Barrow County Schools launch new pre K lottery with priority seating for staff children

The Barrow County School System held a work session on March 25, 2025, focusing on key updates regarding pre-K enrollment and proposed changes to student promotion policies.

During the meeting, officials highlighted the early planning for the upcoming school year, which allows for better organization and funding of pre-K classes. A new initiative this year includes priority seating for Barrow County employees' children, ensuring they receive spots in their chosen schools. As of March 19, the district received 606 pre-K lottery applications, an increase from the previous year. Out of 380 available seats, all have been accepted, with 209 students currently on a waiting list.

In addition to pre-K updates, the meeting addressed a significant action item regarding student promotion and retention policies. The school board proposed waiving the requirement that ties promotion decisions to performance on the Georgia Milestones Test for the 2024-2025 school year. Instead, promotion will be based on a combination of factors, including MAP testing and overall student performance throughout the year. This temporary waiver is recommended to last until July 31, 2025, with discussions ongoing about potentially revising the policy to avoid annual requests.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to provide further data on the number of students affected by the policy changes, ensuring that all stakeholders are informed as the school year progresses.