Question about kindergarten age cut off.. (Salem, Beaverton: renting, day care, home) - Oregon (OR) - City-Data Forum

KIMBER129 · 03-02-2009, 12:36 PM

I am moving to Oregon, from AZ, and I am trying to find a program that allows my 4 year old, who turns 5 October 11th, to start Kindergarten. The cut off for the district is Sept.1, and I dont want to put him in daycare or preschool. Can anyone give me any options that may be available. It does not have to be in Salem, per say, as we have not set it in stone that we are going to live there. I am open to areas as far as Beaverton. Thanks for any help...

Silverfall · 03-02-2009, 02:42 PM

In Salem proper...

There are some private kindergartens that may allow it but it depends on how mature he is. Buttercup Hill Preschool and Kindergarten is where my kids go. They have a pre-k program that is 5 days a week for older 4's like your child.

You could also try Bud to Blossom, but I'm not sure if they allow younger kids in their kinder program. You have to remember that there is a huge social difference at this age, and it can have a negative effect on kids and classroom dynamics.

Anyway...check out the Buttercup pre-k program. Both of my kids went there. It's a good program.

KIMBER129 · 03-02-2009, 04:42 PM

Thanks, the pre-k program there, what is the cost?

Silverfall · 03-02-2009, 04:51 PM

$325 a month and it runs from 8:30-11:45.

KIMBER129 · 03-02-2009, 06:56 PM

oh. I need full time. thanks

Nell Plotts · 03-02-2009, 08:33 PM

Then you need to find quality day care, not kindergarten.

tiffela74 · 03-02-2009, 10:32 PM

we went the pre-school route and worked with my son at home. He tested out really advanced, and we were approached by his preschool teacher about her recommondation about starting him early. at four, he tested at an end year 1st grader in most subjects. But we did a lot of research on it, and also talked to my inlaws who are all teachers, and decided against starting him early. Its the whole social thing. And where it might not be a big difference at 4, it will gap out more later. So, we just kept working w/him at home keeping him challenged, started him at the state approved age, and now he is a happy 4th grader in AP classes. But totally with his peers. And much happier than I think he would be with older kids. Theres some great responses about this in the parenting forum, if youre on the fence, you might check it out.
I know the bday cut off can be frustrating. I have 3 kids, and they were all born in the first week of their month. My oldest, in the first week of September so she was really close! Others were Oct and Dec.
Oregon has some really great pre-k groups. Good luck!

bluebird39 · 03-03-2009, 09:21 AM

Hmmm... As a mother, I'd be very reluctant to have a child who's the youngest in their class, especially a boy. It'd be so much better to wait a year and have him/her the oldest in the class. It'll boost their self confidence, they'll be bigger, more mature, etc...

Also, I haven't lived in Oregon in over 2 years, but full day kindergarten wasn't available anywhere public when we were there.

We moved to Michigan and they start kids in full day kindergarten at age 4 1/2! I'm a bit shocked at this, but it seems to work. My younger son was in first grade our first year here, and it was hard initially for him to be in school all day here with kids who were old pros at it by then, but he adapted well. School days in Oregon are MUCH shorter than many other states, and they have SOOOOO many days off.

If you're looking to the schools there for free childcare, good luck!

sidhesadie · 03-03-2009, 09:31 AM

The vast majority of Oregon public schools only do 1/2 day kindergarten anyway, so if you want full time, you may be out of luck.

My son's birthday is Sept. 13, and we went to private school for kindergarten. He is one of the youngest in the class, but it's never been an issue. I was always the youngest in my class as well (birthday in oct, at the time cutoff was Nov 1.) once they are past 1st grade, you can switch them back to public as long as they test in their current grade level.

Silverfall · 03-03-2009, 10:16 AM

The only full time private kindergarten I am aware of is Montesorri here in Salem. Otherwise it would be daycare. Bud to Blossom has kindergarten in the morning and daycare in the afternoon so that may be a good fit for you.

For public schools Candalaria offers full day kindergarten and I think two other central schools offer it as well. Many working parents in Salem do private kinder in the morning and then public kinder in the afternoon. You have lunch with your kid and then most of the public schools have afterschool care programs if you need them.

You will be hard pressed to find a full day private kindergarten program that will take a non-eligible child. There are just so few and they fill up quickly. They know the social difficulties that those young kids face in class.

With the economy the way it is, you may find a slot, but in Salem your bets would be Montessori for full day kinder, or Bud to Blossom for kinder then day care afterwards.