Last verified: October 2026
Who can get NC Pre-K in Johnston, Orange or Durham County?
NC Pre-K takes children who turn four by August 31 when the household's gross income is no more than three-quarters of the state median, and some military families qualify whatever they earn. A county may fill up to a fifth of its seats with children from higher-earning homes who have a documented risk such as a chronic health condition, a developmental disability, an educational need or limited English proficiency.
Eligibility does not promise a seat. Some counties keep waiting lists when funding runs short.
Where do Triangle families send an NC Pre-K application?
Each family applies through the NC Pre-K contracting agency for the county where the child lives; the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education keeps the county contact list. Wake families use the shared Wake Pre-K application, and Durham families can ask about Durham PreK at the same time.
NC Pre-K (North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten): what it is, and what it is not
| NC Pre-K is | NC Pre-K is not |
|---|---|
| Free once an eligible child is placed | Universal; an income test applies with limited exceptions |
| Taught in 4- and 5-star rated classrooms | Available at any unrated preschool |
| Run county by county through contractors | Applied for through NCSEAA |