OP, the one pushing MCPS and linking to the apartment.

Could you ask the school about deferring for a year? 2 years vs. 3 won't make a big difference in how much the school helps you get in places. Then you can spend a year looking for housing elsewhere, and if you decide you really want NCRC he can go when there is an extended day option.

I'd also look at some of the popular 3 year old programs with full day options -- St. Pats, Lowell, School for Friends, Wonders, St. Columba's, Amazing Life Games. Lots of great options with financial aid possibilities.

After 3 kids in preschool, i would recommend skipping the 2 YO program all together! Small benefit and many times they cry and cry when you drop them off. What's the point?

we all want to give our children the best opportunities - but folks, there is also a reasonable level that I think the OP is beyond.

You are going to drive 45 minutes each way to drop you child off at a 2 YO program. So that is 1.5 hours for drop off (assuming you are working near where you live) and at the end of the day you will do another 1.5 hours.

So you will spend 3 hours in the car for a 3 hour 2 year old program.

Do you really think the program is that good?

Anonymous wrote:OP's mind is already made up so those of you advocating starting at a Public or Charter should simply back away from the keyboard. She's looking for validation of a decision she has already made.

OP, you're not going to be happy with any other school, so go ahead and try it for a year as another PP has said. And whatever you do, don't have any more kids if you plan on keeping your first in private school. (More than one kid throws the math waaaaay off!).

I really do wish you all the luck in the world. Everyone wants what they think is the best for their child.

Agree with PP, try it for a year or you will kick yourself if you don't. If it goes well, that's awesome. If not, you reserve the right to change your mind. PP is right about number 2, it does throw the math (and the logistics) way off. Number 2 was the reason we left Beauvoir for a local parish school once Number 1 got to Kindergarten. We simply couldn't afford 2 kids at B, and I would be hard pressed to look at Number 2 and say "well, I guess it just sucks to be born second" LOL

Anonymous wrote:OP's mind is already made up so those of you advocating starting at a Public or Charter should simply back away from the keyboard. She's looking for validation of a decision she has already made.

OP, you're not going to be happy with any other school, so go ahead and try it for a year as another PP has said. And whatever you do, don't have any more kids if you plan on keeping your first in private school. (More than one kid throws the math waaaaay off!).

I really do wish you all the luck in the world. Everyone wants what they think is the best for their child.

I thought that OP had yet to hear about the financial aid award?

OP's mind is already made up so those of you advocating starting at a Public or Charter should simply back away from the keyboard. She's looking for validation of a decision she has already made.

OP, you're not going to be happy with any other school, so go ahead and try it for a year as another PP has said. And whatever you do, don't have any more kids if you plan on keeping your first in private school. (More than one kid throws the math waaaaay off!).

I really do wish you all the luck in the world. Everyone wants what they think is the best for their child.

Anonymous wrote:

I tend to agree that it's not worth the hassle, but I don't agree that the money over the years is a waste for a good education.

Well, it depends on the trade-offs. If, even with FA, OP can't save for her own retirement, I don't think that paying for private school is worth the expense--especially given that there are excellent public school pyramids in MontCo and NOVA. If you're talking about the difference between buying a bigger house in upper NW or foregoing vacations to send your child to private school, then, yes, I would agree with you that private school tuition is not a waste of money. But on $65K/year, it sounds like OP can't make ends meet without sacrificing something as basic as her own retirement savings or a safety net of 6 months salary, then I don't think that the tuition dollars are worth it.