All Fort Dodge Community School District preschool students are welcomed to the Early Childhood Center.

The District’s preschool is/has

• Free

• Full day program

• Certified Teachers and Professionally Trained Staff

Research shows children who attend preschool can gain skills that help prepare them for kindergarten and their learning journey. Preschool does more than just expose children to letters, numbers, shapes and colors. It teaches them to follow directions, work cooperatively and socialize with other children and adults, and they gain confidence in themselves and what they can do.

Preschool registration for the 2024-25 school year opens on December 1, 2023.  To be eligible to attend preschool in the fall of 2024, children must be four years old by September 15, 2024. Spots are limited and are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.  A waiting list will be started once spots are filled.

Parents/guardians must register their child for preschool in person at the FDCSD Central Office, 109 North 25th Street.  Parents/guardians need to provide proof of guardianship (birth certificate, DHS documents, court documents, tax documents), proof of student’s age, immunization records and address verification when they come to register.  Families will not be allowed to register their child until all required documentation is provided. Central Office is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  The office will open early at 7 a.m. on December 1 for preschool registration.