How much do you pay for Preschool?

[mykidsmom]

Taking a survey to see how the preschool we are looking into compares to what others pay.

How much do you pay and for how many days week/hours per day is this for?

Ours is $425 a month for M/W/F 9-12:30pm.

[MarisaSF]

I think these are the most monthly recent prices for the school we are hoping to go to next year:

T/Th 8:30-12:30 $395
M/W/F 8:30-12:30 $495
M-F 8:30-12:30 $595

There are full day prices too, but I didn't write them down. I've heard this school is more expensive than another one I was considering, but I made the decision based on other factors.

I'm just relieved the preschool is SO much less expensive than what we were paying for infant daycare.

[ribbit1019]

Pricing right now, so far:

$320 Month M-F 9am-12pm Montessori

Other Montessori Downtown $680 month M-F 8-11:30am

I am waiting on figures/space info from the other two I am interested in. I expect one to be a little less and another to be about the same as the more expensive one. It is a specialized Music Preschool in the same area as the more expensive Mont. school, even though DD would thrive there I don't think we'll be able to swing either of the expensive ones.

I'm looking at a couple of co-op schools that are super close to us, but honestly none are calling me back and it ticks me off.

Christy
Wife to Richard
My Waterbabies
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[trumansmom]

Are you sitting down? We pay $85 a month for three mornings a week. There are some advantages to living in a tiny town in South Dakota!! :P

Jeanne
Mom to Truman 11/01 and Eleanor 4/04

[leslieu]

Right Now:

$95 a month T & TH 9 - 11:30

This FALL:

$135 a month M & W & F 9 -11:30

Unlike the PP, we don't live in a small town. But I need to mention that we do a Co-op, so there's a big price differance with a regular preschool.

In case your wondering we live in San Jose, CA

Leslie

[spencersmommy]

Our DS goes to a co-op preschool, also. We love it! We pay about $140 a semester for M-F 9-11:30. So worth it...DS adores school.

[ribbit1019]

My SIL pays $90 a month for four 2 hr mornings. Tiny towns in OH are cheap too, lol! Lucky me I live near a city.

I was all excited that I was only going to be paying 45 cents more an hour than SIL pays, turns out I did the math wrong, (big surprise :P).


Christy
Wife to Richard
My Waterbabies
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[KrisM]

In the fall, we'll pay $120 a month for T Th 9-11:30. The MWF 9-1:30 class is $185 a month.

[miki]

3 days a week, 9am-noon, $125/month, but ours is a co-op that requires approx 100 hours of parent time over the course of the year. Comparable hours in a church based school or YMCA program would be $150-160/month. Comparable hours in a private school would be $250-300/month. We're in a suburb of Charlotte, NC.

[wilelm]

We pay $90/week for 2 full days--any hours we want between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Sheila

ETA: Until last week she was going 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 1 day a week for $82/month, but it wasn't enough for her. She's very active and curious, and was bored at home with me and acting up. She just had her first day at the new school on Friday. I took her at 8:30 and picked her up at 4:30, but she didn't want to go home with me!

[JBaxter]

Thrs/Friday 830-1130 is 153/month
Mon/Tues/Wed 830-1130 is 220/month

[dr mom]

DS will be attending a church-based preschool in the fall

M/W/F 9-12, $155/month.

We're near Raleigh NC.

[thomma]

I don't know yet...but I'm not looking forward to paying for two at once! :(

Kim
ds&dd 5/03

[spanannie]

Right now, we're paying $590/mo for 2 kids. DS is there 4 days/week from 9-1 and DD is there 2 days/week from 9-1. Next year it will jump to $725/mo for DS (5 days) and DD (3 days). It's worth every penny!

ETA: This is for a Preschool associated w/ a church. They are separate, but related. They are NAEYC certified, but are seeking to be SAES certified (Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools), and are in the midst of that process. No meals or snacks are provided by the school; parents send lunches and have several weeks of providing snack per year.

[Momof3Labs]

Suburb of Chicago, we use a park district preschool.

