UPK and 3K applications for the 2025-26 school year are now open, and families can attend in-person open houses over the next weeks and months.
Families with children born in 2021 are eligible to apply for free UPK (universal Pre-K /4s) and families with children born in 2022 for free 3K until Friday, February 28, 2025. Offers will be released Tuesday, May 20, 2025. UPK and 3K admissions are not first come, first served; you can make changes to your application any time before the February deadline. You can list up to 12 programs on your application online. Both programs are free, full-day programs (6 hours and 20 minutes long) and follow the NYC public school calendar from September to June. Age cut offs are calendar year and holding back a child is not possible.
Families can choose from different types of settings for free UPK and 3K programs:
- Privately run preschools and daycares
- District public schools
- Pre-K/3K centers run by the Department of Education
UPK for children born in 2021
Priority for the UPK programs have children currently enrolled in a center or a sibling at the center/school having priority, living in the school’s zone, living in the center’s/school’s district or other admissions priorities i.e. English Language Learner or student in temporary housing. Find out more here.
District 13 options (not complete) and upcoming Open Houses
- United BK Arts & Letters in Bed Stuy | Open House on Tuesday 2/11 @ 9am; sign up here.
- PS 307 in Vinegar Hill
- PS 287 in Downtown Brooklyn
- PS 20 in Fort Greene
- PS 46 in Fort Greene
- PS 54 in Clinton Hill | Open Houses @ 8:45 am on 2/27, 3/20, 4/24 & 5/15; email [email protected] for more information.
- PS 11 in Clinton Hill | Currently, all upcoming in-person tour dates are at capacity; email [email protected] to be added to the waitlist.
- PS 133 in Gowanus (Spanish Dual Language Pre-K and English Pre-K) | School Tour on Thursday 2/13 @ 9am; sign up here.
- PS 282 North Slope | School Tour on Tuesday 2/11 @ 9am; no registration required.
- PS 482 Albee Square Montessori
- PS 9 in Prospect Heights (Spanish Dual Language Pre-K and English Pre-K) | School Tours @ 9am on 2/13 & 4/10; sign up here.
- Bright Horizons in DUMBO
- Bumblebees R Us in Clinton Hill
- City Tots in Clinton Hill
- Compass Charter School in Fort Greene | School Tours @ 9:30am on 3/4, 3/27 & 4/1; sign up here.
- Dock Street Pre-K Center in DUMBO | School Tours @ 9:15am and 9:40 am on 2/5, 2/12, 2/19 & 2/26; email [email protected] to sign up.
- Eladia’s Kids in Prospect Heights
- Imagine in Brooklyn Heights
- Imagine in DUMBO
- Imagine in Downtown Brooklyn
- Kiddie Korner in Brooklyn Heights
- NY Kids Club in Brooklyn Heights
- NY Kids Club in DUMBO
- Our Children’s Center in Downtown Brooklyn
- Sunny Skies Preschool in Prospect Heights | Open Houses @ 6pm on 1/30, 2/7, 2/14, 2/21 & 2/28; sign up here.
- The Learning Experience in Clinton Hill
District 15 options (not complete) and upcoming Open Houses
- PS 38 in Downtown Brooklyn | In-person school tours currently at capacity; sign up for a virtual tour here.
- PS 15 in Red Hook (Spanish Dual Language Pre-K and English Pre-K) | School Tours offered by reservation; email [email protected].
- PS 32 in Carroll Gardens | School Tours on Saturday 2/8 @ 9:30am & 11am, Saturday 3/15 @ 10am, and Saturday 3/22 @ 9:30am & 11am; register here.
- PS 261 in Boerum Hill | Open Houses for zoned families only @ 8:45am on 2/11 & 2/25; sign up here.
- PS 456 The Elizabeth Jennings School for Bold Explorers | Open House on Thursday 2/27 @ 9am; sign up here.
- PS 29 in Cobble Hill | In-person school tours currently at capacity; learn about virtual tour here.
- PS 58 in Carroll Gardens | Open House on Wednesday 2/5 @ 8:35am; sign up here.
