The race for free Pre‑K seats in the Clark County School District is officially on. CCSD announced Tuesday that enrollment interest for the 2026–2027 school year is open, with more than 14,000 no‑cost spots spread across over 600 early‑childhood programs.
Parents and guardians can now add eligible three‑ and four‑year‑olds to the district’s interest list, but it is not a free‑for‑all. Most CCSD Pre‑K classes are half‑day, with a smaller pool of full‑day slots, and space is limited. Selected students will be offered a seat at the school closest to their home, while those who cannot be placed right away will land on a waitlist.
📣 Attention parents/guardians! CCSD Pre-K enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is now open! We are proud to offer over 14,000 Pre-K seats across 600 Early Childhood programs. To check the requirements and submit your application, visit https://t.co/goRHsntkUt
— Clark County School District (@clarkcountysch) March 10, 2026
How to apply
To get in line, parents or guardians should complete the district’s 2026–2027 Pre‑Kindergarten Program Interest Form. According to CCSD’s Early Childhood Department, that office handles placement and assigns students to the nearest school that has an available seat.
Families can submit the district’s Pre‑Kindergarten Program Interest Form online. Once submitted, the child is added either to the interest list or directly to the waitlist, depending on availability.
Who qualifies and program logistics
Individual school pages spell out the ground rules: children must be at least three years old before August 1, 2026, they cannot already be eligible for kindergarten, and a parent or guardian must provide transportation to and from school.
Hollingsworth STEAM Academy, which posts the district’s guidance for families, also notes that most programs run on a half‑day schedule, while full‑day placements are in short supply. When there are more applicants than seats, students are chosen through a lottery held no later than May 1, 2026. Parents and guardians are typically notified of results by May 29, 2026.
Seats, waitlists and why demand is high
Even with thousands of seats on the table, demand is running hot. Last summer, nearly 7,000 young learners were on CCSD’s Pre‑K waitlist, according to 8 News Now.
The district has been working to expand access and shore up funding for early‑childhood education. KTNV reported that a recent state grant will bankroll curriculum and professional learning for Pre‑K teachers, part of a broader push to strengthen programs even as lotteries and waitlists remain a fact of life. Families should expect multiple lottery rounds and rolling placements as openings pop up during the school year.
What families should expect next
After submitting the interest form, families should keep an eye on their email for placement offers and registration steps. CCSD’s Early Childhood Department can be reached at (702) 799‑7479 for help with the process, according to the district.
Students who are not selected in the initial lotteries will stay on the waitlist and may be offered a seat later in the year if space becomes available.
