Anonymous wrote:My friends who had early October birthdays enrolled their kids in private K and then joined their public school as first graders.

Do the private and catholic schools not follow the state cut off?

My friends who had early October birthdays enrolled their kids in private K and then joined their public school as first graders.

Do you work in DC? DC allows "out of state" students to enroll and pay tuition (which is really cheap). The PreK programs are really strong .

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks everyone for the responses. So I found a couple accredited private kindergartens, would the jump to kindergarten be too much?

I would do -
Private K program then put kid in kindergarten at our local public school for 2025/2026 when kid is eligible.

And then 12 months from now the kid will say he’s bored, which you’ll think means he’s head and shoulders above the rest, but it’s bc you pushed kindergarten this year and will have him repeat it next year. Isn’t something more going from 3 to 5 days a week?

My kid was one of those early readers (just over 3). Unlike OP she was very young for her year with a mid August bday. Because of the age breakdown in her preschool she did not get a spot in the pre K class...but honestly it worked out well for her. She did not need pre reading skills etc. Play based was great for her. Pushing her farther ahead in terms of specific skills would have made K even more boring.

Just do a better pre-K

I'd stick with a pre-k, play is so crucial for development, physically and socially.

OP here, thanks everyone for the responses. So I found a couple accredited private kindergartens, would the jump to kindergarten be too much?

I would do -
Private K program then put kid in kindergarten at our local public school for 2025/2026 when kid is eligible.

Lots of 5 day pre-K programs around. Just ask the teacher who said it where they recommend.

Hi OP, some preschools have programs specifically for kids who are either like your son on the older end, or redshirted so also similar age usually, just a few months younger. It is often called "junior kindergarten." That would probably be ideal. But is this for this year? I didn't totally follow even though I know you gave dates. If so, maybe just follow his interests for a couple more classes, this year. He'll be in kindergarten before you know it and its ok if he isn't SUPER challenged these last months and gets to enjoy playing etc.

You can't game kindergarten enrollment anywhere in Fairfax County, to my knowledge (I have a December birthday child and we looked). As PPs have said, you'll need a five day/week pre-K option - depending on where you are, the Appletree Schools, Meritt Academy, Congressional, and Vienna Baptist all have school-day-length programs.

Mentioning even though it's a year too early -- we started DD in piano at 5 with a pretty serious teacher. She thrived.

For our DS, initially I was going to wait till after 5 to let his small motor skills improve but piano turned out to be the best thing for that.

Pre-K. Find a school with a five day pre-K program.

Is there a 5 day a week preschool or full day prek you can send her to?

We're zoned for FCPS and have an "older" 4 year old, meaning my child was born mid October and will not qualify for kindergarten until 2025-2026 school year. Child is currently in a 3s/4s class 3 times a week, but the preschool teacher mentioned my kid needing "something more" for the next year. Something more meaning more enrichment. Where should I send my kid for this? I was thinking about an accredited kindergarten or would some extra classes be better?