Hi,

Any recommendations for a school for a 5 year old?  We have moved to San Francisco and would like to enroll our daughter in a Pre-K program.

Thanks

it's pretty competitive to get into the private schools here. are you looking for a private school? and do you have a preference on the nature of the private school?

I was looking for a public school (free) option.

ah,

portal.sfusd.edu/templat…

so you want to see which ones you should pick in a lottery?

I thought schools are determined by your address. I didn't know that public schools give you the option to put you kid wherever. I have a friend who spent 4 months looking for a day care place for her son. It takes a long time to find the right one. Good Luck!

Sohil,
visit the SFUSD website posted above if child is 5 already before 12/2/10, otherwise, pre-k, you can benefit from a program called Preschool for ALL: first5sf.org
You need to be a resident of SF, if you want to benefit from SF, and child needs to be 4, child gets to attend free part day, or if program has vacancy, you can pay partial to have child attend full day. Hope this helps. =)

Keep your kid at home and teach her yourself.  
Don't be fooled by the propaganda that says you need
to "socialize" her before starting regular school...

go to berkeley parents network.  they will have a lot more useful info than yelp.

5-year old should go to Kindergarten (pre-K is for children up to 4)

... and what Tsada said

There are a lot of Montessori schools in the bay area. I would research them carefully before just picking one on the basis of it being "Montessori".  Some schools focus more on the Montessori teaching philosophy than others, and some are just plain better than others.  Again, BPN is a good place to get feedback on the individual schools.

In terms of free preschool, your options are going to be very limited.  Most FirstFive programs have very strict income guidelines, and even within those guidelines there is usually a significant waiting list.  But like Rosa said, if your child is five, she would likely be ready for public kindergarten.

Oh, and Bananas is a good resource:

bananasinc.org

What is wrong with you people??

Preschool!! Enough.

You can teach you child more at home than socialized day care...

Joe, why don't you post your parenting manual for us since you're the expert on ECE.

joe "I don't need a funny nickname" y. says:

What is wrong with you people??

Preschool!! Enough.

You can teach you child more at home than socialized day care...
-----------------------

The point IS Socialization.

yelp.com/biz/kai-ming-he…

i think its free for low income in san francisco

There is an experimental Montessori program in sfusd. It's called on Cobb Montessori on California and Divisidero. Go on a tour and try to get in. It's awesome!

joe,
do you have children?

are you aware that Headstart has been found in numerous studies to be the most successful federally funded program ever implemented?

I have two kids who benefited from a mother who was able to stay home with them until they were ready for kindergarten.  Both are dong well in high school.  So tired of the government socialization of our 4 year olds...

govt socialization? what about non-govt? socialization is not a bad thing.

Didn't say it was.  Why does it have to be a pre-school??  
Most of these programs are subsidized or supported in some way by the government.
I just believe it can be done at home with loving parents / families / friends...

joe "I don't need a funny nickname" y. says:

Didn't say it was.  Why does it have to be a pre-school??  
Most of these programs are subsidized or supported in some way by the government.
------------------------

Most preschools are supported by government?

That's news to me.

joe its not your kid dumbass you gave ur 2 cents

it actallly depend on the parents how they treat there kids

yvonne "lift ev'ry voice and sing" m. says:

joe, as a teacher i can tell you there is a MARKED DIFFERENCE between students in school who have have a solid preschool/kindergarten experience and those who haven't had it.  you can completely tell which kids have been isolated and understimulated.  i am not saying all preschools are the end all be all, but it's a really good thing for many kids...especially for those who might not spend much time with other children.

====================
Absolutely agree, yvonne; however if the child is 5 already her parents should be looking into kindergarten registrations instead of available pre-k programs (we are late for pre-k in this particular case)

Tsada K. says:

joe "I don't need a funny nickname" y. says:

Didn't say it was.  Why does it have to be a pre-school??  
Most of these programs are subsidized or supported in some way by the government.
------------------------

Most preschools are supported by government?

That's news to me.
------------------------
methinks joe might be the paranoid libertarian type. i'm not even sure what he's complaining about. i'm not sure if he knows what he's complaining about.

in europe, much daycare and pre-school is subsidized, but it's pretty rare in the US.

i'm one of those weirdos who can't remember what they ate for breakfast yesterday, but i remember quite vividly most of my preschool activities, songs, crafts, cooking projects, friends, etc.

It's nice to socialize your children before school and they like it and look forward to going to their school everyday. How would you like to be at home most all of the time and not talk to your peers?..@ joe

See, this is why I love Yelp Talk.  You give an opposing opinion on something and are called a dumba$$.

Whatever John F.  Why don't you go "F" yourself.

(See, I can act like a tough guy on the net too...)

uh joe, you started off with the accusations. everyone else was just answering the original poster's questions politely. and you told everyone that there was something wrong with them. "opposing opinion" my ass.

He is from livermore. Let's cut him a little slack. Poor guy.

Duh, I ain't got no fancy learning like you fellas in the big city...

