Apply to DHSP Preschool Programs

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) has high-quality preschools located across Cambridge. All DHSP preschools are full-day, full-year programs, operating Monday through Friday, September through August. All of our classrooms strive to provide children and their families with a quality, nurturing and educational preschool experience that fosters positive child-parent-teacher relationships and supports children’s healthy growth and development. All DHSP Preschools are licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

DHSP Preschool Programs are part of the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP), a joint initiative of the City and Cambridge Public Schools, overseen by the Cambridge Office of Early Childhood. More information is available in the Frequently Asked Questions below. You can learn about other CPP preschool programs on CPP's website.

Eligibility

A child is eligible to apply to DHSP Preschools and other preschool programs within CPP if:

They are a Cambridge resident
They will turn 4 years old by August 31
They will turn 3 years old by August 31

2025-2026 Application Information

The CPP application for the 2025-2026 school year is now closed. If your family needs application assistance, please contact the Office of Early Childhood at cpp@cpsd.us.
Families who applied by the October 31 deadline will be notified of their preschool match in January 2025.
- Families will have 2 weeks from notification to accept of decline their placement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the locations and hours of operation for DHSP Preschools?

Haggerty Preschool
Address: 110 Cushing St.
Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Kennedy-Longfellow Preschool
Address:158 Spring St.
Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

King Open Preschool
Address: 101 Willow St.
Hours: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Preschool
Address: 100 Putnam Ave.
Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Morse Preschool
Address: 40 Granite St.
Hours: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Peabody Preschool
Address: 70 Rindge Ave.
Hours: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Windsor Preschool
Address: 119 Windsor St.
Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, we will also offer DHSP Preschool Programs at the following locations:

Alewife Preschool
Address: 430 Rindge Ave, Suite 101
Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Tobin Preschool
Address: 227 Vassal Lane
Hours: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

What is a typical day at a DHSP Preschool program?

Across all of our preschool sites, daily curriculum includes:

Breakfast
Morning outside time
Circle time and small group activities
Lunch
Story / nap time
Afterschool outside time
Free choice activities

How much does it cost to attend a DHSP Preschool?

Families pay monthly tuition fees. Tuition rates are determined on a sliding scale based on household size and income.

The City of Cambridge subsidizes all DHSP preschool classrooms to offer more affordable preschool options to Cambridge families. Through CPP, the City covers the cost of the school-day / school-year portion of the day for 4-year-olds enrolled in DHSP Preschools.

View 2024-2025 DHSP Preschools Tuition Rates for 4-Year-Olds (these tuition rates will change for the 2025-2026 school year)

View 2024-2025 DHSP Preschools Tuition Rates for 3-Year-Olds (these tuition rates will change for the 2025-2026 school year)

Can my child attend DHSP Preschools part-time?

No. When families enroll their child in a DHSP Preschool Program, their child must attend preschool full-time. Families also commit to paying their household's monthly tuition rate for the 12-month program.

Please only apply to DHSP Preschool Programs if you are interested in full-day, full-year preschool for your child.

If my child attends a DHSP Preschool, will they be able to attend Kindergarten at that school?

Children enrolled in DHSP Preschools will need to enter the Cambridge Public Schools’ Kindergarten Lottery to determine their Kindergarten placement.

Will 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds enrolled in preschool through CPP be eligible to apply to DHSP Afterschool Programs?

No. Consistent with the state’s Department of Early Education and Care licensure standards, 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds are not eligible to apply to DHSP afterschool programs. DHSP afterschool programs are licensed for school-aged children only and not for preschool-aged children.

If you need full-day or summer care for your preschooler, you will need to apply to preschool programs that offer extended hours and operate during the summer. DHSP Preschools and several community programs offer full-day, full-year care. You can learn more about these programs on CPP's website.

Are children of City of Cambridge or Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) employees who are not Cambridge residents eligible to apply to DHSP Preschool Programs?

City of Cambridge employees and CPS employees who are not Cambridge residents are not eligible to apply. Only Cambridge residents with age-eligible children can apply to DHSP Preschool Programs through the Cambridge Preschool Program’s application.

If there are open seats at DHSP preschools after CPP placements have been made, there may be an opportunity for non-resident City of Cambridge employees to apply to our programs through a separate application process. We will share an update about seat availability in spring 2025.