Preschool

School	Age	Schedule	Monthly Tuition	Fee to Register
Kenilworth	3 or 4	Monday through Friday: 8:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. Wednesday Early Release: 8:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.	$750	$25
Emerson	3 or 4	Monday through Friday: 8:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. Wednesday Early Release: 8:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.	$750	$25
Shaw Montessori	3 by August 31	Monday through Friday: 8:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.  Wednesday Early Release: 8:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.	$500	$25
Shaw Montessori	4 by August 31	Monday through Friday: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.  Wednesday Early Release: 8:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.	$750	$25
Lowell (Dual Language Immersion)	3 or 4	Monday through Friday: 8:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. Wednesday Early Release: 8:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.	$750	$25

*Phoenix #1 Employees receive a 10% tuition discount and a waived registration fee
*Payments will be due monthly online
*Late fees apply starting on the 9th day of the month

Tuition Assistance and Scholarships

DES Child Care Subsidy

Our preschool program accepts the DES child care subsidy at Emerson, Kenilworth, Lowell, and Shaw Montessori!

Apply for DES Child Care Assistance here.

For assistance, contact Lela Neff at 602-257-3810 or lela.neff@phxschools.org

Quality First Scholarships

Scroll down to see information about qualifying for Quality First Scholarships.

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Need Help or Have Questions?

We’re here to help you explore your options and find the best fit.
Call us at 602-257-3901 for personalized assistance.

Registration

If you have already registered, you do not need to register again. 

To apply for Head Start (Bethune, Edison, Lowell), call 602-262-4040​ or visit the City of Phoenix Head Start Program website.

To apply for Emerson, Faith North, Kenilworth,  or Lowell (DLI), call 602-257-3901 or fill out this online Phoenix #1 Preschool Application Form for the 2026-2026 school year. 

To apply for Shaw Montessori, call 602-257-3914 or visit Shaw Montessori Admission Process. 

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Preschool Child Find

The District offers developmental screenings periodically year-round. Children as young as 2 years 9 months may participate in hearing, vision, and developmental screenings to determine if further evaluations are necessary. Eligible children identified with significant delays will be offered services through enrollment in District programs that include special education at no cost to the parent/guardian. If you think your preschool-age child may have speech or other developmental delays, please call (602) 257-3808 to schedule a screening appointment.

If you have an infant from birth to 2 years 9 months of age who appears to have developmental delays, please contact Arizona Early Intervention Programs (AzEIP) at (602) 253-1620 to learn about services available for younger children with disabilities.

Learn more about
Child Find

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Quality First Scholarships 

Quality First Scholarships are funded through First Things First to increase access to high-quality early childhood education for Arizona families. Each year, First Things First allocates a limited number of scholarship slots to participating preschool programs based on available funding and regional needs.  

Quality First Scholarships help reduce preschool tuition costs for eligible families enrolled in our tuition-based preschool programs at Emerson, Kenilworth and Shaw.  The chart below indicates the gross income and household size requirements to be eligible for a scholarship. 

2026 Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) Circle your final household size determination and add final gross income in the appropriate box.
Family Size	2	3	4	5	6	7	8+
Gross Annual Income 300% of FPL	$64,920	$81,960	$99,000	$116,040	$133,080	$150,120	$167,160

* For each person over a family size of eight (8), add $17,040.

 

Scholarship Priority

Scholarships will be awarded in the following priority order:

1. Phoenix #1 in-district families and in-district employees
2. Out-of-district Phoenix #1 employees
3. Families with siblings currently enrolled in a Phoenix#1 school
4. Date the family requested the scholarship application

Additional Scholarship Information

• One Quality First Scholarship may be awarded per family, regardless of the number of children enrolled.
• District employees who qualify for a Quality First Scholarship must choose either the Quality First Scholarship or the 10% employee tuition discount. Employees may not receive both benefits.

Steps to Complete the Application Process

1. Contact Marisa Brito at 602-257-3808 or m.brito@phxschools.org to request a scholarship application.
2. Complete all sections of the application.
3. Provide proof of income using one of the following options below
4. Include the following additional required documents with the application:

• Child's birth certificate
• Completed Statement of Lawful Presence (included in the packet) and a copy of an approved identification document listed on page 10 (such as a U.S. birth certificate, passport, or other approved document)
• Custody documents, if applicable

Proof of Income Options

Option 1: Public Assistance

• Submit a current approval letter for AHCCCS, SNAP (Food Stamps), or TANF.
• The letter must include the child's name, household size, and monthly income.

Option 2: Tax Records and Income Verification

• Submit a copy of your most recent federal tax return (Form 1040), and
• If employed by an employer:
  • One month of current pay stubs or
  • A letter from your employer showing gross income, hours worked, and pay frequency.
• If self-employed, submit one of the following:
  • A signed profit and loss statement for the past three months with receipts for business expenses, or
  • Form 1040 with Schedule C, E, or F and three months of income and expense records.
• If unemployed:
  • Submit the attached No Income Declaration Form.
• If experiencing homelessness:
  • Submit a letter from a case manager or a personal statement describing your situation.

Important Reminders

• Incomplete applications cannot be processed and will delay eligibility determination.
• Please submit the application and all required documents at the same time.
• Be sure to include every family member for whom you are financially responsible, including siblings and other dependents.
• The application requires a physical signature. Electronic signatures cannot be accepted.
• All of our tuition preschool sites accept DES childcare subsidy. If you receive DES, you will not qualify for a Quality First Scholarship. Please contact Lela Neff at lela.neff@phxschools.org or 602-257-3810 for assistance with DES. 

Scholarship Application Status and Notification

• After we receive your completed application and all required supporting documentation, your application will be reviewed. 
• You will be notified within 10 business days whether your family has been awarded a Quality First Scholarship or placed on the scholarship waitlist. 
• If you are placed on the waitlist, we will contact you if additional scholarships become available throughout the school year 

Foster Care and McKinney-Vento Families

Children who are in foster care or qualify under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act should contact the district point of contact for assistance with preschool placement. ashley.king@phxschools.org or 602-257-3746.

If you have questions about your eligibility or need help completing the forms, contact us at 602-257-3808 or m.brito@phxschools.org or reach out to Valley of the Sun United Way: regionalscholarships@vsuw.org or 602-240-6324. We are here to support you every step of the way!