For many San Antonio families, sending our kids to preschool is a given. I was fortunate enough for each of my four kids to go to some sort of pre-k program, whether it was out of necessity for work, or because we wanted to give our kids a head start in their schooling.
As a result, my kids entered kindergarten with a better understanding of what was expected of them throughout the school day; and research shows numerous other benefits for children who attend preschool. Early childhood education programs can help a child in their cognitive development, social skills, communication skills, and contribute to their later success in school and beyond.
But pre-K programs aren’t always within every family’s grasp, and it was certainly a struggle for us at times. Fortunately, there are a number of public and private schools and organizations in San Antonio that offer free or low-cost programs, as well as other resources that support local families with preschool age kids.
When researching programs for your pre-k students, be sure to consider whether they offer a full day program or morning/afternoon session only, what the teacher ratio is, what the wait list and application process is like, what their curriculum includes, and any other important things that are relevant for your family.
In addition to our list of pre-k charter school programs and resources below, be sure to visit our guide to charter schools and download our San Antonio Charter School App and filter through pre-k programs at public charter schools in your area.
Pre-K Charter School Programs in San Antonio
621 W. Euclid Ave.
Serves PK–3rd grade at the Euclid campus; serves grades 4–12 at the Main Ave. campus
SAISD In-District Charter; part of CAST Schools
343 Koehler Ct.
Serves PK–8th grade
1111 S. Navidad St.
Serves PK–6th grade
1485 Hillcrest Dr.
Serves PK3–8th grade
Open Enrollment
515 Willow St.
Serves PK–8th grade
2015 S. Flores St.
Serves PK–5th grade
SAISD In-District Charter; International Baccalaureate
3635 Belgium Ln.
Serves PK–5th grade
1616 Blanco Rd.
Serves PK–8th grade
Democracy Prep at the Stewart Campus
1950 Rigsby Ave.
Serves PK–8th grade
SAISD In-District Charter; partnership with Democracy Prep
1930 Waverly Ave.
Serves PK–8th grade
SAISD In-District Charter; International Baccalaureate
2235 Thousand Oaks Dr., Ste. 130
Serves PK3–1st grade
Open Enrollment; part of ResponsiveEd
Gardendale Elementary Early Learning Program
1731 Dahlgreen
Serves PK–2nd grade
Edgewood ISD In-District Charter School; partnership with Pre-K 4 SA
510 Morningview Dr.
Serves PK–6th grade
6944 S. Sunbelt Dr.
Serves PK–12th grade
Open Enrollment
George Gervin Academy—El Hombre de Hielo
4205 San Pedro Ave.
Serves PK–5th grade
Open Enrollment
Gonzales Early Childhood Center
518 E Magnolia Ave.
Serves PK3–PK4
Harmony School of Excellence San Antonio
2015 SW Loop 410
Serves PK–5th grade
Open Enrollment; part of Harmony Public Schools
Harmony School of Innovation San Antonio
8125 Glen Mont Dr.
Serves PK–8th grade
Open Enrollment; part of Harmony Public Schools
Heritage Academy of San Antonio
8750 Fourwinds Dr.
Serves PK–8th grade
Open Enrollment
247 Bangor Dr.
Serves PK–5th grade
SAISD In-District Charter; International Baccalaureate
(Select San Antonio locations)
Serves PK + higher grades, depending on the campus
Open Enrollment
1300 Delgado St.
Serves PK–8th grade
(Select San Antonio locations)
Serves PK + higher grades, depending on the campus
Open Enrollment
201 Parland Pl.
Serves PK3–6th grade
8138 Westshire
Serves PK3–9th grade
3915 West Ave.
Serves PK4
North East ISD In-District Charter; limited to residents of North East ISD
Rodriguez Montessori Elementary
3626 W. César E. Chávez Blvd.
Serves PK3–2nd grade in 2021–2022; expanding to PK3–5th
School of Excellence in Education
(Select San Antonio Locations)
Serves PK + higher grades, depending on the campus
Open Enrollment
School of Science and Technology
(Select San Antonio Locations)
Serves PK + higher grades, depending on the campus
Open Enrollment
(Select San Antonio Locations)
Serves PK + higher grades, depending on the campus
Open Enrollment
722 Haggin St.
Serves grades PK3–5th grades in 2021–2022; expanding to PK3–8th
2411 San Pedro Ave.
Serves PK–7th grade in 2021–2022; expanding to PK–8th grade
110 W. Quill Dr.
Serves PK–5th grade
SAISD In-District Charter; International Baccalaureate
Other San Antonio Pre-K Resources
Probably the most well-known pre-K resource in San Antonio is the city-funded Pre-K 4 SA program, which has partnerships with local school districts to serve eligible four-year-olds. Eighty percent of the enrolled students are eligible to attend tuition-free, and the other 20 percent pay tuition on a sliding scale. There are currently four Pre-K 4 SA campuses. Fine more information in our enrollment guide blog post.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) offers resources for parents, including tips for what to look for in a program. Accreditation by the NAEYC is a sign of a high quality early childhood education program.
Official Texas Child Care Search
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services offers an online search so families can locate licensed child care centers and in-home daycares. For each child care center, the profile includes data on inspections, incidents, deficiencies, etc.
Ask for Scholarship Information
If you’re looking outside of the above resources, be sure to look into whether the preschool programs you’re researching offer scholarships or sliding-scale tuition options. Many of them will have information on their website if they do, and you can always ask in a brief phone call.
