Free
No tuition for the PHL Pre-K day and no income requirement.
FREE PRE-K IN PHILADELPHIA
Free PHL Pre-K at Goubz Learning Academy
PHL Pre-K gives Philadelphia 3- and 4-year-olds a free, high-quality pre-K year, with no income requirement. At Goubz, your child learns in a Keystone STARS 4 classroom, and you can add wraparound care for a full day from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
PHL Pre-K at a glance
Ages 3 and 4
Your child must be 3 or 4 by September 1 and live in Philadelphia.
School-year schedule
5.5 hours of Pre-K a day for 180 days, plus optional wraparound care before and after.
Keystone STARS 4
Pennsylvania's quality rating for early learning programs.
What your child does in Pre-K
Our Pre-K classroom gets children ready for kindergarten through play-based, hands-on learning aligned with Pennsylvania's early learning standards. Every day includes:
- Early literacy: letters, sounds, stories and writing their name
- Math thinking: counting, shapes, patterns and measuring
- Science and discovery through experiments and nature
- Social-emotional skills: sharing, taking turns and naming feelings
- Art, music, movement and outdoor play
Healthy meals and snacks are served through the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Nondiscrimination statement.
How to enroll
- Fill out our enrollment form. Choose PHL Pre-K and tell us about your household. It takes about 10 minutes. Start the form.
- Tour the classroom. Visit weekday mornings or late afternoons. Pick a time.
- We help with the paperwork. We confirm eligibility, help you complete the PHL Pre-K application, and set up CCIS for wraparound hours if you qualify.
- Start school. Bring proof of age, proof of Philadelphia residency and your child's health and immunization records.
Questions about the city program? Call the PHL Pre-K help line at 1-844-745-7735 or visit phlprek.org.
Wraparound care and CCIS
The PHL Pre-K day covers 5.5 hours. Most working families also need care before and after school, on Saturdays, and over the summer. Goubz is open Monday – Saturday, 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM, so your child can stay in one familiar place all day.
Wraparound hours can be private pay (inquire for pricing) or covered by a CCIS / Child Care Works subsidy through the Philadelphia ELRC. Tell us about your household on the enrollment form and our staff will help you qualify and apply.
PHL Pre-K questions
What is PHL Pre-K?
PHL Pre-K (PHLpreK) is the City of Philadelphia’s free, publicly funded, high-quality pre-K program. Goubz Learning Academy is a PHL Pre-K site, so eligible children can attend our Pre-K classroom at no cost.
Who is eligible for free PHL Pre-K?
Children who are 3 or 4 years old by September 1 of the school year and live in Philadelphia. There is no income requirement.
How much does PHL Pre-K cost?
The PHL Pre-K day is free: 5.5 hours a day for 180 days during the school year. If you need care before or after the Pre-K day, or on Saturdays and school breaks, wraparound care is available. Inquire for pricing, or ask us about covering it with CCIS.
Can my child stay for a full day?
Yes. We are open Monday – Saturday, 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM. Your child can attend the free PHL Pre-K day and stay with us for wraparound care before and after.
Can I use CCIS (Child Care Works) for wraparound care?
Yes. We accept CCIS subsidies through the Philadelphia Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC). Our staff will help you gather what you need and apply.
How do I apply for PHL Pre-K at Goubz?
Start our online enrollment form and choose PHL Pre-K. We’ll confirm eligibility, help with the PHL Pre-K application and schedule a tour. You can also call the PHL Pre-K help line or apply through the city’s enrollment portal and list Goubz Learning Academy.