How exciting! You’re looking at your options for the NC Pre-K Program for high-quality educational experiences to enhance school readiness, free of charge to eligible children.
The Guilford County Partnership for Children is proud to oversee over 2,166 NC Pre-K slots across hundreds of classrooms within Guilford County. We have the largest NC Pre-K program in the state with an above average enrollment rate of 98%. We are proud to support the teachers, staff, and educators that are the backbone of preparing our little learners for success in school!
As the parent or caregiver, it is essential to read through these frequently asked questions (FAQs) before beginning your child’s application.
**FAQs and information for the 2027 - 2028 School Year will be released in mid-November. Applications for the NEXT school year will open in January 2027**
Step into success by taking time to read these FAQs before starting your application. They answer common questions and help avoid delays, making the process smoother for everyone. We appreciate your help in reviewing this information first. You will find access to the application platform at the end of the yellow question blocks.
All applications for Guilford County's NC Pre-K Program are submitted through the Guilford County Partnership for Children.
Start by reading through our FAQs – this step is VERY important. When you have gathered all your documentation, you will go to the application page and be directed to an external site. Applications are online only. Create an account, fill out your application, and submit your documents.
If you are unable to apply online, email us or call (336) 274-5437 to schedule an appointment to apply in person. The Guilford County Partnership for Children is located at 4900 Koger Boulevard, Suite 151, Greensboro, NC 27407. Our office is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM and Friday 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
Yes. The NC Pre-K application is available in multiple languaes. If do not see a language you need, please reach out to The Partnership. We also have a Spanish-speaking staff member available on site to help families complete the application and answer questions. Please call us at 336-274-5437 if you need language support.
You can change your choice of language in the top right corner of the guilfordchildren.org website and in the SCRIBBLE application platform.
Spanish (Español)
¿Las solicitudes están disponibles en otros idiomas?
Sí. La solicitud de NC Pre-K está disponible en más de 130 idiomas. También contamos con personal que habla español disponible en el lugar para ayudar a las familias a completar la solicitud y responder preguntas. Llámenos al 336-274-5437 si necesita apoyo con el idioma.
Puede cambiar su idioma en la esquina superior derecha del sitio web guilfordchildren.org y en la plataforma de aplicaciones SCRIBBLE.
Arabic (العربية)
هل الطلبات متوفرة بلغات أخرى؟
نعم. طلب برنامج NC Pre-K متوفر بأكثر من 130 لغة. لدينا أيضا موظف يتحدث اللغة الإسبانية متواجد في الموقع لمساعدة العائلات على تعبئة الطلب والإجابة على الأسئلة. يرجى الاتصال بنا على 336-274-5437 إذا كنتم بحاجة إلى دعم لغوي.
يمكنك تغيير لغة العرض في الزاوية العلوية اليمنى من موقع guilfordchildren.org وعلى منصة طلبات SCRIBBLE.
Swahili (Kiswahili)
Je, maombi yanapatikana kwa lugha nyingine?
Ndiyo. Fomu ya maombi ya NC Pre-K inapatikana kwa zaidi ya lugha 130. Pia tuna mfanyakazi anayezungumza Kihispania aliyepo kusaidia familia kujaza maombi na kujibu maswali. Tafadhali tupigie simu kwa 336-274-5437 ikiwa unahitaji msaada wa lugha.
Unaweza kubadilisha lugha yako katika kona ya juu kulia ya tovuti ya guilfordchildren.org na kwenye jukwaa la maombi la SCRIBBLE.
Urdu (اردو)
کیا درخواستیں دیگر زبانوں میں دستیاب ہیں؟
جی ہاں۔ NC Pre-K کی درخواست 130 سے زیادہ زبانوں میں دستیاب ہے۔ ہمارے پاس ہسپانوی بولنے والا عملہ بھی موجود ہے جو خاندانوں کو درخواست مکمل کرنے اور سوالات کے جواب دینے میں مدد فراہم کرتا ہے۔ اگر آپ کو زبان کی مدد درکار ہو تو براہ کرم 336-274-5437 پر کال کریں۔
آپ guilfordchildren.org ویب سائٹ کے اوپری دائیں کونے میں اور SCRIBBLE ایپلیکیشن پلیٹ فارم میں اپنی زبان کا انتخاب تبدیل کر سکتے ہیں۔
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)
Đơn đăng ký có sẵn bằng các ngôn ngữ khác không?
Có. Đơn đăng ký NC Pre-K có sẵn bằng hơn 130 ngôn ngữ. Chúng tôi cũng có nhân viên nói tiếng Tây Ban Nha hỗ trợ trực tiếp để giúp các gia đình hoàn thành đơn và trả lời câu hỏi. Vui lòng gọi 336-274-5437 nếu bạn cần hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ.
Bạn có thể thay đổi ngôn ngữ ở góc trên bên phải của trang web guilfordchildren.org và trong nền tảng ứng dụng SCRIBBLE.
Applications for the 2026 - 2027 school year MUST have the following to be complete:
QUICK TIP: Have all your documentation and information ready! This application is best completed in one sitting! You cannot return to an application to make changes or submit a second application without delaying the process significantly.
QUICK TIP: ALL documentation must be submitted before an application can be processed.
Submit only COPIES of documents, we cannot accept originals.
QUICK TIP: You can also submit required documents by emailing us.
QUICK TIP: If you submit using a smartphone, you are able to take pictures and attach the required documentation at the end of the application!
QUICK TIP: We can make copies of your documents in our office, call (336) 274-5437 to schedule an appointment or visit the Guilford County Partnership for Children located at 4900 Koger Boulevard, Suite 151, Greensboro, NC 27407. Our office is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM and Friday from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
QUICK TIP: ALL documentation must be submitted before an application can be processed.
