Gloucester County Public Schools

The video below is a visual overview of the preschool application process.

The video below is a narrated presentation of the preschool application process.

Placement at a school site is based on several criteria but includes home street address and proximity to one of the program sites:

• Abingdon Elementary School

• Achilles Elementary School

• Bethel Elementary School

• Botetourt Elementary School

• Petsworth Elementary School

Transportation

Transportation is provided for students living within their designated school zone (e.g., their home address) or for students served by the Office of Special Education. Transportation might be available for tuition-based students based on route availability and classroom placement. Transportation to an address other than the student’s home will be considered on a case by case basis. Please submit on the designated form in writing if transportation is needed to a location other than home address. Transportation cannot be provided to more than one school attendance zone for any student. (Ex. We cannot pick up a student in Bethel zone in the morning and drop the same student off in Abingdon zone in the afternoon.)

GCPS preschool classrooms for ages 3 and 4 will operate with the same school calendar as the Gloucester County Public Schools K-12 program, with flexibility at the student or school level based on needs and services. 

• Early Learners: Students, including all two-year-olds, are identified and served by the Office of Special Education and receive services determined by their IEP team;

• Three-year-old students will attend for a partial-day; students served by the Office of Special Education will receive services determined by their IEP team; some students may be designated to participate in the Early Learner Program.

• Four-year-old students served by the Office of Special Education will receive services determined by their IEP team;

• Four-year-old students not served by the Office of Special Education may indicate a full- or partial-day preference at the time of application; preference will be considered but cannot be guaranteed due to enrollment and classroom considerations.

• Students not served by the Office of Special Education or eligible through VPI funding will be considered potential tuition-based students, and will be placed on the waitlist by age and school zone until space is deemed available.

The early childhood classroom environment is guided by a research-based curriculum aligned with the Virginia preschool standards. This curriculum promotes a child’s emotional, social, cognitive, and physical growth. Movement breaks are incorporated throughout the day.