The Cherokee County School District’s Pre-Kindergarten program is funded by the GA State Lottery and is governed by Bright from the Start and supplemented by the District. The GA Lottery Pre-K is an age appropriate instructional program that prepares students for a successful transition to kindergarten and beyond. Additionally, this nurturing environment addresses students’ academic, social and emotional needs while preparing for kindergarten readiness. The goal is to insure that all students gain the needed foundational skills to propel them into a successful future.
GA Lottery Pre-K serves students who turn four years of age on or before September 1st of the school year in which the student begins Pre-K. Cherokee County School District houses nine GA Lottery Pre-K classes at six school sites serving 198 students across the District:
- 1 class at Ball Ground ES STEM Academy
- 3 classes at Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy
- 2 classes at Holly Springs ES STEM Academy
- 1 class at Johnston Preschool Center
- 2 classes at Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy
- 2 classes at RM Moore ES STEM Academy
A two-week registration window for for GA Lottery Pre-K classes is opened each Spring at the above locations. The registration window for 2023-24 is March 20-March 31, see more information here. Due to the limited number of seats, a drawing is held as the fairest method to fill the 22 seats per class. Drawings are conducted following registration at each school site listed above. Students residing in the attendance area of the school are given priority in the drawing and then students who reside outside of the school’s attendance area are eligible for any remaining seats. A wait list is maintained and utilized to fill any vacant seats throughout the school year. The GA Lottery Pre-K classes follow the same school calendar and school hours as K-12 students in the Cherokee County School District. The classes follow the Bright from the Start (BFTS) guidelines and are staffed with a Lead Teacher and an Assistant Teacher. There is no cost to the parent for this preschool program. Parents interested in the GA Lottery Pre-K program should contact the school(s) of their choice above for further information.