Pre-Kindergarten Lottery Information, Resources & Procedures
The City School District of New Rochelle, in partnership with several community agencies, is offering New Rochelle residents pre-kindergarten options for the 2025-2026 school year.
The Pre-Kindergarten lottery for the 2025-2026 school year will open on January 8, 2025. Families will have until January 31, 2025 to enter and rank their preferences for programs and locations for the first round. Please note that the City School District of New Rochelle conducts a random lottery with an online platform.
Families will be notified of their lottery results and student seat offerings beginning on February 4, 2025. All students were be placed based on their selected preference and based on open seats in each program. For families that are not seated in their first choice program, they will be placed on a waitlist. If families selected more than one program, families will be offered a spot at other locations based on open seats in each program. Late applications will be considered only after all lottery applications have been placed and based on current program availability. As spots become available, students from the waitlist will be selected to fill open seats.
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.
