Apply for NC Pre-K
Use the button below to apply for NC Pre-K for the next school year 2025-2026.
Para la aplicación en español, seleccione ‘Spanish’ en el menú desplegable de selección de idioma en la parte superior derecha de la pantalla.
If you need support completing this NC Pre-K application please contact us using the contact information at the bottom of this page.
Use the buttons below to apply for NC Pre-K for the current 2024-2025 school year.
What is the NC Pre-K program?
The NC Pre-K Program is designed to provide at-risk, four-year-old children with an opportunity for quality preschool education. This school day program is designed to provide young children with access to a structured curriculum and preschool experience that will enhance their readiness for school. The Chatham County Partnership for Children supports NC Pre-K classrooms throughout Chatham County in select public schools and in licensed child care centers.
NC Pre-K typically runs from 8:00-2:30. While NC Pre-K is provided free of charge to families who qualify, wrap around services are available at a few sites for an additional charge. Transportation to/from school is not provided. Please look through the sites available to make the best choice for your family!
Where does the NC Pre-K program take place?
Children may attend any one of the programs offered throughout the county by our NC Pre-K program partners:
| Site | Address | Hours | Wrap Around/ Afterschool Care? | Transportation? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennett School | 61 Randolph St. Bennett | 8:00-2:30 | YMCA Afterschool Care at Bonlee | Yes* |
| Chatham Grove Elementary | 1301 Andrews Store Rd. Pittsboro | 8:00-2:30 | YMCA Afterschool Care | No |
| Children First Learning Center | 800 Sheffield Dr. Siler City | 8:00-2:30 | Yes | No |
| North Chatham Elementary | 3380 Lystra Rd. Chapel Hill | 8:00-2:30 | YMCA Afterschool Care | No |
| Perry Harrison Elementary | 2655 Hamlets Chapel Rd. Pittsboro | 8:00-2:30 | YMCA Afterschool Care | No |
| Pittsboro Elementary | 375 Pittsboro Elementary School Rd. Pittsboro | 8:00-2:30 | YMCA Afterschool Care | No |
| Siler City Elementary | 671 Ellington Rd. Siler City | 8:00-2:30 | YMCA Afterschool Care at VCE | No |
| Sonflower Seeds Pre-K | 3654 Silk Hope Rd. Siler City | 8:00-2:30 | Yes | No |
| Telamon Head Start | 505 M.L. King Jr. Blvd. Siler City | 8:00-2:30 | No | No |
| Virginia Cross Elementary | 234 Cross School Rd. Siler City | 8:00-2:30 | YMCA Afterschool Care | No |
Who is Eligible for Chatham’s NC Pre-K Program?
At-risk is the first priority for enrolling children. At-risk is defined as family income at or below 75% of the State Median Income, children experiencing homelessness, in foster care, receiving refugee services, and/or receiving assistance from the following programs*:
- WIC
- Public Housing
- TANF/Work First
- Medicaid
- SSI
- Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps)
- SNAP
*for family sizes of 8 or less
At-Risk children are given highest priority and served first. Other eligible children can be enrolled after all at-risk children have been enrolled.
Eligible children are children with Limited English Proficiency, those with a Chronic Health Condition, children who demonstrate development or educational need based on the results of an approved assessment tool, or children who have a parent who is on active military duty or has been seriously injured while on active duty military in the recent past.
When does the program begin?
- The NC Pre-K Program operates on the public school calendar.
- Children will be enrolled on a first come, first served basis and according to space availability at each site.
Initial Application Due Date: May 1st
Applications completed before May 1st will be processed first!
How do I enroll children?
As always, applications for enrollment are accepted beginning in January each year. To enroll your child or to find out more information, please contact:
- Chatham County Partnership for Children, Liz Woods or Jenice Woods: 919-542-7449, ext. 2 or NCPK@chathamkids.org
- Chatham County Schools, Cindy King: 919-663-3610 ext. 1 and (Español) Danubio Vazquez 919-663-3610 ext. 2
- Children First Learning Center, Tania Taylor: 919-742-5680
- Sonflower Seeds, Heidi Lineberry: 919-742-3939
- Chatham County Telamon Head Start: 919-742-5316
Kindergarten School Search
We are so excited to share the new Kindergarten School Search link located on the DCDEE website.
In accordance with Session Law 2021-117, DCDEE has created the Kindergarten School Search tool which allows for families to access the following information:
− The educational opportunities for kindergarten offered by Public Schools
− The educational opportunities for kindergarten offered by Charter Schools
− The educational opportunities for kindergarten offered by Private Schools
− Scholarship information for Private Schools
The information is searchable by school name/school type, as well as by county, city, and/or zip code and results may be printed or saved as needed. Upon request, a facility participating in the NC Pre-K program must provide families with a list of the educational opportunities located in the same county as the NC Pre-K facility, or, if specified, any other county.
