Dublin families with preschool-age children will need childcare plans for nearly a week after older siblings head back to school. Dublin City Schools' K-12 classes start Aug. 20, but pre-K doesn't begin until Aug. 26, according to the district's published calendar.

That six-day gap means parents juggling drop-offs across age groups will need to arrange separate care for their youngest learners through the first full week of the school year.

The staggered start isn't unique to Dublin. Neighboring Olentangy Local Schools follows the same pattern, with K-12 starting Aug. 20 and pre-K beginning Aug. 25. But families in Hilliard and Worthington don't face the same split: both districts start Wednesday, Aug. 19, with no separate pre-K date listed.

175 enrollment applications stalled

With the Aug. 20 first day approaching, the district's Enrollment Center is racing to clear a backlog. Elizabeth Kefalonitis, Dublin City Schools' coordinator of enrollment, student records and compliance, said in a July 27 district article that roughly 175 applications were stalled because families hadn't submitted required documents.

"We've probably got our names on 175 of these, and we've looked at them, but we can't complete them until we have those missing pieces," Kefalonitis said at the time.

To complete enrollment, parents must provide two proofs of residency, a birth certificate or passport, a photo ID and immunization records. Additional documents like TB test results or custody paperwork may be required depending on the student's situation. Dublin does not offer open enrollment; families must physically reside within district boundaries.

What pre-K families should do now

The DCS preschool program operates its own website at preschool.dublinschools.net, with a separate calendar and enrollment portal. Families still completing pre-K registration should check that site for orientation dates and program details.

As we reported Aug. 7, Dublin's total enrollment has grown to 17,049 students this year, making it Ohio's ninth-largest district. That growth puts additional pressure on the enrollment team, which Kefalonitis said in the July 27 article works weekends as the first day approaches.

Dublin's K-12 first day is Aug. 20. Pre-K begins Aug. 26.