PreKindergarten

Learn. Grow. Thrive.

At Circle Public Schools, our PreKindergarten program is built around helping children learn through play, grow in confidence, and thrive in a supportive school community.

A strong start for our littlest learners.

Through developmentally appropriate instruction, caring relationships, and strong family partnerships, we create a joyful and purposeful start that prepares our youngest learners for PreKindergarten and beyond.

PreKindergarten Information Request

More questions about PreK? Fill out this form and someone from our team will reach out soon to help.

Information Request Form

Information Request Form

Required

Circle PreKindergarten Program Highlights

To be eligible for PreKindergarten, students must be 4 years old and potty trained on or before August 31 of their enrollment year.
Full-Day Program: $350 per month, September–May
Half-Day Morning Program: $175 per month, September–May (based on availability)
A $55 enrollment fee, collected in August, supports curriculum and classroom materials for the school year.

For more information about the PreKindergarten program and how to qualify for free tuition, read more under Thunderbird Early Learning Programs on this page!

Young student plays with toys on classroom rug.

Thunderbird Early Learning Programs

Circle Public Schools offers full & morning half day PreKindergarten programs at all four elementary locations and Early Childhood programs in collaboration with Butler County Interlocal 638 at Circle Greenwich and Circle Towanda Elementary buildings.

PreKindergarten
Early Childhood Special Education

PreKindergarten

PreKindergarten is a general education early learning program designed to support four-year-olds as they build the social, emotional, and academic foundations needed for kindergarten. Learning happens through play, exploration, routines, and relationships in a nurturing classroom environment.

Program Details

Age Requirements

Program Cost

Tuition-Based Enrollment

Full-Day Program: $350 per month, September–May
Half-Day Morning Program: $175 per month, September–May (based on availability)

A $55 enrollment fee is collected in August to support curriculum and classroom materials for the school year.

If you have questions about tuition or eligibility for free PreKindergarten, our team is here to help guide you through the process. Learn more about qualifying or contact your potential base school and ask about qualifications for free tuition!

Free PreK Tuition

Qualify for Free Tuition

Many Circle families qualify for free PreKindergarten tuition.

Children who meet at least one qualification may receive preferential placement and free tuition.

A Note on Tuition

A great deal of thought and research went into building a PreKindergarten program that truly serves our community. To make that possible long term, we are not able to sustain a fully free program.

Tuition helps supplement the at-risk funding we receive. Even with both, the full cost of the program is not fully covered, but this support allows us to expand the program, add staff, and serve as many students in our community as possible. Families who qualify under state guidelines will continue to receive free PreK, including both the full & half-day options.

Program Schedule

Additional Program Details

Lunch & Snack

Students receive daily snacks provided by the classroom.
Just like students in Kindergarten through 6th grade, PreKindergarten students may purchase lunch through the school lunch program or bring a lunch from home.

Bussing

Transportation is not provided for PreKindergarten students. Families are responsible for drop-off and pick-up each day.

Thrive After Five After School Care

On-site after school childcare is available through Thrive After Five and Beehive Child Care for $200 per month August through May. Discounts are available for families with multiple children enrolled in the same household.

Pre-Registration

Space in our PreKindergarten program is limited at each campus. To help us plan classrooms, staffing, and support for our youngest learners, we encourage families to complete the pre-registration process as early as possible.

Enrollment priority is given to:

Families who live within the district
Children of Circle Public Schools employees
The order in which pre-registrations are received

If you are planning to enroll your child in PreKindergarten, we encourage you to pre-register today so we can begin planning for your child’s learning experience.

Ready to get started?
Visit the Pre-Registration Page to complete the form and reserve your child’s spot.

PreKindergarten focuses on helping children learn, grow, and feel confident as they begin their school journey, while partnering closely with families every step of the way.

Qualify for Free Tuition

Children who meet at least one of the qualifications below may receive preferential placement and free tuition based on when the application is submitted:

Custodial parent is unmarried at the time of enrollment
At least one parent was 19 years of age or younger when the child was born
Family qualifies for the Child Nutrition Program (free meals)
- While applications for the new year must be after July 1st, you can view the Eligibility Income Chart to see if you might qualify for the free lunch benefit.
Child is referred by SRS/DCF
At least one parent lacks a high school diploma or GED
Child has a mild developmental delay in at least one area of development (speech, motor, academic concepts, or behavior), as determined during orientation/round up events
A language other than English is spoken as the child’s primary language
Child qualifies for migrant status, with a certificate of eligibility on file

For more information on how to qualify contact your potential base school

Early Childhood Special Education

Early Childhood Special Education (EC) serves children ages 3–5 who may need additional support due to a developmental delay or disability. Unlike PreKindergarten, which is a general education program, Early Childhood provides individualized services based on a child’s needs.

Each classroom also includes role model students, who are typically developing peers. Role model students help support social interaction, communication, and learning within the classroom environment while benefiting from a structured early learning experience themselves.

Eligibility for Early Childhood is determined through a comprehensive evaluation process that may include:

Hearing and vision screening
Health and medical history
Developmental history
Cognitive (thinking and problem solving) development
Adaptive (self-care) development
Social and emotional development (getting along with others)
Communication (talking, listening, and understanding) skills
Motor development

Circle Public Schools partners with Butler County Interlocal 638 to provide services and may connect families with additional community resources.

If you have any concerns about your child’s development it's never too early to call. Early screening can help guide the appropriate next steps for your child.

For information on Early Childhood screening call:

Circle Towanda Elementary

(316) 536-2728

Email CTE

Circle Greenwich Elementary

(316) 315-4000

Email CGE

Ready to Get Started?

We’ll walk with you through each step of the PreK enrollment process, one step at a time.

ASQ 2 & 3

We use the Ages and Stages questionnaire to evaluate your child's development and provide the right support.

Learn more about the ASQ

PreKindergarten Essential Learnings

Essential Learnings (ELs) are the concepts we guarantee every student will master. They guide instruction and assessments, and make sure students build a strong foundation for future learning and success.

PreKikndergarten Essential Learning

PreKindergarten

View ELs about PreKikndergarten Essential Learning

Early Childhood Developmental Screening

If you have any concerns about your child’s development it's never too early to call. Early screening can help guide the appropriate next steps for your child.

More information is available by calling Circle Greenwich Elementary at (316)315-4000 or Circle Towanda Elementary at (316) 536-2728.

PreK Daily Schedules

Morning Session

8:15 am to 10:55 am

Full Day

8:15 am to 3:10 pm

TBird Talk Episode 5

Pre-Kindergarten teachers Mrs. Kimberly Lindsey and Mrs. Sonjia Brundage join Mr. Potter to discuss the history of Circle Public School's pre-kindergarten program, its essential learning components, and the overall educational benefits for students enrolled in pre-k.

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In This Section

PreKindergarten

Learn. Grow. Thrive.

A strong start for our littlest learners.

PreKindergarten Information Request

Information Request Form

Circle PreKindergarten Program Highlights

Thunderbird Early Learning Programs

PreKindergarten

Program Details

Age Requirements

Program Cost

Tuition-Based Enrollment

Qualify for Free Tuition

A Note on Tuition

Program Schedule

Additional Program Details

Lunch & Snack

Bussing

Thrive After Five After School Care

Pre-Registration

Qualify for Free Tuition

Early Childhood Special Education

Circle Towanda Elementary

Circle Greenwich Elementary

Ready to Get Started?

ASQ 2 & 3

PreKindergarten Essential Learnings

Early Childhood Developmental Screening

PreK Daily Schedules

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