"After a fantastic year of growth in everything from feeling self-confident, demonstrating social emotional strength, and building and maintaining friendships, to sharpening cognitive learning skills, we are thrilled to send almost 1,900 children off to kindergarten, fully ready to face that challenge," said Mary-Margaret Kantor, Smart Start of Mecklenburg County's Chief Education Officer.
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MECK Pre-K Wrapped Up A Successful Seventh School Year
June 2025
This month MECK Pre-K celebrated its seventh graduating class. Caps and gowns were worn by smiling students from over 100 different classrooms as proud parents, grandparents, and caregivers captured the moments on camera, and wiped away happy tears.
Nearly a decade ago, MECK Pre-K was merely a vision of outgoing Mecklenburg County Commissioner Dena Diorio.
"When we start talking about economic opportunity and economic mobility for Mecklenburg County, investing in pre-k, for us, was really a no-brainer," Diorio said of her quest for expanded pre-k at no cost to families.
When the next school year opens, MECK Pre-K will proudly feature 10 new classrooms. The expansion opens 180 more spots for students to bring the total number of enrollments over 2,000 served. Some will be added to incredible sites that already house MECK Pre-K rooms, while others will occupy new centers in areas with a need for added pre-k space.
"MECK Pre-K is proud and fulfilled by the work we do making Mecklenburg County stronger and closer to the dream of economic mobility for all citizens. Our expansion for the 2025-26 year allows us to do that much more for our children, our families, and our schools," said Kantor.