DeKalb GA News

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has announced the opening of the 2025-2026 Pre-Kindergarten (3&4) online lottery application window. The lottery will commence on March 3 and conclude at 11:59 PM on March 21. Parents interested in applying are advised to review necessary documents before beginning the application process.

Eligible children for the Pre-K4 program must have birthdays between September 2, 2020, and September 1, 2021. For Pre-K3 eligibility, birthdays should fall between September 2, 2021, and September 1, 2022. "To be eligible for the 2025-2026 school year as a Pre-K4 student," DCSD states that a child "must have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that identifies the need to spend their Kindergarten year in an inclusion (co-taught) Pre-K4 classroom."

The district offers both Georgia-funded Pre-K classes across its schools and specialized programs like those at Coralwood Center. Students currently attending such programs may continue at their current location by completing an Intent to Return form. Failure to submit this form will result in forfeiting their seat for the next academic year.

Parents are required to provide proof of birth, legal guardianship if applicable, identification for parents or guardians, residency proof in Georgia, and health-related certificates among other documents when applying. However, DCSD notes that "submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance into the program."

If a child is selected through the lottery process but resides outside of DCSD's attendance zone or wishes to apply to more than one school within it, specific guidelines apply which could affect eligibility.

For those who were unable to participate in this year's lottery process but still seek admission into these early learning programs should contact individual schools directly about available seats or waitlist options.

On February 25th from 6:00 PM –7:00 PM there will be a virtual support session hosted by DCSD’s Department of Early Learning and Pre-K Programs aimed at guiding families through application procedures using tools like School Mint platform effectively by deadlines set forth ensuring understanding all registration steps needed once seats awarded via email notifications post-lottery results dissemination period ends successfully securing placement desired eventually reached accordingly too ideally so overall seamlessly managed indeed thus ultimately accomplished efficiently also practically well done then entirely suitably fittingly fine executed fully satisfactorily met expectations perfectly altogether thoroughly completed end goal achieved likewise optimally handled thereafter conclusively henceforth finalized appropriately rightfully fulfilled now completely wholly true correctly accurately ended properly rightly closed finally definitely duly done!