Child Misses the Cutoff Date Want to Start School at 5! - Charlotte,NC

I am so glad to see this resquest, the responses and what you've found out from calling around. I am due with my second child right now on September 11th. It absolutely kills me to think of missing that cut-off by 11 days- it's ridiculous! Especially seeing how they just moved the date from October 16. I can't speak for my childs intelligence now, but if he's anything like my daughter I will be fighting tooth and nail to get him in 11 days before his 5th birthday. Good luck to you and your daughter!

Park Road Montessori School is great! They offer a PreK program at age 4. Montessori has a multi-age philosophy where Prek-K are in the same class, 1st-3rd, and 4th-5th. They learn from each other and have the same teacher for more than one year. Make sure you get on their registration list ASAP, if you are interested.

Hi K.,
I can understand your frustration. I would encourage you to look into the private Montessori schools here- Anami and Omni. Omni would be closer to you. Park Road Montessori doesn't start until age 4. Anami and Omni take children as young as 2 1/2 if the teachers feel they are ready so there's a very good chance your daughter could start this fall (it's unlikely that this late in the school year either school would start her, but it's not totally unheard of). If you start her at one of these schools now, then it will cetainly help her scores on the aptitude tests she'll need to take to get early admission. But also, if she isn't granted early admission or doesn't get chosen in the lottery for Park Road (there's also Chantilly Montessori) then you still have her in a school. If you wait until she's 5 to try to get her into a private Montessori school they are not very likely to take her since she won't have had a Montessori background. Anami and Omni are not cheap, but they are much cheaper than the other private schools in the area. If you have any questions, feel free to email me. Good luck.

There are a lot of private schools to choose from... I know tuition is a drawback, but I am thinking if she started private kinder and then switched to public for first that may be a loop hole :)

Call your local public school and see if they make exceptions in the case of students who are ready to start school. Also, look at local charter schools and private schools. I know that all schools do testing for placement. Charlotte Latin and Providence Day schools both do testing for placement. Best wishes!!

Hi! I have a (I think so) very bright almost 3 year old- she's November, and I don't want her starting school at 6 either. What have you found out and would you mind providing me with any info that you have found out?
I know re Park Road- what age do they start? How early do you need to enter the lottery?
We're in the Blakeney area. Montessori (Omni) is not an option bc it's only part time.
Thanks!