PreK and K questions in Long Island

Hello all. I am looking to move to Long Island but I just realized the cutoff for PreK or K in LI is Dec 1 and my child's birthday misses the cutoff by a week, he was born in 2009. We currently live in NYC and the cutoff is Dec 31 which means:

In NYC,
Next year (Sept 2014), he can start Kinder.
Sept 2015, he can start 1st grade.

In LI,
Next year (Sept 2014), he can start Pre-K.
Sept 2015, he can start K.


My questions are:
1. If I move to LI in Summer 2015, my child would have already finished Kindergarten in NYC, so when or if I move to LI that year, would they place my child in 1st grade for Sept 2015 or would they place him in another year of Kindergarten?
2. What if I move during my child's school year? Let's say early 2015, my child would be attending Kindergarten in NYC school but would LI school allow him to join midyear and if that is the case, would he be placed in Pre-K or K?
3. Has anyone had similar situation in the past and have any advice?

We really wanted to move in 2014 but I just can't seem to find that many preschools in LI, seems very limited in around the neighborhoods we want to move to.

Anyone have feedback on Westbury Friends School for Pre-K? Is the admission process really hard to get into?

Thanks for feedback in advance.

Re: PreK and K questions in Long Island

I would call the school district you plan on moving to and find out their official policy on mid year transfers and age cut offs. My DD is also born in 2009 and she will be going to a 4s program for the 2013-2014 school year.

Re: PreK and K questions in Long Island

You need to call the districts you are considering and ask them. Some might give different answers.

What area are you looking at I know there are a lot of nursery schools around where we are. If you are looking at Westbury Friends there should be many to choose from.

I'm not familiar with the westbury friends (I went to the locust valley one). But from someone I know who used to work there it is very different. I don't think it is it is a difficult process to get in.

PreK and K questions in Long Island

Bummed to hear that different district might treat it differently!

Our first choice is Carle Place but also considering Westbury, Roslyn and Great Neck. Carle Place has no preschools. Westbury has a few to choose.

Re: PreK and K questions in Long Island

Message edited 9/24/2013 9:09:49 PM.

Re: PreK and K questions in Long Island

I think there is a way around it. I think the exact law for NY is actually about starting first grade by 12/31 of their 6th year.

If the school district has a different start date, you can do private kindergarten and enroll in first grade.

I know Northport has a 12/31 cutoff...other districts do as well.

Re: PreK and K questions in Long Island

PreK and K questions in Long Island

I think if k is complete they'll place in first. I know that holds true for other older grades...

Re: PreK and K questions in Long Island

Not sure about your cut-off date question. Regarding preschools there are many in the Carle Place area. My ds goes to St. Brigid's and many kidis in his class will go to Carle Place schools.

Re: PreK and K questions in Long Island

PreK and K questions in Long Island

my dd went to mommy and me at st Brigid's and now child's play in westbury

Re: PreK and K questions in Long Island

Not all districts have a Dec. 1 cutoff, you'll have to contact the district you are looking in.

Re: PreK and K questions in Long Island

My DC misses the cut off in our SD. We sent him to private kindergarten a year early. We were told by our SD that they would place in 1st grade if a child has already completed kindergarten elsewhere, however they "reserve the right to move the child back down" if the child is not where he/she should be.

Re: PreK and K questions in Long Island