NC Pre-K

4-5 Years Old   Ratio ( 1:9 ) The NC Pre-K Program is a program of the Division of Child Development and Early Education in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. This program operates on the Caldwell County School System schedule and the students attend school from 8:00 am - 2:30 pm. ​ NC Pre-K is designed to provide high quality educational experiences to enhance school readiness for eligible four-year-olds. This program is for at-risk  4-year old children for one year prior to starting school. The quality educational experiences provided will enhance kindergarten readiness. The program is community-based, voluntary, free to participants, and designed to prepare at-risk four-year-olds in North Carolina for success in school.  Caldwell County currently has NC Pre-K slots in both private child care programs and in public schools.  ​ The program requirements are built on the the premise that to be successful academically in school, children need to be prepared in all five of the developmental domains.   -Approaches to play and learning   -Emotional and social development   -Health and Physical Development   -Language development and communication   -Cognitive development ​ All NC Pre-K educators meet education/licensure requirements, professional development, developmental screens and referral; evidence-based  curriculum and formative assessments; monitoring and nutritional requirements.