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Poughkeepsie High School

Together, We Are Champions for Children in Poughkeepsie City Schools

PCSD celebrates filling UPK program's 210 seats

Posted Date: 09/28/26 (06:21 PM)
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The Poughkeepsie City School District is celebrating a significant achievement in its mission to support student excellence from the youngest ages.
For the first time since the district substantially expanded its pre-K program, all 210 spots available have been filled.
The district’s free universal pre-K program is hosted at seven locations around the city, including two school buildings and five community partners, and features a dual-language program option.
Though children are not required to attend school before the first grade, students who participate in pre-K and kindergarten have been shown to be more likely to succeed academically, graduate high school and attend an institute of higher education. Studies show they also are less likely to require academic intervention or special education services, and have stronger emotional and social intelligences, among other benefits.
The district has emphasized the importance of families enrolling students in a pre-K program when they are eligible, forming partnerships with community organizations to expand universal pre-K capacity.
“The numeracy, literacy and social-emotional skills a student gains from participating in a pre-K program lays the foundation for success throughout their educational journey,” Superintendent of Schools Gregory Mott said. “We’ve prioritized providing that experience to as many students as possible and we’re thrilled families have increasingly chosen to enroll with us.”
The district’s pre-K program is hosted at Krieger and Truth elementary schools, the Astor Early Childhood Center, Day One Early Learning Community, the Dutchess Community College Louis Greenspan Day Care Center, Holy Trinity and North Star Academy.
The five-day program follows New York State standards at all sites. The program focuses on kindergarten readiness. It features curriculum and activities that are learner-centered and age-level appropriate, which meets the individual needs of children and promotes cognitive, linguistic, physical, cultural, emotional and social development.