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Pre-K Seats More Than Doubling in Fort Greene Schools This Fall

By Janet Upadhye | April 7, 2014 3:58pm
 Students at a P.S. 20 bake sale in Fort Greene.
Students at a P.S. 20 bake sale in Fort Greene.
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Facebook/P.S. 20

FORT GREENE — The number of pre-K seats in the neighborhood is set to more than double next school year thanks to the city's expansion of the free early-childhood education program.

Under the plan, P.S. 20 will double its available full-day pre-K seats from 18 to 36 and P.S. 287 will add 36 new seats, bringing its total full-day pre-K headcount to 54 in the upcoming school year.

That's particularly good news for the popular P.S. 20, located at 225 Adelphi St., where only 6 percent of children were admitted to the 18 available pre-K spots in 2012-'13. Numbers from the current school year are not yet available, according to the Department of Education.

The pre-K program at P.S. 20 offers French, musical theater and an urban farming program that teaches science and ecology, according to the school's website.

"I feel that we have been incredibly lucky to be able to send our daughter to PS 20 for pre-k, it's a great community school with a great community within," wrote parent Elsa Ransom on the Insideschools website.

The pre-K program at P.S. 287, located at 50 Navy St., was also in demand with 67 kids vying for 18 slots in 2012.  The school recently added a new library, playground and science lab and there are laptops and Smart Boards in every classroom, according to the school's website.

The city plans to add 4,268 full-day pre-K seats across the city. Check the Pre-K Expansion Guide for a full list of new seats.

Pre-K applications for public schools are available online and by phone at 718-935-2009. Parents can also text "prek" to 877877. Applications are due April 23, and parents can list up to 12 options, with children given priority at schools close to home. All children who will turn 4 years old in 2014 are eligible to apply.