Free pre-K in New York
Free pre-K sign-up dates for 2027-28: Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, and Orange
By Alex Colombo, Kid Care Finder · Updated September 24, 2026
The short version
- For 2027-28, most districts take children who turn 4 on or before December 1, 2027 and live in the district. A few use a later cutoff.
- You apply to your school district, not the state. State rules require a lottery and a waitlist when more children apply than there are seats.
- A few districts are already taking 2027-28 applications or have posted dates (below). Most post theirs between November and March.
- New York is adding seats. By 2028-29, districts must offer pre-K to every eligible 4-year-old who applies.
Open now or dates posted
| District | County | 2027-28 dates |
|---|---|---|
| Katonah-Lewisboro | Westchester | Applications open now; deadline in late October 2026 (exact date to be posted); lottery in early November. |
| New Rochelle | Westchester | Lottery opens Jan 6, 2027; first-round deadline Jan 29; placements start Feb 2, 2027. |
| Somers | Westchester | Applications open Oct 1, 2026 and close Jan 15, 2027. |
| Ramapo (Suffern) | Rockland | Applications open in January 2027 (exact date not posted). |
| Wappingers | Dutchess | Opens January 2027; deadline end of February 2027; lottery in March 2027 (months only; confirm with district). |
| Middletown | Orange | Registration Mar 10 to Mar 25, 2027; lottery Jun 4, 2027. |
How free pre-K works in New York
Universal pre-K (UPK) is free, run by each school district, and open to 4-year-olds who live in the district. Some districts hold classes in their own schools; many also place seats at local child care centers and preschools. White Plains, for example, runs its program at the YMCA, United Preschool, and Little Disciples. Ask your district which sites it uses.
Last year's deadlines show how early some districts move: Putnam Valley closed registration on December 31, 2025, New Rochelle's first lottery round ran January 7 to 30, 2026, White Plains applications were due April 17, and Croton-Harmon closed June 3, 2026. If your child turns 4 by December 1, 2027, check your district's page now. Katonah-Lewisboro's deadline is in late October 2026, and Somers opens October 1.
Statewide, New York added $563 million a year for pre-K starting in 2026-27, and 53 Mid-Hudson districts are projected to add seats. Half-day programs stop receiving state pre-K aid in 2028-29.
District by district
“Check with district” means the district's website didn't say when we checked on September 24, 2026. It doesn't mean the district has no pre-K.
Westchester County
| District | Free pre-K | How seats are filled | 2027-28 dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArdsleyCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| BedfordFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Blind Brook-RyeCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| Briarcliff ManorCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| BronxvilleCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| Byram HillsCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| ChappaquaFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Croton-HarmonFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Dobbs FerryFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| EastchesterCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| EdgemontFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| ElmsfordFree pre-K · Check with district | Yes | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| GreenburghFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| HarrisonCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| Hastings-on-HudsonCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| Hendrick HudsonFree pre-K · Registration | Yes | Registration | Not posted yet |
| IrvingtonCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| Katonah-LewisboroFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Applications open now; deadline in late October 2026 (exact date to be posted); lottery in early November. |
| LakelandFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| MamaroneckFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Mount PleasantFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Mount VernonFree pre-K · Registration | Yes | Registration | Not posted yet |
| New RochelleFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Lottery opens Jan 6, 2027; first-round deadline Jan 29; placements start Feb 2, 2027. |
| North SalemFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| OssiningFree pre-K · Registration | Yes | Registration | Not posted yet |
| PeekskillFree pre-K · Registration | Yes | Registration | Not posted yet |
| PelhamCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| PleasantvilleFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Pocantico HillsFree pre-K · Registration | Yes | Registration | Not posted yet |
| Port Chester-RyeFree pre-K · Registration | Yes | Registration | Not posted yet |
| RyeCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| Rye NeckCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| ScarsdaleCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| SomersFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Applications open Oct 1, 2026 and close Jan 15, 2027. |
| TuckahoeFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| TarrytownsFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| ValhallaFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| White PlainsFree pre-K · Check with district | Yes | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| Yonkers Public SchoolsFree pre-K · Registration | Yes | Registration | Not posted yet |
| YorktownFree pre-K · Registration | Yes | Registration | Not posted yet |
Also compare preschools in Westchester County.
Putnam County
| District | Free pre-K | How seats are filled | 2027-28 dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrewsterFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| CarmelFree pre-K · Check with district | Yes | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| GarrisonFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| HaldaneFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| MahopacFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Putnam ValleyFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
Also compare preschools in Putnam County.
Rockland County
| District | Free pre-K | How seats are filled | 2027-28 dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClarkstownFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| East RamapoFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| NanuetFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| North RocklandFree pre-K · Check with district | Yes | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| NyackFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Pearl RiverFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Ramapo (Suffern)Free pre-K · Check with district | Yes | Check with district | Applications open in January 2027 (exact date not posted). |
| South OrangetownFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
Also compare preschools in Rockland County.
Dutchess County
| District | Free pre-K | How seats are filled | 2027-28 dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArlingtonFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| BeaconFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| DoverFree pre-K · Check with district | Yes | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| Hyde ParkFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| MillbrookFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Northeast (Webutuck)Free pre-K · Registration | Yes | Registration | Not posted yet |
| PawlingFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Pine PlainsCheck with district | Check with district | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| PoughkeepsieFree pre-K · Registration | Yes | Registration | Not posted yet |
| Red HookFree pre-K · Registration | Yes | Registration | Not posted yet |
| RhinebeckFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| SpackenkillFree pre-K · Check with district | Yes | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| WappingersFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Opens January 2027; deadline end of February 2027; lottery in March 2027 (months only; confirm with district). |
Also compare preschools in Dutchess County.
Orange County
| District | Free pre-K | How seats are filled | 2027-28 dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChesterFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| CornwallFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| FloridaFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| GoshenFree pre-K · Check with district | Yes | Check with district | Not posted yet |
| Greenwood LakeFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Highland Falls-Fort MontgomeryFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| MiddletownFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Registration Mar 10 to Mar 25, 2027; lottery Jun 4, 2027. |
| Minisink ValleyFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Monroe-WoodburyFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| NewburghFree pre-K · Registration | Yes | Registration | Not posted yet |
| Pine BushFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Port JervisFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| TuxedoFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Valley (Montgomery)Free pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| Warwick ValleyFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
| WashingtonvilleFree pre-K · Lottery | Yes | Lottery | Not posted yet |
Also compare preschools in Orange County.
Sources
- New York Education Law § 3602-e: age 4 on or before December 1.
- NYSED, Universal Prekindergarten for 2026-27 and beyond: lotteries and waitlists, the 2028-29 requirement, and half-day aid.
- Governor's office, September 2, 2026: the $563 million increase and the Mid-Hudson district count.
- Each district's own pre-K or registration page, linked in the tables above.
Districts that mainly serve children in residential or hospital programs aren't listed, and Kiryas Joel had no website to check. Dates change; the district's page is the final word.