Pre-Kindergarten

It's Not Too Late!

High-quality pre-K seats are still available at many programs citywide. Visit Pre-K Finder to see a list of programs with availability.

New Pre-K Programs for September 2016

We added new pre-K programs in Manhattan and Queens this summer. See if a program is a good fit for you and apply.

Know the Benefits of Pre-K for All

Learn how Pre-K for All prepares your child for success in school and life.

Learn About Pre-K Admissions

Read the Pre-K Directory to learn about the admissions process. Available in translation.

With Pre-K for All, Opportunity Starts Now

In free, full-day, high-quality pre-K, teachers are sparking wonder and igniting learning in our children. Pre-K for All gives children stronger math and reading skills in elementary school and a better chance at success in life. Studies show that early childhood education improves performance throughout a child’s school experience. In these high-quality programs, children develop and learn how to interact with others, share, wait their turns, and listen.

Pre-K for All runs five days per week from September to June. Most pre-K options are on a full-day schedule (6 hours and 20 minutes). Some 5-hour and half-day (2 hours and 30 minutes) options are also available.

Find a Pre-K Program

Pre-K programs are available at:

NYCDOE Pre-K Centers: Programs dedicated exclusively to pre-K students that are led and operated by NYCDOE staff.
NYCDOE District Schools: Programs located within public elementary schools and overseen by the school’s principal.
NYC Early Education Centers (NYCEECs): Community-based organizations that contract with the NYCDOE through a competitive process to provide free pre-K programs.
Charter Schools: Public schools that operate under a state-authorized charter, independent of NYCDOE regulations. Contact charter schools directly to apply to their pre-K programs.

Use the following resources to learn about all of your pre-K options.

Pre-K Directory: Learn about the admissions process and what programs are available.

You can also pick up a print copy from pre-K providers, elementary schools, Family Welcome Centers, local libraries, or community centers. Look up the address of a pre-K provider by using the PDF directory or Pre-K Finder.

Pre-K Finder: Use Pre-K Finder to research pre-K programs and find new choices before completing your application. Type in your address to see programs in your area.

Tours and Open Houses: Attend program tours and open houses to learn more about the pre-K programs that interest you.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for email updates about pre-K admissions.

Pre-K FAQs

What if I still need help finding a pre-K program?

If you need help finding a full-day, high-quality pre-K seat for fall 2016, fill out the Get-in-Touch form and an enrollment specialist will call you to help you explore your options. You can also Pre-K Finder to find pre-K programs of interest, and then contact those programs directly to ask about availability or to get on the waitlist.
Did the DOE recently add new pre-K program options for September 2016?

Yes—there are new pre-K programs available in Manhattan and Queens for this September! Here is a full list of these new options:

Queens

District 30 Pre-K Center at 46-08 5 Street (30Z058)
New seats opening - located in a transportable classroom unit at 5-14 49 Avenue, near P.S. 78Q
Call 718-935-2009 or complete the Get-in-Touch form to apply by August 26, 2016.

P.S. 007 Louis F. Simeone (24Q007)
80-55 Cornish Avenue, Elmhurst, NY 11373
Call 718-935-2009 or complete the Get-in-Touch form to apply by August 26, 2016.

Mosaic Pre-K Center at 41-15 104 Street (24Z104)
Located in a transportable classroom unit at P.S. Q016 The Nancy DeBenedittis School
Call 718-935-2009 or complete the Get-in-Touch form to apply by August 26, 2016.

Mosaic Pre-K Center at 109-10 47 Avenue (24Z105)
Located in a transportable classroom unit at P.S. 28 The Thomas Emanuel Early Childhood Center
Call 718-935-2009 or complete the Get-in-Touch form to apply by August 26, 2016.

Manhattan

Yorkville Community School (02M151)
421 East 88 Street, New York, NY
Call 718-935-2009 or complete the Get-in-Touch form to apply by August 26, 2016.

District 2 Pre-K Center at 220 East 76 Street (02Z103)
Located at J.H.S. 167 Robert F. Wagner
Call 718-935-2009 or complete the Get-in-Touch form to apply by August 26, 2016.

P.S. 006 Lillie D. Blake (02M006)
45 East 81 Street, New York, NY
Application period closed. Call 718-935-2009 to be added to waitlist.

P.S. 183 Robert L. Stevenson (02M183)
419 East 66 Street, New York, NY
Application period closed. Call 718-935-2009 to be added to waitlist.
What documentation is required to pre-register?
When you pre-register with the school where you received an offer, you must bring:
- The child you are pre-registering
- Child’s birth certificate, passport, or record of baptism which includes the date of birth, or other official document of age (See Chancellor’s Regulation A-101 for documents accepted for proof of age)
- Immunization records
- Latest report card/transcript (if available)
- Individualized Education Program (IEP) and/or 504 Accommodation Plan (if applicable and available)
- Proof of address which may be verified by any two of the following containing the address of residence:
  - A lease agreement, deed or mortgage statement for the residence
  - A residential utility bill (gas or electric) in the resident’s name issued by a utility company (e.g., National Grid or Con Edison), must be dated within the past 60 days
  - A bill for cable television services provided to the residence; must include the name of the parent and the address of the residence and be dated within the past 60 days
  - Documentation or letter on letterhead from a federal, state, or local government agency, including the IRS, the City Housing Authority, Human Resources Administration, the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), or an ACS subcontractor or the federal Office of Refugee Settlement, indicating the resident’s name and address, must be dated within the past 60 days
  - A current property tax bill for the residence
  - A water bill for the residence dated within the past 90 days
  - Rent receipt which includes the address of the residence, must be dated within the past 60 days
  - State, city, or other government issued identification (including an IDNYC card), which has not expired and includes the address of residence
  - Income tax form for the last calendar year
  - Official NYS Driver’s License or learner’s permit which has not expired
  - Official payroll documentation from an employer issued within the past 60 days such as a pay stub with home address, a form submitted for tax withholding purposes or payroll receipt (a letter on the employer’s letterhead is not adequate); must include home address and be dated within the past 60 days
  - Voter registration documents, which include the name of the parent and the address of residence
  - Unexpired membership documents based upon residency (e.g., neighborhood residents’ association), which include the name of the parent and the address of residence
  - Evidence of custody of the child, including but not limited to judicial custody orders or guardianship papers documents issued within the past 60 days with name of child and address of residence
  Please note: If you are not the leaseholder of your residence, you must submit a Residency Affidavit.
What if my address changed after I applied or after I received my offer?

You should contact the program where you received an offer to let them know about the change. Geography is part of the admissions priorities for district schools and Pre-K Centers—it does not factor into the admission priorities for NYCEECs.
How do I get on a program’s waitlist?

You are automatically placed on the waitlist for all programs you rank higher on the application than the program where you receive an offer. For example, if you receive an offer to a program you listed third on your application, you are automatically placed on the waitlist for your first and second choice programs. Programs will contact you directly if a seat is available for your child.

If you are not already on a program’s waitlist, you can contact them directly to inquire about their waitlist.
Is transportation provided for pre-K students?

No, the NYCDOE does not provide transportation for pre-K students, except for some students with disabilities and students in temporary housing.

Pre-Kindergarten