Private School - Kindergarten + After School? (Austin, Cedar Park: appointed, day care, house)

[swatymyers]

Many thanks to all of the parents who have contributed their perspective on the various private school options in the Austin-area.

Our son is almost two - while it may seem obnoxious to some that we're already thinking about Kindergarten for him, we've gotten bitten in the backside by waiting on day care and preschool decisions and I'm resolved not to let it happen when it comes to elementary school.

We're interested in sending him to private school. We'd like something academically rigorous and denomination is somewhat less important. We'd really prefer something with after school care onsite. And when I say after school, I'm not talking 2:30 in the afternoon - I work outside the home and would ideally like to pick up our son around 5 PM.

We currently live in SW Austin but both my husband and I work NW so location is also not much of an issue for us. I was disappointed to learn St. Andrew's doesn't have kindergarten and enjoyed the open house at Regent's but, again, was saddened to learn there was no after school (or only 2x week IIRC). Abercorn's after school is only until 4:30.

Any thoughts and or suggestions? If anyone has small children attending these schools how did you handle this?

Thanks again!

[GreenPlastic]

St. Andrews after school has worked very well for us, but, as you mention, there is no kindergarten. Some of the local day care services pick up at school. I know a couple picked up at Casis....may want to see if pickup is available at your local school.

[centralaustinite]

St. Francis School has an excellent kindergarten program (as well as pre-K) and offers aftercare until 6 pm.

[Austin97]

i have a lot of friends that love magellan.

[clept0]

We are applying to Regents and have the same problem finding after school care. So far I have only found a small Martial Arts place off of 290 and also Star Center Gymnastics willing to pick up from Regents. Star Center has ~100 after school kids and I think one or two are Regents kids. It feels like the only way your child can attend sometimes is if one parent quits working just to shuttle them back and forth. Please post again if you find other options.

[clept0]

I just emailed the owner at Mu Sool Won (a martial arts place) to see if they would pick up from Regents and they said they could, too. I'm going to check it out if we are accepted at Regents. Looks like they are bigger than the first martial arts place I looked at and have more instructors.

[FueledByBlueBell]

Originally Posted by Austin97

i have a lot of friends that love magellan.

We are going with Magellan for our 3 year old (to be) starting next fall. I hear very good things as well.

[clept0]

Update: The Mu Sool Won place says they can't fit Regents into their pick-up schedule now.

[neddy]

You know got to say we loved the Primrose for kinder. Even though you think day care our son was well prepared for school, they even asked if we wanted to skip a grade. We were there for two years, had the same teacher both years so she really got to know the kids. It ws q very small class and besides the normal after school care, they offered piano and several other after school classes you could enroll in. I understand the stereotype they fall into and my other son was in private school in SA but they far exceeded my expectations. This was the location on 1431 by the home depot. I think the same couple runs the one on little elm in Cedar Park.
Good luck

[eirenecat]

We are trying St Francis for pre-K next year. I am not sure whether or not we will keep our daughter there for kindergarten or not, but their aftercare goes to a reasonable time (6 PM) for working parents. We live and work Northwest and it is not far for us; also the St Francis tuition was extremely reasonable.