I'm looking for a preschool for my daughter, and am asking early because I keep hearing about wait lists...does anyone have school ideas or info on wait lists for school in these areas? Also WHEN do you go on a wait list? the year before or now?
I would start with the National Association for the Education of Young Children for schools in your area that are accredited. Here is a website that can help:
http://www.naeyc.org/accreditation/
Call the preschools on the list and see if they are taking applications and if you can have a tour.
A lot of schools have waitlists and you should get on them now if you like the school. But there are a few gems out there that don't have long lists. You should definitely start touring now if you have not yet, since there are a lot of schools to choose from and it takes time to look at them all and choose. There is actually a great school called Delaney Wright school near Gower and Hollywood that doesn't have a waitlist yet - and it's very reasonable. All the other schools I have looked at are closer to West Hollywood so they probably won't be near enough to you. My daughter is 2.2 and we still haven't decided yet - we are on 2 waitlists but I think if we really pushed we could get in faster. A lot of schools like parents who are passionate about them and you can get moved up faster if you show them how enthusiastic you are about the school. Let me know if you have any questions!
We go to the Hollywood School House (www.hollywoodschoolhouse.org). It is pre-8th grade. WE love it there. I would recommend calling on Monday and setting up a tour in early 08.
Good Luck and try not to stress about it.
D.
Mom to Gillian 4 and Gracen 18 months
I don't have info on pre-schools in those areas, but I know that La Petite Academy has several schools in different cities. You can check them out online. I signed up my first daughter (now 2 1/2) when she wasn't even born yet, at the La Petite Academy (more for daycare initially) in Downtown L.A. A couple of months after that, there were no more spots and the waiting list is long. But, plans changed and we ended up finding a closer school (Celebration Kids) that fits our needs in South Pasadena. Some schools are really competetive (especially the good ones) so you'll need to sign her up as soon as possible. I put my daughter on the waiting list for at least 2 pre-schools, just in case. Now, I have a 10 month old and I'm planning to put her on a list for the school soon (should've been sooner). Good luck. You'll find one and things will work out for the best.
Hi,
we live in Atwater and did the whole tour/waitlist thing. For some schools, like the one our son is at now, we had to get on a waitlist even to go on the orientation!!! We called in June 2006, got called to go on the orientation in December 2006 and filled out an application shortly thereafter. We were called for a play date (mutual evaluation) in July 2007, and a few days later were accepted for Sept enrollment. We called a handful of times throughout to check in and make sure they hadn't lost our application--and they hadn't; it just took that long! We visited about 5 schools total and eventually were accepted to all of them, so it is possible! but it did take time, some much longer than others. Before getting into it I had no idea about all this. The good news is we are happy with the school and feel we found the right place for our family. ). Regardless of selectivity/waitlists, it's good to have 1) a sense of your own family's priorities (which you quickly figure out throughout the orientation process if you haven't before), 2)a back-up plan, and 3) a sense of humor about it all! Good luck!
