Magnet
Two Phases of Pre-K Process
Phase I:
Lottery –The Pre-K Application is open for all students who are 3 or 4 by September 1, 2026. On April 1st, families who have applied and are potentially eligible for free Pre-K 4 will receive notification of their child’s campus results. These applicants will maintain their offered seat pending Texas Education Agency (TEA) eligibility verification beginning April 1st.
- Per TEA, eligibility must be verified, and this process cannot begin until April 1st. If the applicant is not TEA eligible, their seat will be removed, and the application will be moved to Phase 2.
- Pre-K 4 non-eligible and all Pre-K 3 families who apply during Phase 1 will automatically be placed on waitlist to ensure seats are offered by TEA priority.
- When all eligible Pre-K 4 students are offered seats, Phase II begins, allowing non-eligible Pre-K 4 and all Pre-K 3 applicants to be considered for remaining seats on a tuition basis or space-available basis. Families will be notified of their placement, and must accept their child’s seat within five days of the offer to secure enrollment
Phase II:
Space Available - Pre-K parents may add themselves to existing waitlists established during Phase 1. Current HISD students can no longer apply once this phase closes.
- Students may still be offered a seat at a campus if space opens up until the end of Phase 2. Applicants will be offered seats in order of TEA eligibility until all seats are filled.
- At the end of this phase, waitlists are retired.