Cost of Preschool

[MMEand1]

We are looking to put my 3yo DD in preschool this year. There is a Lutheran Preschool right around the corner from our house. They have class M-F from 0900 until 1145. For the class and bus to pick her up and drop her off each day, the monthly fee is $185. Does this sound reasonable for a 3 year old? This is my first experience with preschool since my DS never went...
Thanks!
Mariah P.

[citymama]

That sounds mighty inexpensive to me! I won't even mention what preschool costs are like here in the Bay Area, but that sounds very reasonable to me.

[bethie_73]

Geez for my 2yo at my Lutheran church its $190 for 2 mornings a week, and no bus.

Sounds really good.

[niccig]

Holy Cow that is cheap. For the same hours we pay $343 and that's not one of the expensive places! We're in Los Angeles though. I did find cheaper places, but I wasn't thrilled with the school. If you like the program, I would jump at it.

[salsah]

yes! we are paying $600 (no bus)

[egoldber]

Cheap!!!!!!!! I will be paying about $300 a month for Amy to go 2 days a week from 9-1 starting in the fall. No bus.

[Tondi G]

WOW... thats CHEAP! If you like the school and program I would go for it!

[o_mom]

Sounds about right. I pay $100/mo for 9-11:30 two mornings a week. I think it is $130 for three mornings a week. No bus, though.

[hillview]

WOW -- awesome!! If you like it DO IT. We are paying WAY more than that.
/hillary

[HIU8]

Wow that's cheap! We pay $345/month for 3 days a week 9:15-noon no bus. Next year DS will go 4 days a week and the cost goes to $460/month. Then there is the aftercare he is going to 2x a week so I can also pick up DNeice 2x a week. So the monthly total is $700-still no bus.

[ThreeofUs]

Sounds like a great deal! Lucky you!

[kerridean]

Man, I am glad I live in the midwest. We are paying $1000 TOTAL for the whole school year. It is Monday through Thursday 9-11:30.

It is a Reggio-inspired public preschool with only 12 kids per class with one teacher (bachelor's degree, early childhood cert.) and 2 aids.

[SASM]

That sounds like a GREAT deal!! In my area, a 9 hr/wk (3d) program is about $170 without transportation. A preschool that I am researching, in another pat of the country for a potential move, is $170 for 11 hrs/wk (5d). Good luck!! How awesome that she'll (you'll) have a BUS!!!

Sooo happy to see that you are HOME!! Your holiday photo is still hanging in my kitchen!

[new_mommy25]

That sounds great! When my DS went to a preschool twice a week for 2.5 hours it was $115 but no bus. When he went to full time (M-F, 8-2) it was $600 a month.

[C99]

That sounds really cheap! Our local Lutheran preschool was $110/WEEK for 3 part-time days. I paid $450/month for the place I ended up sending DS1 to attend.

[KBecks]

I think that's reasonable for a 5 day a week program, if you think the school is a good match for your child.

[hez]

It sounds really good from a cost perspective. We paid $165/month (no bus), M-T-W, half days (1-3:30) at a preschool held in a Methodist church here.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Sounds like a bargain to me. :) We paid around $4700 for the school year M-F, 9-12:30, no bus, we provided our own lunch. This was when ds was 4.

My only concern with that program is that it is a lot of preschool. most preschool programs I am used to have a 3 day program for 3yos.

Beth

[BillK]

I'll be the dissenter in saying "wow that sounds expensive as heck!"

Our rates are:


A $50.00 non-refundable fee per student is due at time of registration.
The monthly tuition is due the by the FIRST day of each month.
There is a 10% tuition discount for siblings.


Class #1 (4yr) Mon, Wed & Friday at 10am-12pm: $60.00
Class #2 (PreK) Mon, Wed & Friday at 12:30pm-2:30pm: $60.00
Class #3 (3yr) Tues & Thurs at 10am-12pm: $50.00
Class #4 (3yr) Tues & Thurs at 12:30pm-2:30pm: $50.00Class offerings are subject to change based on need and availability.

[missliss55]

I wish I could pay that. Starting next month we will pay $240 a month for a 2 day a week morning program.

[JBaxter]

Nathan attends montessori 8:30 - 11:30 M-F $350 a month

[mecawa]

We pay 175.00 per month for a two day a week program (8:30-11:30 am) which does not include transportation or snack.

[Corie]

Sounds quite reasonable to me!!

My 3 yr. old will be going to preschool this fall.
He is going just 3 days a week, 3 hours each day.
(basically, 9 hours a week)

The cost is $2500 for the school year.

[MMEand1]

Thanks everyone! The monthly fee is $120 a month without the bus, but since her school is outside the base and my DS's school is inside the base, and the kids would be starting school at the same time, my DH would not be able to get my DS to school on time if he brings my DD to her school off base. Does that make sense?

