Secaucus Offers Full-Day PreK For 3,4-Year-Olds Starting In September

SECAUCUS, NJ — The Secaucus school district will launch full-day PreK for three- and four-year-olds starting in September.

However, this is not free full-day PreK. Tuition is $950/month, from 8 a.m to 2:40 p.m. (the district adjusted the hours to make it easier to drop off and pick up students).

Due to "lack of interest" there is no half-day program offered, the district said. It is a full-day, five-day-a-week program that follows the regular Secaucus school district schedule. Prior to this, Secaucus offered a half-day PreK program, which parents also had to pay for.

The full-day PreK will be held at the Millridge School starting in September 2026. This was first announced at the Feb. 26 school board meeting, and the Secaucus school district announced it here this week.

The district will hold PreK3 and PreK4 registration from March 9 through March 13. The district said it will post something on the Secaucus school district website, and send something directly home to parents.

They will have four classrooms with 15 students per class. This is academic PreK for three- and four-year-olds, and students will be learning (it's not just daycare). If they have too much demand, the district will hold a lottery.

Families are encouraged to review residency and age requirements in advance and to contact the district’s registration office with any questions. Here are frequently asked questions (FAQs): app.smore.com/n/m5pehd?fbclid=IwY2xjawQX5FdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeLcmvdGfwG91uYg46SFZFyeP5Mx_cck5uxbpCw_10psAJW87CqcO6U2Rj-V4_aem_FpYz8uaZRBEKxoG5IWhA2g#bqhn5zu1du

In addition, the district said it is also adding an "optional wrap-around program for before-care and after-care, pending adequate enrollment." The town offers before- and after-care programs, and the costs are currently $105/month for before-care (1 hour) and $345/month for after-care (3 hours).

“Our investment in full-time Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 programming demonstrates our commitment to giving Secaucus children the strongest possible start,” said interim Secaucus schools superintendent Mark Toback. “Early childhood education plays a critical role in long-term achievement, and we are excited to expand opportunities for our youngest learners at Millridge School."

Full-day PreK was supposed to launch in 2024 in Secaucus, but was abruptly canceled

The Secaucus school district was supposed to launch free, full-day PreK in 2024.

But the school district had to abruptly cancel it in June 2024, due to former superintendent Erick Alfonso being put on leave and the school district not obtaining enough grant money or space to hold it. Two years ago, it was supposed to be free. It is not immediately clear why it is no longer free.

At the time, Mayor Mike Gonnelli called it "very upsetting," in this announcement announcing it was canceled.

Secaucus Superintendent Explains Why Full-Day PreK Is Not Happening (June 2024)