M.G.
For us it was a no brainer. We chose the private preschool. I stay home so we couldn't afford the 5 day program but we chose the 3 day. It was a longer drive, plus a dif school than my daughter attends. It is 5 miles to each of their schools, and 5 miles back. On those 3 days a week we when they both were in school we were driving 40mi a day to take and pick them up from school. The schools started at dif times and it made it inconvenient but the education he got and the experiences were well worth it. He will be in kindergarten this fall so I'm glad to say my long car trips are over.
Did I mention we live across the street from an elementary school that has a headstart! Yea I know to some it may sound nuts that we paid a private prek for his education, but even though I do not work and my husbands paychecks were never consistant and we did not qualify for the headstart program. The two deciding factors in the headstart where we live are low income and spanish as a first language. 2 of which we did not qualify for!
As for the earlier reply to your question with the mom asking how can you afford private prek...depending on the type of school it can be much dif than paying for private grade school. Preschool centers are much more affordable and offer a better more involved curriculum vs a daycare.
Also we chose a charter school for our daughter rather than the public school across the street for it's quality and dif teaching methods, smaller class sizes etc. It would be more convenient for me to open my door and walk her across the street into class but I am happier, and she is happier with the drive to the school across town.
I would go with the private preschool. You will be happy you did and hey, you get what you pay for.