Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a “top area preschool,” as compared to every other preschool in the area?

I'm not sure either, but my guess is the co-op preschool runnig out of a church basement doesn't qualify as "top".

I wonder what they get at a top preschool. Do they teach additional letters of the alphabet like Ü and é?

You’ll laugh. My child went to a public art class taught by a “top preschool” teacher who offered it on the side and the class covers the great artists such as yayo and Dali and incorporated vr reality googles. This is a class for 3 to 5 year olds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when my kids were in a "top area preschool" (think St. Johns, NCRC, Little Folks School, etc.), we gave $1500 per/year. Back then, this was reportedly the gap amount. Others gave much more and others gave less but I think most families gave the gap amount.

And please tell us all how being at this “top area preschool,” which you cleverly refuse to name but we’re all supposed to infer, has benefited your child, as compared to any neighbor child who did not matriculate at a “top” preschool?

I am the poster you quoted. It did not matter at all. We all loved the school experience and we made great friends but that could have happened at almost any preschool. I was not suggesting that the school was superior in any way. The original question asked what common giving amounts were at "top area preschools" and I answered the question - the preschool my kids attended is widely known in the area as one of the most difficult to get into for any number of reasons including simple supply and demand. We picked it because it seemed very sweet/loving, conveniently located to where we live and work, and we could afford it. It was very common in this relatively small school to give $1500/year on top of the regular tuition.

OP here. Was your child full day / every day? My DC goes very few days/hours per week, and I am wondering if that makes a difference. The tuition is only $3k (will go up next year when DC's time at school increases) so I feel like maybe $1k so too much? (1/3 of tuition)? If I'm wrong, we're fine with contributing $1k. I think in our situation $1.5k would definitely be too much.

I am the poster you quoted. In your circumstance, I think $1500 or even $1000 is probably way too much given that your tuition is only $3,000. Did you receive a letter with a recommended amount? If so, I would give that amount or whatever you feel comfortable with. Our child went mornings only/5 days per week our first year and I think our tuition was around $12,000-$14,000. I don't recall exactly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when my kids were in a "top area preschool" (think St. Johns, NCRC, Little Folks School, etc.), we gave $1500 per/year. Back then, this was reportedly the gap amount. Others gave much more and others gave less but I think most families gave the gap amount.

And please tell us all how being at this “top area preschool,” which you cleverly refuse to name but we’re all supposed to infer, has benefited your child, as compared to any neighbor child who did not matriculate at a “top” preschool?

I am the poster you quoted. It did not matter at all. We all loved the school experience and we made great friends but that could have happened at almost any preschool. I was not suggesting that the school was superior in any way. The original question asked what common giving amounts were at "top area preschools" and I answered the question - the preschool my kids attended is widely known in the area as one of the most difficult to get into for any number of reasons including simple supply and demand. We picked it because it seemed very sweet/loving, conveniently located to where we live and work, and we could afford it. It was very common in this relatively small school to give $1500/year on top of the regular tuition.

OP here. Was your child full day / every day? My DC goes very few days/hours per week, and I am wondering if that makes a difference. The tuition is only $3k (will go up next year when DC's time at school increases) so I feel like maybe $1k so too much? (1/3 of tuition)? If I'm wrong, we're fine with contributing $1k. I think in our situation $1.5k would definitely be too much.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a “top area preschool,” as compared to every other preschool in the area?

I'm not sure either, but my guess is the co-op preschool runnig out of a church basement doesn't qualify as "top".

I wonder what they get at a top preschool. Do they teach additional letters of the alphabet like Ü and é?

Anonymous wrote:What is a “top area preschool,” as compared to every other preschool in the area?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when my kids were in a "top area preschool" (think St. Johns, NCRC, Little Folks School, etc.), we gave $1500 per/year. Back then, this was reportedly the gap amount. Others gave much more and others gave less but I think most families gave the gap amount.

And please tell us all how being at this “top area preschool,” which you cleverly refuse to name but we’re all supposed to infer, has benefited your child, as compared to any neighbor child who did not matriculate at a “top” preschool?

I am the poster you quoted. It did not matter at all. We all loved the school experience and we made great friends but that could have happened at almost any preschool. I was not suggesting that the school was superior in any way. The original question asked what common giving amounts were at "top area preschools" and I answered the question - the preschool my kids attended is widely known in the area as one of the most difficult to get into for any number of reasons including simple supply and demand. We picked it because it seemed very sweet/loving, conveniently located to where we live and work, and we could afford it. It was very common in this relatively small school to give $1500/year on top of the regular tuition.

OP here. Was your child full day / every day? My DC goes very few days/hours per week, and I am wondering if that makes a difference. The tuition is only $3k (will go up next year when DC's time at school increases) so I feel like maybe $1k so too much? (1/3 of tuition)? If I'm wrong, we're fine with contributing $1k. I think in our situation $1.5k would definitely be too much.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when my kids were in a "top area preschool" (think St. Johns, NCRC, Little Folks School, etc.), we gave $1500 per/year. Back then, this was reportedly the gap amount. Others gave much more and others gave less but I think most families gave the gap amount.

And please tell us all how being at this “top area preschool,” which you cleverly refuse to name but we’re all supposed to infer, has benefited your child, as compared to any neighbor child who did not matriculate at a “top” preschool?

