If you didn’t participate in Round 1, would like to re-explore your options, or are new to DPS, you can submit your ECE-3 and Kindergarten application now! Learn more about Round 2 of SchoolChoice.
The DPS SchoolChoice open enrollment process is for any student who wants or needs to attend a new school for the following school year, particularly “transitioning” students (incoming kinder, sixth- and ninth-grade students). All incoming ECE-3 students, as well as incoming students who reside in an enrollment zone, must complete a SchoolChoice application.
If you are interested in enrolling your child in ECE for the current school year (2025-26), please email schoolchoice@dpsk12.org or call Choice hotline at 720-423-3493.
First, to prepare for SchoolChoice, learn more about schools in which you might be interested, starting with your neighborhood school. Check out the School Finder, read the Enrollment Guides and talk to schools you are interested in. (Links will be updated to the 26-27 year soon)
All kindergarten students are guaranteed a seat at either their neighborhood (boundary) school or, if living within an enrollment zone, are guaranteed a seat at one of the schools within that zone. If you “choice” out of your boundary school or enrollment zone, your current school of enrollment is your new right-to-attend school. To find your neighborhood school or to learn if you live in an enrollment zone, enter your address at School Finder.
Create an account or, if you’re a parent of a current DPS student, use your Parent Portal username and password to log in to the SchoolChoice application. Then, rank up to 12 of your most-preferred schools anytime during the Choice window. For the 2026-27 school year, the Round 1 application will be open from 10 a.m. on Dec. 2, 2025 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 20, 2026. Families can submit one Choice application per student. For step-by-step instructions, review the application guide.
Stephen Knight (SKCEE) offers full day programming for 3, 4, and 5 year olds. (our kinder feeds into Cory Elementary for 1st grade).
Age Requirements for Incoming Students
Preschool, also called Early Childhood Education or ECE, helps young children develop mentally, socially and emotionally. The DPS Early Education program provides quality half- and full-day preschool at more than 80 DPS schools. DPS preschool programs are designed to serve all students, including students with disabilities.
Every school district in Colorado, including DPS, is working with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) to continue expanding its Early Childhood Education with an enrollment process for Universal Preschool Colorado, also known as UPK.
UPK ensures that every child, in the year before they are eligible for kindergarten, is eligible for half-day, state-funded, voluntary preschool. 3-year-olds with qualifying factors may be eligible for at least part-time (10 hours-per-week) preschool programming. 4-year-olds with qualifying factors may be eligible for additional hours of tuition-free preschool.
Following your DPS SchoolChoice application submitted during Round 1, DPS will reach out to families to provide the next steps for completing an application for funding support through UPK.
Preschool is a tuition-based program. Tuition is determined on a sliding fee scale by the family household size and gross income and ranges from free to out-of-district cost.
UPK ensures that every child, in the year before they are eligible for kindergarten, is eligible for half-day (minimum 15 hours per week) state-funded, voluntary preschool, provided they complete the UPK application.
3-year-olds with qualifying factors may be eligible for at least part-time (10 hours-per-week) preschool programming. 4-year-olds with qualifying factors may be eligible for additional hours of tuition-free preschool. After SchoolChoice Round 1, DPS will reach out to families that submitted their application to provide the next steps for completing an application for funding support through UPK.