Families do not apply for a specific program or school location. Students are placed in a program and location based on the qualifying factors below. The following are considered for priority enrollment into one of our preschool programs. 

The first qualifying factor for acceptance is your permanent address. 
Families requesting placement at their neighborhood school are given priority. Families requesting a school other than their neighborhood school will be considered if space is available.

The second qualifying factor is age.
Children must be three or four years old on or before Aug. 31.  

1. Priority is given to students who turn four years old on or before Aug. 31.
2. Transition to Kindergarten: Students must be four years old on or before Aug. 31. If your child is three or younger, they do not qualify for the TTK program.

The third qualifying factor is income. Priority is given to families with an annual household income below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The following priority is given, depending on the FPL:

1. Families that do not qualify for Head Start or ECEAP will have priority for Transitional to Kindergarten and Peer Inclusion preschool programs
2. Families making over 501% of the FPL will be placed on a waitlist and notified mid-June.

Families on the waitlist or with a current TPS preschool placement will be prioritized by the same qualifying factors as slots become available.  All families that reside outside of the Tacoma School District boundaries requesting placement will be placed if space is available at the end of June.

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

Learn more about transportation eligibility here.  

All kindergarten students are guaranteed a placement at their neighborhood school.

If you would like your child to attend kindergarten at a school outside of your neighborhood boundary, you are required to apply for choice enrollment i 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

Yes. Any new student wanting to attend preschool, or any student that previously withdrew (prior to the last day of the previous year) from preschool in Tacoma Public Schools, must complete the pre-school application. 

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

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.

All preschool programs require the following:

• Proof of student's age
• Child's immunization records (shot records)
• (2) Address verification documents. Examples include, a current utility bill, cable bill, rental/lease agreement, mortgage statement can be used to document residency.

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
• Award letter provided by the state for qualifying public assistance programs.