Selecting a Pre-K program: the maddness and the horror

by Kelly Leahy

This year I have undergone the daunting task of selecting a preschool for my daughter. Actually, I selected three preschools; a public charter school with free tuition and security for the next ten years or so, an expensive private school with the program that I desire and a reasonably priced Montessori school with great reviews. I've sent in application fees, taken tours, gone to festivals and crawfish boils.

It turns out that she has been waitlisted for the public school and accepted at the two others. It's June and I don't expect to know for sure where my daughter will be going until September. I swear I have put more effort into finding a PreK program for my child than I ever did in selecting a college for myself.

My eldest daughter is still only two. She'll be three in August but there is a significant amount of pressure for me (real or imagined ... it's there) to get her into a good charter school as early as I can so that I can have the security an peace of mind through elementary and middle school. Private school for all of those years is not an option for us. Well, I take that back. It's an option but we'd have to give some things up ... like eating.

I feel like I've become a joke of a parent. I used to scoff at New York parents as they vied for spots in the "right preschool" but now I'm slowly catching on. I fee like choosing the right preschool will not only have a significant impact on my daughter's education but also on the quality of our family life.

On the other hand, at least I have a game plan, a backup plan and a backup-backup plan. That's good right?

How about you? When did your kids start PreK and where did they go? Was it stressful for you or did things simply come together?

Look for reviews of New Orleans preschools online and offer up your own as well at our main page.

[photo credit: stock.xchng]

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