Parents encouraged to register for 2019-2020 pre-K programs

All HISD campuses serving pre-kindergarten students are participating in a common registration window during the week of April 29 through May 3 for families to register children for pre-K classes for the 2019-2020 school year.

Offering a common week for registration allows the district and campuses to communicate and advertise to all school communities. However, parents do not have to wait for this window as schools are ready to register students right now.

HISD provides full-day pre-K programs focused on the development of literacy, math, and social skills that serve as the foundation for children’s success in their educational careers.

Research shows pre-K is just as necessary for academic success as kindergarten or first grade. Not only are children more successful in school, but they will be more likely to graduate high school, attend college, and earn higher wages as an adult.

Enrolling in pre-K

HISD pre-K is free to students who meet certain eligibility requirements. Students who do not meet those requirements may be able to attend our tuition-based program. Find out more about tuition-based pre-K here.

HISD is an open-enrollment district, which means that you are not restricted to your neighborhood school but can enroll your child in any elementary school or early childhood center with space available. To locate an Early Childhood Center or an HISD Elementary School, visit HoustonISD.org/FindASchool. You may also email the Early Childhood Curriculum Department at Curriculum@HoustonISD.org. All parents seeking enrollment must complete an Application for Student Transfer form. The transfer application allows HISD to ensure all children are provided placement within the district.  

Parents please note that HISD schools are encouraged to enroll students on a first-come, first-served basis. Campuses with an extensive waitlist may decide to admit eligible students by lottery. Magnet schools with pre-K programs manage their enrollment via the magnet school application system.

Complete an application (available here), and take it to your school, along with:

  • Your child’s birth certificate
  • Your photo ID
  • Proof of residency (utility bill)
  • Proof of income (current check stub)

In accordance with district guidelines, schools are expected to comply with the following standard enrollment procedures: Four-year-old children can attend HISD pre-K for free, without paying tuition, if they meet at least ONE of the following requirements:

  • Child is homeless
    • Child unable to speak or understand English as determined by the Home Language Survey
    • Child is economically disadvantaged (qualifies for free or reduced lunch)
    • Child of an active-duty member of the U.S. military or one who has been killed, injured, or missing in action while on active duty
    • Child is or has been in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing held as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code
    • Child meets any eligibility criteria for Head Start
    • Child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award as a peace officer as defined in Section 3106.002, a firefighter as defined in Section 3106.003, or an emergency medical first responder as defined in Section 3106.004

A four-year-old child who does not meet one of the requirements above will be placed on a waitlist until May 31. If seats are still available after enrollment of all four-year-old students who meet at least one requirement, the school may enroll the waitlisted children as tuition-paying students. Tuition-based students must live within the boundaries of HISD.

Note: Each campus will hold 5% of all seats available for students who meet the criteria until August 26, 2019.

Again, your child only needs to meet ONE of these requirements to qualify for free pre-K. If you do not qualify for free pre-K, you can still enroll your child in the tuition-based pre-K program.

Three-year-old children must meet the same eligibility requirements listed above.

  • All three-year-old students will be placed on a waitlist until May 31, and after all eligible and tuition-paying four-year-old students have been enrolled, if there are available seats, schools may then enroll three-year-old students who qualify from the waitlist.
  • It is recommended to schools that a waitlist be created by birthdate so that when enrolling our youngest students, they may be close in age and development to their classmates.

Seats are available, but space is limited. Register NOW to ensure your child is a part of the HISD pre-K family!