Advice Needed on Whether or Not to Change Schools

I kept my son in a church preschool until kindergarten. A bit less expensive than yours... we paid $145/month. I just thought 4 days per week from 9-1 was more than enough for a 4 year old. At that age he was still taking naps in the afternoon. And the church preschool was more than sufficient in getting him ready for kindergarten. Having no direct experience with Georgia Pre-K, I can't give you that plus side of that... other than that it is free. Maybe you can keep your son out of preschool until the following year? I certainly don't think that would be any detriment to him. That said, because of moves, etc... my daughter never went to the same preschool two years in a row, and although the first couple of days were a little anxious, she did just fine. So, I guess you have to just make the right decision for you and your family, taking in the financial considerations. I'm not much help, I guess! I'm sure she will be just fine whatever you decide.

Hi Toni,
My oldest child went to a church preschool for pre-k. It did not prepare him for kindergarten. I believe that they are not focused so much on academics in the four year old program and a state funded or private pre-k at a day care center. My middle child went to the same church preschool up until prek and then I moved him to a ga prek program. I still paid $70 per month for food. He started Kindergarten this year and is doing fine, but I could tell that he already knew more (letters, writing, etc.) then my oldest. Now, having said that, while we did have to do flashcards, etc. the first half of kindergarten with my oldest to catch him up, by Christmas he was caught up and in the begining of first grade made it into the gifted program. So, for me, it was I also have a two year old and do not want to have to do that much work in the evening to catch up my child so I switched him to ga prek. However, no matter what you decide, in a few months or a year, they will all probably be in the same place... Hope this helps! and Good Luck! And one more thing- it also somewhat depends on the elm. school you feed into. We were at Daves Creek in S. Forsyth- the kids going to that school seemed to be in the private prek programs which are pricey and they are taught even more...friends of mine feeding into schools on the other side of 400 seemed to be more on par with they kids going there. Not sure where in Duluth you will go to, but if it is Johns Creek Elm, those kids will definately be ahead of any churck program.

I did not put any of my children into the state funded programs. I did not want them going 5 days a week and for so many hours at a time. We did MWF from 9:30 - 12:30 at a church school and loved it. The money is a concern, but for us it was worth the sacrifice. I didn't want my little ones gone for so much time each day / week.

I think the educational benefits depend on what school your child goes to now. I have been told by many mom's and teachers that the kids that come from the church run preschool my daughter goes to produces the most prepared children in our area. Do you feel like she is getting a good education or is it lacking? Also most schools offer a multi-child discount or you youngest could wait a year.

I'm not sure what hours your child goes to preschool but that is another thing to consider. Isn't the state funded Pre-K all day school (7:45-2:15 at my sons school).

My son didn't start preschool until he was 4 (almost 5 -- late b'day) and I just wasn't ready for him to have to go all day, everyday when he didn't have to. Yes, we had to pay the tuition at the church preschool (just a bit more than you pay now) but I felt for us it was the right decision.

We just went through the same thing. My 4yr old had been going to a church daycare since she was 15 weeks old. She loved it, we loved it and her sister & brother go there. It became unaffordable when my 7 month old son (3rd child) started going so we decided to put her in a state funded Pre-K. I was VERY concerned for a multituded of reasons but financially we had to. We took her to see the school the week before she started. We scheduled to have her meet her teacher ahead of time and talked it up, called it the "big girl" Pre-K etc. She LOVES it. Most of the worries were mine, she didn't even bat an eye about leaving. There was no sadness, no tears, no wanting to go back to her old school nothing. Then next year, she'll go another school for kindergarden. It all works out fine.