Useful Documents & Resources
The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) has 7 high-quality preschoo
Across preschools, daily curriculum includes breakfast, outside time, circle time and small group activities, lunch, story / nap time, afternoon outside time, and free choice activities.
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).
Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, DHSP Preschool Programs will be part of the Cambridge Preschool Program , a joint initiative of the City and Cambridge Public Schools, overseen by the Cambridge Office of Early Childhood . Learn more about the Cambridge Preschool Programs, watch a webinar overview, and get the latest updates on the Cambridge Preschool Program's website .
Eligibility
A child is eligible to apply to DHSP Preschools and any preschool program that is part of the Cambridge Preschool Program if:
They are a Cambridge resident
They will turn 4 years old by August 31, 2024
They will turn 3 years old by August 31, 2024
How to Apply
DHSP Preschool Locations
Haggerty Preschool (110 Cushing St.) King Open Preschool (101 Willow St.)
Martin Luther King Jr. Preschool (100 Putnam Ave.) Morse Preschool (40 Granite St.)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to attend a DHSP Preschool?
Families pay monthly tuition fees for their child to attend DHSP Preschools. Tuition rates are on a sliding scale based on income and family size.
The City of Cambridge subsidizes all DHSP preschool classrooms to offer more affordable preschool options to Cambridge families. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, the City will additionally cover the cost of the school-day / school-year portion of DHSP Preschool Programs for Cambridge 4-year-olds through the Cambridge Preschool Program .
View 2024-2025 DHSP Preschools Tuition Rates for 4-Year-Olds
View 2024-2025 DHSP Preschools Tuition Rates for 3-Year-Olds
Will the DHSP Preschool Program accept children who are age 2.9-3 years of age for the 2024-2025 school year?
Beginning with the application process for the 2024-2025 school year, we will no longer accept children between the ages of 2.9 and 3 years. DHSP Preschool Programs’ age eligibility will align with the Cambridge Preschool Program 's age eligibility.
Children are eligible to apply the DHSP Preschool Program for the 2024-2025 school year if they will be:
4 years old by August 31, 2024 for 4-year-old programs; or3 years old by August 31, 2024 for 3-year-old programs
Can my child attend DHSP Preschools part-time?
No. When families enroll their child in a DHSP Preschool Program, they are committing to having their child attend preschool full-time and to paying their monthly tuition rate for the 12-month program.
See above for hours at specific preschools.
My child is 3 and is currently enrolled in a DHSP Preschool program. Will we need to reapply for a seat in 2024-2025?
3-year-olds currently enrolled in a DHSP Preschool Program during the 2023-2024 school year will have the option to re-enroll in the same program for the 2024-2025 school year. To continue in the same program next year, families will need to submit an application through the Cambridge Preschool Program application . Cambridge Preschool Program ’s application.
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 2024.
If my child attends a DHSP Preschool, will they be able to attend Kindergarten at that school?
Due to state recommendations, 4-year-olds will not be eligible to apply to DHSP Afterschool Programs. If families need full-day / full-year care, they should apply to preschool programs that offer extended day and full-year options.
All DHSP Preschool classrooms and many community-based preschools offer full-day / full-year programming.
Will 4-year-olds enrolled in preschool through the Cambridge Preschool Program be eligible to apply to DHSP Afterschool Programs?
Due to state recommendations, 4-year-olds will not be eligible to apply to DHSP Afterschool Programs. If families need full-day / full-year care, they should apply to preschool programs that offer extended day and full-year options.
All DHSP Preschool classrooms and many community-based preschools offer full-day / full-year programming. For more information about preschool programs participating in the Cambridge Preschool Program, visit https://earlychildhoodcambridge.org/cpp/ .