When Do You Put Kids in School???

As far as I know children go into kindergarden the September after they turn 5. I am not real familier with preschools however you can check the community center in your area you can look in the phone book for phone numbers. They also have head start and early head start. Hope this helps.

Honestly it is really up to you. I'm waiting with my kids to put them in pre-school until they are 4. I have some friends who are putting their kids in at 3 and some who are not doing pre-school at all, just waiting till they start kindergarten. Most pre-schools are probably full by now. But it doesn't hurt to call around and check availability if you want to put her in this year. Some of the Valley pre-schools I know of are: Mirabeau Chapel's Adventure Kids Pre-school (ages 0-5), Creation Station, Valley Assembly of God's pre-school, and there is a co-op pre-K on Pines. The co-op is less expensive and they require a lot more parent involvement. Pre-school is more of a personal preference as long as you and your husband are teaching her the basics at home so she'll be ready for kindergarten. I think kids should at least get one year of pre-k though. Also, I would start checking with pre-schools now to see when they start putting kids on waiting lists or enrolling them. I think it's usually Jan./Feb.? As far as kindergarten's go. I would check and see what elementary school boundary you are in. You can check on line for boundaries, test scores, and more. If you aren't happy with the school she would go to, there are choice schools. CV - Summit school; EV - CCS; WV - City school. Which ever district you're in I would check the choice school out too. My daughter is starting Kindergarten at Summit next month. If you are in Central Valley and you want your daughter to go there. Next August, a year before she turns 5, you'll need to get her on the waiting list. So I encourage you to look into things early. Even if it seems too early. If you have any questions, feel free to email me. Good Luck!

Hi there, I put my kids in preschool when they are 3yrs old and it helps them alot to get ready for kindergarten. I have a soon to be 3 yr old also and am putting her in preschool at my church which is a well recommended preschool the pastor's wife and helper teaches the preschool and they are absolutely wonderful they have had many years experience. It's called Sonshine Kids and they located on Broadway off of Sullivan. There is also the Valley Learning Center on 32nd between University and Bowdish that I looked in to and have had friends take their kids there. There is also The Little Red School House in the Ponderosa area that my friends have taken their kids to also but not sure if they have openings or not. As far as kindergarten goes they have to be 5 yrs old either by the end of August or by the first day of school which is usually the first week of Sept. but some parents hold their kids back a year if they don't feel they are ready and preschool teachers will be able to tell you if they feel she is ready for kindergarten or not. Hope this helps and let me know if you need additional info.

Hi J.,
We just moved to the area, so I couldn't give you any info on schools, but I can on when to start them in school. I have three boys, 11, 7, and 1. And, I also worked in an elementary school as a teacher and got to see first hand the kindergarten (5 yr olds) and preschool kids. There was so much of a difference between the kids that had been to some sort of daycare/preschool environment before entering the "real" school. Those children that had been at home weren't ready for the social, sit still, and absorb day that kindergarten is. It was too much for them.

So, I would definitely advise a preschool (some states offer it for free) at 4 (K4), and even a 2-3 day a week daycare/academy/pre-K (K-3) just to get her acclimated. But, 4 yr old pre-k is almost a must; they will ask if she went when signing her up for K.

Good luck!
E.