• Pre-K Tuition-Free Eligibility

    Texas law permits tuition-free Pre-K for students who are deemed eligible.

    Take the survey here to see if you qualify for free Pre-K.

Eligibility Criteria

  • To be eligible for Pre-K enrollment in the district’s Pre-K program, a child must:

    • Be 3 or 4 years of age on or before September 1 of the given school year
    • Live within the boundaries of the Houston Independent School District

    AND meet one of the eligibility requirements below for the tuition-free program:

    • Economically Disadvantaged: Please open this income chart and find the row that matches the number of family members living in your home to determine eligibility.

    • Limited English: Child is unable to speak or understand English (PreLas testing is required, and results will determine if child is eligible).

    • Homeless: Child is defined as homeless if his or her family is living in temporary or transitional housing, such as a hotel, motel, car, homeless shelter, shelter not designed for human habitation, such as a tent, or doubled-up with another family. Homeless students are enrolled regardless of documentation.

    • U.S. Military: Child of an active-duty member of the U.S. military, including reserve armed forced or one who has been killed, injured, or missing in action while on active duty.

    • Foster Care: Child is currently or formerly in foster care.

    • Head Start Eligibility: Meets the SNAP or TANF criteria

    • Star of Texas Award: Child of a Parent/Guardian that is awarded the Star of Texas Award as a peace office, firefighter, or an emergency medical first responder that has been injured or killed on the line of duty. (Parent’s/Guardian’s name must be on the Governor’s list)

    HISD offers Pre-K on a tuition basis to 3- and 4-year-old children who do not meet the eligibility requirements to attend the free program. The 2023-2024 tuition rate is $6,484 or 9 payments of $720.45 each month. Payments are due on the 1st of the month and can be submitted to the campus via check or money order. Please know that the tuition rate for the 2024-2025 school year will be released in late June and should be approximately $20-$30 higher. 

     

     For more information, please contact Pre-K department at earlychildhood@houstonisd.org or 713-556-4393.