Preschool Costs

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Parents of preschoolers (or former preschoolers),

I know nothing about preschool.  We are looking at options for E for the fall. 

We visited a place today where my nephew goes.  It is either 2 half days or 3 half days for 3 year olds.  It was $218 a month for 2 days a week or $296 a month for 3 days a week. 

Are those prices reasonable?  Super cheap?  Expensive?  I really don't have a grasp on what the averages are to know how they rank.  We loved the place but wanted to get an idea about prices.

Thanks!

eaglesfan700

Charlie goes 3 half days a week (pre-k, so for 4 year olds) and it is $225 a month.  I didn't know if that was considered expensive or not, but one of my neighbors and I were talking about pre-ks, and when I said where he was going, she made a comment about it being expensive. 

I found out later that of the 3 main options in our town, it is the most expensive, but not by much.  Oh and that doesn't include the Catholic school pre-k, which would definitely be the most expensive

I would just check out a couple other places to see the prices 

eaglesfan700

I should add, they aren't true half days, it's just 9 to 11:30

mirpete

Ours is about $180 a month.

MsKellDel

For JD, the part time option is $275 per month which is either 3 full days (8:45-2:45) or five half days (8:45-11). For five full days is $375 per month. Besides daycare, there aren't many preschool options here in SP so I didn't have anything to compare it to besides daycare which was about 600 per month so this was a no brainer decision. Plus it is convenient and small classes, it is actually a different religion than what we practice but similar enough plus at this age, there isn't a strong teaching of the religion yet 

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Thanks ladies.  It's good to see the range.  Seems like this place is a little bit expensive, but it's the only one in Jersey where I have personal recommendations.  I know three different people who send their kids there and they all rave about it.  So I think in our case it's worth the extra money.  We are kinda limited in where we can go anyway.  They have to be close to my ILs since they will be taking her, and they have to have a two day a week option, since they only watch E two days a week.  No idea what we'll do after this year...but I'll take it as it comes.  I'm hoping the ILs volunteer to take her a third day...or we win the lottery and D becomes a SAHD. 

Jamiedoll01

I just signed A up for pre-school yesterday (she won't start til Sept. but sign-ups are early).  She will go two days a week from 12-2:30 and it is $70 a month.  It's run at a local Recreation Center by Philly Parks and Rec, and I know people who teach there and people who have sent kids there and have heard/seen nothing negative.  So, to me, all the costs you guys list are insane, but I also realize our location is a bit different than traditional places.