Applying to pre-kindergarten

Not every public school in New York City has a pre-kindergarten program. Every year more programs are added but the demand still far exceeds the supply, especially for full-day programs. To be eligible for public pre-K (also referred to as Universal Pre-K), a child must be four-years-old by December 31 of the year that he/she enrolls. Traditionally, pre-K classes start a week later than the rest of the school. Some programs are half-day only; others are full day.

In March 2008, the Department of Education (DOE) overhauled the pre-K admissions process, rolling out a uniform, citywide application. While it used to be that each public school handled its own pre-K admissions, and parents could register their child at the school, enrollment now is managed centrally through the Office of Student Enrollment.

Registration takes place in the spring, and along with the citywide application, the DOE publishes a pre-K directory of all public programs as well as those run by community-based organizations (CBO), also free, but not run by the DOE. Parents can pick up applications and directories at public schools, community organizations, borough enrollment offices or access them online at the DOE website date. Under the new process, parents rank up to five, public pre-K choices, in order of priority, on the uniform application and return it, post-marked by the set deadline. Families interested in CBO pre-K programs fill out a separate application that they must submit directly to the organization.

To find out which schools in your neighborhood offer pre-K classes, check out our list of pre-K programs and take a look at the DOE directory online. A word of caution: pre-K programs are usually the first thing to go if a school expands and needs extra space, or if the state cuts education funds, so just because there's a pre-K program in the school one year is no guarantee that there will be the next. And, while seats no longer are filled on a first come, first served basis, there are far too few seats to accommodate every applicant.

Community-based organizations (CBO)

Pre-Ks run by CBOs are state-funded programs located in daycare centers, Head Start programs, nursery schools, religious institutions or other community organizations. State funding requires that districts collaborate with such groups to expand pre-K opportunities. Some of these programs combine pre-K with Head Start or daycare programs to provide a full day, with a portion of state funds paying for the part of the day that is formal schooling. Otherwise, most pre-K programs are 2 1/2 hours long, five days a week, although some districts and schools offer full day programs.

Community organizations use their own criteria for admissions, so you will have to contact them directly to assess your chances of getting in. For some kinds of state funding, schools have to give priority to a percentage of children who are eligible for free lunch. In that case, you may need to provide proof of your income.

Contact your Universal Pre-K borough director for more information:

Manhattan: Laura Colavecchio, 212-356-3860
Bronx: Marilyn Runge, 718-741-5818
Brooklyn North (Districts 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 23, 32): Virginia Lora, 718-636-3206
Staten Island and South Brooklyn (Districts 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 31):  Ana Gomez, 718-390-1487
Queens: Sherry Copeland, 718-642-5871

What to look for in a pre-kindergarten program

Parents should visit a program before enrolling their child. For school-based pre-K programs, it may be possible to visit the classrooms during regularly scheduled school tours. If not, contact the president of the Parents Association for information or talk to parents at dismissal time.

Community based organizations will most likely invite you in for a visit. Look at the classrooms to see that the children are engaged in a variety of activities, with ample time to move around and play; that the rooms are equipped with child size furniture and bathrooms, plenty of supplies and books. Under state rules, pre-Ks must have no more than 20 kids to a room with a teacher and two assistants, called para-professionals; if there are fewer than 18 children, only one para-professional is required. Parents should feel welcome in the classroom. Some schools offer activities for parents during the hours that pre-k classes are in session and all must have a parent room.

DOE admissions priority for pre-K programs

Siblings of students already enrolled in a school hosting a pre-K program will get first preference for admission to that pre-K. All other applicants will be admitted according to the following order of priority:

1. Students applying to a program at their zoned elementary school
2. Students with no zoned school or whose zoned school has no pre-K program, applying to a pre-K program within their district.
3. Students who are zoned for a school with a pre-K program, but are applying to another school within their district.
4. Students applying to a program outside their district but in their borough.
5. Students applying to a program outside their borough (lowest priority).

Placement in a pre-K program outside of the student's zone or district of residence does not guarantee admission into kindergarten at that school for the following year.

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