3's class is 2 days/week, 2hrs/day: $520 for the school year (Sept-May)

4's class is 3 days/week, 2.5hrs/day: $840 for the school year (Sep-May)

We'll also be adding a Lunch extension next year for 1.5 hrs (all three school days) to the 4's program, which adds $316 to the school year cost, but gives him a 4 hour school day instead of just 2.5 hrs.

The only other school I looked at was a Spanish immersion Montessori school that just opened; they charge $6500 for the school year for a 5 day/week, 8hr/day (I think) program. Much too rich for my blood; we'd be better off putting away that money and funding a year or two of college in 15 years!

[madelinesmom]

I live in a small town in East Texas and pay $115 for a 4year old T/T from 9:00 - 2:30 and $140 for a 15 month old T/T from 9:00 - 2:30. This is per month.

I did get this link from the people that I am an independent contractor for, it is State by state look at the price of child care in the US.

HTH, it is actually pretty interesting. It lists by pre-school ages and infant/toddler ages.

http://www.naccrra.org/randd/data/2006PriceofChildCare.pdf

Jane
Madeline 1/20/03
Emily 11/29/05
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[kristenk]

DD goes 8:45 - 11:30 (so 2 hours, 45 minutes) on T/Th and it costs $120 per month.

[lizajane]

holy bananas! i can't believe how high some of those prices are!

we pay $283.50 for TWO kids to go 2 days per week. that is with our 10% church member discount.

next year, they will go 5 mornings/week (both kids) and it is less than $500.

[schums]

$180 per month for M/W/F 9:15-11:45.

We're in the Metro Detroit area.

Sarah
Mom to Alex (3/2002) and Catherine (8/2003)

[o_mom]

Of the 3-4 places I looked, all were about $90-120/month for 2 days (2.5-3.5 hours/day) and $140-$160/month for 3 days.

DS1 will be going in the fall T/R 9-11:30am for $100/month.

These were all church-based preschools. One was NAYCE (?) accredited and that one was most expensive but not by much. I don't think any were state licensed (not required here for non-profit). Some had extended care available but I'm not sure the cost.

[lmwbasye]

Our son is at Goddard. We pay $875 a month for full-time, 5 days a week.

This includes 3 snacks per day and is in the 2 year old class.

[VClute]

We currently do Mothers Morning Out at our church - one day a week. It's $55/month. I signed him up for M/W/F next year and it'll be $145/month. Man, am I glad I live in a smallish town! (Fayetteville, NC, by the way)

Amy in NC
mom to Dixon, born 2/14/05
...and let the shopping begin!

A GIRL (!!) Due 3/30/07

[jeminaal]

Great thread!

We currently pay $170/month for a T/TH program, 8:30AM-11:30AM. The M/W/F program costs $230/month.

Parents volunteer to bring in snacks for children by sign-up sheet. There's also an option for a hour and half 1/2 extended day program (first come, first serve sign ups) for an extra $8.00/day, where children bring their lunch and eat it there with other classmates.

We live in Southern California.


Jeanette
(formerly known as jeanmick, member since Feb 2003)

DD Born Christmas Eve
DS Born Valentine's Day

[SnuggleBuggles]

Going rate in my city is about $5000-6000 for a 5 mornings a week or 3 full day program for a school year (begin Sept to begin June).

There were schools that were far cheaper (one was like $100/ month) but this was the going rate for schools of this end of the spectrum. Very little difference price wise.

Beth

[madelinesmom]

Just FYI...
NAEYC is the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
http://naeyc.org/... this is the link. The college that I attended had an onsite Early Childhood Center that was accredited by the NAEYC. I believe a school goes through the accreditation process every three years. It is usually a pretty good indicator about how serious a director is about adhering to child-centered practices.

Jane
Madeline 1/20/03
Emily 11/29/05
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http://b1.lilypie.com/-FG1m6/.png

[MelissaTC]

DS is a 5 day a week program at our local YMCA. I pay $280 a month for M-F, 9:15-12:15, with lunch bunch T and W, so he stays for an extra hour. It was one of the cheapest programs I found as well as the best fit for my son.