No, acceptance and placement is not based on when an application is received. It is based on priority of needs and availability of slots.
QUICK TIP: The best time to complete a Guilford County NC Pre-K Application is early spring!
Use our 2026-2027 NC Pre-K Classroom Search Tool to see the locations of classrooms.
Parent Choice allows you to rank your choice of locations. You will have 4 options and rank them 1 to 4 when completing the application.
NC Pre-K classrooms are across Guilford County including Greensboro and High Point.
Classrooms are located at three different settings, all with the same quality and experience:
Guilford County Partnership for Children helps monitor the classroom settings and teachers to ensure the high quality standards that are in place to make sure each classroom provides engaging and nurturing early learning experiences to promote long-term success in school.
EVERY classroom has a qualified NC Pre-K instructor, curriculum, and strives to meet a variety of educational and developmental needs.
Base your decision on what's best for your child and you. Is the location close to home? Close to work? Has afterschool care? Provides transportation? Answer these questions for yourself when making your selection.
Guilford County Partnership for Children helps monitor the classroom settings and teachers to ensure the high quality standards that are in place to make sure each classroom provides engaging and nurturing early learning experiences to promote long-term success in school.
No, there is no transportation provided to NC Pre-K. We recommend choosing a school that makes sense for you and your family based on location and your transportation needs.
There are a few Generation Ed's Head Start sites and private child care sites that MAY offer transportation. Research schools near you to determine if this is an option.
NC Pre-K students at Guilford County Schools elementary schools are generally unable to take the bus transportation or use ACES and other afterschool programs offered directly by GCS. Please contact the school of interest for details.
We wish there was an easy answer, thousands of applications come in and we take the time to make sure each one gets the attention it needs. The complete application plus the documents must all be submitted for your application to be processed. Once processed, you will be notified. If eligible, during the summer, expect to receive additional communication from the classroom site your child has been placed in.
QUICK TIP: Stay in the know by signing up for the Guilford County Partnership for Children Newsletter and by following along on Facebook for extra tips and tricks and updates.
2026 - 2027 School Year: SCRIBBLES is the platform used to securely and safely submit your application. You can access SCRIBBLES here after reviewing the FAQs.
2027 - 2028 School Year: We will switch to Avela, more information coming soon.
1 – Application Complete
You will first receive a notification that your application is complete or missing a document. If confirmed as complete, you will get an eligibility update next. If incomplete, expect a call or email from the NC Pre-K team at Guilford County Partnership for Children. Keep an eye our for emails from ncprek@guilfordchildren.org.
2 – Eligibility
Application processing times can vary depending on the volume of applications received and the time of year. When the application opens in January, we typically receive a high volume of applications, which may result in longer processing times. Please allow time for your application to be reviewed and processed. You will be contacted once there is an update regarding eligibility or if additional information is needed to process the application. Please check the Scribbles/Avela dashboard for updates.
If you selected any Guilford County Schools locations, you will receive an email from gcs-prek@gcsnc.com to complete the online Ages and Stages in about four to six weeks after your application is completed. This will be automatically added to your application. Check your spam box for this email.
If you are not eligible, visit our page on choosing quality child care to learn about more programs in the area.
3. Placement - Next, you will learn about placement in the summer months. Follow our Facebook for updates on placement release dates.
2026 - 2027 School Year:
Edits cannot be made once an application is submitted. Changes can be made by calling the office (336)-274-5437 or emailing us. Do not submit a second application to make changes, submitting a second application will delay the process.
o Edits include: change of address, change of site (school choice) selection, updating phone number or email on Scribbles for notifications.
o To prevent any other edits, make sure to review these FAQs before continuing!
Change of password can only occur through Scribbles Technical Assistance found in the blue box on the Scribbles screen. (more info to come on Avela)
You can update documentation as an allowed change. It must all be submitted before an application can be processed.
Eligibility means you application is complete and your child qualifies to be in line for a slot for the NC Pre-K Program.
Placement means the location of where your child will attend school has been completed. If you are eligible, it does not guarantee placement. Placement is determined mid-summer and is based on priority of needs. You will receive updates and an email from the location you were placed.
DETAILED APPLICATION PROCESS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH HERE (PDF).
Our Facebook page will post regular updates on release of placements for mid-summer.
If you applied after the spring, placements are on a rolling basis.
There is no cost for attending the NC Pre-K school day.
Private child care sites may offer before/afterschool care and charge for this service. Check with your child’s site for availability and costs.
The NC Pre-K day is 6.5 hours and start/end times can range between 7:30 am – 2:30 pm from late August to early June. There are slightly different start and times for each school.
Yes, you can also download a PDF version here:
2026 - 2027 School Year:
2027 - 2028 School Year:
CONGRATS! You are now ready to complete the Guilford County NC Pre-K Application for your child, You will be directed to an online platform to fill out the information.
Time for Kindergarten!
Learn more about the Transition to Kindergarten and school choice at https://www.guilfordchildren.org/transition-to-kindergarten
Kindergarten Registration for Guilford County Schools starts mid-January each year at https://www.gcsnc.com/choose-and-enroll/school-locator/kindergarten-registration
Step into success by taking time to read the FAQs above before starting your application. They answer common questions and help avoid delays, making the process smoother for everyone. We appreciate your help in reviewing this information first.
To apply, the button will take you to an external site called Scribbles. Applications are online only. Create an account, fill out your application, and submit your documents there.
If you are unable to apply online, email us or call (336) 274-5437 to schedule an appointment to apply in person. The Guilford County Partnership for Children is located at 4900 Koger Boulevard, Suite 151, Greensboro, NC 27407. Our office is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM and Friday from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
