The Pre-Kindergarten program is available for all Deer Creek families and is located at Rose Union, Grove Valley and Deer Creek Elementary. Enrollment is limited based on available classroom space and staffing. Families will have the opportunity to list sites in order of preference.
Pre-Kindergarten continues to be a lottery system, and enrollment at any site is not guaranteed.This expansion will be re-evaluated annually due to continued growth in our district.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES: 
Parents who are interested in having their child in one of the full day Pre-Kindergarten classes may complete the online registration (OLR) application through January 26, 2024. Note–This online registration is for Pre-Kindergarten only and not for any other Deer Creek students in the household.

If you do not have computer access or are not able to complete the online application, we have computer stations in our enrollment center available to use. Email [email protected] for the link to schedule your appointment.

Online applications will be accepted January 15, 2024 – January 26, 2024, for initial Pre-Kindergarten placement. ONLY ONE APPLICATION PER CHILD MAY BE SUBMITTED. IF MORE THAN ONE APPLICATION FOR A CHILD IS SUBMITTED, ALL APPLICATIONS FOR THAT CHILD WILL BE WITHHELD FROM THE DRAWING AND THE CHILD’S NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WAITING LIST.  CHILDREN WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED A DCPS PRE-KINDERGARTEN 4-YEAR OLD PROGRAM MAY NOT APPLY FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR.

SPECIAL NOTE: THE NAMES OF TWINS OR TRIPLETS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED ON ONE APPLICATION

SELECTION PROCEDURES:

Applications and documents will be verified by DC administrative staff January 29th–February 9th, 2024. 
Applicants will be contacted via email sometime between January 29th–February 9th to verify documents and receive additional enrollment instructions. It is the applicants’ responsibility to monitor email and check their SPAM folder for Deer Creek emails regarding PreK and PreK waitlist information.
All required documents must be uploaded and all enrollment processes completed within the Online Registration (OLR) application to ensure the child’s eligibility for the PreK program by January 26, 2024.    Birth certificates and residency documentation must be original, unedited documents. The enrollment office may request to see original documents in person.

Completed applications will be drawn using an online randomizer to determine the enrollment list for the Pre-Kindergarten classes. If the number of students exceeds the capacity of students and classes, then the remaining students will be placed on a wait list. The drawing is not open to the public, but will be witnessed by parent and administrative representatives. The Deer Creek School District will reserve Pre-Kindergarten spots for students to abide by Federal Law and employee assistance.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
Lists of the students’ names in the order drawn will be posted on the district website no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 12th. THIS IS THE ONLY NOTIFICATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE DRAWING.  PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING THE POSTINGS TO LEARN OF THEIR CHILD’S STATUS.  IF THEIR CHILD IS ON A CLASS ROSTER, IT IS THE PARENT’S (GUARDIAN’S) RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH ANY REMAINING ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES. ALL ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES MUST BE COMPLETED IN ORDER TO RETAIN THE PREK OPENING FOR YOUR CHILD. (i.e. submitting updated residency, immunization records, required forms, etc. that may be pushed out by the district and/or your student’s Pre-Kindergarten site during the spring/summer.)

WAITLIST PROCEDURES:

If an opening occurs for Pre-Kindergarten, applicants on the waiting list will be contacted by email in the order of their place on the waiting list to determine if they remain interested in a Pre-Kindergarten placement for their child. Families will be given two school days to respond in writing and confirm their acceptance of the available position before the next applicant on the waiting list is contacted.  

After the initial enrollment process has been completed, 24-25 Pre-Kindergarten online waitlist applications will be available on the district website beginning March 1, 2024 (Kindergarten through 12 applications will open on April 1, 2024).  The applications will be date and time stamped.  These students will be offered a space as openings occur after all students on the original waiting list have been offered spaces in the Pre-Kindergarten Program.  

Please do not call to find out where your child is on the waiting list once they have been posted. There is no guarantee or any way for our personnel to predict if there will be any movement on the waitlist for any child. It is our recommendation that you secure a private Pre-Kindergarten experience for your child if your child is on the waitlist. 

PRE-KINDERGARTEN ATTENDANCE:

Pre-Kindergarten classes are designed to be enriching learning environments that afford students the opportunity to master standards of learning and provide foundational skills for Kindergarten and beyond. Consistent attendance is important to the success of the students in the program. Students enrolling in the Deer Creek School District Pre-Kindergarten program will comply with the same attendance regulations as students in grades K-12 with the additional caveat of excessive absences (10+ total days in a semester and/or 10 consecutive absences at anytime) will result in immediate dismissal from the Pre-Kindergarten program.

Parents wishing to re-enroll their children after 10 or more absences will need to complete a new Pre-Kindergarten OLR application and will go to the bottom of the waiting list. 

TRANSPORTATION:

Due to the safety regulations required of this age group, the Deer Creek School District is notable to provide transportation to PreK students.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:  (Must be provided/uploaded at the time that the actual lottery enrollment process is completed