Discover Pre-K at KIPP Texas
Our joyful Pre-K programs set a foundation of literacy and skills for a strong academic future. Starting Pre-K at KIPP Texas puts students on a path toward long-term success in K-12, college, and beyond.
Our joyful Pre-K programs set a foundation of literacy and skills for a strong academic future. Starting Pre-K at KIPP Texas puts students on a path toward long-term success in K-12, college, and beyond.
We help our littlest KIPPsters love learning from day one - building joyful learning experiences that set the foundation for fun curriculum and higher language, math, and reading levels.
Our students build knowledge by participating in enrichment courses throughout the week. These courses vary by school and can include art, music, dance, technology, etc.
Unique small-group learning time and exploratory active play help students grow social-emotional skills and build relationships with peers and teachers.
Research shows that high-quality early learning is connected to school readiness and later life outcomes. Students in high-quality early education programs are more likely to be promoted to the next grade and graduate high school. Choosing a high-quality Pre-K program for your child now makes a difference for their future!
Becoming a KIPPster
We teach your child what it means to be a KIPPster! We are here to teach students how to love learning, interact with teachers and peers, and build their confidence for future success.
Social-Emotional Learning
We believe in personalized learning approaches that address each child’s individual needs. As children become students for the first time, we emphasize important lessons on social-emotional awareness and reflection that support the growth of the whole child.
Enhanced Academic Performance
Researchers found attending high-quality Pre-K has the strongest effect on literacy. In a 2015 Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment, Kindergarten students who attended KIPP Pre-K scored nearly six points higher (19% difference) in reading and nearly four points higher in math (12% difference) than students who did not attend KIPP Pre-K.
Proven Impact
A 2017 research study found that “after five years, KIPP Pre-K combined with KIPP early elementary had ‘positive, statistically significant impacts on reading and math achievement’.”
KIPP Texas offers high-quality Pre-K programming in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Review frequently asked questions and the offerings in your region below.
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We currently offer Pre-K programming in all four regions:
There are certain eligibility requirements to qualify for free Pre-K.
Free Pre-K | Tuition-Based Pre-K |
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To be eligible in a free Pre-K class, a child must be 3 (Pre-K3) or 4 (Pre-K4) years old by September 1 of the current school year AND: | To be eligible in a tuition-based Pre-K class, a child must be 3 (Pre-K3) or 4(Pre-K4) years old by September 1 of the current school year AND: |
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*Please note that under Senate Bill 1679, any KIPP Texas Pre-K3 student who qualifies for free Pre-K3 will automatically be eligible for free Pre-K4. This automatic qualification does not apply to New-to-KIPP (NTK) Pre-K4 students.
*For military duty, families will need to provide a military ID or letter from the VA stating a service-connected disability for those injured while on active duty.
Schools will verify a student’s eligibility during the enrollment (NTK students) and re-enrollment process (returning students) for Pre-K. This process begins on April 1.
For half-day Pre-K3 programs, students are scheduled at the campus level for either a morning or afternoon program based on availability and family schedule. Currently, KIPP Texas – Dallas-Fort Worth and KIPP Texas – San Antonio does not offer Pre-K3.
The expectation is that once you enroll in school, you are required to attend school. Texas Compulsory Attendance: Children ages 6-18 (up to the student’s 19th birthday) are required to attend school. Compulsory attendance also applies to students below the age of 6 if the student voluntarily enrolled in Prekindergarten or Kindergarten. Learn more in the KIPP Texas Student/Parent Handbook.
Our primary elementary academic model is designed to ensure our Little KIPPsters develop a love of learning from the very start. We do this by creating a safe and joyful learning environment for each student. Students spend time daily engaging in Social-Emotional Learning starting in Pre-K. Our programs also teach academics through collaboration and play such that students are in centers and guided learning throughout the school day. Additionally, our warm and friendly teachers ensure our students build knowledge by participating in enrichment courses throughout the day. These enrichment courses vary by campus and can include art, music, dance, technology, etc.
Please contact your school directly for more information on before and after-school programs based on grade level.
We do not have any academic requirements for Pre-K or Kindergarten students at KIPP Texas. Campuses administer a language screening for incoming Pre-K and Kindergarten students in order to provide the necessary support for emergent bilingual students. Students are tested after they register and before the first day of school to determine learning style and groups.
Our teachers use a variety of assessments to share progress and evaluate learning for our Little KIPPsters. In Pre-K3, teachers use observations and performance tasks to gauge student learning. Starting in Pre-K4, students are assessed individually using the CIRCLE assessment, a state-mandated tool specific for PreKindergarten students. In Kindergarten, students demonstrate their learning on assessments aligned to our K-4 curriculum in literacy, math, science, and social studies.
We believe that KIPPsters learn by doing! As such, we proudly use project-based learning to promote confidence and critical thinking for all of our Little KIPPsters. Our curriculum is focused on oral language, vocabulary and storytelling, including sounds and patterns, that set the foundation for strong fluency and comprehension.
Our curriculum is a comprehensive, research-based curriculum that features exploration and discovery as a way of learning, enabling children to develop confidence, creativity, and lifelong critical thinking skills. It is designed to help educators at all levels of experience plan and implement a developmentally appropriate, content-rich program for children with diverse backgrounds and skill levels.
Yes, extracurricular and enrichment opportunities are available. Students in Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 participate in electives for at least 30 minutes each day, such as music, art, dance, or Spanish language. These specific offerings will vary by school.
We believe in personalized learning approaches that address each child’s individual needs. KIPP Pre-K and Kindergarten students participate in social-emotional learning (SEL) time daily – 20 minutes for Pre-K3 and 30 minutes for Pre-K4 and Kindergarten per day. These lessons cover the different ways to express emotions, self-awareness and reflection on emotional needs.
Pre-K students spend at least 70% of their learning playtime in small group activities with a maximum of five students. These important interactions with others help our students make connections and foster relationships with peers that bring joy and confidence.
The average KIPP Texas class size is 22 Pre-K students to two adults in the classroom and 25 Kindergarten students to one adult.
We have heightened our security at each one of our campuses.
All Pre-K students receive free breakfast, and all KIPP Texas primary schools offer free lunch. This is subject to school eligibility, and families must still return a household income application for schools to continue receiving funding.
Transportation services are not provided for Pre-K3 students. Pre-K4 students may use transportation services, but only if riding the bus with an older sibling.
KIPP Texas partners with Hop, Skip, Drive, exclusively for students whose IEPs (Individualized Education Program) include a transportation element not met with our yellow bus services and/or students who qualify for McKinney-Vento. The minimum age to ride is five years old, and the family would need to provide a car seat that must be (un)installed by a parent and/or school staff member.
Every school will provide specific arrival and dismissal procedures based on the demands, layout, and access of the entry ways.
In support of the procedures to prepare all students for a safe dismissal, there will be a cut-off time for early pickup prior to dismissal time. For questions about arrival and dismissal procedures, please contact your school directly.
KIPP Texas Public Schools Pre-Kindergarten (“PK”) classrooms shall provide meaningful opportunities for families to be engaged in their child’s education. Each KIPP Texas Public School shall develop a comprehensive plan for family engagement to implement strategies in all PK classrooms. Strategies should be designed to develop partnerships with families and build reciprocal relationships that promote shared decision making. The following are examples of meaningful opportunities for families to be engaged in their child’s education:
A log of activities, opportunities or communications made for family engagement must be on file at each KIPP Texas Public School campus.
Questions about the Pre-K program in your region? Contact your regional Student Recruitment and Enrollment manager for more information or fill out the form below.