ETA that we are in the suburbs of Raleigh, NC.

[almostamom]

DS won't be eligible to go to this preschool until Fall of 2008, but for 3 hours T/TH it's $158/month. For 3 hours M/W/F it's $223/month. We're in the Phoenix suburbs.

Linda

[jenmcadams]

We pay around $500/month ($34/day) for 3 full days at an amazing school/daycare. This includes morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack all cooked on site by an amazing cook. My DD normally goes from 9-3 or 9-4. The school is a Reggio Emilia school at a local community college and serves kids from 18M-Preschool. About 60% of the students go full time and the rest go various days -- there are no 1/2 day rates, so it really is more of a daycare than a preschool, but even though I'm not working right now, we send DD there b/c I couldn't find anything that even compared. I love the philosophy/pedagogy; the facilities are good, but made even better by being housed within the community college so on snowy days, they can use the conference rooms; and the teachers are officially college employees, so they're well paid and get benefits/vacation time so they never, ever leave. We started my DD there at 20 months for two days/week and then had to move to FL for about 18 months during which time she went to a more typical church-based preschool two mornings/week ($120/month). While it was nice and perfectly adequate, one of the best things about moving back to Colorado (besides escaping FL) was being able to start my DD at her old school again.

:) Can you tell I love our school? Anywho...if anyone lives on the west side of the denver metro area and needs a great daycare/school, I'm happy to share the info (although the waitlist can be pretty long).

[kijip]

$1110 for 12 weeks. Three days a week, 7 hours each day. (21 hours per week total.)

Includes field trips and nature walks, milk and snacks but we bring lunch.

[o_mom]

Thanks! I knew what it was but was too lazy to Google it again when I posted. :D

[muskiesusan]

We pay about $350/month for Nick's Montessori school. It is a 5 day program, 3 hours each day.

Susan
Mom to Nick 10/01
& Alex 04/04

[DebbieJ]

We'll be paying $90 a month for 2 1/2 hours each day, 2 days a week.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/style_avatars/Ribbons/18months-bfar.jpg

[rupptopia]

We have to pay mostly in advance but if I divide it out by month it comes to $191 a month for 8:45-11:15 Th & F (2 days a week.)

We are in a suburb of Chicago.

[jd11365]

3 year old preschool is $130 for 2 days and $190 for 3 days.

4 year old preschool is FREE in our state. :) :) :)

[vikivoly]

$55/month T&H 12:30-3:00

Next year it will be $75/month MWF 9:00-11:30

[Eloise36]

3 year old preschool is $116 per month for 2 1/2 hours 2 mornings a week. This is at a church preschool.

[jennabear]

We just moved DS from Goddard where we paid $395 for 3 days a week from 9am to 1pm.

His new school is $335 for 3 days a week 8:30-12:30 but we can bring him as early as 7am if we want.

[bluestar2]

Same situation here! Our school (a co-op) gives a 50% discount on the second child :)

ETA: They only go once a week for 2 1/2 hours and it is about $100 a quarter for both.

[AvasMama]

$200/week for M-F from 8-5. When DD was just going in the mornings, I think we paid $160/week.

[hobokenmom]

Here in Hoboken, NJ, you have basically two choices for preschool.

Private preschool which is half-day, 5 days a week for around $6000 for the year

OR

Public preschool, which is state funded and FREE, and the hours are 8:30 - 2:30, five days a week, and before and after care is free, which would extend the hours to 7:30 - 5:30 if you need those hours.

[jk3]

Significantly more than what anyone else is paying.



Jenn
DS 6/03
& cautiously expecting in May!

[icunurse]

Suburbs of Chicago - 2 days, 2 1/2 hours each day at a preschool run through a private highschool = $1200 (where DS will be attending)

From what I know, the program through our park district was about the same amount of time and runs ~$800.

The local Montessori is $6000 (which is much less than the suburbs just north of me, which runs $10,000 and up - c'mon, it's preschool!)

