Please note: Our PreK-3 program is at capacity, with a lengthy waiting list. Under these circumstances, we are no longer accepting applications for PreK-3 for the 2024-25 school year. 

The purpose of CCPS's PreKindergarten Programs is to prepare children for Kindergarten. Both 3- and 4-year old programs are full day five day a week, taught by certified staff, and transportation is provided. The comprehensive curriculum supports early learning and school readiness, and provides experiences that foster a child's academic, social, emotional and physical development.

PreKindergarten 4 Year Old Program

2025-2026 School Year: PreK-4 date of birth on or after Sept. 2, 2020 and on or before Sept. 1, 2021.

The PreK 4 Year Old Programs are located in each elementary school, and children are assigned based on where they live.

PreKindergarten 3 Year Old Program

2025-2026 School Year: PreK-3 Date of birth on or after Sept. 2, 2021 and on or before Sept. 1, 2022.

PreK-3 Programs are located in the Federalsburg Judy Center Early Learning Hubs, the Greensboro Judy Center Early Learning Hubs, Preston Elementary School and Ridgely Elementary School. Children in the Federalsburg, Greensboro, Preston and Ridgely areas will be assigned to their home school. Children in the Denton area will be assigned to either Preston or Ridgely, as determined by the space available.

In Maryland's PreKindergarten system, a two-tiered system, based on specific income criteria, is used to admit children to PreK Programs. For the upcoming school year:

• Tier I students will continue to access PreK at no cost to families.

• Should space allow, Tier II students may be eligible for PreK-4 using a family share cost system. However, we are currently awaiting additional guidance from the Maryland State Department of Education about that system, and will provide it once it becomes available.

Children cannot be accepted into PreK Programs at any location without verification of income.

All children whose date of birth is on or after September 2, 2019, and on or before September 1, 2020, are required by Maryland law to begin kindergarten in September 2025.

To enroll your child in Kindergarten, please visit the Enrollment-Attendance page.

Kindergarten Immunization Letter:   English   |  Spanish  |   Haitian Creole

Universal Screeners - DIBELS 8 Letter: English Universal Screener I Spanish Universal Screener I  Haitian Creole Universal Screener

The Maryland Department of Education (MSDE) is pleased to announce a partnership with Renaissance Learning to implement a new assessment system for kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students in Maryland. A new Kindergarten Readiness Assessment will be administered to kindergarten students in the 2025-2026 school year.

Applications for early entrance to kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year will be accepted prior to July 1, 2025. 

According to Maryland State Department of Education regulations, to enter Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year:

• Children must be five years of age by September 1, 2025.

• Children who will turn five years old between September 2 and October 15, 2025 are eligible for consideration for the early entrance to kindergarten process.

• There will be no consideration, including an appeals process, for children with birthdates are beyond October 15, 2025.

To be recommended for early entrance to kindergarten, children must meet district eligibility criteria on standardized measures of cognitive functioning, academic readiness, and social/emotional development.  The standards for early entrance are very high in order to ensure that students are not frustrated by their advanced grade placement.

Applying for Early Entrance to Kindergarten

Parents/guardians who wish to apply for early entrance to kindergarten must submit a written request to the principal of their residence school prior to July 1, 2025. The principal will explain the process to the parents/guardians and provide the forms that need to be completed. The early entrance assessment team will contact the parent to schedule the assessment session.

Parents will participate in a result meeting at a later date; therefore, results will not be provided on the day of the assessment. There will be no retesting if the child is not recommended for kindergarten.