Jersey City (NJ) Early Childhood | PreK3 & PreK4

Check PreK3 eligibility

If your child will be 3 on or before October 1 of the school year, they are eligible for PreK3.

BirthdateSchool year (starting in September)

Enter a birthdate and school year to check eligibility.

Early childhood options at a glance

The city delivers PreK3/PreK4 seats through different providers, summarized below.

Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDC)

District-run centers that provide JCPS PreK3/PreK4 seats with district staff, curriculum, and support services. Families apply through the district’s Universal Pre-K application and are assigned a site based on availability.

Public schools with PreK3

A growing number of neighborhood schools now offer PreK3/PreK4 seats on campus. Families apply through the district’s Universal Pre-K application to their zoned school. Check with your zoned school. Find your zoned school

Contracted childcare centers

Independent childcare centers delivering district-funded PreK3/PreK4 seats. Explore the list and map below to contact centers directly for tours and enrollment.

English/Spanish Dual Language Education

Jersey City offers English/Spanish dual language education in select schools (PS #3, PS #5 and PS #6) beginning in PreK4. To be considered, families submit the Jersey City PreK application and also enter the school’s dual language lottery. Seats are limited and placement is not guaranteed. Learn more about dual language programs.

Application

Applications are typically due in March. Confirm exact dates and required documents with the district and individual centers respectively.

Contracted childcare centers

The following centers have contracts with the city that enables them to provide free education starting at preK3. They follow the same curriculum (high scope) that is followed by the public schools, and observe the same holidays and school closures. Most of them used to only offer preK3 options, but some have recently expanded to add preK4 as well. Families should contact individual centers to confirm grades offered, tour availability, application steps, and timelines.