Prekindergarten
Residency and Additional Requirements
Students must reside with a parent or legal guardian in Chalres City County to attend Charles City County Public Schools. The school system may re-verify residency any year a student is enrolled in Charles City County Public Schools. Students attend the school in their attendance area unless a waiver is granted.
To register for school, proof of county residency is required by providing one of these documents:
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lease for at least one year or deed of a residence in Charles City County
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contract or lease free of contingencies to occupy a Charles City residence within two months of the date of enrollment
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resident manager’s letter on company letterhead stating that residence is a corporate residence in Charles City
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weekly receipts for temporary residence in a hotel or motel for up to 60 days (requires renewal or evidence of more permanent residency within 60 days of enrollment)
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Parents submitting a “lives with” form when registering must bring the person they live with. That person must provide proof of county residency, and the parent of the incoming student must provide two supporting documents with their name and correct address.
In addition, a student enrolling in a Virginia public school for the first time must provide a certified original birth certificate (or school age affidavit in accordance with state law), record of a physical examination (performed within the past 12 months) and updated records listing dates of each state-required immunization. Visit the Virginia Department of Health’s website for a list of school and day care minimum immunization requirements.
The Charles City Health Department offers immunizations by appointment only 804-829-6600, and many childhood vaccines are free. For more information about immunizations, go to Immunization info.
It is helpful if transferring students provide a report card from their previous school and, if applicable, a copy of an Individualized Education Program. After registration is completed, the Charles City County school will request a transfer of records from the previous school.
Information Needed to Preregister
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Student’s birth certificate or school-age affidavit in accordance with state law (Please note that the student’s name must be entered in preregistration exactly as it appears on the birth certificate or affidavit)
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Emergency contact phone number(s)
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Previous school address and contact information, if applicable
Required Documents for Registration
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Student’s birth certificate (original or certified copy) or school-age affidavit in accordance with state law
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Parent/guardian photo ID
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Certification of immunization
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For students in grades K-5 entering public elementary school for the first time: a school entrance health form, including comprehensive physical examination report dated within the past 12 months
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Proof of residency form with supporting documentation
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Legal/custody papers, if applicable
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Most recent IEP, if applicable
Once your child has received an invitation to register, please click the link in your student's invitation email to complete their registration forms.
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All children must be three by September 30th of the school year to enroll in the Pre-K/Early Learning program. However, if your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and will be two years old by September 30th of the current year, please reach out to Dr. Suzan Denby at sdenby@ccps.net.
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Each of these programs service students aged two to five with their own rules and regulations. See below for more information:
- Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI): A state-funded preschool program in Virginia that serves three- and four-year-olds who are at risk of not being ready for kindergarten. It focuses on providing high-quality early learning experiences in alignment with Virginia’s standards and guidance.
- Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE): A program that provides special education and related services to children ages two to five with identified disabilities or developmental delays. Services are based on each child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and support their developmental and pre-academic growth.
- Head Start: A federally funded program that promotes school readiness for children ages three to five from low-income families. It provides comprehensive services—including education, health, nutrition, and family engagement—to support children’s overall development.
Even if your family does not fall into one of these programs, we welcome all families to apply!
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CCPS will begin advertising for the following school year in January. The electronic application will be posted the first week of February. Paper copies and translation services are available upon request. Students are highly encouraged to attend this screening day as we will verify residency and income, provide at-home resources, and informally screen each student alongside same-aged peers. Acceptance and waitlist letters come out in May via email.
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Student selection is a multistep process.
Please note that the full list of VPI local criteria is as follows:
- WIC (Women, Infants, & Children) Recipient
- TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) Recipient
- Kinship Care
- Foster Care
- SNAP (Food Stamps) Recipient
- Parent/Guardian Receives Social Security - Disability
- Death of a Parent/Guardian
- Parent/Guardian Deployment in the Last or Upcoming Year
- Unconventional Work Schedule (Military)
- English is NOT the Primary Home Language
- Parent/Guardian is incarcerated
- Parent/Guardian Receives Veteran’s Benefits
- Child was Born Outside of the United States (not on a military base)
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CCPS Pre-K/Early Learning Program and Head Start team up to provide families with one application for BOTH programs. Families will complete the application that opens in February and then the Head Start and CCPS staff collaborate to identify which students meet each program’s criteria.
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CCPS can support your child’s comprehensive needs.
Questions? Please reach out to Dr. Suzan Denby at sdenby@ccps.net.
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No! Students are not required to be toilet-trained. If your child is accepted into the Pre-K/Early Learning program and is not potty-trained, the teacher will collaborate with you to create a toilet-training plan.
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Yes! All students accepted into the Pre-K/Early Learning program may ride the school bus to and/or from school each day. If you prefer, students can also be dropped off and/or picked up in the car rider line.
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Yes, all CCPS students receive breakfast and lunch. Students can also bring a lunch from home if desired.
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Most classes have a mix of ages between three and four. Classes are capped at 16-18 students with two adults creating a max of 1:10 adult to student ratio.
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This program is run free of charge for families!
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The Pre-K/Early Learning program is a full-day program that follows the same bell schedule and calendar as kindergarten through fifth grade. Pre-K/Early Learning program students will observe the same break schedule as their kindergarten through fifth grade peers.
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We look forward to seeing you and your prospective Pre-K/Early Learning student soon. Please bring all of the following documents that apply to your family, along with your child:
- all W2s for each parent/guardian
- 2-3 paystubs for each job per working parent/guardian
- TANF verification
- SNAP verification
- SSI verification
- Child support documentation
- Social Security explanation & benefits
- Foster care / Kinship care documentation
- WIC verification
- Childcare subsidy
- Alimony / Spousal support documentation
- VA benefits verification
- Unemployment benefits information
- Disability documentation for parent/guardian and/or child (IEP, IFSP, referral, etc.)
- Section 8 / Subsidized housing documentation
- Rental income documentation
- Trust verification
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- Have concerns about your child’s development? Contact Dr. Suzan Denby at sdenby@ccps.net.
- For general Pre-K/Early Learning program questions: Linda Easter at leaster@ccps.net or 804-301-1871