Hilton Central Pre-Kindergarten Program - UPK [Universal Pre-Kindergarten]

First Day of School for Pre-K in Hilton CSD is Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013

Hilton Central School District Program and Community-Based Sites   Pre-Kindergarten for four-year-olds residing in the Hilton School District is provided by the Hilton CSD through funding provided to the district from New York State.  The first classes opened in 2007.  The program has limited enrollment  [98 students]. Should more than 98 children submit an application, enrollment will be made on a lottery-basis.  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.  - Watch a Pre-Kindergarten Class -

Information is mailed to Parents   Pre-K teachers directly mail back-to-school information to parents. The Office of Student Services mails information and applications to all eligible families in the District based on the District's census database which is maintained by the Office of Student Services/Registration. Families with preschool children are expected to be in the District's Census database.  If you do not receive a letter, please contact the District Census Clerk at 585-392-1000 ext. 7031. Notification letters will be mailed out the beginning of March.

Applications for Pre-Kindergarten are submitted to the Hilton CSD Office of Student Services, 225 West Ave., Hilton, NY 14468.  Parents generally receive notification of acceptance by mid-April.

NYS Prekindergarten Foundation for the Common Core

Video of Pre-Kindergarten 2009

Community-Based Preschools   The District collaborates with community-based preschools located within the district, but these programs must meet regulations in the NYS Universal Pre-Kindergarten and the HCSD curriculum.  Additionally, for the 2011-12 school year, the NYS Board of Regents has adopted UPK Standards.  In order for collaborating partners to be determined, the district will issue a letter to all qualifying sites who then must complete an application.  In the past the district has worked with Hilton Community Childcare;  Parma Free Preschool; and TLC. The number of children placed in the community programs varies year to year.  Because the Hilton Central School District only uses State Aid funding for the program, enrollment is limited to 98 students.  A lottery takes place in the spring which determines selection and placement of students.

Eligibility and Transportation by Parents   Children who are turning four-years-old by December 1 are eligible to attend Pre-Kindergarten [four-years old by Dec. 1, 2013 - born between Dec. 2, 2008 and Dec. 1, 2009].  All Hilton Central School 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. 

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.  Parents/guardians understand that while UPK [Universal Pre-Kindergarten] is not mandated, once you accept a placement, you must adhere to the attendance agreement which follows the district's attendance policy.

Eligibility Notice   The District does receive calls from parents/guardians whose child meets eligibility requirements for kindergarten, however, parents are choosing to keep their child at home an additional year.  If a child meets the requirements for kindergarten, he/she does not automatically meet requirements for UPK, so entrance may not be allowed.  For further information: 585-392-1000 ext. 7031.

Make Sure You are on the Census  Online Census Update Form ensures you receive mailings from the district. 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, proof of residency and evidence of required vaccinations just as you would if you were registering your child for kindergarten. 

Registration is held after selection  For registration information about pre-kindergarten, call District Census and Registration, please call 585-392-1000 ext. 7031.

Full Day 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 400 pupils in grades PreK-6.  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. 

For further information: 585-302-1000 ext. 7031.