Best Preschools in Houston: How to Choose the Right One

Houston has more preschool options than most families realize, and more variation in what they cost, how they teach, and when you have to apply. The short answer: HISD offers free public pre-K for qualifying 3- and 4-year-olds, private programs range from about $14,000 to $32,000 a year, and the most competitive independent schools set application deadlines in December — before many families even start looking.

This guide explains the main program types, walks through the key decisions, and lists 10 verified programs across Houston with neighborhood, philosophy, cost range, and application timing.

What kinds of preschool programs exist in Houston?

Houston has five main program types, and most families should understand all of them before committing.

Public pre-K through HISD

Houston Independent School District runs one of the largest public pre-K programs in Texas, free for families who qualify. Eligibility covers children who are 3 or 4 years old before September 1 and meet at least one criterion: income below the federal poverty line, limited English proficiency, homelessness, active-duty military family, foster care status, or enrollment in Head Start. Families who don't qualify can still enroll and pay the district's tuition rate — check houstonisd.org for the current year's amount.

Applications open each fall for the following school year. The district's Early Childhood department is at 4400 W. 18th St. and reachable at 713-556-4393. Suburban districts including Katy ISD, Klein ISD and Cy-Fair ISD run their own public pre-K programs on similar eligibility rules.

Montessori preschools

Montessori programs put three-to-six-year-olds in mixed-age classrooms and let children lead their own learning through structured materials. The teacher observes and guides rather than lectures. Authentic Montessori schools are accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS) or the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) — ask about accreditation when touring, since the name "Montessori" is not legally protected and any school can use it.

Houston has multiple Montessori options at a range of price points. Look for AMS or AMI accreditation, trained guides (not just "Montessori-trained" teachers), and multi-age groupings (3-6) as the real markers.

Reggio Emilia-inspired programs

Reggio Emilia schools treat children as capable researchers. Projects emerge from children's questions, documentation of learning is displayed visually throughout the school, and the physical environment is considered a "third teacher." St. Francis Episcopal Day School in Piney Point Village is known for its child-led, inquiry-based early childhood curriculum.

Faith-based preschools

Faith-based programs span Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and other traditions. Houston's private Catholic schools, Baptist schools, and Episcopal schools all have early childhood divisions, typically open to families of all faiths. River Oaks Baptist School, Duchesne Academy, Annunciation Orthodox School, and St. Francis Episcopal are all in this category. Most integrate chapel or religious instruction with standard academic preparation.

Language immersion preschools

Houston's diversity has produced several strong multilingual options for families who want a second language woven in from age 3. Awty International School offers French and Spanish immersion starting in pre-K. Lycée International de Houston teaches primarily in French with English and Spanish. Both accept students with no prior language background in the immersion language — research shows early immersion works best when it starts before age 5.

What does preschool cost in Houston?

The range is wide:

• Free: HISD public pre-K for eligible families.
• $13,000–$16,000: Lycée International de Houston's youngest programs (18 months–PK2).
• $23,000–$27,000: Duchesne Academy, River Oaks Baptist, Awty (where published), LIH upper pre-K.
• $29,000–$32,000: Annunciation Orthodox, St. Francis Episcopal, Kinkaid.
• $48,000+: The Parish School (specialized therapeutic program).

Almost every private school on this list offers financial aid, and several have endowed scholarships. LIH accepts Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) for eligible families — confirm current eligibility with the school. The Parish School may qualify for insurance reimbursement for families of children with documented language or communication needs.

When should you apply?

This is the piece most families get wrong. The most competitive Houston private preschools set December deadlines — more than a year before the child starts. If your child turns three in September 2027, you may need to apply in December 2026.

• HISD Pre-K: Applications open each fall with no hard published deadline; spaces fill at individual campuses.
• Lycée International de Houston: Preschool deadline typically October 31 for the next school year; decision by January 15. Contact admissions to confirm current deadlines.
• Duchesne Academy: Application deadline December 15; acceptance deposit due February 22. Contact admissions to confirm current dates.
• St. Francis Episcopal: Online application due December 10; full file (all materials) due January 15. Contact admissions to confirm current dates.
• The Fay School: Regular admissions deadline January 15.
• Awty International, Kinkaid, River Oaks Baptist, Annunciation Orthodox: Applications accepted on a rolling basis or deadlines are not published publicly; contact admissions directly.

Rule of thumb: If a private program is on your list, start the application in September or October, a full year before the start date.

The 10 verified programs

HISD Pre-K — district-wide

Free for eligible families, with campuses across Houston. The most accessible option for families who qualify. If you live in Houston and your child meets any eligibility criterion, this is worth applying for regardless of whether you're also exploring private options. Apply through houstonisd.org/prek or call 713-556-4393.

Best for: Families qualifying on income, language, foster care, homelessness, or military service.

