"Nabbing a spot in, even a half-day pre-k program, means you've got a spot for K. So if you don't live in the zone or district for a good school, but can grab one of these pre-K spots, you are in for elementary."

Can you clarify this? I thought the policy was that since there are fewer pre-K spots than K, that wherever you got into for pre-K did NOT guarantee you a spot at that school for K, even if it's your own zoned school, and you have to apply all over again the following year.