The good news about living in the Greater Boston Area is that there is a preschool for every child. In fact, there are over 300 public and private prekindergarten programs, nursery schools and day care centers in the metropolitan area--all with different personalities. We can help you identify several schools that are well suited for your child’s and family’s needs as well as help you navigate the admissions process.

The application process for public and private elementary schools varies by school. For some schools, you only need to register to be accepted. However, other private and public selective elementary schools admit students on the basis of one or more of the following items:

• Application and essay
• Recommendations from a former preschool teacher
• Student and parent interviews and entrance exams

Before searching for preschools, you need to understand your child’s educational profile as well as clarify your family's academic goals and practical concerns. What skills do you want the preschool to emphasize? What teaching approach is best suited for your child? How much are you willing to pay for preschool? This section will help you ask the right questions to identify the characteristics of preschools that will best suit your child's and family's needs.

There are over 150 public pre-kindergarten programs as well as more than 150 private preschools and day care centers in the Greater Boston Area. They vary by cost, educational approach, size, religious affiliation and the number of hours and days they offer preschool programs.

To help parents navigate the preschool admissions process, we offer several services including:

• A preschool finder and preschool comparison tool
• Handouts to prepare for school tours and interviews
• Eduprofile
• Workshops
• Individual consulting

School Finder and Comparison Tool