Pre-K, or pre-kindergarten, typically serves children who are around 4 years old. It is usually designed for children the year before they enter kindergarten, so children in pre-K are generally between 4 and 5 years old. While pre-K programs sometimes accept children a bit younger, the common age to start pre-K is around four, with children transitioning to kindergarten at about age five. Preschool, by contrast, often serves younger children, usually between 2.5 or 3 and 4 years old, acting as an earlier stage of early childhood education before pre-K. In summary:
- Pre-K age: Usually 4 to 5 years old.
- Preschool age: Typically 2.5 or 3 to 4 years old.
Pre-K is more structured and focused on preparing children for kindergarten readiness, including early academic and social skills development.
