our recent experience selecting an Eastside infant daycare was that if you were not on a couple waitlists by your second trimester, you were going to be in a bind. I'm not even talking about for super-selective and expensive daycares . . . I mean anything that didn't have a couple ride-ons in the parking lot functioning as a "playground". Demand just exceedes supply. I bet you could open two or three infant daycares charging $1k a month over here, and they'd be booked solid almost immediately.

So what did you guys do? Did you get in based on the waiting lists? We're on a waiting list for Parkside for Pre-K, but I'm not sure how that will pan out... Our kids are currently at a good spot in Lithonia, but I'll be moving near the West End soon and I work in Grant Park.

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by red92s

Full Time Monthly Tuition Infant Class $1,200 Toddler Class $1,175 Multiage Class $1,150

[red92s]

Originally Posted by equinox63

So what did you guys do? Did you get in based on the waiting lists? Were on a waiting list for Parkside for Pre-K, but I'm not sure how that will pan out... Our kids are currently at a good spot in Lithonia, but I'll be moving near the West End soon and I work in Grant Park.

Fortunately my wife's employer offers on-site care, and we got a spot there.

[OuiOui]

The struggle! Trust me I know! Anytime someone recommends a daycare that they consider to be "the best!" or other superlatives, I don't even waste my time with it... because that means I can't afford it. Lucky to have an affordable daycare with a decent toddler curriculum at the moment (in the 'burbs), but we supplement A LOT at home because he's so far ahead the other 2 year olds when it comes to language/phonics/colors/numbers. I feel like they take great care of my son but the education aspect could be better.

Probably not something you want to hear, but if you aren't able to find something great in your price range, you might have to settle for a decent quality daycare and supplement at home. Of course I'm hoping you can find what you're looking for!! Especially since I'll also need a good daycare in West End when we move! *fingers crossed* Keep the suggestions comin folks!