MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- MECK Pre-K is expanding to eight new locations for the 2025-2026 school year, Smart Start of Mecklenburg County says.

With the new locations, 115 classrooms will serve a total of 2,070 four-year-olds at no cost to their families. The eight new locations are: • YMCA at Stratford Richardson • YMCA at McCrorey Child Care • YMCA at George E. Simmons • Kiddie Academy of Steele Creek • Kiddie Academy of Blakeney Charlotte • Leafspring at McAlpine • Leafspring at Ballantyne • KinderCare Learning Center

This comes after county commissioners approved an extra $3.4 million to fund ten new MECK Pre-K classrooms and support other program improvements.

“Thanks to the County’s continued investment, we’re able to offer more families access

See Full Page