WORCESTER—With enrollment season approaching, Worcester Public Schools is opening its doors this month to families preparing to enroll children for the 2026–27 school year, offering a slate of open houses and information sessions focused on preschool, dual language, magnet programs and the district’s broader registration process.
According to a district announcement released Tuesday, the January schedule is designed to give caregivers an early look at specialized programs and to walk families through what can be a complex, multi-step enrollment process. Open houses for schools offering pre-kindergarten, dual language instruction or citywide magnet admission takes place throughout the month, while online information sessions focuses on registration for students from pre-K through grade 12.
The district plans to formally open enrollment for kindergarten through grade 12 on Jan. 26. Applications for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs that use a lottery-based admissions process opens Feb. 9 and remain available through May 15. Those include programs such as Worcester Dual Language Magnet, Jacob Hiatt Magnet and Worcester Arts Magnet schools. Applications for School Choice and voluntary transfers will also open Feb. 9, with a deadline of April 17.
To help families navigate the process, Worcester Public Schools hosts two enrollment information sessions on Jan. 16 and Jan. 23, offered both online and in person through the district’s Parent Information Center at 768 Main St. The sessions run from noon to 2 p.m. and will include Spanish and Portuguese translation, according to the announcement.
Pre-kindergarten programs across the city also holds open houses between Jan. 8 and Jan. 26, allowing families to visit schools before the lottery application window opens. The district noted that additional pre-K open houses will be held in June after the registration process concludes.
Several dual language and magnet schools hosts January open houses as well. Worcester Dual Language Magnet School, a citywide program offering two-way instruction in English and Spanish for pre-K and kindergarten students, is scheduled to hold an open house on Jan. 22. Woodland Academy, which offers a one-way dual language kindergarten program based on neighborhood enrollment rather than citywide admission, is slated to host its session on Jan. 21. Jacob Hiatt Magnet and Worcester Arts Magnet schools also holds kindergarten open houses later that week, according to the district.
Families seeking more detailed information are encouraged to visit the district’s enrollment website or contact the James Garvey Parent Information Center, which assists caregivers with registration appointments and enrollment questions during regular weekday hours.
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