• Your child’s birth date must fall between December 2, 2020, and December 1, 2021, to be eligible to attend Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK). *Please note: If a child is age eligible to attend Kindergarten, they are ineligible for UPK.

• Your family must reside within the Carthage Central School District.

• UPK classes will be held five (5) days a week and are approximately 2 1/2 hours long. The AM session will run from 9 am to 11:40 am and the PM session will run from 12:50 pm to 3:30 pm.  UPK will begin the same 1st day as K-5 and generally follows the regular school calendar.  The UPK programs will be located at Black River Elementary, Carthage Elementary and West Carthage Elementary.

• UPK students will be selected by a lottery system if the number of applicants exceeds spaces available.  Please be aware that school placement is determined by the availability of bus routes and scheduling.  Pick up and drop off points must be within the school attendance area.

• A student’s HOME address will determine which building they will attend.

• All transportation is provided for students who are or turn 4 by the start of the 25-256school year (start date to be determined) with an adult responsible for putting the child on and taking the child off the bus.  Please be aware if your child is not yet 4, parent transportation is required, per New York State.

Key Dates for 2025-2026 SY:

February 7: Pre-enrollment survey to request a registration packet

April 1-4: Registration packets will be mailed

May 15: Completed packets are due

June 2-3: Lottery for placement; letters mailed