When to Start?

[Anonymous]

Good Morning,

Please help a mom new to the process. My daughter is turning one at the end of August. Should I be starting the pre-k application process this Fall or the following Fall? We live in the District and the goal is to get her in to a good private school.

Thank you for any and all help.

[Anonymous]

Well, most pre-pre-schools, like Little Folks and NCRC start with just around 3 years old. So you would be looking at her starting school in the Fall of 2010. That means, you will want to start getting info, visiting schools and applying in the Fall and winter atthe end of 2009. You still have time. For pre-K at schools like Beauvoir and such - 4 years old is the start - so you would apply the fall before she turns four (2011?) Some Montessori schools start at 18 months, I think - so you could start looking at those too. Correct me if I am wrong, anyone.

[Anonymous]

Of the popular NW DC preschools, only River and Aidan begin at 18 months. Metropolitan and CCBC start at 2. St. John's, Little Folks, NCRC, Children's House begin at 2 1/2. WIS, St. Pat's, Lowell, WES, British School, and I think NPS begin at 3. I think St. Columba's begins at 3.

Most schools, you should plan to tour in September or October the year before you would like to enroll.

[Anonymous]

some schools start at 2 or 2.5 so you might just start looking around in case you want to apply to a two year program.

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much!

[Anonymous]

I would begin looking NEXT September (2009, not 2010). Your daughter will be 2, and you will be looking for schools for her to enter at age 3 (good for Little Folks and NCRC). Don't wait until 2010 when your daughter is already 3 because you begin looking a year in advance of the start year, and very few preschool spots will open for 4 year olds.