Beginning February 10, 2025,* at 8:00 a.m., Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) will accept applications online for the Pre-Kindergarten Program for 4-year-olds for the 2025-26 school year. To be eligible for this program, a child must be four (4) years old by September 1, 2025. Pre-K 4 is a universal program that all students who meet the age requirement will be eligible for. Registration will be held at each school in April. Applicants will receive additional information regarding their application status and registration appointments.

Students are placed at the elementary school in their home district first, but based on enrollment numbers and class size requirements, some students may be placed in neighboring schools. Once all applications have been received and classroom numbers have been evaluated at all schools, the exact location of your child’s placement will be determined. If your child needs to be placed at a different elementary school, the Office of Elementary Education will notify you of that placement in early August.

Please note that submissions will not be accepted until February 10, 2025,* at 8:00 a.m., via https://forms.gle/EwgQojUN9QAYhDHv5 (Spanish https://forms.gle/zbUTR79TmNesA5g68). All applications will be time and date-stamped as part of the enrollment process. Parents needing assistance completing the online application should contact the elementary school in their home district and ask for the Registration Liaison. If a parent has questions regarding the district in which they reside, they should contact the Transportation Department at 301-334-8907.

If you have any questions about the enrollment process, please contact Mrs. Dawna Ashby, Director of Early Childhood/Elementary Education, at 301-334-7644 or Mrs. Tonya Sanders-Manges, Administrative Assistant Elementary Education Department, at 301-334-8927.

*In case of a snow day on February 10, 2025, applications will be accepted the following day schools are in session. In the event of a 2-hour delay, applications will be accepted beginning at 10:00 am.