MECK Pre-K Reaches Record Enrollment for 2025-2026 School Year
As of July 2, MECK Pre-K has registered more than 1,830 children for next year, a record number since its launch in 2018. MECK Pre-K is Mecklenburg County’s free, high-quality pre-K program for all four-year-olds, available at no cost to families.
There is still plenty of time and space for families to enroll their children in MECK Pre-K, regardless of income, with more opportunities to come. This year, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners approved funding for 10 new classrooms, with the primary expansion focused on the northern, southern, and southwestern parts of the county.
MECK Pre-K focuses on engaging learning experiences, nurturing environments, and preparing children for academic and social success. It is open to all four-year-old children (by Aug. 31, 2025) in Mecklenburg County.
For the 2024-2025 school year, MECK Pre-K graduated 1,755 children across the community. They join the thousands of children for whom MECK Pre-K has helped build strong educational foundations since 2018.
View photos from various MECK Pre-K graduation ceremonies
MECK Pre-K is a signature initiative of the County Manager’s Office, introduced to help address economic mobility in Charlotte-Mecklenburg so that a child’s zip code does not define their future.
“Education continues to be the greatest equalizer for so many in our community. I am beyond proud of the significant growth of our MECK Pre-K program,” said County Manager Mike Bryant. “I am grateful to our Board of County Commissioners and local partners for their continued support of this important initiative.”
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About MECK Pre-K
MECK Pre-K is high quality pre-K education open to all four-year-old children in Mecklenburg County at no cost to families. Classrooms are located in licensed child development centers and taught by licensed teachers and highly qualified assistant teachers. MECK Pre-K is administered by Smart-Start of Mecklenburg County and funded by Mecklenburg County. For more information, and to apply online, visit MECKPreK.org.
About Smart Start of Mecklenburg County
Smart Start of Mecklenburg County mobilizes resources, forges partnerships, and supports families to improve early childhood health, education and development, and ensure children are prepared for kindergarten. Learn more at SmartStartofMeck.org.