What accusation?? I only suggested that preschool is not the solution.
(Unless you want government sponsored day care and are
to lazy to teach your own child before they go to kindergarten)

joe "I don't need a funny nickname" y. says:

What is wrong with you people??
-----------------
that accusation.

govt-sponsored day care and pre-school are two different things. you have no idea what you're talking about joe, but it's cute.

Joe, kids who don't go to preschool are at a serious disadvantage to those who do. Spiritually, psychologically, immunity, intelligence wise, you name it!!!

i've worked in numerous preschools joe, and i can tell you that i've yet to meet one person who goes to the effort to send their kid to one who is "too lazy to teach" their kids.

in fact, it's often the opposite. educated parents are MORE likely to send their kids to preschool, even tho preschool is the most helpful for children of uneducated parents- it helps bridge the learning gap that exists in kindergarten immensely.

my mom was well educated and a stay-at-home mom who could hardly be described as lazy. but she sent me to preschool, and i have friends and skills from those years still.

Once again:

ENTITLED TO MY OPINION!!!

(Why can't you people get that?? Aren't you the educated ones??)

7 kids in my family. No day care (oops, preschool), stay at home mom (who did work part time as my fathers bookkeeper).
All well adjusted, college or trade school educated, all own homes (sorry if Livermore is the sticks to you), and have children of their own who never went to preschool...

i don't have any problem with you having your opinion joe. i don't think preschool should be forced on anyone.

but you came in here basically telling people that they were wrong to ask for advice or to give it on the subject. you're overstepping your bounds. are you really surprised that you've managed to rankle a few people?

opinion is one thing. i have no problem with you being opposed to preschool for your own family. trying to tell people what they need to do for their children based on your own arbitrary convictions? i do have a problem with that. especially when you seem to have no actual knowledge of the subject and of the benefits/downsides of preschool, and most of the rest of us do have that knowledge.

not to mention you keep ranting about the govt, which has little to nothing to do with preschool. it's pretty funny, actually.

Yes, every family is different. Mine was a healthy family with the same set of parents.
My parents are still together nearly 55 years.
We will agree to disagree. Again, I'm stating my opinion.
And my point earlier was to another poster who called me a "dumb ass"
Those with opposing points of view are deemed stupid.

I just believe some justify sending their child to preschool because they need "socialization".

What a crock!!

I didn't need it. My siblings didn't. And the majority of people prior to the 70's didn't...

That was a great point about Joe and his big family at home. Joe that was your preschool. People today can't afford more than one or two kids tops.

While I'm still incline to say most parents use preschool as "day care", I will concede that kids need:

"...opportunities for motor development, time to get creative and play and imagine". ~ yvonne

Sorry we folks in the burbs had more opportunities to this with our own families and neighborhood friends...

James thought it funny to ridicule people from the burbs.

No, I didn't grow up in the mean streets of the city.

I'm lucky to have both my parents.

In a perfect world, kids would not have to be placed into "socialization" centers.  (preschools)
I guess we are no longer in a perfect world...

we were never in a perfect world joe. but feel free to live in your fantasies and false nostalgia.

Joe, you aren't going to dig your way out of this hole you started. Just give up. I'm happy for you having grown up in such a huge family in the central valley. It would have probably been considered a shithole by most people on this thread but who cares. You don't remember it with anything but love. That's all that matters isn't it?

a. "..the MT.." t. says:

Both of mine went to a co-op preschool which was really the best of both worlds (i.e. parents take turns helping out but still get a nice chunk of free time).
-----------
that's where i went too. i actually lucked out and got to go to a co-op public charter elementary school. i was super spoiled, so many enthusiastic parents helping out in the class everyday, the teachers were never burned out the way so many teachers are in other schools.

i have nothing against the valley or the suburbs. just want to put that out there. i love the suburbs, call me crazy.

Since when is Livermore "the Central Valley"?

I return to my original opinion: "FU" James!!

San Francisco is a sh*thole. Which is why you people have to abandon your children in daycare (preschools)...

ye-uh, preschool and daycare are not the same thing. i still think you are really confused as to what you are ranting about.

joe "I don't need a funny nickname" y. says:

Once again:

ENTITLED TO MY OPINION!!!

(Why can't you people get that?? Aren't you the educated ones??)

7 kids in my family. No day care (oops, preschool), stay at home mom (who did work part time as my fathers bookkeeper).
All well adjusted, college or trade school educated, all own homes (sorry if Livermore is the sticks to you), and have children of their own who never went to preschool...
-------------------------------
thats what i said u idiot

John "I will lift your shirt up" F. says:

John "I will pull your pants down" F. says:

joe its not your kid dumbass you gave ur 2 cents
---------------- -------------------
john youre sexy when youre mad
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i'm not pissed I think Joe is dumb he does not seem to understand stuff

i don't even have kids so he is arguing with the wrong dude

you know he is a idiot, i don't even know why he gave his opinion we talking about San Francisco not Livermore