Transitional kindergarten · El Centro

13 of El Centro’s public and charter campuses ran a TK class in 2025–26, enrolling 318 four-year-olds.

Source: CDE 2025–26 October enrollment count, 13 campuses in El Centro.

McCabe Elementary: 60 in TKHarding Elementary: 35 in TKMargaret Hedrick Elementary: 27 in TKBooker T. Washington Elementary: 26 in TKMartin Luther King Jr. Elementary: 26 in TKSunflower Elementary: 24 in TKLincoln Elementary: 22 in TKDe Anza Magnet: 20 in TKDesert Garden Elementary: 20 in TKMcKinley Elementary: 20 in TKBallington Academy for the Arts and Sciences: 18 in TKMeadows Elementary: 11 in TKImperial Valley Home School Academy: 9 in TK
Each dot is a campus with a TK class. A larger dot has more children in TK. North is up.

Eligibility

Who can start TK in 2027–28?

Children who turn 4 by September 1, 2027 can start, and it’s free.

Age

Is my child old enough?

A birthday from September 2, 2022 through September 1, 2023 (our arithmetic from the rule). A child who turns 5 by September 1 starts kindergarten instead.

Rule: California Education Code § 48000 (opens in a new tab)

Cost

Does TK cost anything?

No. TK is a free public school year before kindergarten, and enrolling is optional. Hours, before- and after-school care and open seats vary by campus, so ask the school.

Starting ages and cutoff dates →

Where to enroll

Through 3 school districts, or a charter

McCabe Union Elementary
1 of 13
Meadows Union
1 of 13

Campuses

Which El Centro campuses have a TK class?

13 campuses in El Centro had a TK class in 2025–26.

Campuses by TK headcount

Each campus’s TK headcount is from the state’s 2025–26 October enrollment count. Each Scope Score and percentile compares a school’s elementary grades with California elementary schools. A campus without elementary results shows none.

Each headcount counts the students enrolled on one October day, so it shows who enrolled, not seats open now. A campus missing here may still run TK; confirm with the school or district.

Before TK

Too young for TK? Where can my child go?

El Centro has 64 licensed child care programs.

21

child care centers

43

family child care homes

A child born after September 1, 2023 isn’t old enough for TK in 2027–28. Until they are, look at El Centro’s centers and family child care homes, and ask each one about ages and openings.

Preschools in El CentroPre-K vs TK vs preschool in California: a 2026 parent’s guide

Licensed programs from the California Community Care Licensing Division: child care centers as of August 13, 2026, family child care homes as of May 25, 2025. A license is not a quality rating or a current opening.