GATE Pre-kindergarten

Pre-K students show their festive gingerbread man artwork
Pre-K students smile for the camera during a field trip to Fish Eye Marine Park
Students from Harry S. Truman Elementary show off their colorful projects
Pre-K students in action at one of their showcases

The GATE Pre-Kindergarten program provides daily sessions at seven (7) elementary schools on the island. Children who are four (4) years of age by July 31 of each school year are eligible to be considered for the program. Public Law 14-45 passed in 1977 mandates the gifted education Pre-K program.

The curriculum of this program is specifically designed for four (4) year old gifted children. It is meant to be a well-rounded program to meet their physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs without pressure and unnecessary structure. It is meant to be a balance between acceleration and enrichment activities. It is not intended to replace kindergarten. Its intentions are to allow the children to function at all levels at which they are ready, while providing them with a background of experiences that will help them to be eager and effective learners.

The GATE Pre-K program is a one year program. At the end of the Pre-K year the children will return to the school in their district and must re-qualify for the GATE Elementary Program once in Kindergarten.