Pre-Kindergarten Lottery Information,
Resources, and Procedures

The City School District of New Rochelle, in partnership with several community agencies, is offering current New Rochelle residents pre-kindergarten options for the 2022-2023 school year. Important dates are upcoming. A pre-kindergarten lottery begins Jan. 11, 2022. Families will have until Jan. 28, 2022 to enter and rank their preferences for programs and locations. Programs will consider applications during the first week of February, and every effort will be made to accommodate families’ choices. Families then will be notified about next steps, including registering for a specific program.

Why Pre-Kindergarten?

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.

Pre-Kindergarten Options for Parents 

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 2018, are eligible to apply for a seat at either the Barnard Early Childhood Center or an approved community-based collaborator. 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.

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. The program prepares 4-year-olds for kindergarten. All current New Rochelle families with children born in 2018 are eligible to apply. 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.

Attend a Virtual Open House

To help you learn more about pre-kindergarten and options for families, attend a free open house via Zoom.

• Jan. 11, 2022, 6 p.m., in English 

• Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/98156876864?pwd=TjBSNTBnQ1IvSk15YmZGY21rdlZnZz09

• Passcode: Barnard

Or

• Jan. 11, 2022, 7 p.m., in Spanish

• Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/91840975497?pwd=M0V4TjF4elM5UGRoZEsrZHdMODlPUT09 

• Passcode: Barnard

Important Dates

Jan. 11: Pre-Kindergarten Virtual Open House

Jan. 11: Pre-kindergarten Lottery Opens

Jan. 28: Final day to enter pre-kindergarten lottery

Feb. 1: Pre-kindergarten placements occur and notifications to families begin

Feb. 11: Pre-kindergarten seat-acceptance deadline

Feb. 21: Pre-kindergarten school registration begins

Learn More

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 the 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

Website

For additional information, visit nred.org. Click on Menu, then Academics, then Programs. You also can contact the Office of Curriculum and Instruction at (914) 576-4622 or email CSDNRPreK@nredlearn.org