And BillK...I looked at your rate schedule and if you were to add a 3-day-a-week program to one of the 2-day-a-week programs, it is only $10 cheaper.

The preschool we are looking at uses the High Reach program in the classrooms, so I know that it is not just 3 hours of free play which is what one of the other preschools here is (and they are $500 a month with no bus).

My DH and I have not made a concrete decision yet, but we are leaning more towards doing it than not.

Thanks for your help!
Mariah P.

[BillK]

Thanks everyone! The monthly fee is $120 a month without the bus, but since her school is outside the base and my DS's school is inside the base, and the kids would be starting school at the same time, my DH would not be able to get my DS to school on time if he brings my DD to her school off base. Does that make sense?

And BillK...I looked at your rate schedule and if you were to add a 3-day-a-week program to one of the 2-day-a-week programs, it is only $10 cheaper.

The preschool we are looking at uses the High Reach program in the classrooms, so I know that it is not just 3 hours of free play which is what one of the other preschools here is (and they are $500 a month with no bus).

My DH and I have not made a concrete decision yet, but we are leaning more towards doing it than not.

Thanks for your help!
Mariah P.

Yea - I didn't realize yours was all week until after I posted - it's actually a pretty good price. I'm just glad we don't have to pay some of the other rates folks have listed in their replies. That's just crazy talk!

[saschalicks]

OMG I would die to pay that much w/a bus. I won't tell you what I pay for 8 AM to 6 PM 5 days week. Double yours and you'll get close to what it would be per WEEK for me.

[MMEand1]

Yea - I didn't realize yours was all week until after I posted - it's actually a pretty good price. I'm just glad we don't have to pay some of the other rates folks have listed in their replies. That's just crazy talk!

Yes, you are right, it is CRAZY talk!!! Guess I will be happy with my $185mo (or $120 w/o bus)!!! I just wanted to make sure that we were not getting ripped off! Thanks!
Mariah P.

[american_mama]

Sounds fine to me. DD's preschool last year was $140 a month for 2 days, 9-12 and no bus. In my three+ years of paying for preschool and frequently scouting out other preschools, I have found that preschool tuition usually goes up about $10-20 a year. Many church-run preschools in town are similarly priced; Montesorri or private school preschools are usually more expensive.

As an aside, I've never heard of a bus for preschool, although as a child, I took a "bus" (big station wagon) to nursery school.

[mom2binsd]

Here in Central IL...DS will go two mornings a week for 75.00/month...DD went last year for 3 afternoons for 95.00/month and we love the program...teacher and assistant and 14 children and an excellent well rounded program....I can't believe what some of you have to pay!

[kijip]

Yea - I didn't realize yours was all week until after I posted - it's actually a pretty good price. I'm just glad we don't have to pay some of the other rates folks have listed in their replies. That's just crazy talk!
It's a lot more pricey in bigger cities or in the NE and along the West Coast cities. Nearly everything quoted here sounds like a bargain compared to the prices in Seattle for private programs. (Co-ops are cheaper but require a serious committment of parent time and fundraising).

[SpaceGal]

DS will be attending a 3 day a week program no bus for about 2.5 hours in the afternoon (11:50am - 2:30pm) for $100 a month. Parts of me wishes there was a bus for him but it's okay since it's only about 5 minutes from where we live. Oh and we are located in Central NY.

[HannaAddict]

I'll be the dissenter in saying "wow that sounds expensive as heck!"

Our rates are:


A $50.00 non-refundable fee per student is due at time of registration.
The monthly tuition is due the by the FIRST day of each month.
There is a 10% tuition discount for siblings.


Class #1 (4yr) Mon, Wed & Friday at 10am-12pm: $60.00
Class #2 (PreK) Mon, Wed & Friday at 12:30pm-2:30pm: $60.00
Class #3 (3yr) Tues & Thurs at 10am-12pm: $50.00
Class #4 (3yr) Tues & Thurs at 12:30pm-2:30pm: $50.00Class offerings are subject to change based on need and availability.


How on earth can the teachers afford to work there? Health insurance? Food? Gas? Wow. We paid $350 per month for three days a week, 9-1 pm but are in a nice urban neighborhood. The staff has all been there for years, have college degrees and/or current teaching certificates and are wonderful with the children. There are scholarships available through fundraising through the classes. This is not an "exclusive" preschool by any stretch, the rate is basically the same at all the preschools in our area (except the co-op). The expensive preschool in town is about $15,000 a year! For actual preschool, crazy.

[kusumat]

The preschool around my area costs at least $7,000 per year. Well, I live in upper east manhattan.