PRE-SCHOOL
Tuckahoe Universal Pre-K
Information
2026-2027 Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Applications Now Available
The Tuckahoe Union Free School District is pleased to offer Tuckahoe families the opportunity to enter a lottery for our Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program (UPK). For the 2026-2027 school year, we are continuing our partnership with Healthy Kids, a community-based organization, to run the program at the William E. Cottle Elementary School. The program will run five days per week and will follow the school district calendar. Before and after care is available through Healthy Kids at an additional cost.
To be eligible, children must turn four (4) years old on or before December 1, 2026. Transportation is not provided.
Parents interested in having their child considered for UPK must complete the Universal Pre-K Application Forms available in English and Spanish which can be found on our district’s website at https://www.tuckahoeschools.org/upk Please submit one application packet per child. All completed application packets must be received no later than 2:30 PM on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
The number of available spots for this program is contingent on space availability and funding by NYS, which we anticipate will be capped at 40 full-day students. Placement in the program is determined by a random lottery, as required by NYS when the number of applicants exceeds the available spots. Families will be notified of their initial lottery status within five business days of the lottery conclusion. In the event additional seats can be offered, families will be contacted in the order students were placed on the waitlist.
The lottery for the UPK spots will take place both in-person on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 3:00 PM in the Tuckahoe Middle/High School Library (snow date: Tuesday, February 10, 2026). The lottery will also be live-streamed, and the link will be available on the District website homepage: www.Tuckahoeschools.org. If a family declines the offer, the next student on the waitlist will be offered a place in the program.
Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:
In-Person:
Monday - Friday During the Hours of 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM at
Tuckahoe High School - Main Security Entrance
65 Siwanoy Boulevard, Eastchester, NY, 10709
ATT: Registrar
Via Email:
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the District Office at 914-337-6600 x 1262.
We are excited to offer this UPK program for the 2026-2027 school year and look forward to working with our community partner to provide this valuable opportunity to eligible Tuckahoe families!