Early Learning (Preschool)

Yes. Any new student wanting to apply for preschool, or any student that previously withdrew from preschool in Tacoma Public Schools, should complete the pre-school application. If your student(s) attended a preschool classroom through the end of the previous school year, then you are not required to re-apply. If your student(s) withdrew prior to the last day of the previous school year, you are required to re-apply.

If you have moved into Tacoma Public Schools from another school district and your child has an existing IEP, please contact Child Find at 253-571-2610 for assistance with preschool placement.

The first qualifying factor for acceptance is your permanent address. Families are required to live within the Tacoma School District boundaries. 

The second qualifying factor is age. Children must be three or four-years-old on or before August 31. Priority is given to students who turn four-years-old on or before August 31 of the current school year.

The third qualifying factor is income. Priority is given to families with an annual household income below 500 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. If your family’s annual household income is above the 500% FPL, your student(s) will automatically be placed on a wait list.

Please note, TTK preschool classrooms include additional qualifying factors. Please review below under "What is the process for reviewing applications for TTK priority acceptance?"

Federal poverty levels (FPL) are issued each year by the Department of Health and Human Services.  To maintain funding for Head Start and ECEAP we must follow income eligibility requirements based on FPL. For placement into Head Start and ECEAP families within level one and two on the chart below receive priority.

Other preschool programs do not have income requirements; however, priority is given to families with an annual income below 500 percent of FPL. If your family’s annual household income is above the 500% FPL, your student(s) will automatically be placed on a wait list.

Washington state law requires any child attending in-person or online school, preschool, or childcare to show proof of the required vaccines for their age.

View vaccine requirements

TTK is a full-day preschool program that serves students who have not yet turned 5 years old and do not have access to high-quality early learning opportunities. Starting in the 2024-25 school year, TK will be offered at nearly every TPS elementary school. 

To qualify for a TTK preschool classroom, students must be four years old by Aug. 31, 2024. Learn more about TTK priority acceptance below. 

Transition to Kindergarten (TTK) Priority Placement

First Priority: The following qualifying factors for families are considered for first priority:

• Live within the school's neighborhood catchment area. 
• Have a sibling (PreK-5) already enrolled at the school. This does not include siblings enrolled through an out-of-district waiver or an approved non-neighborhood school choice.
• Household income between 131% - 300% of the Federal poverty guidelines and do not qualify for Head Start or ECEAP.
• The child is 4 years old as of August 31. 

Please note, families previously enrolled in a half-day peer program will have the option of moving back to their neighborhood school.

Second Priority: Neighborhood catchment students, with an income between 300% - 500% of the Federal Poverty Line if space is available. This does not include siblings enrolled through an out-of-district waiver or an approved non-neighborhood school choice.

Third Priority: All families with an income over 500% of the Federal poverty line. Notifications to be sent if space available end of Summer.

Fourth Priority: If unfilled slots are available, enrollment will be open across the district with a lottery selection process. Out-of-district students will only be considered after the in-district lottery selection process and will be handled on a case-by-case basis closer to the start of the school year.

Families do not apply for a specific program or school location, rather, once eligibility is determined, the team will place your child in the best option available. The preschool team will work determine which program is the best fit for your child, considering program type, location, schedule, siblings, childcare and more. 

All preschool programs require the following:

• Child's birth certificate
• Child's immunization records (shot records)
• Proof of residency in the Tacoma School District. A current utility bill, cable bill, rental/lease agreement, mortgage statement can be used to document residency.

For income-based programs (Head Start and ECEAP), families must provide proof of income for the last 12 months. Any of the following can be used:

• Last year's income tax return (1040)
• W-2 statements
• 12 months of pay stubs (if W2 is unavailable)
• Employer letter stating (12) months of total gross earnings
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) award letter (Provided by the State for qualifying public assistance programs)

Learn more about transportation edibility here.  

All kindergarten students are guaranteed a placement at their neighborhood school. Families are required to apply for choice enrollment if you would like your student to attend kindergarten at a school outside of your neighborhood boundaries. Please visit the district enrollment page for additional information.

In an effort to serve the preschool needs of our Tacoma School District families, the District has partnered with Green Trike, North Tacoma Co-op, Multi-cultural Child and Family Hope Center, the Bezos Academy, and Childcare Aware.  These early learning partners have preschool/childcare classrooms in various locations across the Tacoma School District. Please contact these partners for more information regarding enrollment and program options.

Green Trike

North Tacoma Co-op

Multi-cultural Child and Family Hope Center

Bezos Academy

Childcare Aware