Summary: Clayton will continue to have a Pre-Kindergarten program for four-year-olds for the 2025-26 school year. Families can apply for PreK earlier this year, compared to past years. Enrollment for PreK opens February 5. A significant change to be aware of is that parents across AISD will be able to rank their top three schools, and seats will be allocated based on a random lottery system. There will be no waitlist or priority selection. Families will be notified of the lottery outcomes on March 14, 2025.
Further Information: In February 2025, Austin ISD is launching an Early Bird Tuition-Based Pre-K4 enrollment period for families that do not qualify for free Pre-K4. This initiative will provide families the opportunity to enter a randomized selection process for a limited number of Pre-K4 seats in order to better plan for their child care needs.
Please note that families who qualify for free Pre-K are guaranteed a seat for their child. These spots have been reserved and will open for applications on April 1, 2025. Learn about the qualifications for free Pre-K >
Austin ISD families interested in an Early Bird Tuition-Based Pre-K4 seat can apply to up to three (3) Pre-K4 campuses from February 5 – March 7, 2025. Seats will be allocated based on a random lottery system, and there will be no waitlist or priority selection. Families will be notified of the lottery outcomes on March 14, 2025.
2025–26 Early Bird Pre-K4 Guidelines
- Students must be four years of age on or before September 1, 2025 to apply
- Students must live within Austin ISD boundaries (i.e. no out-of-district transfers)
- Pre-K4 Dual Language programs and Winn Montessori are excluded from Early Bird Pre-K4
- Programs follow the Austin ISD School Year calendar
- Full-day curriculum runs from 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Monthly tuition for full-day Pre-K4 is $550
- Families selected for Early Bird Pre-K4 will be required to submit a deposit to secure their seat, which will be applied to the first month’s tuition
