Can someone help me...Nursery School, Pre K and Kindergarden Questions

My boys just turned 2 this September. I am still utterly confused about what nursery school, pre-K and Kindergarden are and the years kids are suppose to be in them.

Is Kindergarden the only one that is required for kids to go? Is nursery school and pre-k optional only if you want to pay for them?

Also, my boys are born in September. How does that work with regards to the year they are suppose to be in. If they are expected to be in Kindergarden when they turn 5, does that mean that they will be turning 5 the first month they are in kindergarden or do they have to wait another year until they are 6??

VERY VERY CONFUSED!!! !

Re: Can someone help me...Nursery School, Pre K and Kindergarden Questions

In NY & NJ kindergarten is not mandated. So you can skip them all.

Generally speaking the age cut off is in December (varies by district) so they would start Kindy the year they turn 5 in Sept.

Nursery School is for 3 year olds
Pre-school or Pre-K is for 4 year olds
Kindergarten is for 5 year olds.

Re: Can someone help me...Nursery School, Pre K and Kindergarden Questions

My boys are early Sept. b-days also... I'm sending them next year, when the turn 3, to nursery, the following year to pre-k (4 year old program) and after that to K. You still have the option of keeping them back if you feel like they are not ready. Then, they'd just be on the older end of the class.

Re: Can someone help me...Nursery School, Pre K and Kindergarden Questions

Thanks ladies...that really helped me out!