Santa Fe Public Schools offers free preschool programs for 3 and 4 year old-children. We offer full day programs for 3 and 4-year old children Monday-Friday. We also offer half day programs for 3 year and 4 year old children at Nye Early Childhood center.
Each classroom has a maximum of 20 students with a licensed teacher and educational assistant. Some of our sites offer a bilingual program in English and Spanish.
Our PreK program philosophy is grounded in children learning through play. We provide an inviting learning environment, both indoors and outdoors, that allows children to learn through self-guided exploration. We offer developmentally appropriate, teacher-supported activities that encourage independence, creativity, and critical thinking. In PreK, children spend time outdoors every day where they can move, explore, discover, and develop their social and emotional skills.
The family-school partnership is important to us. Throughout the year, we will host family events and facilitate ways in which you can be involved in your child's learning and be part of the classroom community.
PreK Lottery for School Year 2025-2026
Now Open!
Watch the 2025-2026 PreK & Kindergarten Lottery information session HERE.
PreK Lottery for School Year 2024-2025
Still Open
SFPS offers free services to 3 and 4-year-old children.
Half-day programs for 3Y and mixed-age children at Nye Early Childhood Center. These services are offered Monday-Thursday.
Full-day programs for 3Y children at Nye Early Childhood Center. These services are offered Monday-Friday and follow the elementary bell schedule with early release on Fridays.
Full-day programs for 4Y children in 15 different school sites. The PreK program follows the elementary bell schedule with classes Monday- Friday and early release on Fridays.
In our Early Childhood program, children learn through play. We provide an inviting learning environment that allows children to learn through self-guided exploration. All our classrooms are inclusive, and we offer developmentally appropriate, teacher-supported activities that encourage independence, self-control, creativity, and critical thinking.
Early Preschool (3 Y Program)
Children must be three years old on or before August 31st of the upcoming school year
Students born from 9/1/2020 to 8/31/2021 are eligible for the 3Y half-day programs.
Half-day program, Monday- Thursday with the option of AM and PM
Full-day program, Monday-Friday with early release on Fridays.
Services offered at Nye Early Childhood Center
Preschool (4 Y program)
Children must be four years old on or before August 31st of the upcoming school year.
Students born from 9/1/2019 to 8/31/2020 are eligible for 4Y programs.
Full-day program; Monday - Friday with early release on Fridays.
Services offered at :
Amy Biehl
Atalaya
Aspen
Cesar Chavez
EJ Martinez
El Camino Real
El Dorado Community School
Kearny
Nava
Nina Otero
Nye EC Center
Pinon
Ramirez Thomas
Salazar
Sweeney
Early PreK and PreK Calendar
SFPS follows the District's school calendar with few exceptions. Please refer to the PreK calendar for detailed information.
Family Handbook
Refer to the Early Childhood Family Handbook for more information on policies and procedures.
What you need to know
All families interested in a preschool program will submit an online Preschool Application.
To be eligible, children must meet the program's age criteria on or before August 31st of the upcoming school year.
All our sites have a maximum enrollment; thus, completing an application does not guarantee enrollment. Seats are offered based on a lottery; children applying to their school zone during the lottery window will get priority.
The application window is from November 1st, 2024 to January 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
All applications submitted during this window will be part of the Preschool Student Lottery that will take place on February 5, 2025, and results will be emailed to all applicants. Please check your spam folder. If you have questions or haven't received an email, please get in touch with the Data Dept. at (505) 467-4111 or email them at transfer@sfps.k12.nm.us.
Applications received after 11:59 p.m. on January 31, 2025 will be placed on a waitlist in the order they are received.
Transportation is available to children attending Pre-K in their neighborhood school zone. Families must transport their children to PreK classes, if not in their neighborhood schools.
The Selection Process for Preschool Programs Administrative Regulation 304-1 can be found here.
PreK Lottery Frequently Ask Questions
If you have questions regarding lottery results please read the following Q&A. You can also call (505)467-4111 or email at transfer@sfps.k12.nm.us
For more information
For half-day Early Preschool, contact Nye Early Childhood Center at (505) 467-4600
For more information about the PreK programs, please get in touch with Lauren Ceronie at laceronie@sfps.k12.nm.us