- PS 372 The Children’s School in Carroll Gardens | School Tour on Thursday 1/30 @ 9am; sign up here, or contact [email protected] to set up a tour. More information here.
- A-Fantis in Downtown Brooklyn (Greek Dual Language Pre-K and English Pre-K) | Open Houses on 2/6 @ 6pm, 2/11 @ 8:30am, 3/6 @ 8:30am, 3/16 @ 12pm, and 3/18 @ 6pm. Virtual Information Session will also be offered on Tuesday 2/25 @ 12pm. Sign up here.
- Brooklyn Free Space in Park Slope | Check back here for upcoming Open House dates.
- Bumblebees R Us in Red Hook
- Chai Tots in Park Slope
- The Brooklyn New School in Carroll Gardens | Virtual Open House on Thursday 2/6 @ 5pm and in-person Open House on Tuesday 2/25 @ 9am. Sign up here.
- Hanson Place in Boerum Hill
- KinderCare in Cobble Hill
- Strong Place Daycare Centers in Carroll Gardens, Downtown Brooklyn
Find more UPK programs in your district here.
3K for All for children born in 2022
Priority for the 3K programs is similar to Pre-K (4s programs priorities) with children currently enrolled in a center or a sibling at the center/school having priority, living in the school’s zone or living in the center’s/school’s district. Find out more here.
District 13 options (not complete) and upcoming Open Houses
- PS 307 in Vinegar Hill
- PS 287 in Downtown Brooklyn
- PS 20 in Fort Greene
- PS 46 in Fort Greene
- PS 54 in Clinton Hill | Open Houses @ 8:45 am on 2/27, 3/20, 4/24 & 5/15; email [email protected] for more information.
- Bright Horizons in DUMBO
- Bumblebees R Us in Clinton Hill
- City Tots in Clinton Hill
- Dock Street Pre-K Center in DUMBO | School Tours @ 9:15am and 9:40 am on 2/5, 2/12, 2/19 & 2/26; email [email protected] to sign up.
- Eladia’s Kids in Prospect Heights
- Imagine in Brooklyn Heights
- Imagine in DUMBO
- Imagine in Downtown Brooklyn
- Kiddie Korner in Brooklyn Heights
- Kinderprep Montessori in Brooklyn Bridge Park | Schedule a school tour here.
- NY Kids Club in Brooklyn Heights
- NY Kids Club in DUMBO
- Our Children’s Center in Downtown Brooklyn
- Sunny Skies Preschool in Prospect Heights | Open Houses on 1/30, 2/7, 2/14, 2/21 & 2/28 @ 6pm; sign up here.
- The Learning Experience in Clinton Hill
District 15 options (not complete) and upcoming Open Houses
- PS 38 in Downtown Brooklyn | In-person school tours currently at capacity; sign up for a virtual tour here.
- PS 15 in Red Hook | School Tours offered by reservation; email [email protected].
- PS 32 in Carroll Gardens | School Tours on Saturday 2/8 @ 9:30am & 11am, Saturday 3/15 @ 10am, and Saturday 3/22 @ 9:30am & 11am; register here.
- PS 456 The Elizabeth Jennings School for Bold Explorers | Open House on Thursday 2/27 @ 9am; sign up here.
- Bumblebees R Us in Park Slope, South Slope & Red Hook
- Chai Tots in Park Slope
- KinderCare in Cobble Hill
- Little Brooklyn Playschool in Carroll Gardens | Virtual Information Sessions on Tuesday 2/4 @ 12pm and Thursday 2/27 @ 12pm; register here.
- Regina’s Daycare Centers in Cobble Hill | Information about 3K Information Sessions here.
- Strong Place Daycare Centers in Carroll Gardens, Downtown Brooklyn
- Warren Street Center in Boerum Hill
Find more 3K centers in your district here.
Download our Public Talks about 3K and UPK here.
Download our Preschool Guide
Organized by neighborhood, our preschool and daycare guide features over 50 programs, including 3K and UPK options. Download it here.
Updated: January 29, 2025. Main Image: PS 482 Albee Square Montessori.
