To be eligible for the 2025-2026 school year, your child's date of birth must fall between September 2, 2020, and September 1, 2021

No. If your home address is not zoned for Atlanta Public Schools, you are not eligible to participate. If you're unsure whether your address is zoned for APS, use the School Zone locator to verify. This does not apply to APS employees.

Yes. APS employees are eligible to apply for their child(ren), even if they live outside the APS attendance zone. Proof of employment (such as an employee badge, Lawson number, or check stub) is required. 

No.  If your child is eligible for Kindergarten, please contact your zoned school for registration information.  

As your child moves up on the waiting list, your parent dashboard will automatically update with the waiting list placement number for your child.  We will not contact you to provide an update.  

Children are eligible for Pre-K for one year only (Ref. GA Pre-K Family Handbook, p. 2). Families interested in submitting a request for a second year must follow the steps outlined in the Georgia Pre-K Operating Guidelines.

The Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) will review requests for children to repeat Pre-K on a case-by-case basis. Pre-K programs can request to retain a child in Pre-K, but the request should be discussed with the child’s family prior to submission. Retention requests must be submitted by the Pre-K Project Directors and should include the following:

• A letter from the project director explaining why the student would be better served in Pre-K than in Kindergarten.
• A letter from the family requesting that their child repeat Pre-K.
• A written summary describing special education referrals, services the child is receiving, evaluations conducted, etc. (Actual documents should not be submitted with the summary. If additional documents are needed, the program will contact the family for permission to release them.)
• Supporting documentation, such as:
  • Work Sampling Online (WSO) information
  • Developmental Checklist
  • Narrative Summary
  • Teacher’s recommendation and/or doctor’s recommendation
  • Interventions during the Pre-K program year.

Submitting a request does not guarantee approval. Note: Placement of students with special needs must be determined based on the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and comply with existing laws and regulations

1. Proof of birth (Your child must be four years old on or before September 1, 2025)

• Original certified birth certificate or passport

2. Proof of legal guardianship (if applicable)

• Only required if your name is not on the child's birth certificate

3. Parent/Guardian proof of identification

• Valid state or government-issued photo ID, such as a Georgia Driver’s license

4. Proof of Parent/Guardian Georgia Residency 

• Mortgage, deed or lease/rental agreement in your name, AND a Georgia Power bill in your name; (All other utility bills are not accepted) Georgia Power bill must be dated within 30 days of your enrollment date.

**If you are living with someone, and you do not have a lease, mortgage or deed AND Georgia Power bill in your name, you must submit the following: 

• A signed and notarized Affidavit of Residency form
  • Download or print a copy of the Affidavit of Residency form
• A valid lease/mortgage statement or deed in the owner's or primary renter's name
• A Georgia Power Bill in the owners' or primary renters' name current within the last 30 days
• Three forms of mail in the parent's name, showing the property address of the homeowner.  

5. Child’s original Social Security Card OR “Waiver”

• If a waiver is needed, you can access it from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.

6. Proof of income (for Pre-K sites with a Head Start partnership ONLY) Review if the site(s) that you are interested in is a Head Start partnership site.  If both parents live within the same household, proof of income is required for each parent.

• 2024 W2 or 1040 tax return, 2025 SSI/TANF/SNAP Award or Determination Letter (must show monthly payment).
  • If you did not work, file taxes OR receive public assistance in 2024, please reach out to your Family Support Specialist for a Zero Income declaration form.

7. Child’s Health Insurance card (Peachcare, Medicaid, or Private insurance)
 
8. Proof of food stamps and/or TANF (If applicable)
 
9. Immunization Certificate (3231) 
 
10. Vision, Hearing, and Dental Screening Certificate (3300)

11. Head Start Physical and Dental Form (Needed for Pre-K sites with a Head Start Partnership ONLY)

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit Form 3231 and Form 3300 (Items 9 and 10 listed above) during the lottery application process, as students may be withdrawn from school if these documents are not received. However, most pediatricians will not complete Form 3300 until the child turns four years old. To accommodate this, all applicants are given a deadline of September 1 to submit these forms. Waiting to upload medical information will not affect your lottery application.

If you have questions, please contact the Office of Early Learning at 404-802-3640, prekinfo@atlantapublicschools.us.