HOUSTON — The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is now accepting applications from families who want to enroll their child in Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) this fall. Applications close April 22, 2024. HISD will notify families about Pre-K placements on May 10. Families must accept their placement by May 30.
Pre-K is open to all children who live within HISD boundaries and will be 3 or 4 years old as of Sept. 1, 2024. Access to high-quality early childhood education is a critical component of the Destination 2035 vision for HISD.
“These unique learning experiences— rooted in exploration, creativity, and play—prepare children to start kindergarten ready to read and learn at grade level from day one,” a news release from the district stated.
Enrollment Process
HISD has implemented a new streamlined enrollment process this year. Interested families can fill out a Pre-K application, unless their child is in Pre-K3 and will continue in Pre-K4 at the same school or early childhood center in the fall. All applications go through the district to ensure more equitable access to Pre-K seats.
Zoning and Eligibility
In addition, for the first time, HISD is beginning to zone Pre-K. Families who want their child to attend Pre-K at their zoned school should indicate that preference on their application. In most cases, students who wish to attend their zoned school will automatically be placed there and will not need to participate in a lottery. There may be some exceptions if the school does not have available space. The district says it is working to create enough seats in the future for all zoned students to attend their zoned school. Families who want their child to attend Pre-K at a campus they are not zoned to can still apply to their school of choice and may receive a seat through the lottery process. HISD follows State of Texas regulations regarding the priority with which students are placed in Pre-K. When a lottery is needed, the district will first prioritize “eligible” (tuition-free) PreK-4 students, followed by non-eligible PreK-4 students, eligible Pre-K3 students, and non-eligible Pre-K3 students. To be eligible for free Pre-K, a student must meet one of seven requirements: emergent bilingual, homeless, currently or formerly in foster care, economically disadvantaged, eligible for Head Start, a child of an active-duty member of the U.S. military, or a child of a person honored with the Star of Texas Award.
HISD has about 12,000 students in Pre-K at 159 elementary schools and eight early childhood centers. The Pre-K school day runs from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes writing, read-aloud time, and hands-on learning experiences to spark students’ curiosity and foster healthy social development. Children engage in activities involving problem solving, self-expression, math concepts, art, and computers. They also have physical education time and a daily nap.
How to Apply
To assist families with the application process, HISD will have in-person support hubs and Pre-K festivals throughout the enrollment period. For more information about those supports as well as documents needed to register for Pre-K, visit houstonisd.org/schoolchoice.
