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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:

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.

Apply for 2023-2024 Pre-K 

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.