UrbanBaby

07.23.08, 11:59 AM General Topics
11 replies

Have 8 mo ds. Planning on living in the city until he's 5 or 6. Wondering what sort of preschool options/programs I should look into. I feel like a lot of what people compete for has more to do with families that are going to stay in the city, etc. At the same time, I want ds to have som etype of "school" experience. Right now his grandma is his nanny and they do a baby class once a week. Money definitely IS an object, though, so I'm wondering what my options are. TIA [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 07.23.08, 11:59 AM Flag

Dear UrbanBaby community,

Thank you so much for being a valued member of the UrbanBaby community. We wanted to inform you that we are shutting down the site on July 6th. We are grateful for your participation and support that has helped make UrbanBaby such an important resource to parents for many years.

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Thanks so much,

UrbanBaby Support

you can skip the private 3s program, apply for universal (private) pre-k, and then attend public elementary for the kindergarten year, which takes your kid to age 5 or 6, depending on birthday. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.23.08, 12:03 PM Flag

^^^sorry -- meant universal (PUBLIC) pre-k... [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.23.08, 12:04 PM Flag

^^^let me clarify: this represents your least expensive option. there are other options of course, as other posters have said. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.23.08, 12:11 PM Flag

there are also 3s programs that aren't $15k/yr. Children's Aid Society has a few preschools in the city, and there are tons of preschool alternative programs, which are exactly like preschool but without the admissions craziness, which are much less also (on the UES Gymtime is an excellent one) [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.23.08, 12:06 PM Flag

rhinelander is a children's aid society preschool on the UES, but the 3s program is typically filled with sibs, and it's a very small school. costs about $10k. (it's still competitive admissions, though not as competitive as others.) there are also FCFS preschools, but they are typically quite expensive, as they are for-profit. there is children's aid society downtown, which is FCFC -- not sure of the cost. as the other poster said, ther are preschool alternative programs for 3s, but while admissions aren't competitive, like FCFS preschools, they too aren't cheap (though not $15k a year -- but still, probably between $7-10k for a full school year). [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.23.08, 12:09 PM Flag

There are so many different types of preschools and also preschool alternatives out there. Maybe do a search to see what is available in your local area and start narrowing it down from there. My ds will be going to preschool this year but at the moment he goes to full separation classes at NY Kids Club which are great. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.23.08, 12:06 PM Flag

Where are you? We live on the LES and DS went to the Educational Alliance for preschool. I think it was under $4K for 3 full days (8:30-3:00). There are also daycares with preschool programs for 3's. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.23.08, 12:12 PM Flag

we're on UES. Im on the waitlist for Bright Horizons, which is daycare. not exactly sure what their programs are even like, but it will be at least 2 years before he gets a spot, and its over $20k/year [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.23.08, 12:21 PM Flag

We have been on the Bright Horizons waitlist for a while. They have a preschool as well as day care. The list moves very slowly. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.23.08, 12:24 PM Flag

np: try some of the parochial schools - their preschool programs are far less expensive $5-$6K/year. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.23.08, 12:26 PM Flag

op: I left out that he has a november bday so when do I even start this whole process? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.23.08, 12:22 PM Flag