Universal Pre-Kindergarten

Welcome new families!

UPK Registration for the 2026-27 School YearIf your son or daughter is a resident in the Glens Falls City School district and will be four years old by December 1, 2026, he or she is eligible to enter the Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) lottery. This free, full-day, full-year program is focused on teaching the fundamentals of literacy and beginning math–all in a creative and stimulating environment, and taught by highly qualified and caring educators.

Please note: Students that are age-eligible to enter traditional Kindergarten (5 years old before December 1, 2026), are not eligible for UPK.

Glens Falls City Schools will be continuing the UPK program next year, pending the approval of funding by New York State. Classes will be housed at all three elementary schools: Big Cross, Jackson Heights, and Kensington. Check the Elementary Attendance Zones MAP to find your elementary school if you aren't sure. Transportation to and from the program is the parents’ responsibility.

Entry into the UPK class is determined by lottery each spring. Parents and guardians can find the paperwork to enter the lottery for UPK HERE. All application forms are also available in the main offices at each school building. These completed forms, along with proof of residency, an immunization record, and the child’s birth certificate, should be submitted to the District Office (15 Quade Street) by April 17, 2026. Families will be notified by mail of the lottery results on or before May 1, 2026.

Universal Pre-Kindergarten Welcome and Screening

UPK Screening events will be held at each elementary school during the month of May on the following days:

• Kensington Rd: Friday, May 8, 2026 - The school will notify you of your appointment time.
• Big Cross: Thursday, May 21, 2026 -The school will notify you of your appointment time.
• Jackson Heights: Friday, May 15, 2026 - The school will notify you of your appointment time.

Questions can be directed to Amanda Simmes, Asst. Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at 518-792-0107.

More about UPKUniversal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) is a special program established by the New York State Education Department, which partners with local school districts to provide a preschool experience for the children of eligible families. Transportation to and from UPK is not provided.

The program starts each year in September, and spots are filled through a lottery process in the spring. We accept applications for children who will be four years old by December 1st of the current school year and live in the Glens Falls City School District.