Preschool Offerings: New Locations, Montessori Options

DMPS Preschool Registration Now Open for School Year 2024-25

Des Moines Public Schools is opening online registration for preschool today, Thursday, March 7, for the 2024-25 school year, offering several new locations at existing K-5 elementary schools including Montessori options.

DMPS data shows that children who attend preschool are better prepared for elementary school than those who do not engage in high quality early learning both academically and socially. Only 24% of kindergarten students who did not attend preschool met the Fall kindergarten reading assessment benchmarks.

The data is even more compelling for children living in poverty. When children were living in poverty, only 29% of students who did not attend preschool met the Fall kindergarten reading assessments.

“Students who attend preschool are more likely to meet their kindergarten through 5th grade literacy and math benchmarks,” said Early Childhood Education Director Kristin Rourk. “Providing a high-quality preschool experience for children establishes a solid foundation that sets students up for success, not only in kindergarten because research shows us that the impact of preschool can be lifelong.”

Without a high-quality preschool learning experience, children can start school up to 18 months behind their peers. That’s why preschool is the district’s top legislative priority in 2024.

“We want every single child who walks through our doors to have that early childhood education advantage,” said Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts. “We hope to not only provide a preschool opportunity for every family who wants one, but to expand our ability to provide no-cost wrap-around care for even more students next year.”

New Classrooms, Including Montessori Opportunities

DMPS will open five new preschool classrooms in three locations for the 2024-25 school year. Jefferson Elementary will add one preschool classroom, Garton Elementary will add two, and Pleasant Hill Elementary will add two Montessori preschool classrooms. The additions will create a total of 11 schools and 4 early learning centers offering preschool in the district.

DMPS preschool classrooms will now be located at McKee Education Center, Mitchell Early Learning Center, Jesse Franklin Taylor Education Center, Woodlawn Education Center, and the following elementary schools: Capitol View, Carver, Cowles, Garton, Greenwood, Jackson, Jefferson, McKinley, Moulton, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Street. DMPS also has more than a dozen community partners providing preschool opportunities.

For more information about preschool and to find an online application, click here.