River Oaks Baptist School — River Oaks

2300 Willowick Rd · Christian faith-based, play-centered and inquiry-based · Pre-K through Grade 8

ROBS has operated in the River Oaks neighborhood since 1955 and enrolls about 930 students from Readiness (ages 3-4) through 8th grade. Tuition for early childhood runs $26,815–$26,965 per year and is all-inclusive: books, materials, technology, field trips, and daily lunch. Financial assistance is available. Admissions are rolling; no published cutoff.

Best for: Families in the River Oaks, Upper Kirby, and Greenway Plaza corridor who want a smaller Christian school with strong community ties.

The Fay School — Post Oak / Memorial

105 N. Post Oak Lane · Secular, experiential and project-based · Ages 3–5 (Primary Division) through Grade 5

The Fay School emphasizes outdoor education, emotional intelligence, and leadership alongside academics. Its Primary Division starts at age 3. Tuition is not published; contact the school. The regular admissions deadline is January 15 for the following school year. Teacher recommendations are not accepted before December 1, so the application window effectively opens in the fall.

Best for: Families who want a secular alternative to the faith-based schools in the Memorial corridor.

St. Francis Episcopal Day School — Piney Point Village

335 Piney Point Rd · Episcopal-affiliated, inquiry-based early childhood program · Pre-Primary (age 2) through Grade 12

St. Francis is known for its inquiry-based early childhood approach, in which learning projects emerge from children's interests. Children can start in Pre-Primary at age 2, with Primary I at age 3 and Primary II at age 4. The application deadline is December 10 (contact admissions to confirm); WPPSI cognitive testing is required for Primary II applicants. Tuition is approximately $31,000 per year for the early childhood program — confirm with admissions.

One thing you might not know: St. Francis sits on a wooded 39-acre campus across two Memorial-area sites, including Piney Point Village — a separate city surrounded by Houston with its own police department and city services. The campus feels unusually quiet and shaded for a school this close to the Galleria.

Best for: Families drawn to child-led inquiry and an Episcopal community.

Awty International School — Spring Branch

7455 Awty School Lane · French and Spanish immersion · PK3 through Grade 12

Awty is one of Houston's most established multilingual schools, teaching in French and Spanish from pre-K up. Its Early Learning Campus serves PK3 through Grade 1 on the same property as the rest of the school. No prior French or Spanish is expected for pre-K entrants — the research on early immersion consistently shows children acquire the language fluently when it starts before age 5. Tuition is not published; contact admissions at admissions@awty.org. More on the area: Spring Branch.

Best for: Families who want French or Spanish as a genuine working language for their child, not a weekly class.

Lycée International de Houston (LIH) — Energy Corridor

15950 Park Row · French-accredited multilingual (English, French, Spanish) · 18 months through Grade 12

LIH is the only school on this list that accepts children as young as 18 months. Its youngest programs (18 months–PK2, until age 3) run $13,880–$15,880 per year — meaningfully lower than most Houston privates. PK3 runs $25,880 and PK4 runs $26,988. LIH accepts Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) for eligible families — confirm current year eligibility with the school. The preschool application deadline is typically October 31 — earlier than most — with decisions by January 15; contact admissions to confirm. More on the area: Energy Corridor.

One thing you might not know: LIH is accredited by both the French Ministry of Education and U.S. accreditation bodies, meaning a child who starts here in PK3 could theoretically complete a French Baccalauréat alongside a Texas diploma — one of very few schools in the Houston metro where that path exists.

Best for: Families who may relocate internationally, or who want a genuinely multilingual program at a mid-range price point.

The Kinkaid School — Memorial

201 Kinkaid School Drive · Secular, college-preparatory · Pre-K through Grade 12

Kinkaid is one of Houston's most academically intensive independent schools. The Lower School, which starts at Pre-K, runs $32,110 per year for Pre-K through Grade 4. A $2,500 new student fee and $1,500 enrollment deposit apply. Admissions are through the school's portal; contact them directly for timeline. More on the neighborhood: Memorial.

Best for: Families committed to an academically rigorous independent school track from pre-K through 12th grade.

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart — Memorial

10202 Memorial Dr · Catholic (Society of the Sacred Heart) · All-girls, Pre-K3 through Grade 12

Duchesne is Houston's only all-girls Catholic school, and it starts at Pre-K3 (approximately age 3). Tuition is $23,750 per year and is all-inclusive (dining, snacks, field trips, retreats, yearbook). The school awards over $1 million in tuition assistance annually and offers merit scholarships. Application deadline is December 15 (contact admissions to confirm current dates); the acceptance rate is approximately 50%. A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is due upon acceptance.

Best for: Families who want a Catholic all-girls experience starting at age 3, in the Memorial corridor.

Annunciation Orthodox School (AOS) — Montrose

3600 Yoakum Blvd · Greek Orthodox faith-based · Ages 3 through Grade 8

AOS is the only Greek Orthodox school in Houston and one of only a handful in Texas. Its Delphi-PK program starts at age 3, with an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Tuition is approximately $29,480 per year, with financial aid available (average award approximately $15,400 for K-12 students). The school is in Montrose, close to Rice Village / West University and the Museum District. Contact admissionoffice@aoshouston.org or 713-470-5600.

