The Cherokee County School District will accept Georgia Lottery Pre-K applications for the 2025-26 school year beginning March 17.
For the 2025-26 school year, CCSD will offer Georgia Lottery Pre-K classes for 4-year-olds at Ball Ground ES STEM Academy, Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy, Holly Springs ES STEM Academy, Johnston ES Preschool Center, Oak Grove ES STEAM Academy, R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy and Ralph Bunche Center.
Students who are 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2025 are eligible to apply. Beginning March 17, applications can be completed and submitted online, following the directions below, or in person at the Pre-K sites between 8 a.m. and noon, Mondays through Fridays.
Applications are due by noon on April 6; required documents (proof of date of birth, parent/guardianship, residency) are due by April 11. Schools will be closed March 31-April 4 for Spring Break, so in-person applications must be completed by noon on March 28.
As enrollment is limited, names will be drawn at each Pre-K site by lottery at 3 p.m. April 23, beginning with students who live in that site’s attendance area. Wait lists are common, but parents can search for all available Lottery-funded Pre-K slots at private providers in their area at https://families.decal.ga.gov/ChildCare/Search.
STEP 1: Parents applying for CCSD’s Georgia Pre-K program must complete the state Bright from the Start Pre-K Registration application form linked below. You can print this form, complete it and then upload it to our online registration system or you can note in the system that you will email it to the school or bring it to the Pre-K school site. This form must be received by the school or uploaded into our online registration system by noon on April 6.
STEP 2: Complete CCSD Pre-K registration. To use the Synergy online registration system, parents can set up an account here; you can complete the process using a laptop, tablet or smartphone. You will need to have your own email address to use the system.
If you need assistance with registration, please contact the front office of the school you are applying for your child to attend. A CCSD school directory is posted online here: https://www.cherokeek12.net/schools
APPLICATION FORM - Bright from the Start Pre-K Registration English
APPLICATION FORM - Bright from the Start Pre-K Registration Spanish
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS LIST - 2025-26 GA Lottery Pre-K Information English
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS LIST - 2025-26 GA Lottery Pre-K Information Spanish
Preschool and Head Start
In addition to lottery-funded Pre-K, CCSD operates preschool centers at four sites for children who have been identified as needing additional support in preparing for school. Children as young as 3 years old are eligible for services. Ralph Bunche Center, Holly Springs Preschool, Johnston Preschool and Oak Grove Preschool Centers happily serve more than 300 preschoolers for Cherokee County Schools. CCSD Preschool Centers offer Head Start and Special Needs Small Group and Inclusion programs.
Ninth District Opportunity Head Start for income eligible 3- and 4-year-olds is offered at Ralph Bunche Center in Canton and Johnston Preschool Center at Johnston Elementary School in Woodstock.
Do you have a child who could benefit from CCSD's preschool program? Find out more at Preschool Special Needs