Family FAQs
Durham PreK Application Process
Visit the DPK Application page to learn more about the application and to start the application.
To receive more information about the application process, call 1-833-773-5338.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, however, we encourage families to apply by May 12th, 2024 (for the 2024-25 SY) to be considered for all Durham Public Schools pre-K classrooms. Families that submit an application after the May 12th, 2024 deadline, will only be considered for Durham PreK, NC Pre-K, and Head Start.
Durham PreK enrolls children that are 4 years old by August 31st of the school year attending.
Application appointments are currently being offered virtually and in-person. You do not need to bring your child to the application appointment, but they are welcome to attend with you.
For questions about screenings, families can email durham_prek@dpsnc.net.
After you submit your Durham PreK application, you will need to complete the online Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). The ASQ is a critical developmental screening tool used to determine eligibility and placement. Completing it as soon as possible—either while filling out your application or immediately after—ensures your child is considered for all available program options.
What documents are required to complete the application? The application will guide you step-by-step through the required documentation needed to complete your submission. This typically includes:
● Proof of your child’s age
● Proof of Durham County residency
● Documentation of monthly and annual household income
Depending on your responses within the application, you may also need to provide additional documents, such as:
● Proof of military service
● Custody paperwork
● School enrollment information
For a complete list of required documents and detailed explanations, please download the checklist below.
Child citizenship does not determine eligibility. All 4 year old children in Durham County are eligible for all programs, regardless of citizenship status.
Families can choose to leave the citizenship question blank, but it will limit program options for that child to Durham Public Schools, Durham PreK, and Head Start.
If your family needs additional child care, you can contact the Child Care Referral Central at Early Years for assistance in finding a program that meets your family’s needs. Visit their website or call 1-855-EARLY-ED to speak with a referral counselor.
Durham PreK Site Information
Most Durham PreK classrooms follow the Durham Public Schools Traditional Calendar, with the exception of Holt Elementary and Pearsontown Elementary which operate on the Durham Public Schools Year Round Calendar. Both calendars are available under Family Resources.
All sites operate on a 6.5 hour school day, and some sites may offer before and after care. Families will be able to indicate their location preferences during the application appointment.
All available information on before and after care hours and fees for the 2025-2026 school year are posted on the Site Locations page. These lists will be updated as more information becomes available. These hours and fees are subject to change, so we encourage families to reach out to their child’s site directly after referencing our website.
We encourage you to contact the director of the facility where your child has been offered placement to schedule a tour before making your decision.
If you choose not to accept the placement offered, you may request to remain on the waiting list for other programs by completing the Placement Request Form.
Please note: If unfilled seats become available at your preferred facility toward the end of the placement process, you may be contacted about placement. However, there is no guarantee of a second offer or placement at a preferred location.
Durham PreK sites are conveniently located across Durham County. Explore your options by viewing a map of all Durham PreK locations here. Once your application is completed and reviewed, you’ll be able to select your site preferences, which will be taken into account during the placement process.
Before and After School Care (also known as Wrap Around Care) is a separate service from preschool and is neither guaranteed at every facility nor free. DSS Vouchers and Early Years Scholarships can sometimes help to cover the cost of Before and After School Care for qualifying families. To learn more, watch the videos on our Before and After Care Page.
For more information about Early Years Scholarships or to see if you may be eligible, please call 919-403-6950 and ask to speak to the next available scholarship counselor or send an email to familyscholarship@earlyyearsnc.org.
Visit the Before and After Care page for the hours and fees currently available at pre-K sites for the 2024-25 school year. Hours are subject to change for the 2025-2026 school year. If your child’s placement site does not have hours or fees listed or for further questions about an individual site, we encourage you to contact the site directly.
All Durham PreK sites provide high-quality education that supports healthy social-emotional, physical, and academic development. Children will learn positive social behaviors, emotional regulation, and academic concepts through play, inquiry, and other academic activities.
Visit our Why Pre-K page for more information!
Durham PreK classrooms are 5-star rated classrooms, and all lead teachers are required to have or be working toward a Birth to Kindergarten License. These classrooms go through a thorough application process and a non-conflicting committee reviews them before selecting semifinalists. Semifinalists then receive an official Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS©) observation to evaluate the quality of teacher-child interactions, and a site visit to review application materials and plans for family engagement, dual language learners and children with unique needs.
The Durham PreK Governance Committee voted to reduce parent fee rates from 4% of gross household monthly income to 2% of gross household monthly income.
Parent fees are monthly payments made by families to their child’s pre-K site. They are calculated by household annual income and household size based on the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Families whose household income is greater than 400% of the FPL qualify for a monthly parent fee that is 2% of their monthly income (view the estimated parent fee table).
Parent fees contribute to the monthly payments that sites receive from the Durham PreK Partners. Sites participating in Durham PreK receive $1400/month per child to support high-quality programming. Local, state, and federal funds cover the full $1400/month for families under 400% of the FPL. Families who qualify for parent fees contribute to the total $1400 paid to pre-K sites within Durham PreK. For example, a family whose parent fee is $300/month pay their fee directly to their child’s Durham PreK site, and Durham PreK pays the remaining $1100 to the pre-K site for that family’s seat. This sliding scale parent fee system allows Durham County to fund more seats for under-resourced families in the community.