Families who are interested in Pre-K for the 2024-2025 school year should contact the Office of Curriculum and Instruction at (914) 576-4622 or email CSDNRPreK@nredlearn.org to be placed. Thanks!
Links for the 2024-2025 School Year can be found here:
For the 2025-2026 School Year Lottery:
The initial lottery will open on January 8th, 2025, and will close on January 31st, 2025 for the first round. The lottery will remain open and families will be placed in Pre-Kindergarten sites that still have availability.
Links to the Lottery Application will become available on January 8th.
The City School District of New Rochelle, in partnership with several community agencies, is offering New Rochelle residents pre-kindergarten options for the current (2024-2025) school year.
The Pre-Kindergarten lottery for the 2024-2025 school year opened on January 10, 2024. Families had until January 31, 2024 to enter and rank their preferences for programs and locations. Please note that the City School District of New Rochelle conducts a random lottery with an online platform.
Families were notified of their lottery results and student seat offerings beginning on February 5, 2024. All students were be placed based on their selected preference and based on open seats in each program. For families that are not seated in their first choice program, they will be placed on a waitlist. Late applications will be considered only after all lottery applications have been placed and based on current program availability. As spots become available, students from the waitlist will be selected to fill open seats.
Pre-kindergarten immerses students into a learning-focused community that nurtures individual growth and provides a strong foundation for lifelong education. Children in quality early childhood programs learn socialization skills through group activities; experience reading- and writing-readiness activities; are better prepared for school success; and are more likely to attain higher levels of education.
All pre-kindergarten options require attendance in person; a virtual option is not available. The pre-kindergarten calendar generally follows the City School District of New Rochelle calendar.
Choice 1: Universal Pre-Kindergarten
Universal Pre-Kindergarten is a New York State grant-funded program, covering one academic year, to prepare 4-year-olds for kindergarten. All current New Rochelle residents, with children born in 2020 (for the 2024-2025 school year), are eligible to apply for a seat at either the Barnard Early Childhood Center or an approved community-based collaborator. Barnard Early Childhood Center is a 2.5 hours program and runs from 8:25 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 3:00p.m. Parents will be asked their preference for AM or PM slots during the intake process, which occurs after the lottery and registration; however a specific time is not guaranteed and will be communicated with class placements during the summer. When ready to enter kindergarten, students may begin at their neighborhood school or re-enter the lottery for a kindergarten seat, if available at a school offering magnet programming.
We are happy to announce the following providers will be offering a full-day (5 hour) program in partnership with the City School District of New Rochelle, in addition to our partners providing half-day (2.5 hour) programs. Please contact these programs to learn more about their offerings:
5 Hour Programs | 2.5 Hour Programs | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Westchester Community Opportunity Program, Inc. (WestCOP) 95 Lincoln Avenue, New Rochelle, NY Website - Click Here | Westchester Torah Academy 150 Stratton Road, New Rochelle, NY Website - Click Here | JCC of Mid-Westchester 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583 Website - Click Here | New Rochelle YMCA 50 Weyman Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10805 Website - Click Here | |
The Learning Experience 1 Bally Place, New Rochelle, NY Website - Click Here | Preschool Learning Center 95 Eastchester Road, New Rochelle, NY 10801 Website - Click Here | Weekday Nursery School 1200 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10804 Website - Click Here | ||
Choice 2: Magnet Pre-Kindergarten
Magnet Pre-Kindergarten is the first step in a four-year sequence, covering pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade at the Barnard Early Childhood Center. Barnard Early Childhood Center Pre-kindergarten program is 2.5 hours and runs from 8:25 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Parents will be asked their preference for AM or PM slots during the intake process, which occurs after the lottery and registration; however a specific time is not guaranteed and will be communicated with class placements during the summer. The program prepares 4-year-olds for kindergarten. All current New Rochelle families with children born in 2020 are eligible to apply for the 2024-2025 school year. When ready to enter third grade, students may begin at their neighborhood school or re-enter the lottery for a third-grade seat, if available at a school offering magnet programming.
Jan. 8, 2025: Pre-kindergarten open house at Barnard Early Childhood Center
Jan. 8, 2025: Pre-kindergarten lottery opens for the 2024-2025 school year
Jan. 31, 2025: Final day to enter pre-kindergarten lottery for initial round of offerings. The Lottery will stay open until the beginning of the year. After January 31st, students will be placed in seats based on preference and availability.
Feb. 4, 2025: Pre-kindergarten placements occur and notifications to families begin
Pre-kindergarten seat-acceptance deadline is one week after placement
Pre-kindergarten school registration begins immediately after seat-acceptance
Henry Barnard School held an open house to inform parents about available options and the Pre-K Lottery process. Please find the presentation and an information sheet below.
Transportation
Transportation is provided for students that live 1.5 miles or more from home to school if they are attending the Barnard Early Childhood Center.
Community-Based Collaborators
A list of our community-based collaborators and their contact information along with a brief description of their program can be found at https://www.nred.org/page/prek-collaborators
More Information
For additional information, please contact the Office of Curriculum and Instruction at (914) 576-4622 or email CSDNRPreK@nredlearn.org
After being placed in a pre-kindergarten program, please register online at www.nred.org/o/nrps/page/registration. Thank you.
