Dear Stanhope Community,
It is with great excitement that I announce that preschool enrollment is now open for the 2026/27 school year! Our full-day program is FREE for eligible students, which include children who reside in the Borough of Stanhope and turn three years old by October 1 of the school year
in which they are enrolling. Our preschool curriculum is delivered by NJDOE-certified teachers, with instruction tailored to each child’s unique developmental needs.
For the upcoming school year, the Stanhope School District will continue its partnership with First Impressions Preschool to offer up to 50 seats for general education preschool students. Two inclusive classrooms will be located at the Valley Road School, while two additional classrooms will be located at First Impressions Preschool at 19 Linden Avenue in Stanhope. As an added benefit, First Impressions will be able to offer before and after school care for a fee. You can learn more about First Impressions preschool at
https://firstimpressionscenters.com/stanhope-linden-avenue/.
Interested families can register students online at www.stanhopeschools.org/preschool, and should also complete the Google Form to communicate their preference in school. We will host
a Preschool Parent Information Night on Thursday, February 26 at 6:00 pm at the Valley Road School. Staff from both the Valley Road School and First Impressions Preschool will be present to provide information and answer your questions.
In-person registration is available on February 25 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and again on February 25 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. If registration exceeds 50 students by March 11, a lottery will be used to place students. If a lottery becomes necessary, it will take place at the public Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Students who are registered after March 11 will be enrolled in the order in which they are registered, if ‘seats’ are still available. Parents will be notified of program acceptance by March 25, 2026.
We look forward to welcoming your child to our preschool program! Please contact us at (973) 347-0008 if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
Steve Hagemann
Stanhope School District
Superintendent
