It was just after midnight Monday when Jackie and Michael Cottrell parked their 40-foot motor home across the street from Mary Lin Elementary School.

Their plan was simple: Camp out to make sure Skyler gets into the highly coveted pre-k program at the school in Atlanta's Candler Park. Even if that meant spending three days and three nights in the camper until registration begins Thursday.

John Spink/AJC (ENLARGE)

Ania May and her daughter Dalia May, 18 months old, waited it out Tuesday to get a pre-k spot for her oldest son, Simon, 4 (not pictured). They arrived at 7 a.m. Monday.

John Spink/AJC (ENLARGE)

Heather Kotler whose son, Brody Weiss, 4, is a pre-k hopeful spent Tuesday knitting after arriving Monday at 7 a.m. Candler Park Drive looked more like a state park camping ground next to the Candler Golf Course Tuesday.

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"The whole process is kind of goofy, but what parent doesn't do crazy things for their kid?" Michael Cottrell said.

Competition is tight for the program, which has room for 20 kids. The Cottrells started a registration line and secured the first spot.

When Branch Sinkule pulled up in his brother's camper around 8 a.m. Monday he was number 27.

"Can you believe the spots filled up so fast?" Sinkule asked Tuesday morning. "It's insane. This has to be the most competitive year to date."

Registration for the free, lottery-funded pre-kindergarten classes takes place every spring. All Georgia 4-year-olds are eligible, regardless of their parents' income.

The state lets local program directors decide how to handle registration. Many schools and centers hold lotteries. Others, such as Atlanta Public Schools, award seats first-come, first-served.

The school district said parents prefer it that way. Still, the system plans to evaluate the process and determine if changes are needed, spokesman Joe Manguno said Tuesday.

The camp-out has become an annual occurrence since at least 2004, as the school's reputation for strong test scores has grown.

By Tuesday morning, Candler Park Drive resembled a camping ground with lines of RVs, grills, mess tents and picnic chairs.

Superintendent Beverly Hall sent a letter to schools Monday in response to the unusually large crowd this year. Hall told school officials and parents that camping out is unfair and violates city ordinance.

"In order to ensure that all parents have a fair opportunity, the line of 'campers' will not be considered the line for purposes of prekindergarten enrollment," Hall wrote.

Campers said parents historically respect the line, but didn't know what would happen Thursday morning.

"It would have been nice to have been told this earlier, but we'll see what happens," Michael Cottrell said. "At least we're already in the right place."

Many parents use vacation and sick days to take time off from work. They acknowledged other families can't afford to do that. Some parents said one mother gave up her place in line because no one could hold her spot while she was at work.

"It is a tough situation for many families," said Kelly Schupp, who held spot No. 7. "We want to be neighborly and friendly, but this is about our kids."

Most of the parents who camped out live near the campus and view it as their neighborhood school. The district uses open enrollment for pre-k because all schools don't have enough space for the program. That means parents who don't live in Mary Lin's regular attendance boundary can enroll there.

Mark Clement attended Mary Lin as a child and now lives a few doors down. He showed up early Monday and won spot No. 18.

"Do you know how upset I would be if I didn't do this and instead I'd be driving past this school to another one miles away?" Clement asked. "I know this is an archaic process, but it's better than a lottery. You can earn your spot, rather than being lucky."

The atmosphere Tuesday was collegial. Signs on camper doors invited people to come in for a cup of coffee. Families shared hot dogs and hamburgers and set up play-dates for their children.

Still, the parents set some rules. They agreed to 15-minute bathroom breaks at reasonable intervals. Break the rule and you forfeit your spot. They also exchanged cell phone numbers. If called, you must appear within 10 minutes or lose your place in line.

Clement said he got a call Monday night because someone didn't recognize the woman holding his spot. It was his mother-in-law.

"It's really intense," Clement said. "Nos. 21 and up are gunning to move up. They'll catch you if you break the rules."