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Clinton City Schools to hold 117 NC Pre-K slots; district plans up to 23 paid preschool seats
Summary
School leaders said the district will keep its Partnership for Children-funded NC Pre-K allocation at 117 slots and will offer up to 23 additional paid pre-K seats at $500 per month to families who live in the district.
Clinton City Schools announced March 26 that its Partnership for Children-funded North Carolina Pre-K (NC Pre-K) allocation will remain at 117 slots for 2025–26 and that the district plans to offer up to 23 additional paid pre-kindergarten seats to families who live in the district.
"Our number here in Clinton City Schools is gonna remain at 117 with the Partnership for Children," said Dr. Linda Carr, director-level staff introduced by the board. District staff described a separate "pay" bucket of up to 23 seats for families that do not qualify for Partnership-funded slots; the pay option would charge $500 per month and requires children to be 4 by Aug. 31 to enroll.
Officials clarified eligibility: Partnership-funded NC Pre-K seats are subject to income and other criteria administered by the local Partnership for Children; children who meet certain special-needs criteria (diagnosed and receiving services) may qualify for Partnership-funded seats even if a family’s income exceeds the regular threshold. The paid seats require only district residency and the August 31 age cutoff.
Carr said classroom size rules have changed: pre-K classes can now have up to 20 children, which could allow the district to add roughly two students per existing class to expand paid enrollment without creating a new section. She noted current enrollment patterns and said the district expects demand, and called advance outreach and flyers part of the fill strategy.
Board members asked about midyear enrollment (for children who turn 4 after the August cutoff). Administrators said NC Pre-K requires children to be 4 by Aug. 31 to qualify; Partnership and district processes use waiting lists and eligibility rules for midyear fills.
District staff said they had already received some inquiries about paid seats and that they would post information to the website and promote through social media; they also noted at least three paid-seat inquiries had already been handled.
No board vote was taken. Staff said they will proceed with outreach and registration under the Partnership’s criteria and the district’s pay-for-pre-K option.
