<p>Sounds like your visit went well. You are wise to continue to shop and compare.
I am a preschool teacher. Our preschool and full-time childcare center are run by a church.
The expense is not even close to the one you saw today. Maybe you should check to see if any churches in your area have preschool programs.
The bonus of the preschool program being housed with the full-time daycare program is that there are standard requirements/inspections done by the state and by the county health dept. The guidelines for health/safety are important. Some preschools are accredited and some are not.</p>