Hilton Central Pre-Kindergarten Program

Watch Video of Pre-Kindergarten 2009

HILTON CSD PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY-BASED SITES   Pre-Kindergarten for four-year-olds residing in the Hilton School District is provided by the Hilton CSD as well as private, off-site providers.  The program has limited enrollment and is enrolled on a lottery-basis by the Office of Elementary Education, 225 West Ave., Hilton.  The five-day a week, half-day session meets for two-and-a-half hours per day with transportation provided by parents. There are 18 students in each session staffed by one certified teacher and a teacher assistant. The AM Pre-K sessions are held from 9 am-11:30 am and the PM sessions are held from 1 pm-3:30 pm.  The community-based preschools meet regulations in both NYS Universal Pre-Kindergarten and the HCSD curriculum.  The community-based pre-kindergarten programs in the Hilton area include Parma Christian Fellowship, Noah's Preschool, TLC Adventures in Daycare and Hilton Community Childcare.  Enrollment is limited for all programs.  The Hilton CSD holds the lottery for enrollment in all locations for the upcoming September. 

ELIGIBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION BY PARENTS  Children who are turning four-years-old by December 1 are eligible to attend Pre-Kindergarten.  All district preschool children are eligible to attend, however, transportation by district buses is not provided.  Families are responsible for transportation to and from the program site.  Families with preschool children are expected to be in the District's Census database.  If you do not receive a letter in April/May, please contact the District Census Clerk at 585-392-1000 ext. 7031. After mid-May if you have not received a letter, please call the Office of Elementary Education at 585-392-1000 ext. 6050. .

PRE-KINDERGARTEN  The five-day a week, half-day session [2.5 hrs./day] meets all NYS Preschool Standards and Universal Pre-Kindergarten regulations and allows for easy transition with Hilton's existing kindergarten program.  District-based preschool providers were invited to submit collaboration proposals according to Mr. Bower.  "Community-based providers were required to meet all State regulations for curriculum, certification and safety." 

KINDERGARTEN  After Pre-Kindergarten, all Hilton Central elementary schools have Full Day Kindergarten.  There are three elementary schools in the Hilton School District: Northwood Elementary, Quest Elementary and Village Elementary.  Quest Elementary School is an authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and has an enrollment of about 415 pupils in grades K-6 according to Principal Karen Spillman.  Children entering kindergarten, regardless of where they live in the district, have the option of attending Hilton's Quest Elementary School, a school of choice. Applications are required and are due in early winter.  Quest is open to all elementary students in the Hilton School District including special education students, REACH, academically-gifted students, etc.

LOTTERY  Letters to all eligible families are mailed by the District in April/May. A lottery is held in late May.  To ensure that your name and address are accurate, please call District Census and Registration at 585-392-1000 ext. 7031. Final selection lottery is set for late May

REGISTRATION PROCESS  Forms for the Hilton CSD Pre-Kindergarten are included in a letter mailed to all families. A lottery is held to determine who will be able to attend any of the program sites in September.  After selection, registration takes place at Hilton CSD's Central Registration Office located in District Offices, 225 West Ave., Hilton. For registration you will need to provide a birth certificate and evidence of required vaccinations just as you would if you were registering your child for kindergarten. 

MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON OUR CENSUS  Online Census Update Form ensures you receive mailings from the district.

REGISTRATION IS HELD AFTER SELECTION  For registration information about pre-kindergarten, call District Census and Registration, please call 585-392-1000 ext. 7031.

For further information, please call Director of Elementary Education and Staff Development Mr. Mark Bower at 585-392-1000 ext. 6051/6050.