The K Decision

Today I had a melt down. This month is a big month for parents deciding where to send their child for Kindergarten. It sounds pretty simple, huh? It's not. Not only does one have to decide where to send them but one has to think about the following:

1. Am I ok with the home county school and their track system?

2. Kindergarten is a 1/2 day gigg. What will I do with the other 1/2? Send them to daycare, enroll them in an Enrichment Program (does my school offer one or do they have to go to a separate place for this)?

3. What about the next 8 years? Do I want their K to be in the same school as 1-8 or am I ok with another school change next year?

4. Do I want to go private and if so what type of private?

5. Does it matter if she ever sees the friends she's made over the past four years of her life?

6. How will this decision impact High School? I know - but these are the conversations I'm hearing from parents.

I've been to two Informational sessions so far. One is at her existing daycare/pre-school and the other is at a private school. Both seem to have a great program that would prepare her well for 1st grade. Next week we go to an Informational session at a charter school and enroll for the lottery. We were one week late for a lottery of another charter school but we are on their list for 2011 1st grade.

Our final plan is going to be to not accept the home county school because our county is on the track system and it just won't work in our lifestyle. We will keep our fingers crossed to either get chosen/accepted/placed in either the charter school or private school and take that through 8th grade. One will let us know in early February and the other by March 1st. If both of those fail, we will keep her at Kindercare and she will attend their Kindergarten program so she only has to change schools in Grade 1. We will then be on the lottery for two charter schools and one private school.

Sigh!! It really shouldn't be this stressful.