Winchester Preschool

2026–27 Preschool Lottery Entry

The preschool lottery application process for the 2026–27 school year will open on Monday, January 5, 2026 and close on Friday, January 30, 2026. To apply, you must be a Winchester resident and the student applicant must be three years old by September 1, 2026.

If you are offered preschool spot(s) through the lottery, you will be required to confirm acceptance by Friday, February 6, 2026, including a deposit payment if applicable.

Apply here (link).

Preschool Tours

In conjunction with the 2026–27 preschool lottery, we are pleased to invite you to sign up for a tour of Winchester Preschool. Tours will be offered on the following days and times:

• Monday, January 12, 2026: 8:00–8:30 a.m. (adults and children) and 9:15–10:00 a.m. (adults only)

• Wednesday, January 21, 2026: 8:00–8:30 a.m. (adults and children) and 9:15–10:00 a.m. (adults only)

• Friday, January 30, 2026: 8:00–8:30 a.m. (adults and children) and 9:15–10:00 a.m. (adults only)

 
Sign up here (link).

Welcome to Winchester Preschool

We are an integral component of the Winchester Public School System as we educate Winchester’s youngest learners ranging in age from three to five years old.

Our programs utilize an integrated team approach to instruction and curriculum development. Together, the teams create lesson plans and support students in learning through both work and play. Our six preschool classrooms are comprised of a comprehensive team of educators, including teachers certified by the Massachusetts Department of Education; speech and language pathologists; an occupational therapist; a physical therapist; a school psychologist; a school nurse; and teaching assistants.

The Vision of Winchester Preschool

To promote the cognitive, language, social, emotional and motor development of our youngest learners by providing programs and services that supports the needs of the individual child and family.

Our instructional concepts are presented through all sensory modalities—a multi-sensory approach. We encourage the children to experiment, explore and discover in all areas of development. What may be viewed as play is truly a rich learning activity for the young inquisitive mind. These learning tasks provide the foundation for learning and promote readiness skills in each learner. Our teams work toward common goals and encourage each child to develop at his or her own pace.

The Winchester Preschool bases its comprehensive curriculum development on the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, the Guidelines for Preschool Experiences, and the Teaching Strategies GOLD Assessment Tool.

Preschool Consultations

The Winchester Public Schools conducts preschool consultations for Winchester residents ages three to five in an effort to identify children who may benefit from special education support. These consultations are designed to review a child's development and assist in identifying children who should be referred for further evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services. If you have questions about your child's development or would like to explore whether your child may benefit from additional support, please email Sarah Casey at scasey@winchesterps.org (link) to discuss next steps.