The information below is for families to apply to the 2025-2026 GCPS Preschool Program.
Information for the 2026-2027 program will be posted in March 2026.
Please read through all of this information; please do not attempt enrollment before you have completed the application request form and application process.
Information about the 2025-2026 Preschool Program is subject to change based on annual updates during the legislative session of the General Assembly, from the Virginia Department of Education, or based on program needs determined by GCPS leadership.
Age cohorts for 2026-2027
3YO: Oct. 1, 2022 - Sept. 30, 2023 (will enter Kindergarten Fall 2028)
4YO: Oct. 1, 2021 – Sept. 30, 2022 (will enter Kindergarten Fall 2027)
Age cohorts for 2025-2026
3YO: Oct. 1, 2021 - Sept. 30, 2022 (will enter Kindergarten Fall 2027)
4YO: Oct. 1, 2020 – Sept. 30, 2021 (will enter Kindergarten Fall 2026)
To be eligible to attend a GCPS Preschool Program, a child's application will need to meet one of the following criteria:
The GCPS preschool program is for eligible two- to four-year old children who:
are currently served through the GCPS Office of Special Education (age 2-4),
These families will be contacted by GCPS staff regarding placement for the 2025-2026 academic year after completing the online interest survey, and will be asked to complete a packet for consideration for VPI funding eligibility.
OR
are legal residents of Gloucester County that potentially meet specific needs-based criteria (see #1-4 below)**;
Students not served by the Office of Special Education and interested in GCPS Preschool may apply to the program if they potentially meet one of the following needs-based criteria established by the Virginia General Assembly to be eligible for funding through the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) (detailed information included on pages 4-5 of the GCPS Preschool Program Overview Packet for 2025-2026):
The child’s family income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level for family size.
The child is homeless.
The child’s parents or legal guardians are school dropouts.
The child has an identified special need or disability.
Families that do not meet state/VPI funding criteria are encouraged to plan for preschool and childcare through private providers.
Families that potentially meet criteria for the Head Start Program will be referred for enrollment consideration prior to enrollment in the GCPS Preschool Program.
Head Start is a federally-funded, comprehensive, early childhood educational program that serves income-eligible preschool children and their families. Until September 30, 2025, the program is overseen by the Parent Child Development Corporation (PCDC) for families in the counties of Charles City, King and Queen, King William, Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, and New Kent. For more information visit: https://www.pcdcva.org/head-start_home/ or call 804-843-2289.
The Head Start program serving Gloucester County will transition to oversight by the Williamsburg-James City County Community Action Agency by October 6, 2025. Please read the WJCC-CAA Press Release for more information. For more information visit: https://www.wjcc-caa.org/about-5 or call 757-229-9332.
To apply for a child to attend a GCPS Preschool Program:
Step One: Read about our program on the webpage or in the Overview Packet.
Step Two: Complete the Interest Form to receive the funding application forms. Forms will be sent to you by email unless you request a postal mail delivery.
Step Three: Complete and return the funding application forms by email or to our Central Office.
Step Four: When you receive notification of placement for your child, then you will follow the instructions provided to complete his/her enrollment.
All families will need to have an accessible email address to submit your funding application and required documentation, and/or to receive any requests for additional information or updates. Forms should be submitted by email to vpi@gc.k12.va.us with your Child's Name in the Subject line. Forms may also be returned to the School Board Office: 6099 TC Walker Road, Gloucester, VA 23061. Notification of receipt of forms or missing documentation will be sent via email. Please check all mailboxes (e.g., Junk, Spam) for your email address. Do not submit forms through a school.
The video below is a visual overview of the preschool application process.
The video below is a narrated presentation of the preschool application process recorded in 2023. The information is the same for 2025-2026.
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. This program serves approximately 150 children out of a potential 700 children aged three and four in Gloucester County.
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 may be considered potential tuition-based students, and will be placed on the waitlist by age and school zone until space is deemed available. Placement is not guaranteed. For 2025-2026, tuition-based applications will not be considered until June 2025, and only if space is 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.
Download this checklist in Spanish
Interest Form for the 2025-2026 GCPS Preschool Program
Interest Form--click here: https://tinyurl.com/25-26GCPSPreschool
Thank you for your interest in GCPS Preschool for the 2025-2026 school year. This interest form is no longer accepting responses. Due to the extraordinary interest in our program, we have a waiting list for all classrooms. If you would like more information for the current school year, please contact the GCPS Office of Special Education: (804) 693-7880 or email vpi@gc.k12.va.us.
Information about the 2026-2027 GCPS Preschool program will be available by early March 2026 on the GCPS Early Childhood Education website.
GCPS Preschool Program Overview Packet for 2025-2026
VDOE Resources: Use this very detailed document to determine household size and membership.
If you need assistance or have questions about this program, please contact the GCPS Office of Special Education: (804) 693-7944.