Sorry - I also posted this in the pre-schoolers section...I rarely look below that group. Thought there might be some other people looking in here who might be able to help.

My daughter is going to make me cry for days because she starts kindergarten next fall. She currently goes to a Kindercare and they offer a private kindergarten class. This year, the ratio is 1 to 7.

Does anyone have an experience with paying for a private kindergarten? Will the advantages gained next year even out later?

She will go full-day no matter what. I went to full-day kindergarten and can not expect her to have the opportunity that I had.

Thanks,
Julie E

Will she countinue on in private school, or go to public in 1st grade. Many friendships will be formed. I say this because I moved around alot- about 6 schools in my life and i don't have any strong bonds from my past. My husband went to the same school from k-12 grade and he still is great friends with his peers from school. I have said where we are when the kids start school is where we stay.

I know my son is starting Kindergartesn next year scary. My 2 brothers were both in Private and public- One was struggling in public and then went to Private and succeed-#2 was not doing well in private and did great in the public school. Does your daughter need more one on one attention when she is in preschool or is she independent? Does she adapt well to new situations? I guess you gotta go with what is in your gut- And talk to her teachers see what they think. 

Elliott went to the Y for daycare and they use to offer private kindergarden but do not anymore.  I wanted to send him to private kindergarden b/c he would be with the friends he has had for the past 5 years.  Also, the student to teacher ratio in our public school is like          25 to 1.  Big difference.  And they are expected to learn a lot of things in kindergarden now!  When I went to kindergarden the biggest thing I learned was how to pull the milk cart!! LOL!!!  I would take into consideration how much your child already knows and if they need a little more special attention from teachers until they get on track of what school is.  Elliott is facing ADD issues now and we got very lucky to have a teacher that understands what to look for and how to respond to him. 

 

Amanda went to full day Tutor Time for K when she just turned 5 because she missed the cut off to go to public school   It is state accredited, so we could have sent her onto 1st grade and forced issue of age, but decided not to. 

The private was nice, however I loved the public school program being fullday here. She gained alot in the private program, but even though teacher to student raio way higher in public, she gained SO much out of public school. 

My kids are in a public school though, you need to investigate all avenues before making the right decision.

The school only offer private kindergarten. I think it was setup to be a great alternative to when AZ only had 1/2 day options. So she will go onto a different school for 1st grade. Hoping that we can get into the same school as some of the other kids at her pre-school.

I'm not as concerned about her forming friendships/bonds because it seems like soo many kids move around/out of Phoenix. That seems inevitable, soo sad. I stayed K-12 at the same school and talk to 2 girlfriends still, I refuse to go to the reunions, yuck.

Tonight was meet-the-teacher. It is a very nice setting, super nice teacher. 

Thanks for your replies!!!

Well as a teacher in public school my opinion is obviously going to be in favor of public school.

There are so many things that the kids are exposed to by going to public school:  acceptance and understanding of different heritages and cultures, how to interact with peers, and not to mention all of the academic areas that they address now at the Kindergarten level.  There is so much change that has occurred over the years and the school offer so much more now.

I am not sure what school your child would attend but the trend that I have seen is that the student to teacher ratio has gotten smaller.  Although it may not be as small as private it has gone down.  I think that my son may have 18 in his class.

Although I am not opposed to private school and for some people that is the way to go.  Just keep in mind where you are wanting them to go and what you are wanting them to be exposed to.  If private school is only a one year thing I would suggest starting in public so that your child can begin to form those relationships in Kindergarten.