Sandy Springs families with 4-year-olds can now add their names to the Pre-K wait list at Dunwoody Springs Elementary, with the school year starting Monday, Aug. 3.
The school posted the announcement Wednesday, July 29, directing parents to complete one of two forms on its website depending on whether they live inside or outside the school's attendance zone. The forms are also available in Spanish.
In-zone families get priority. Under Georgia's Pre-K guidelines, children who live within a school's attendance zone are enrolled first; out-of-zone children may be placed on a separate wait list until all in-zone seats are filled. No child in the district can be denied service outright, but placement is not guaranteed at a specific school.
Not sure which zone you're in? Fulton County Schools' Find My School locator lets families enter a home address to confirm their assigned elementary school.
Who qualifies
To be eligible for Georgia's Pre-K program in 2026-27, a child must turn 4 by Sept. 1, 2026. That means only children born between Sept. 2, 2021, and Sept. 1, 2022, qualify. The program runs 6.5 hours per day across 180 instructional days.
A state law taking effect this school year, House Bill 1193, requires schools to let parents decide whether to enroll an eligible child in Pre-K at age 4 or defer until age 5, giving families more flexibility on school readiness.
No deadline posted
The school's announcement does not list a closing date for the wait list, and the number of available Pre-K seats at Dunwoody Springs has not been published. The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 3.
District budget and next board meeting
The wait list opens as Fulton County Schools operates under a $2.3 billion budget carrying a $56.9 million deficit for 2026-27. The district plans to cover the gap using roughly 20 percent of its remaining fund balance. CFO Marvin Dereef said in June, when the board adopted the budget, that the adjustments "are refinements intended to ensure resources are aligned with district priorities and available funding sources," according to Appen Media.
The Fulton County Board of Education will hold its next work session Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the FCS North Learning Center, 450 Northridge Pkwy., Sandy Springs. The meeting will be streamed on the FCS homepage, with recordings available within 48 hours. The agenda has not been published, but the session is the next scheduled opportunity for Sandy Springs parents to raise questions about Pre-K capacity and other district priorities.
