All families who applied for their student to join the Poughkeepsie City School District’s pre-K program for the 2026-27 school year will have a seat in the program at their preferred location.
At the end of the district’s application window, there were enough seats available for all student applicants – 136 – at their preferred location, so the district did not need to conduct its annual lottery.
Families who applied can expect to receive an email this week with instructions for steps to complete registration during the week of April 13.  If you applied and do not receive such an email, reach out to the Central Registration office next week at 845-437-3480 or centreg@poughkeepsieschools.org.All registration happens in person at the Jane Bolin Administration Building’s Central Registration office. Visit poughkeepsieschools.org/PreK for more details.
Plenty of seats at many of the program locations are still available, and the district highly encourages families begin their students’ educational journey at the pre-K level. The program is free and open to all district residents who turn 4 by Dec. 1, 2026.
The program, which includes a dual-language option, is offered at seven locations: Krieger Elementary School, Sojourner Truth Elementary School, Astor Early Childhood Center, Day One Early Learning Community, Dutchess Community College’s Louis Greenspan Day Care Center, Holy Trinity’s Main Campus and North Star Academy.
The pre-K program features curriculum and activities that are learner-centered and age-level appropriate, which meets the individual needs of children and promotes cognitive, linguistic, physical, cultural, emotional and social development. Activities are designed and provided in a way that promotes the child’s total growth and development in all areas, including emergent English literacy, and students are encouraged to be self-assured and independent to form a solid foundation for their educational journey.
Transportation is provided to students ages 4 and older who live more than a half-mile from their school, and breakfast and lunch are provided.
And, don’t forget registration is also open for kindergarten classes. Visit poughkeepsieschools.org/kindergarten-registration for details.