Preschool Cost

Typical costs:

• Preschool tuition can cost $3,000-$20,000 or more a year at either public or private schools, depending on location (preschools in New York City are typically more expensive than those in the Midwest); the length of the school day and the number of days attended per week; whether it's a 10-month school calendar or year-round; and the reputation and status of the school.
• For example, average preschool costs in Minnesota^[1] in July 2012 were $157-$225 a week or $6,750-$9,680 for 10 months or $8,100-$11,616 for 12 months. West Maple Elementary School^[2] in Birmingham Public Schools in Bloomfield Hills, MI offers several preschool options from $1,650 for a half-day, twice-a-week class for three-year-olds to $8,800 for a full-day program (8:45am-3:45pm) five days a week for four-year-olds. Catlin Gabel school^[3] in Portland, OR charges preschool tuition of $19,200 for a five-hour program, five days a week.
• Parent-run cooperative preschools typically cost $250-$1,000 a year, depending on location, length of the school day and the number of days per week, but parents are typically expected to assist in the classroom on a regular basis, attend a specified number of school meetings and clean-up days, and actively participate in school fund-raising efforts. South Hill Cooperative Preschool^[4] in Puyallup, WA charges tuition of about $270-$720 a year, but parents must assist in the classroom two to three times a month, participate in two to four fundraisers each year, serve on a committee or the board, participate in school cleaning days, attend fall and spring parent meetings and attend parent education classes.

• In preschool, children learn to play well with others while developing early reading and math skills through fun activities, such playing with containers in a sand box, creating a craft project or listening as a story is read aloud. Many preschools follow a specific educational philosophy, such as Montessori^[5] , Waldorf^[6] or child-centered education^[7] .
• The most common ages for preschool are three and four years old, and classroom are typically separated by ages, so there is often one room for three-year-olds and another for four-year-olds, although the ages may mix for outdoor play.

• Many preschools are non-profit, and parents may be expected to contribute generously to various fund-raising efforts; this can cost $200-$1,000 or more annually.
• Preschools often have a number of extra fees, such as application, enrollment or re-enrollment fees of $50-$100 a year; material, supplies or book fees of $200-$500 a year; and field trip, activity or event fees of $50-$300 or more. The Swain School^[8] in Allentown, PA charges a preschool activities fee of $245 for field trips, consumable books, a yearbook, supplies and the AlertNow home-school communication system.
• If the school day lasts longer than a few hours, parents either need to provide the student's lunch or pay an extra $30-$100 a month for a school-provided meal. For example, Sounds of Success Preschool & Learning Center^[9] in Hawaii offers a catered lunch for about $50 a month.

• Paying tuition in full or in fewer installments may lower the overall cost, and some schools offer sibling discounts of 5%-25% for multiple children from the same family. For example, Grace Community Preschool^[10] in Eugene, OR gives a 10% discount if the full tuition is paid by the first day of school (instead of monthly), and it offers a 20% sibling discount for a family's second child.

• Visit each preschool, observe how the teachers and children interact, and ask about the school's educational philosophy. Parents magazine explains why preschool matters^[11] and PBS.org gives tips for choosing a preschool^[12] .
• Search for local child care agencies through ChildCareAware.org^[13] , which also lists family child care resources by state^[14] .

1.  www.childcareawaremn.org/families/paying-for-child-care/child-care-costs-in-minnesota
2.  westmaple.birmingham.k12.mi.us/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1613455/File/finalwestm...
3.  www.catlin.edu/admission/tuition-and-fees
4.  www.southhillcoop.org/
5.  www.amshq.org/Montessori%20Education.aspx
6.  www.whywaldorfworks.org/02_W_Education/pre_and_k.asp
7.  www.newlearningculture.com/self-directed-learning.html
8.  www.swain.org/admissions/tuition-information.html
9.  www.sospreschool.org/tuition
10.  www.gracecommunitypreschool.org/about/tuition-payment-plans/
11.  www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/starting-preschool/curriculum/why-preschool-matters/
12.  www.pbs.org/parents/education/going-to-school/choosing/preschool/
13.  childcareaware.org/parents-and-guardians/parent-information
14.  childcareaware.org/node/1405

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