Jersey City offers free pre-kindergarten to all children who will be 3 or 4 years old on or before October 1 immediately following the beginning of the school year.
Some schools do not have the physical space to accommodate the pre-k students, but the district provides buses to transport those students to another facility. For example, students in the PS #16 school zone were bused to the Claremont Avenue Early Childhood Center for the 2017-2018 school year. For 2018-2019, Pre-K 3 and some pre-K 4 students in the PS #16 school zone attend the Danforth Avenue Early Childhood Center (formerly PS 20).
(Learn more about Danforth Avenue Early Childhood Center for 2018-2019.)
Registration
Registration is typically in March at your local elementary school. Required documents:
- Parent’s ID
- Child’s birth certificate (and copies)
- Two proofs of residency (and copies)
- Immunization record (and copies)
Are you looking to register for Pre-K mid year? We suggest calling the JCBOE Early Childhood Office.
Curriculum
The Jersey City Pre-K program leverages the High Scope Curriculum. Classrooms are observed by instructional leaders, who provide teachers with feedback and suggestions for improvement to encourage adherence to High Scope routines and practices.
Dual Language Program
A dual language program is also available for interested students in Pre-K 4. JCBOE has made available dual language program guidelines and a dual language program brochure. The dual language program also uses the same High Scope curriculum, but adds an additional language to the structure. At the Pre-K level, we understand that experiences of students and parents in dual language programs in and outside of Jersey City can vary from school to school.
Jersey City Ed 