The one at our school used a school bus.

It sounds like you'd be happier to stay private, the savings probably aren't going to be enormous.

I think that would be illegal in Washington, your a criminal

"Washington’s minimum wage applies to workers in both agriculture and non-agricultural jobs, although 14- and 15-year-olds may be paid 85% of the minimum wage, or $7.27 an hour."
http://www.lni.wa.gov/workplaceright...um/default.asp

I'd definately like to get out of private if I can, but would like to save $9k, might aswell stay if we aren't going to save.

Like you say, there must be lots of options otherwise everyone who works would be going private

Crickey $9K is cheap....here it's $25K for kindergarten

You can get private ed for all kind of price ranges here. We pay more than $9k but not by much. When we first came we were paying double that and the education and teachers were awful, we only stayed for 1 term. We now have her in a small private school which is wonderful (and cheap).

I also found that the really expensive school seemed to be a dumping ground for very rich parents who just stuck their kids in the most convenient place for the nanny to drop them off, half the class was often misisng to go on tour with daddy their education wasn't that important as they would never have to work for a living. Where as most people at the school we are at work hard to pay for their kids education and push the kids to work hard.

Looking at private ed around where we will be moving to, and it seems similar you can pay from around $12k to $30k for elementary.

We don't go out enough to hire teens to worry about it anyway.

Thankfully we have some great neighbors and we all trade off if we go out. I've had two teens in to babysit in the last 5 years we've lived here, they were paid well, but not $15 an hour.

I'm betting you'll find the public schools do after/before school clubs, Nicky. If you have an idea of the school district you could call or look on the website. Also I would think if it was off school site that they would drop off/pick up at the school. For example we have La Petite childcare in the area, they drive these little white buses and drop off and pick up at the two elementary schools in this area. La Petite is a pretty big company, you may find that they have one in your new area.

http://www.lapetite.com/programs/school-age-6-12-years/

Thanks for this. I looked at the link and there is no where near where we are moving, but I looked up some similar places. Didn't know things like this existed, its just the thing I was looking for.

Are you looking in Palo Alto itself? What's available seems very school/city dependent.

The ones in Pleasanton are located next to the schools or provide a pick up - delivery service.

Problem is, we have no idea I've never been to the area even to have any idea where to look.
Hubby will be working in Palo Alto, we have both always commuted so he's happy to drive up to 45 minutes each way. As we have always been private, we have always chosen the school first and then decided on where to live based on that.

Looking at public schools though is a nightmare as obviously there are 100's of them withing 45 mins of PA.

I'm a bit stumped really, and gettng the school right is the most important decision we will make as far as the move goes.

Here's a little research you can do on schools....

http://www.greatschools.org/california/

Yep already on there thanks Lisa, its just difficult to narrow it down when you are looking in a 20 mile radius

How old are your kids (Can you ignore Elementary and/or Middle Schools)?

Are the prices around PA bearable or would you prefer to pay less in exchange for a longer commute (in which case East Bay or South of San Jose may be better options)?

Apart from schools, is there anything you'd like your new home to offer? SF offers city-living, most of the other areas around the Bay are more suburban. The Peninsula has a more temperate climate than East Bay.

You mean we're suppose to pick them up after school......