I am the poster you quoted. It did not matter at all. We all loved the school experience and we made great friends but that could have happened at almost any preschool. I was not suggesting that the school was superior in any way. The original question asked what common giving amounts were at "top area preschools" and I answered the question - the preschool my kids attended is widely known in the area as one of the most difficult to get into for any number of reasons including simple supply and demand. We picked it because it seemed very sweet/loving, conveniently located to where we live and work, and we could afford it. It was very common in this relatively small school to give $1500/year on top of the regular tuition.

Anonymous wrote:Top preschool makes me laugh out loud every single time I see those words. As does upscale suburb.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when my kids were in a "top area preschool" (think St. Johns, NCRC, Little Folks School, etc.), we gave $1500 per/year. Back then, this was reportedly the gap amount. Others gave much more and others gave less but I think most families gave the gap amount.

And please tell us all how being at this “top area preschool,” which you cleverly refuse to name but we’re all supposed to infer, has benefited your child, as compared to any neighbor child who did not matriculate at a “top” preschool?

I am the poster you quoted. It did not matter at all. We all loved the school experience and we made great friends but that could have happened at almost any preschool. I was not suggesting that the school was superior in any way. The original question asked what common giving amounts were at "top area preschools" and I answered the question - the preschool my kids attended is widely known in the area as one of the most difficult to get into for any number of reasons including simple supply and demand. We picked it because it seemed very sweet/loving, conveniently located to where we live and work, and we could afford it. It was very common in this relatively small school to give $1500/year on top of the regular tuition.

So a preschool that is “the most difficult to get into” = “top preschool “ in your mind. Got it.
Thanks for the clarification

Sigh - I am being intentionally vague so as to not out myself because this is clearly a sensitive topic for many folks. Schools that are difficult to get into are often difficult to get into for many important reasons - including things like very small student/teacher ratios, nurturing environments, focus on the whole child, etc. I feel like people are being unnecessarily argumentative on this thread.

It’s an anonymous forum! Who are you going to out yourself with?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when my kids were in a "top area preschool" (think St. Johns, NCRC, Little Folks School, etc.), we gave $1500 per/year. Back then, this was reportedly the gap amount. Others gave much more and others gave less but I think most families gave the gap amount.

And please tell us all how being at this “top area preschool,” which you cleverly refuse to name but we’re all supposed to infer, has benefited your child, as compared to any neighbor child who did not matriculate at a “top” preschool?

I am the poster you quoted. It did not matter at all. We all loved the school experience and we made great friends but that could have happened at almost any preschool. I was not suggesting that the school was superior in any way. The original question asked what common giving amounts were at "top area preschools" and I answered the question - the preschool my kids attended is widely known in the area as one of the most difficult to get into for any number of reasons including simple supply and demand. We picked it because it seemed very sweet/loving, conveniently located to where we live and work, and we could afford it. It was very common in this relatively small school to give $1500/year on top of the regular tuition.

So a preschool that is “the most difficult to get into” = “top preschool “ in your mind. Got it.
Thanks for the clarification

Sigh - I am being intentionally vague so as to not out myself because this is clearly a sensitive topic for many folks. Schools that are difficult to get into are often difficult to get into for many important reasons - including things like very small student/teacher ratios, nurturing environments, focus on the whole child, etc. I feel like people are being unnecessarily argumentative on this thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when my kids were in a "top area preschool" (think St. Johns, NCRC, Little Folks School, etc.), we gave $1500 per/year. Back then, this was reportedly the gap amount. Others gave much more and others gave less but I think most families gave the gap amount.

And please tell us all how being at this “top area preschool,” which you cleverly refuse to name but we’re all supposed to infer, has benefited your child, as compared to any neighbor child who did not matriculate at a “top” preschool?

I am the poster you quoted. It did not matter at all. We all loved the school experience and we made great friends but that could have happened at almost any preschool. I was not suggesting that the school was superior in any way. The original question asked what common giving amounts were at "top area preschools" and I answered the question - the preschool my kids attended is widely known in the area as one of the most difficult to get into for any number of reasons including simple supply and demand. We picked it because it seemed very sweet/loving, conveniently located to where we live and work, and we could afford it. It was very common in this relatively small school to give $1500/year on top of the regular tuition.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when my kids were in a "top area preschool" (think St. Johns, NCRC, Little Folks School, etc.), we gave $1500 per/year. Back then, this was reportedly the gap amount. Others gave much more and others gave less but I think most families gave the gap amount.

And please tell us all how being at this “top area preschool,” which you cleverly refuse to name but we’re all supposed to infer, has benefited your child, as compared to any neighbor child who did not matriculate at a “top” preschool?

I am the poster you quoted. It did not matter at all. We all loved the school experience and we made great friends but that could have happened at almost any preschool. I was not suggesting that the school was superior in any way. The original question asked what common giving amounts were at "top area preschools" and I answered the question - the preschool my kids attended is widely known in the area as one of the most difficult to get into for any number of reasons including simple supply and demand. We picked it because it seemed very sweet/loving, conveniently located to where we live and work, and we could afford it. It was very common in this relatively small school to give $1500/year on top of the regular tuition.

So a preschool that is “the most difficult to get into” = “top preschool “ in your mind. Got it.
Thanks for the clarification