It's not a secret that early education is an valuable part of placing children on the path to eventual happiness and success. A recent study by The Perry Preschool Project shows that kids who graduate preschool have better high school graduation rates and better jobs down the road. There are many advantages to pre-K education, including learning new skills and social interaction. The real decision that parents need to make is which preschool they should pick.

Parents have many preschools to choose from, especially if they live in a large city. Some are part of the public school system, while others are charter schools with specialized curriculum. Finding the best pre-K school is no easy feat. To help out, here are three effective ways for finding the top-rated preschool for your student:

Get Referrals

Do you have any friends or family members who have passed through this process? If so, try talking to them. These people have valuable insight into the program that they used (and maybe those that they didn't. A few conversations with parents can help you gather a few pre-K schools that you can focus on.

Ranking Websites

Several websites exist that rank local preschools and other schools. Reading these sites can give you an indication of your available options. We're not saying you should go with whatever pre-K school the site ranks first. But it will provide you with information to make the choice easier.

Visit Preschools

After you have finally trimmed your list down to a few choices, visit your favorite preschools. This will give you the chance to meet with the teachers, ask questions, look at classrooms, and see if it meets your criteria. First, call to make sure you visit at a time that works best for both parties.

Following these basic steps will hopefully lead you to selecting the top-rated preschool for your child to get his/her early education.

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