Potomac families with 4-year-olds can apply for a spot in the preschool lab program at Thomas S. Wootton High School for the 2026-2027 school year.

Enrollment opened March 31, and spots are filled first-come, first-served.

First-time applicants receive priority over returning families until October, when the program begins, according to MCPS program procedures. Families in the Wootton cluster, which serves Potomac, also get preference, along with those in clusters that lack a Child Development program at their high school.

What the program is

The Child Development Preschool is a working lab school. High school students in Wootton's Education Academy study developmental theory, then apply it by planning and leading activities for the preschoolers under professional supervision. Academy Head Rebecca O'Neill leads the program at Wootton.

The preschool is part of MCPS's countywide Early Child Development Laboratory initiative, offered at multiple high schools across the district.

Eligibility

Children must turn 4 by September and must be fully toilet trained. The program does not provide special education services, though children with special needs are accepted. Families seeking a free preschool screening can call MCPS Child Find at 301-929-2224.

Cost

Tuition across the MCPS lab preschool network has run approximately $600 per year in recent years, with a $100 non-refundable deposit to hold a spot. Families should confirm the exact 2026-2027 amount through Wootton's online enrollment form, as tuition can vary by school.

How to enroll

Parents complete the Wootton Preschool Enrollment Form, linked from the school's news page. Once a child is accepted, families have 30 days to finalize enrollment. Required documents include a Maryland Schools Record of Physical Examination and a Maryland Department of Health Immunization Certificate, both completed by a physician before the program's first day.