Transitional kindergarten · Gardena

9 of Gardena’s public and charter campuses ran a TK class in 2025–26, enrolling 317 four-year-olds.

Source: CDE 2025–26 October enrollment count, 9 campuses in Gardena.

Denker Avenue Elementary: 66 in TKOne Hundred Thirty-Fifth Street Elementary: 52 in TKOne Hundred Eighty-Sixth Street Elementary: 46 in TKAmestoy Elementary: 36 in TKGardena Elementary: 31 in TKChapman Elementary: 27 in TKOne Hundred Fifty-Sixth Street Elementary: 20 in TKOne Hundred Fifty-Third Street Elementary: 20 in TKPurche Avenue Elementary: 19 in TK
  1. Denker Avenue Elementary66 in TK
  2. One Hundred Thirty-Fifth Street Elementary52 in TK
  3. One Hundred Eighty-Sixth Street Elementary46 in TK
  4. Amestoy Elementary36 in TK
  5. Gardena Elementary31 in TK
  6. Chapman Elementary27 in TK
  7. One Hundred Fifty-Sixth Street Elementary20 in TK
  8. One Hundred Fifty-Third Street Elementary20 in TK
  9. Purche Avenue Elementary19 in TK
Each numbered dot is a campus with a TK class, where it stands in the city. 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 Los Angeles Unified

Campuses

Which Gardena campuses have a TK class?

9 campuses in Gardena 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?

Gardena has 85 licensed child care programs.

21

child care centers

64

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 Gardena’s centers and family child care homes, and ask each one about ages and openings.

Preschools in GardenaPre-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.