Overwhelmed: Kindergarten options? Public vs. Private?
I've got an August birthday kid who will be 5 next year and I've fallen into the rabbit hole of looking at schools in the area. We're zoned Armel Elementary which doesn't have the worst ratings but I have zero knowledge of how public school is done these days. I want my kid to be a kid still, go outside as much as possible, be social, learn things I guess. What do you even learn in Kindergarten these days? Cause all my memories are of half-day K, getting fudge pops for snack, and playing. Is there recess? Once? Twice? Tests? Homework? (I am vehemently against homework at any age but especially before 10)
Also I know there's a couple or private options, the Independent School of Winchester, a couple of religious schools that we've ruled out causes we are not religious, and then Powhatan school which is PRICEY and only goes up to 8th.
Plz help teachers, parents, students, etc. with opinions and thoughts.