Last verified: October 2026
Is MECK Pre-K really free for every 4-year-old in Mecklenburg County?
Yes. Mecklenburg County describes MECK Pre-K as open to all 4-year-olds who live in the county at no cost to families, and registration for 2026-27 opened in February 2026.
The county funds the program and Smart Start of Mecklenburg County administers it. A record 1,913 children graduated in June 2026, the largest class since the program began in 2018.
How do Charlotte parents sign up for MECK Pre-K?
Families apply online at MeckPreK.org or in person at two Smart Start community resource centers: the Ella B. Scarborough center on Stitt Road on Tuesdays and the Valerie C. Woodard center on Freedom Drive on Wednesdays.
MECK Pre-K is a Mecklenburg program, so Union, Cabarrus and Gaston families should look at NC Pre-K instead.
Can a MECK Pre-K year happen at a private school?
Only if that school's preschool is a licensed child development center taking part in MECK Pre-K. Every MECK Pre-K classroom is in a licensed center, so ask the preschool director whether theirs is one.
MECK Pre-K (Mecklenburg County): what it is and isn't
| MECK Pre-K is | MECK Pre-K is not |
|---|---|
| Paid for by Mecklenburg County | A state program, or open to families outside Mecklenburg |
| Taught by licensed teachers in licensed centers | A voucher you can spend at any preschool |
| For the year before kindergarten | Care for 2- and 3-year-olds or after-school hours |