Best for: Greek Orthodox families; also open to families of other faiths who value a tight-knit, tradition-rooted community in the urban core.

The Parish School — Spring Branch / West Houston

11001 Hammerly Blvd · Therapeutic and special education · Ages 2 through Grade 5

The Parish School is different from every other program on this list. It serves children with communication delays, language disorders, and learning differences — including autism spectrum disorder, apraxia, and dyslexia — integrating speech-language therapy with pre-academic curriculum on a 17-acre campus. Eleven speech-language pathologists are on staff, and the student-to-adult ratio is 5:1 or better. Tuition is approximately $48,910 per year; insurance reimbursement may apply. Admissions are rolling.

One thing you might not know: Many families find The Parish School after a child receives a language or communication diagnosis at age 2 or 3. The school's early childhood program is specifically designed to close the gap before kindergarten — and many students graduate to mainstream schools by Grade 1 or 2.

Best for: Families of children ages 2-5 with a diagnosed or suspected language delay, communication disorder, or learning difference.

How we chose

Every program on this list was confirmed currently open with an active preschool or pre-K program via its own official website as of October 2026. We included programs with a distinct identity — a teaching philosophy, a faith tradition, a language approach, or a specialized focus — that gives families a real basis for choosing one over another. We excluded schools whose websites no longer show an active preschool, schools that start at kindergarten, and schools with no public information whatsoever.

Tuition figures are pulled from each school's official site where published, or from the school's most recent admissions materials. All costs should be confirmed directly with the school before applying, as tuition changes year to year.

Save this: Houston preschool checklist

• October: Start researching program types and visiting open houses. Many schools hold fall open houses in October and November.
• October 31: LIH preschool application deadline (18 months–PK2; contact school to confirm).
• November: Request applications from schools on your list. Gather teacher observation forms, doctor's letter, and any required assessments.
• December 10: St. Francis Episcopal application deadline (contact school to confirm).
• December 15: Duchesne Academy application deadline (contact school to confirm).
• January 15: St. Francis Episcopal file completion; Fay School regular deadline; LIH preschool decision.
• Any time: Apply to HISD Pre-K if you qualify — no hard deadline, but spaces fill at individual campuses.
• Rolling: River Oaks Baptist, Awty, Kinkaid, AOS — contact each directly.
• Before you tour: write down your non-negotiables (location, faith tradition, language, philosophy) and three questions you'll ask every school. It makes comparing much easier.

More Houston education resources

For older grades, see our best schools in Houston guide and the guide to choosing the right school. District-specific guides: Katy ISD, Friendswood ISD, Bellaire HS and Pin Oak Middle. For neighborhood context, see cost of living in Houston and our Houston neighborhoods guide.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is preschool free in Houston?

HISD offers free pre-K for children who are 3 or 4 years old before September 1 and meet at least one eligibility criterion: income below the federal poverty line, limited English proficiency, homelessness, active-duty military family, foster care status, or Head Start enrollment. Families who don't qualify pay the district's out-of-eligibility rate — check houstonisd.org for the current amount. Private preschools in Houston range from about $14,000 to $32,000 per year for mainstream programs.

When should you apply to preschool in Houston?

For the most competitive Houston private preschools, apply in October or November — more than a year before your child starts. St. Francis Episcopal's deadline is typically December 10, Duchesne Academy's is typically December 15, and LIH's preschool deadline is typically October 31 — contact each school to confirm current dates. Rolling-admissions schools like River Oaks Baptist and Awty accept applications year-round, but seats fill. HISD Pre-K applications open each fall with no hard cutoff.

What is the difference between Montessori and Reggio Emilia preschool?

Both are child-centered, but they work differently. In Montessori, children work independently with specific learning materials at their own pace in mixed-age groups; the teacher observes and introduces new materials when a child is ready. In Reggio Emilia, children investigate questions through long-term projects, and their learning is documented and displayed throughout the school. Authentic Montessori schools carry AMS or AMI accreditation; look for that credential when evaluating Houston programs.

Are there French immersion preschools in Houston?

Yes. Awty International School in Spring Branch offers French and Spanish immersion from PK3 (age 3). Lycée International de Houston in the Energy Corridor accepts children as young as 18 months and is accredited by the French Ministry of Education. Neither program requires prior French knowledge for pre-K entrants.

What Houston preschools accept 2-year-olds?

Lycée International de Houston accepts children from 18 months. St. Francis Episcopal Day School has a Pre-Primary program for 2-year-olds. The Parish School serves children starting at age 2 for those with communication delays or learning differences. Most other programs on this list start at age 3.

What is the cheapest private preschool option in Houston?

Among the verified programs in this guide, Lycée International de Houston (LIH) has the lowest published tuition: $13,880–$15,880 per year for its youngest programs (18 months–PK2). Its PK3 program runs $25,880. LIH also accepts Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) for eligible families — confirm current year eligibility with the school.