There are dozens of preschools in the Tucson metro area.
In general, "preschool" in Arizona refers to any program for young children who are not yet eligible for elementary school.
According to Arizona Education Code, “a child is eligible for admission to kindergarten if the child is five years of age. A child is deemed five years of age if the child reached the age of five before September 1 of the current school year. The governing board may admit children who have not reached the required age as prescribed by this subsection if it is determined to be in the best interest of the children. Such children must reach the required age of five for kindergarten…by January 1 of the current school year.”
Most preschools offer programs for ages 2, 3, 4, and 5. Occasionally, preschools will offer infant and toddler care as well.
In Arizona, "preschool" is the most common term that is used for schooling prior to elementary school. Other terms that may be used include: early childhood education (ECE), nursery school, or PreK (pre-kindergarten).
Although there are many preschools, there are a number of different focuses that you will be able to choose from.
Some preschools are half-day, whereas others are full-day. Some are play-based; others are more academic. Some are five days per week; others offer 1, 2, 3, or 4 days per week as an option.
If you have a particular type of preschool in mind, rest assured that there a variety of options in Tucson - bilingual preschools, Montessori preschools, Waldorf preschools, Christian preschools, preschools for children with learning disabilities, preschools for gifted children, and more.
The state of Arizona does not currently offer free preschool. That being said, some public school districts do offer free or very low-cost preschools - especially for students with disabilities and/or students who meet low-income requirements.
A good starting point if you are in need of free or low-cost preschool in Tucson is the Arizona Head Start Association.
Only preschoolers with disabilities are eligible for the Arizona Tax Credit program.
ESA stands for Empowerment Scholarship Account. It is a program that is administered by the Arizona Department of Education.
In essence, parents can choose to opt their K-12 child out of the public school system and instead receive funds to enroll their child in a private school or to homeschool. Preschool students with disabilities are also eligible for the program.
There are application dates each quarter.
At most preschools in Tucson, the tuition rate ranges between $150-$900/month or $1800-$10,800/year. The average cost probably hovers at around $450/month or $5400/year - but tuition rates vary greatly depending on facilities, class size, special programs, included meals, etc.
If the cost is prohibitive for your family, you may want to inquire about scholarships and financial aid at the preschool you are interested in.
In order to find a program that is safe for your child and that is a strong fit for your family, it is important to ask good questions at any tours or information meetings.
Here are ten questions you may want to ask prospective preschools:
Great question! With dozens of preschools in Tucson, it’s hard to pinpoint just one. Each preschool has a unique community, curriculum, and focus.
The best way to find a preschool in Tucson is to ask friends and family members for recommendations. You can also check yelp and google reviews.
You may also be interested in the following resource pages:
***Watch this page for new and updated information about preschools in Tucson.
