Arlington ISD Pre-K for 3 Year Olds

A Gentle Start for Our Littlest Stars

At Arlington ISD pre-K, learning and fun go hand-in-hand.

Our Pre-K3 program is a half-day classroom experience designed just for 3-year-olds — a cozy first step into the world of learning, where play, discovery, and friendship lead the way.

In Pre-K3, children begin to learn the rhythms of school in a warm, supportive setting led by certified early childhood teachers. It’s where they’ll:

Build early math and language skills through play and hands-on activities
Learn to share, listen, and make friends while growing in confidence
Explore, imagine, and try new things in a safe, caring environment
Develop independence at their own pace, with kindness and encouragement every step of the way

It’s more than school. It’s where little ones begin to believe in themselves.

Pre-K3 - Half-Day

A FREE, half-day prekindergarten program for 3-year-olds who meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria (as outlined by TEA):

Be unable to speak and comprehend the English language;
Be educationally disadvantaged, which means a student eligible to participate in the national free or reduced-price lunch program;
Be homeless, as defined by 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 1143a, regardless of the residence of the child, of either parent of the child, or of the child's guardian or other person having lawful control of the child;
Be the child of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active duty by proper authority;
Be the child of a member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while serving on active duty;
Be in, or have been in, the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) following an adversary hearing held as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code;
Be the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award as a peace officer (3106.002), firefighter (3106.003) or emergency medical first responder (3106.004).

*Age is always calculated as of Sept. 1 of the current school year (for the purposes of establishing eligibility).

For more information on eligibility, please visit the Texas Education Agency Website.

Pre-K3 - Bilingual Half Day

A FREE, bilingual half-day prekindergarten program open to 3-year-olds who meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria (as outlined by TEA):

Be unable to speak and comprehend the English language;
Be educationally disadvantaged, which means a student eligible to participate in the national free or reduced-price lunch program;
Be homeless, as defined by 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 1143a, regardless of the residence of the child, of either parent of the child, or of the child's guardian or other person having lawful control of the child;
Be the child of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active duty by proper authority;
Be the child of a member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while serving on active duty;
Be in, or have been in, the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) following an adversary hearing held as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code;
Be the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award as a peace officer (3106.002), firefighter (3106.003) or emergency medical first responder (3106.004).

*Age is always calculated as of September 1 of the current school year (for the purposes of establishing eligibility).

For more information on eligibility, please visit the Texas Education Agency Website.

When the home school does not have a bilingual program, a qualifying student may attend a Bilingual Center.

Pre-K3 - Tuition-Based Half Day

More than 20 Arlington ISD schools offer a tuition-based, half day program for prekindergarten.
Tuition is $2,295 for the 2026-2027 school year, which will be divided into nine equal payments of $255 beginning Sept. 1, 2026, and ending May 1, 2027. Full monthly payments are due and payable on the first of each month starting Sept. 1. Payment must be made in order to maintain the child’s spot in the program.
Parents employed by Arlington ISD will pay a yearly tuition of $2,070 or nine monthly payments of $230.
To attend pre-K 3 children must be three years old by September 1 of the school year in which they are applying. There are no exceptions to this state requirement.