[icunurse]

Suburbs of Chicago - 2 days, 2 1/2 hours each day at a preschool run through a private highschool = $1200 (where DS will be attending)

From what I know, the program through our park district was about the same amount of time and runs ~$800.

The local Montessori is $6000 (which is much less than the suburbs just north of me, which runs $10,000 and up - c'mon, it's preschool!)

[SnuggleBuggles]

Really? I just have to know now. :) Up for sharing? NP if you aren't. :)

Beth

[SnuggleBuggles]

Really? I just have to know now. :) Up for sharing? NP if you aren't. :)

Beth

[JFC]

We pay $295/month for M/W/F 9-1 preschool. This is in Raleigh, NC.

[JFC]

We pay $295/month for M/W/F 9-1 preschool. This is in Raleigh, NC.

[C99]

City of Chicago.

DS doesn't go to preschool yet, but I am looking at $4,000 - $5,000 per year for 5 days/week, between 2.5 and 3.5 hours/day. Unless he gets into the state program, in which case it will be free, 5 days/week for 2.5 hours/day. He is a co-op program for MDO now - it's $80/month for M/W 10-2 p.m.

[C99]

City of Chicago.

DS doesn't go to preschool yet, but I am looking at $4,000 - $5,000 per year for 5 days/week, between 2.5 and 3.5 hours/day. Unless he gets into the state program, in which case it will be free, 5 days/week for 2.5 hours/day. He is a co-op program for MDO now - it's $80/month for M/W 10-2 p.m.

[Kungjo]

We pay $430 for a Montessori Preschool. That's full time M-F from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

[mapg]

Ours is $140/month for a five day-half day program. You guys are making me feel better about the cost on non-Catholic tuition at our other daughter's school, K-6 ($360/month).

[purpleeyes]

Next year, DS will attend a catholc preschool two mornings a week for 3 hours and it is $120 a month, with snack. Three days a week is $190 and then it really jumps though, when they are in the 4 yr old proram b/c that is 5 mornings a week-its $315.

Beth

[emmiem]

My 6 yo goes to a Montessori Preschool and Kindergarten. She goes 5 days a week 8 am until 3 pm. It costs $495 a month with $100 supply fee twice a year.
Michele

[dogmom]

Prices in my Boston suburb range from $150 month for two mornings (9 to 12) in a school basement. When one of the kids have to go to the bathroom the entire class (one teacher 7 kids or something like that) has to go out and sit in the hallway since they place isn't designed for a preschool. To where I send my son which is $760 month for three days, 9 am to 4 pm. You can pick your hours and not do a full day (8 to 6) like most day cares. There is everything in between.


Jeanne
Mom to Harvey
1/16/03
& Eve 6/18/06

[ctmom]

these are the prices for next year for our preschool in Connecticut.

3 yo 2 days a week $2,200
4 yo 3 days a week $2,600
4 yo 4 days a week $2,975
5 yo 5 days a week $3,100

This is all part time. Either 9-11:30 or 12:30-3.

Mary
dd#1 2/01
dd#2 12/03

[jk3]

M-F half day - $8,500
M-F 9-3 - $14,000 (includes lunch)
for a 9 month program
Jenn
DS 6/03
& cautiously expecting in May!

[Tondi G]

My DS is now in Kindergarten at a Charter School... thank goodness! His preschool WAS $900/month but went up to $1200/month the month after he finished there! They could go from 8 or 8:30am to 5:30pm! You could drop them and pick them up anytime between those hours!!! More than likely we'll be looking for a new preschool for our younger child. We loved the school but it is out of our price range at this point and who knows what it wil be in another year or so!

~Tondi
Mommy to Mason 7/8/01 and Aidan 5/4/05

[supercalifragilous]

For DD's Montessori school, it is $441/month, 5 days/week, 3 hrs/day.

When I was comparing preschools, I did an apples-to-apples comparison and broke it down to how much I was paying per hour. Right now, we are paying $7.35/hour. Next year it will be going up to $7.68/hr.