The City of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools offer free preschool options for students who turn 3 or 4 by September 1st. Preschool applications for 2025-2026 begin with an Initial Priority Application that opens on April 8, 2025. The Priority Application Window (NOT first come first serve) allows families to rank up to 5 program sites through April 30. Initial (single) offers will be made on May 22 and any programs with remaining space available after that will have a “live selection” rolling waitlist staring May 23 where families can see which program sites still have room and can request a seat or waitlist.
Because preschool is optional, offers for these Chicago Early Learning programs are prioritized for need based families, students with siblings or those within a boundary or proximity to the school. Three year old programs are sometimes hosted by a community based partner and 4 year old programs can be hosted in a CPS school or early learning center.
Preschool programs at Suder, Drummond & Inter-American CPS Magnet schools are included in this application. Families should rank their top choices and will be offered the highest ranked program for which they qualify. Visit the Chicago Early Learning website & FAQs for more.
Tour programs during CPS Pre-K Week from April 7-13. See schools & dates HERE and HERE.