Talk to me about preschool waitlists (in Arlington)

[Anonymous]

We tried to register my daughter for preschool next fall (she'll be 4 then) and although we had a low level of priority she still didn't get a spot at our first choice preschool. She is, however, #2 on the waitlist for the 3 day program and #4 on the waitlist for the 5 day program, which is our strong preference since she currently attends preschool 5 days a week as a 3-year-old.

What's the scoop on waitlists? The director sounded encouraging, especially for the 3 day program, but will there really be that much movement between now and September? Does anyone have experience with this?

It's particularly stressful because I'm trying to manage this process from out of the area - we move back to Arlington this summer. We have a backup plan that I'm okay with (she can return to the daycare center she attended as an infant), but I'd really like a traditional preschool program and something close to our home. I also just don't have the ability to apply for a zillion programs from afar.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like she will have a good shot in getting in, since people often move out of the area.

Almost all the schools in the area have waiting lists so I am not sure if you will end up getting into any other schools in the area, since typically most schools have a program for 3 year olds and then that class would have priority to be the next year's 4 year olds.