My husband and I just moved to the United States from Singapore a year ago. We have 2 child, SL is 4 and RL is 2 year old.

SL is currently enrolled in a private preschool which have no Kindergarden classes. I would like to find out the following in preparation for SL to go to Kindergarden next year.

a. At what age is a child acceptable for Kindergarden?
b. When is registration for Kindergarden?
c. What is cost to send a child for public Kindergarden vs. a public Kindergarden?
d. Do we need to be residence in the area where I would like to send my child to school?

Thanks for any advice.

CarrieT

By Tink on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 01:54 am:

Most children start Kindergarten at 5. Usually registration is done in the early spring, here it is in March. Public school has no cost and private costs depend on the area that you are in. Where in California are you? I'm also in California, the central valley near Sacramento. While there are transfers possible, generally each public school has boundaries that you must live in to attend that school. Hope that helps!

By Feona on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 08:52 am:

Call the school district to find out the age requirements. Call for a tour. Call to ask when to register.


Some areas have a december birthday cut off.... others september birthday.

Private kindergartens can cost $6,000 to goodness knows what! heaper in some areas ...

Check out google and your school district to find out how the school district rates to see if the school are alright.

You can send your child to the school district you are assigned (what school your property taxes are paying for).

If you would like to send your child to private kindergarten ask around for recommendations. Jewish school can be very good as well as Catholic schools. Of course there are other types of private schools too that are excellent. Private school are not necessarily better than public schools. Public schools sometimes have more services depending on where you live.

By Happynerdmom on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 10:13 am:

Hi, Carrie!

Welcome to Momsview. You've already got some great advice, but I just wanted to say "Hi!" We lived in Singapore 1995-1997. My children were about the same age as yours when we lived there. I loved it, and miss it...especially the food! What I wouldn't give for a simple plate of real, Singaporean chicken rice! Good luck finding a school. I think you'll find the U.S. education system quite different from the one in Singapore.