It’s preschool open house season! This article from last July will clue you in on what to expect.
The preschool application process for kids three to five is quite an eye opener for many parents. If you’re like me, you had no idea that getting your child into her first preschool program could be just about as involved as applying to college. I’ve put together this article to help you find a few ways to make it easier and more affordable.
When to Start Looking
In many areas, the demand for preschool outpaces supply, so it pays to start your research early. I’ve heard stories of some parents putting their children on the preschool waiting list before they were born! Hopefully things won’t be so extreme in your town. Still, it’s smart to start researching preschools a year ahead and plan on touring schools and submitting applications at the beginning of the year in which you’d like your child to start. Most schools offer open houses and enrollment periods as early as January.
How Much?
Accompanying the question of how to get your child into a good program (for most of us anyway), is the equally important consideration of how you’ll afford it. Preschool tuition costs generally run anywhere from about $250 to $1000 per month (even more in larger cities like Chicago and New York). That’s $3000 to $12,000 a year. Yikes! That price varies wildly according to your region, the type of preschool and the number of hours per week your child will attend.
Some types of childcare tend to be more affordable than others. Church-based preschools are some of the most affordable schools around. Whereas a local Montessori school in my area charged around $1000 a month, the church-based school we loved charged less than $300. Co-ops tend to be more affordable, too, but require a time commitment from parents. Even if your school’s not a co-op, see if you can work off a portion of your tuition by spending a few hours per week at the school.
The cost of full time care for a pre-K kiddo in my state (Georgia) is around $500 a month. Take a look at costs in your region using the map here. Note: The cost may be more manageable if you can pay in installments. Look for a school that lets you pay monthly rather than asking for a year’s tuition up front or in two payments.
Important Questions for Potential Schools
Schools are pretty upfront about how much they charge. Still, there are a few crucial questions you should ask potential schools before you make any commitments. They’ll help you avoid sticker shock later.
- Ask about scholarships and tuition assistance.
- Ask if you can get a discount when you enroll more than one child at a time.
- Ask about activity and materials fees and any other fees beyond tuition that you’ll be asked to pay.
The preschool application process for kids three to five is quite an eye opener for many parents. If you’re like me, you had no idea that getting your child into her first preschool program could be just about as involved as applying to college. I’ve put together this article to help you find a few ways to make it easier and more affordable.
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