Fort Wayne Community Schools Pre-K Programs
1200 South Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
About
Fort Wayne Community Schools Pre-K Programs offer both full-day and half-day pre-K options. Families can choose from general pre-K classrooms as well as magnet programs such as Bunche Montessori Early Childhood Center and Whitney Young STEAM Magnet School, and there are also designated special education pre-K programs at several elementary schools.
• Ages: 4 years old
• Schedule: Full-day and half-day pre-K options with morning and afternoon classes
Fort Wayne Community Schools Pre-K Programs include full-day classes from 8:50 AM to 3:30 PM and half-day classes with an AM session from 8:50 to 11:30 AM and a PM session from 12:50 to 3:30 PM. Title I pre-K programs follow the same AM and PM times. At Bunche Montessori Early Childhood Center, the P3 pre-K program is a half-day from 8:50 AM to 11:30 AM, while P4 pre-K and kindergarten run from 8:50 AM to 3:30 PM.
FWCS pre-K programs are funded through federal Title I funds, and FWCS accepts On My Way Pre-K grants in each of the Title I pre-K programs. FWCS pre-K programs are fully accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and have earned the Level 4 Paths to Quality rating, which is Indiana’s statewide rating system for early care and education programs. Bunche Montessori Early Childhood Center has been accredited with the American Montessori Society since 2003 and was the first public Montessori school in the United States to receive this status.
Bunche Montessori Early Childhood Center is a magnet school offering Montessori education for children ages 3 to 6 years old, with multi-age classrooms and materials at the child’s level for hands-on work, where students are shown lessons and then work at their own pace. Three-year-old students at Bunche attend in the morning only, and four-year-old pre-K students and kindergarten students attend for the full day. Whitney Young STEAM Magnet School provides explicit instruction in foundational literacy and numeracy skills for early learners and adds STEAM units of study. Students at Whitney Young have regular opportunities to explore nature in an outdoor learning lab, work in an art studio, and use technology tools and applications in a STEAM lab.
Fort Wayne Community Schools operates seven specialized magnet schools, including Bunche Montessori Early Childhood (grades pre-K–K) and Whitney Young STEAM Early Childhood (pre-K–K). Students in FWCS are assigned to a school based on their residence, with the option to attend any FWCS school through a school choice lottery based on space availability. Fort Wayne Community Schools provides special education services to qualifying children ages 3 to 5, with services based on the individual needs of the student, and designated special education pre-K programs are located at Arlington, Brentwood, Fairfield, Forest Park, Haley, Harrison Hill, Holland, Northcrest, Price, and Waynedale. The FWCS district partners with several companies that offer before and after care to students in the district, including pre-K students.
The mission of Fort Wayne Community Schools is to educate all students to high standards, enabling them to become productive, responsible citizens. The FWCS Career Academy serves Northeast Indiana, including 17 high schools, with a broad array of career and technical programs, and FWCS partners with Junior Achievement’s 3DE. The district’s leadership has included Mark Daniel (2020–present), Wendy Y. Robinson (2003–2020), Thomas Fowler-Finn (1994–2003), William Coats (1990–1994), Bill C. Anthis (1980–1990), Lester L. Grile (1961–1980), Aaron T. Lindley (1952–1961), Merle J. Abbett (1932–1952), L.C. Ward (1920–1932), R.M. Himelick (1917–1920), Justin N. Study (1896–1917), John S. Irwin (1875–1896), James H. Smart (1865–1875), E.S. Green (1863–1865), and George A. Irwin (1856–1863).
Last updated May 14, 2026.
• Ages: 4 years old
• Schedule: Full-day and half-day pre-K options with morning and afternoon classes
Fort Wayne Community Schools Pre-K Programs include full-day classes from 8:50 AM to 3:30 PM and half-day classes with an AM session from 8:50 to 11:30 AM and a PM session from 12:50 to 3:30 PM. Title I pre-K programs follow the same AM and PM times. At Bunche Montessori Early Childhood Center, the P3 pre-K program is a half-day from 8:50 AM to 11:30 AM, while P4 pre-K and kindergarten run from 8:50 AM to 3:30 PM.
FWCS pre-K programs are funded through federal Title I funds, and FWCS accepts On My Way Pre-K grants in each of the Title I pre-K programs. FWCS pre-K programs are fully accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and have earned the Level 4 Paths to Quality rating, which is Indiana’s statewide rating system for early care and education programs. Bunche Montessori Early Childhood Center has been accredited with the American Montessori Society since 2003 and was the first public Montessori school in the United States to receive this status.
Bunche Montessori Early Childhood Center is a magnet school offering Montessori education for children ages 3 to 6 years old, with multi-age classrooms and materials at the child’s level for hands-on work, where students are shown lessons and then work at their own pace. Three-year-old students at Bunche attend in the morning only, and four-year-old pre-K students and kindergarten students attend for the full day. Whitney Young STEAM Magnet School provides explicit instruction in foundational literacy and numeracy skills for early learners and adds STEAM units of study. Students at Whitney Young have regular opportunities to explore nature in an outdoor learning lab, work in an art studio, and use technology tools and applications in a STEAM lab.
Fort Wayne Community Schools operates seven specialized magnet schools, including Bunche Montessori Early Childhood (grades pre-K–K) and Whitney Young STEAM Early Childhood (pre-K–K). Students in FWCS are assigned to a school based on their residence, with the option to attend any FWCS school through a school choice lottery based on space availability. Fort Wayne Community Schools provides special education services to qualifying children ages 3 to 5, with services based on the individual needs of the student, and designated special education pre-K programs are located at Arlington, Brentwood, Fairfield, Forest Park, Haley, Harrison Hill, Holland, Northcrest, Price, and Waynedale. The FWCS district partners with several companies that offer before and after care to students in the district, including pre-K students.
The mission of Fort Wayne Community Schools is to educate all students to high standards, enabling them to become productive, responsible citizens. The FWCS Career Academy serves Northeast Indiana, including 17 high schools, with a broad array of career and technical programs, and FWCS partners with Junior Achievement’s 3DE. The district’s leadership has included Mark Daniel (2020–present), Wendy Y. Robinson (2003–2020), Thomas Fowler-Finn (1994–2003), William Coats (1990–1994), Bill C. Anthis (1980–1990), Lester L. Grile (1961–1980), Aaron T. Lindley (1952–1961), Merle J. Abbett (1932–1952), L.C. Ward (1920–1932), R.M. Himelick (1917–1920), Justin N. Study (1896–1917), John S. Irwin (1875–1896), James H. Smart (1865–1875), E.S. Green (1863–1865), and George A. Irwin (1856–1863).
Last updated May 14, 2026.
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