Salem Public Schools Announces Early Childhood Expo Dates, Details

Meet & Greet Expo scheduled for Jan. 14; Virtual Town Hall slated for Jan. 28

SALEM (Nov. 20, 2025) – The 2026 Salem Public Schools Early Childhood Expo, which showcases kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and preschool programming, will take place Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, and Wednesday, Jan. 28, in two capacities.

• Meet and Greet Session | Wednesday, Jan. 14 (5:30-7:00 p.m.) at the Collins Middle School (snow date: Thursday, Jan. 15). Families can engage with leadership, faculty and other staff. 
• Virtual Town Hall | Wednesday, Jan. 28 from (6:00-7:30 p.m. | Link TBA): Leadership, faculty and staff will attend virtually to address questions and comments.

Additionally, Salem families can schedule in-person tours of each school that offers kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and preschool programming – Bates Elementary School, Bentley Innovation Academy, Carlton Innovation School, Horace Mann Laboratory School, Saltonstall School, Witchcraft Heights Elementary, and the Salem Early Childhood Center – the weeks of Jan. 20-23 and Mar. 9-13.

Eligibility for kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and preschool programs is as follows:

• Kindergarten: Children residing in Salem who will turn FIVE years old on or before Aug. 31 are eligible to start kindergarten in the fall of 2026.
• Pre-Kindergarten: Children residing in Salem who turn FOUR years old on or before Aug. 31 are eligible to enter the lottery for the SPS pre-K program in the fall of 2026.
• Preschool: Children residing in Salem who turn THREE years old on or before Aug. 31 are eligible to enter the lottery for the preschool program at the Salem Early Childhood Center in the fall of 2026.

Further details and timelines associated with the registration process for preschool, preK and kindergarten will be shared at the Virtual Town Hall.

For more information, contact the SPS Family Welcome Center at welcomecenter@salemk12.org, by telephone at (978) 740-1225, or visit salemk12.org/families. 

About Salem Public Schools

Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.