Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

Up until May, I was working so convenience played a huge role in our school choices. I recently became a SAHM and trying to decide what is best for my 4yo.

Which one would you pick?

A. Stay at current preschool/daycare.

Pros: 5 min from our house. Been with most of these kids since he was 2 years old. Curriculum is fantastic with good mix of structure and play. Extras include yoga, weekly shows (magic, animal, music, science), foreign language. Best outdoor play area of every school we toured in the area.
Cons: Lots of turnover recently. Director passed away last year and was never replaced. School has not recovered. Mostly working parents so limited interaction with parents. Different school boundary so his classmates will not be attending the same elementary school.

B. Go to church preschool right next to future elementary school

Pros: 2 min from our house. We can walk there although it is a bit of a long walk. Every kid at this school will go to the same elementary school. Cheap. About 20% the cost of our current preschool. Several SAHM neighbors send their kids here.
Cons: Not very academic. Facilities are so so. Basically one big play date before kindergarten.

C. Go to private school 20 min away (PK-6th grade school)

Pros: Extremely well thought out creative curriculum. Is on every "best" list. Smaller class sizes (10 kids per class). Very active parent community with events during the school day as well as evenings and weekends.
Cons: 8 miles away, which can be up to 30 min in rush hour traffic. Will need to put older child on school bus in order to get 4yo to preschool on time. (This is a negative for me but my kindergarten son wants and asks to ride the bus in the morning.) Zero kids from this school will be at DS's elementary school.

We loved Preschool C when we toured but when I was working, the convenience factor knocked the school out for us. Plus Preschool C had many breaks and half days throughout the year, even more than normal public school. Impossible for us with 2 working parents.

I cannot decide which is best for us. I keep going back and forth between the 3. DH hates change and thinks we should just keep DS at our current preschool.

Cost is a not really a driving factor but Preschool C costs the same as Preschool A. Preschool A is for full day preschool and includes aftercare. Preschool C would be 9-12 daily with many days off and breaks, like a normal school vs daycare type school.

Message edited 8/7/2015 11:14:49 AM.

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

well I am just confused. Are you planning to send them to the local elementary school or would you plan on doing that private school fully?

I say #1, unless they will be attending the private school, so then I would start them now and my vote would be for #3.

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

Message edited 8/7/2015 11:21:04 AM.

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

I would want to do B but if they aren't really learning I wouldn't and I would probably stick with A for convenience and suck it up for the last year. ( I say this because I want to move my DD out of her current daycare/prek (not happy with the owners but love the teachers) but I feel bad because she will have to adjust this year and than again when she goes to K. at least if I suck it up for the last year of PreK she will still be with people she knows now)

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

I'd stick with the current option.

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

I would stick with A.
B seems like he will be taking a step backwards instead of growing.

Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

I'd stay at the current school.

Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

i kinda like option B. I would like the idea of him being with kids he will go to K with. I personally wouldn't care so much about the academics at 4 years old. They have their whole lives to worry about school and what they are learning.

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

Definitely #2. let kids play as long as possible!

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

thank you for clarifying. then i would 100% stay at the current school.

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

I would choose B. To me socialization is the biggest part of prek and getting know neighborhood kids is really nice. It will make the transition to K easier. Plus its cheaper which means you could always use the extra money towards more activities to expose him to more.

Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

I like Choice A- current school for the academics. Choice C sounds great but it isn't a realistic transition into next year's public school setting/rigor.

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

Definitely A. Why go 30 minutes for 9-12??? Unless the academics are amazing, A for the same price has a full day and is academically focused. It wouldn't bother me too much that the kids will not be in the same kindergarten. Kids at that age make and change friends all time.

Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

I was going to say either A or B but, since you added your child hates change - I would stick with A.

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

I'd stick with A, and try to organize after school or weekend play dates with some kids that will be in her kindergarten.

Re: Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

I would choose B. I don't like teacher turnover so I would not go to A. You mentioned your DH doesn't like change, i'm surprised this doesn't bother him. Unless you are planning on staying in C or putting your older DS in that school I would not want to deal with worrying about the bus situation or the potential for traffic since it's only a 3 hr day.

Help me pick a preschool. WWYD?

Curious about the DEGREE your son hates change? I mean, change is difficult no matter what age. Do you feel your son has a harder time than most in this area? Totally get the fear we Mom's go through when change is a must for a child (moving, etc.) Really, only you know whether this fear may be a personality thing or an age related thing.