September 5, 2024 – As the sun rose and alarm clocks rang, pre-kindergarten students eagerly jumped out of bed in anticipation of the first day of school. Teachers, support staff, and administrators excitedly opened their school building's doors to greet the future classes of 2038 and 2039. 

Although some tears were shed, there were lots of hugs and smiles as over 2,200 pre-K students started their school year of learning and growth.

This year marks a significant milestone for the CCS Early Childhood Education Program as it welcomes students into newly expanded pre-K sites as promised by the levy. The program is designed to give students a strong start, focusing on early literacy, mathematics, and smooth transitions into kindergarten.

"We are thrilled to expand our pre-kindergarten program, which is a critical investment in the future of our students and our community,” said Columbus City Schools Superintendent/CEO, Dr. Angela Chapman. “By increasing our capacity and providing more families with access to high-quality early education, we are ensuring that our youngest scholars are set up for success from day one.”

With the addition of six new classrooms across the District, CCS increased its capacity for general education, inclusion education, and special needs classrooms by 100 students. This expansion ensures more families have access to high-quality, tuition-waived early childhood education. To meet the growing demand in our communities and provide a diverse range of learning environments to support the unique needs of every child.

“I'm really excited this year for the expansion of our new classrooms, there are 100 more students that we will be able to have kindergarten ready,” said Dr. Terra Baker, Director of Early Childhood Education. “We retain a good amount of our pre-K students and when they take the kindergarten readiness assessment they always outperform the students who were not part of our program.”

It truly takes a village and with the help of Dr. Chapman, building administrators, teachers, and other student advocates in each building that serves students, CCS has achieved a five-star rating at every pre-k site through the Step Up to Quality program. This gold standard reflects the District’s unwavering commitment to excellence.

“For us in the District, pre-K is that foundation,” said Principal at Forest Park Elementary, Rhonna McKibbin. “We want to meet and exceed District goals, increasing students' reading ability, increasing students' math abilities, and watching kids grow in their knowledge.”

This year, several pre-K sites have expanded, and now include:

• Forest Park Elementary School

• Valley Forge Elementary School

• Fairmoor Elementary School 

• Ohio Avenue Elementary School

• South Mifflin Elementary School 

• North Linden Elementary School – currently accepting pre-K students, marking a new chapter for the school and its community. 

The locations listed above were strategically chosen based on the demand for early childhood education in their respective neighborhoods.

“This expansion reflects our commitment to equity and excellence,” Dr. Chapman emphasized. “We are excited to see the positive impact it will have on our students and their families."

As the District celebrates the return of its youngest future leaders, the excitement and enthusiasm across CCS are undeniable. With 130 classrooms across 65 sites dedicated to pre-K, CCS is not just opening doors but opening minds and possibilities for the future. The District’s expansion of pre-K services demonstrates its dedication to laying a strong foundation for every child, ensuring they are fully prepared to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.