Students MUST be residents of Winchester City (22601 zip code) and turn 3 or 4 by September 30, 2025.

Students can qualify for Preschool under General Eligibility OR Local Eligibility. 

General Eligibility: Family income at or below 200% of poverty, OR the child has an educational special need/disability and the family is above the income level, OR family is homeless, OR either parent/guardian is a high school dropout and does not have a GED. 

Local Eligibility criteria includes the following:

1. Family member suffers from abuse, including all forms of trauma and/or adverse childhood experiences. (Must identify family member by name, relationship and form of trauma/abuse)
2. Family member living in the household has mental illness or disability. (Must identify family member by name and relationship and also provide diagnosis and medical evidence)
3. Single parent home
4. Foster/welfare: Child is in foster care or is involved with the Child Welfare system.
5. Death/Major medical treatment or issues in the family during the child's lifetime
6. Student is being raised by someone other than a parent.
7. ELL (English is not the primary language spoken at home)
8. Parent is deployed, (military), or is on active military duty.
9. Parent is incarcerated.
10. Child has documented child development concerns based on medical documentation or a standardized screening tool.
11. Teen parent (17 or younger)
12. No access to high quality, available, affordable childcare options within 10 miles of the child’s home: high quality is a Ready Region Blue Ridge site, available is a site with open slots, affordable is a site that accepts Child Care Subsidy.
13. Recent unexpected decrease in household income by 30% or more in the past 12 months.

TWO (2) Proofs of Residency: Utility bill, no more than 2 months old, indicating street address (no post office box or business address) - gas, electric, water/sewer, home phone); Receipt for personal property taxes or real estate taxes paid within the last year to the Commonwealth of Virginia or City of Winchester; Current homeowner's or renter's insurance policy; Current deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement or residential rental/lease agreement

Income Verification: The following are acceptable forms of income verification:

• TANF/SSI payment information
• W-2 forms or pay stubs which indicate gross year-to-date earnings
• Last year’s tax return (1040)
• An official letter from your employer stating your monthly earnings
• Medicaid or SNAP eligibility verification letter
• and/or Documentation of child support or spousal support.
   

*For families with more than 8 persons, add $5,550 for each additional person
 

• Families with income 200% or less above the poverty level are eligible for Pre-K.
• Families who are at 130% of poverty level may also be eligible for Head Start.
• Remember: If your family does not meet income requirements, you may still be eligible under local criteria. 

All applicants must provide proof of income, even if they qualify under different criteria.

A home visit is required before a student can begin Preschool.