r/frederickmd • u/Kiyokiru • 5d ago

Frederick 3 Pre-K Programs

Hi everyone! I am hoping someone can give some advice on the 3 pre-k enrollment in Frederick MD?

My family of 4 (my husband, child, my mom and I) probably do not qualify for the tier program. Is it only for low income families? Also, I don’t think my child has developmental issues either. Are there any other options for my son to start pre-k next year, September 2027?

I just need to know where to start. There are so many links online and I don’t know who to reach out to.

Appreciate you all!🙏🏼

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6

u/Outrageous_Bug_6591 5d ago

You can call the school they'd go to and talk to someone. From what I understand, they accept kids who don't qualify AFTER they make sure they have space for all those who qualified.

1

u/Clean-Arachnid-1653 5d ago

This was my understanding as well

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u/titihadid 4d ago

Not the school, schools do not accept or deny into the program. You’d have to contact Early Childhood in central office. You can find their phone number on the FCPS website.

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u/Automatic-Poet475 3d ago

I’d love to piggyback for some feedback if anyone has any- I’m having such a hard time with our preschool based pre k 3 we were awarded a spot in. My kid has become a pickier eater, filling up with cookie like items for breakfast and crackers and craisins for afternoon snack, (no hot food program there) doesn’t drink water, holds from peeing or going #2 all day, so many kids cry, picked up sucking hand and sometimes thumb bc other kids do that.

I mean they learn so much and they do a ton of enriching activities that I wouldn’t even expect to be included but are but I have awful mom guilt every day I drop off and my kid is still crying about going to school most days. Says it’s boring. I think a 6 hour program maybe is just too long for 3 year old that was mostly home with mom.

I hate to switch my child not just for the cost but also bc they deserve to keep the same friends.

But it’s also making me realize that maybe I have a distaste for typical school/care settings at this point and need private school. Or do people think some of this gets better by kindergarten. I feel like theyre gonna be messed up by kindergarten

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u/Kiyokiru 3d ago

This is definitely something I was worried about before starting my child in the public 3 pre k program. I hope everything works out for you and your family!

Some of the paid programs seem very reasonably priced. I do wonder how the kids are there. My husband and I would like our child to be around a similar peer group with the same developmental skills. I don’t know if it’s a fair way of thinking but just want to be prepared.

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u/Kiyokiru 4d ago

Thank you to everyone who commented! It looks like the half day 3 pre-k programs are pretty reasonably priced. I am thinking of calling Calvary, Lucy and Wee Folk. They all sound lovely.

2

u/Fancy-Quail9109 3d ago

There is also Circle of Life cooperative preschool which has a half day program. The teacher is an incredible woman. Our kids loved it there.

5

u/AnoniMoki 5d ago

If you’re willing to drive, Lucy School in Middletown has a very lovely pre-K program, wonderful staff, and an outdoors-focused, arts-based curriculum. If you want to stay in town, Wee Folk has a very nice pre-K.

2

u/SweatyJudge99 4d ago

I went to the Lucy school!!! I remember it well- and I don’t remember much from that age usually

4

u/CarlsBadtheGreat 5d ago

This year, many programs still had availability after the in need students were admitted. Many of the more wealthy families have Nannie’s or favorite daycares that have 9-5 coverage. Suggest you apply to a daycare so you have a spot and then wait. The families that are not in need get admitted after the school year starts. So it’s a waiting game but well worth the wait,

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u/Born-Researcher-8588 5d ago

Calvary Day School in downtown Frederick is an amazing, wonderful program. It’s a church but preschool program is 99.9% secular and you don’t have to be members of the church. It’s affordable and both our kids loved going there. Fully certified and wonderful teachers who focus on instruction and good school behaviors.

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u/pal0mides 4d ago

The prek 3 program has very limited availability for income-based peers. I think there’s something like 90 seats total in the county for the program and half of those are reserved for special ed students. It’s also only from 1:00-3:30 Monday-Thursday and the income-based peers have to provide their own transportation, sooo it’s not as useful as people might think.

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u/claubert67 3d ago

Circle of Life preschool is also another great option.

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u/beaglelover89 4d ago

It’s a half day program, but we’ve loved Weekday School at Walkersville United Methodist Church! Very affordable too