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. Two of the district's preschool programs, Head Start & ECEAP, are for low-income families and have income eligibility requirements based off the Federal Poverty guidelines.  Other preschool programs that do not have income requirements, however, 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.

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.

Based on the preschool application, the following three factors are reviewed to determine priority acceptance in preschool. Families can expect to hear from our team within four weeks and if eligible, you will also complete a TPS enrollment application.

Address:  Families are required to live within the Tacoma School District boundaries. 

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 

Income: Two of the district's preschool programs, Head Start & ECEAP, are for low-income families and have income eligibility requirements based off the Federal poverty guidelines.  Other preschool programs that do not have income requirements, however, 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 keep in mind that enrollment continues throughout the school year; student(s) placed on the wait list can be enrolled at anytime.

TK Priority Placement

First Priority: Families living in the school's neighborhood catchment area with an income below 131% - 300% of the Federal poverty guidelines and do not qualify for Head Start or ECEAP and the child is 4 years old as of August 31. Families previously enrolled in a half-day peer program will have the option of moving back to their neighborhood school.

Second Priority: Siblings already enrolled at the school, regardless of the poverty threshold. This does not include siblings enrolled through an out-of-district waiver or an approved non-neighborhood school choice.

Third Priority: Neighborhood catchment students (neighborhood families 300%-500% of the Federal poverty guidelines).

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)

At this time, there is no district transportation for preschool students. 

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