HCPSS’ Pre-K Program
HCPSS offers high-quality half-day and full-day prekindergarten programs. Students must be four years old by September 1, 2023 to be considered for enrollment in the 2023-2024 school year. The comprehensive curriculum, taught by certified staff, supports early learning and school readiness and provides experiences that foster children’s academic, social, emotional and physical development.
Jump to: Curriculum | Eligibility | Apply | Health Documentation | Locations | Contact |
Curriculum
HCPSS’ pre-k program provides a wide range of experiences and opportunities to familiarize students with the school environment and build on the child’s understanding of his or her world, while developing a readiness for school. The pre-k curriculum, which is based on recommended practices from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and guidelines for early childhood education from the Maryland State Department of Education (including alignment to the Common Core State Standards), is designed to enable children to acquire knowledge, skills and processes and apply them in meaningful real-world ways.
Eligibility Criteria
Per Policy 9000-Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment and Assignment, the HCPSS Pre-K program is made available first to children who will be 4 on or before September 1 and meet first priority criteria:
- income eligible
- homelessness, and
- foster care.
Families that qualify for first priority criteria are placed first into Pre-K. Any family who meets secondary priority is first placed on the waitlist. Waitlist applicants will be considered for enrollment after the start of the school year. Students from households in which English is not the primary spoken language will receive priority for waitlist enrollment, as space allows.
For applicants on the waitlist, acceptance to the HCPSS Pre-K program is determined by the Office of Early Childhood Programs, in alignment with countywide enrollment trends and space availability. Please note that placement on the waitlist does not guarantee enrollment.
The Application Process
Parent(s)/guardian(s) of prospective pre-K students must apply for Pre-K and should submit their Pre-K application to HCPSS Early Childhood Programs via email (hcpss_pk@hcpss.org), including verification of household members, household income, and income documentation. Applications may also be mailed to HCPSS Early Childhood Programs or submitted to the family’s local HCPSS elementary school.
Applications must contain income documentation. Acceptance decisions are based on meeting eligibility guidelines.
Please note that due to the volume of inquiries, please allow up to two weeks for applications to be processed.
Health Documentation
Prior to enrollment in a pre-k program, parents/guardians must complete all health documentation requirements, including a physical, evidence of immunizations and evidence of blood lead testing. Students should have a lead test before enrolling in a prekindergarten program.
Program Locations
Pre-K is available to eligible students in all attendance areas, but are only located at selected elementary school sites. Pre-K students will attend the school to which they are assigned. The student will then attend kindergarten at their regularly designated school, regardless of where they attend Pre-K.
Below is a list of HCPSS Pre-K locations. Pre-K students will attend the school to which they are assigned.
Pre-K assignments and locations are based on countywide projections. Pre-K programs and feeder locations are subject to change.
Atholton*
410-313-6853
Bellows Spring*
410-313-5057
Bollman Bridge*
410-880-5920
Bryant Woods* (also serves Clemens Crossing)
410-313-6859
Bushy Park* (also serves Lisbon)
410-313-5500
Centennial Lane* (also serves St. John’s Lane)
410-313-2800
Cradlerock*
410-313-7610
Dayton Oaks
410-313-1571
Deep Run
410-313-5000
Ducketts Lane
410-313-5050
Elkridge*
410-313-5006
Forest Ridge*
410-880-5950
Fulton
410-880-5957
Gorman Crossing (also serves Hammond)
410-880-5900
Guilford*
410-880-5930
Hanover Hills
410-313-8066
Ilchester (also serves Northfield)
410-313-2524
Jeffers Hill*
410-313-6872
Laurel Woods*
410-880-5960
Longfellow*
410-313-6879
Phelps Luck*
410-313-6886
Pointers Run (also serves Clarksville)
410-313-7142
Rockburn
410-313-5030
Running Brook*
410-313-6893
Stevens Forest*
410-313-6900
Swansfield*
410-313-6907
Triadelphia Ridge* (also serves West Friendship)
(410) 313-2560
Talbott Springs*
410-313-6915
Veterans (also serves Thunder Hill)
410-313-1700
Waterloo*
410-313-5014
Waverly* (also serves Manor Woods)
410-313-2819
Worthington (also serves Hollifield Station)
410-313-2825
*Selected HCPSS Pre-K sites will provide a full-day program. Feeder locations are subject to change. Any updates will be posted online and communicated to impacted families.
Contact
For more information about HCPSS’ prekindergarten programs, contact the Office of Early Childhood Programs at 410-313-6836.
Families who require interpreter services can contact the following call center lines for assistance:
- Centro de Llamadas – 410-313-1591
- 콜 센터 – 410-313-1592
- 电话服务中心 – 410-313-5920
- BIAKCHAWNHKHAWHNAK HMUN – 410-313-5968
All other registration questions can be answered by calling the Multilingual Family Registration Center at 410-313-1297 or 410-313-1525.