District Home

Pre-K Registration

  • Your child is eligible for RCSD Pre-K this September if:

    • Your family resides in the City of Rochester AND
    • Your child turns 3 or 4 by December 1 of the school year for which you are registering.

    Applications for all RCSD Pre-K programs located in RCSD schools and partnered community agencies are processed by the Pre-K placement team. If you are interested in having your child attend a Head Start program, please contact the agency directly to apply.

    The Pre-Kindergarten Lottery deadline has passed. Applications received by the deadline have the best chance for placement in preferred programs. After the deadline, remaining seats are given first-come, first-serve.

    It’s never too late to register!

    Pre-K Registration Hotline
    585-262-8140 | PreK@rcsdk12.org

    • 2023-24 RCSD Online Application

      If you need assistance with the application process, please e-mail prek@rcsdk12.org, call 585-262-8140, or visit us at 131 W Broad St, 14614. Our staff is ready to assist you with the registration process by phone or email, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

  • * Favor tener en cuenta el botón, “Translate” en la parte superior de la página, si desea leer cualquier parte del sitio web en español.

Apply for RCSD PreK

  • Residents of the city of Rochester with a child who is 3- or 4-years-old by December 1 of the current year can apply for free Pre-K classes starting in September. The application process is fully online and can be accessed from your mobile device or computer.  If you need direct assistance, please call 585-262-8140 or email us at prek@rcsdk12.org. Walk-ins in need of application support are welcome to visit us Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Office of Student Equity and Placement, 131 West Broad Street, Floor 1.  

    Applications for Pre-K classes starting this September can be submitted beginning in January of each calendar year.  We will ask you to make three location choices on your application. View Pre-K offerings by location for the 2023-24 school year.

    Need assistance with the application process? No problem!
    585-262-8140 | PreK@rcsdk12.org | In-person at 131 West Broad Street (Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

    Pre-Kindergarten Annual Lottery
    Each spring, the RCSD Early Childhood Department holds a lottery for 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds who have applied for program seats, based on the choices on your application. We will inform you of your child's assigned program in June. If you do not get your first choice of school, your child will be placed on a waiting list according to the lottery number. The lottery window for the 2023-24 school year ended on April 16, 2023. Following the lottery, seats are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. If classes are filled, your child can be put on additional waiting lists. Please contact us today for registration support.

    Applications for Pre-K classes starting the following September can be submitted starting in January of each calendar year.  We ask you to make three choices on your application. 

    What should I expect from a Pre-K class?

    • Your child will spend 6 hours in a Pre-K program.
    • Many Community Partners offer extended days, wrap-around care and/or transportation.
    • Curriculum is aligned to NYS Pre-Kindergarten Next Generation Standards and ensures continuity with elementary grades.
    • Activities are learner-centered and promote a child's growth and development.
    • There are NYS certified teachers in both school and community sites.

    When is Pre-K offered?

    • Monday through Friday, six hour full-day programs.
    • 180 days during the school year
    • Follows the RCSD school calendar with a few exceptions

    Where is Pre-K offered?
    Pre-K is offered in schools as well as in community-based organizations throughout the city of Rochester. Explore 2023-24 locations >
CLOSE
CLOSE