Tempe, AZ - Applications are open for Tempe PRE, the City of Tempe’s full-day preschool, with tuition options for all budgets, small classes and play-based learning.
The program is available to families in Tempe and neighboring cities at six schools in the Tempe Elementary School District, the city's longtime partner.
Apply online today for the 2026-27 school year, which begins July 22.
- Open to children ages 3 and 4; must be 3 by Aug. 31 and potty trained
- Free, half and full tuition available based on income eligibility
- Early childhood education-certified teachers
- Year-round option through camps and summer sessions
- DES-approved program; limited Quality First scholarships available
Children who turn 3 between July 24 and Aug. 31 can start school after their birthday if space is still available.
Tuition options
- Full tuition of $850 per month ($870 with extended care): All families who live in Tempe or surrounding cities.
- Half tuition of $425 per month ($435 with extended care): Tempe families with an income between 200 - 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
- Free: Tempe families with an income at or below 200% of the FPL.
Application process
All Tempe families seeking free or half tuition must apply for Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) child care assistance.
- Applications for free or half tuition will be part of a random lottery selected for processing after Feb. 4; new applications will be pulled for processing every two weeks.
- Applications for full tuition are processed as they come into the city.
Families who do not qualify for DES assistance may still be eligible for financial help through the city if they are Tempe residents or through Quality First scholarships. Apply today.