Pre-Kindergarten Program

As a realization that some students require an earlier school beginning than kindergarten, a pre-kindergarten program was implemented in the Decatur City Schools’ System. These classes are open to all four year olds residing within the following school zones:
1. Austinville Elementary School;
2. Frances Nungester Elementary School;
3. Leon Sheffield Elementary School;
4. Somerville Road Elementary School; and
5. West Decatur Elementary School.

Two elementary schools offer pre-kindergarten classes for students in the state of Alabama. Students are chosen for this program by a lottery. The schools that have this program are:

1. Woodmeade Elementary School, and
2. Chestnut Grove Elementary

The High/Scope Curriculum is in use in these classes. The High Scope K-3 Curriculum views children as active learners who learn best when they themselves plan, carry out, and reflect upon activities. Teaching staff observe, support, and extend children’s activities by maintaining a daily routine that permits children to learn actively and construct their own knowledge; arranging instructional activity centers in the classroom to provide learning experiences in math, language, science, art, social studies, movement, and music that match children’s activities, asking questions that extend children’s plans, and helping them think; organizing daily small-group instructional workshops involving concepts and skills in all of the content areas; and engaging children in key child development experiences that help them learn to make choices and solve problems. The teacher and a paraprofessional serve as a guide to encourage students to solve their own problems without teacher intervention.