Pre-K Admissions
AGC offers a center-based Early Childhood Program for students ages 3-5 who reside in Chicago. While all students learn and grow together, there are two types of slots available: Head Start slots and tuition-based slots.
To receive more information and/or start the enrollment process for the 2024-25 school year, please complete this application. You will be contacted by an AGC staff member.
Head Start Slots
The Head Start program is designed for low-income families and it provides children with an early education and comprehensive services that promote school readiness and family well-being. All Head Start students' eligibility is determined by AGC’s partner organization, Start Early. We currently have a Head Start slot waitlist for the 2023-24 school year. To be added to the waitlist, apply for a Head Start slo for 2024-25, and/or if you have any other questions about AGC’s Early Childhood Program, you can write to preschool@agcchicago.org.
The Head Start program is free of cost for families who qualify and meet some of the following criteria:
Age Eligibility
Children must be between 3-5 years of age to be eligible (before September 1st of the enrolling year).
Residency Eligibility
Families must live within the city of Chicago.
Other Eligibility Factors
Priority is given to children who are diverse learners, in foster care, homeless, and children from families receiving public assistance, as stated in benefits.gov.
Tuition-Based Slots
AGC offers tuition-based slots for families who do not qualify for Head Start. Priority is given to children of staff and current AGC siblings. Tuition is determined by family income and number of family members living in the household. For a guide on how to calculate tuition for your family, you may click here.
Age Eligibility
Children must be between 3-5 years of age to be eligible (before September 1st of the enrolling year).
Residency Eligibility
Families must live within the City of Chicago.
Important Dates
- Please apply by March 1st, 2024 for the 2024-2025 school year in order to be entered into the lottery. Those applying after March 1st will be added to our waitlist if no slots remain.
- AGC accepts applications throughout the year, but your chances of securing a slot are higher if you apply before the lottery date.
- If there are more applicants than slots available in the tuition-based slots, AGC will conduct a randomized sub-lottery to determine enrollment.