Average cost for preschool?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the feedback. We are looking in MoCo and north DC.

Your prices seem very low compared with what we've seen, which surprises me because I feel like we've been looking at some of the most affordable options nearby. We are looking mostly at coop schools, and these seem to be the same or even more expensive than most of the things PPs are listing. We are also looking at a few non-coop schools that are more like $900-$1100/month for 5 mornings/week.

I felt that the one that was $1100 was quite highly priced but thought the $900/month one seemed fairly priced if compared to the coop schools (considering the larger number of paid staff vs. parents in the classes).

Compared to your prices, these seem really high. Are your preschools coops? We like several of the schools and won't make a decision based solely on price (within reason) but wanted to get a sense of where this fit with overall prices being paid. Interesting.

[Anonymous]

Free! DCPS and DC Charter schools.

[Anonymous]

Our school ($400/month for 5 mornings a week) is not co-op, but it is church based. Are you looking at church based schools? Those are usually the most affordable. I usually only see Montessori schools for over $900/month.

[Anonymous]

OP again. No, the schools are not church-based, which probably explains the difference. The really expensive one I noted is Montessori, and the others have similar philosophies.

[Anonymous]

DCPS Pre-K 3: Free

[Anonymous]

We are in Chevy Chase. 5 mornings (9-12) a week next year for preK (and the 5 day 3 year old class) will be $7100 for the year. Works out to about $788 a month from Sept - May.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. No, the schools are not church-based, which probably explains the difference. The really expensive one I noted is Montessori, and the others have similar philosophies.

Beware of the large numbers in some Montessori places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$8k 4 days/week 9:15-12:15

Same, inside the beltway nwDC or Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. No, the schools are not church-based, which probably explains the difference. The really expensive one I noted is Montessori, and the others have similar philosophies.

Beware of the large numbers in some Montessori places.

What large numbers?mno of students or tuition?

I'd be more wary of preschools that are just playing around day cares charging close to a strict Montessori price.

Talk to each teacher, always!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$8k 4 days/week 9:15-12:15

Same, inside the beltway nwDC or Bethesda.

PP here. Ours in in mclean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school ($400/month for 5 mornings a week) is not co-op, but it is church based. Are you looking at church based schools? Those are usually the most affordable. I usually only see Montessori schools for over $900/month.

Same with our $400/month school - not coop/at a Methodist church. The church-based schools are definitely worth a look. Don't rule them out even if you aren't religious -- IME, they don't have much religious content except saying grace at meals.

[Anonymous]

Montessori for us is 8:30-2:30 all week and it is about $900 per month.

The part-time church based programs are usually 2 or 3 days a week and 9-12 and they seem to run $300 to $500. I have seen some that are 5 days a week and a little bit more.

When we were comparing, most the Montessori's follow the public school calendar where the church-based seemed to be closed more often.

Teachers education could be really different between Montessori and church-based.

[Anonymous]

$195/ month for a 3 day 9:30-12 pre-k co-op in Rockville

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Catholic Montessori preschool, M-F 8a-3p, $6,700 or you could do half time for around 4k. It's a school, so off in the summers.

What's the name of this Catholic Montessori school?