Transitional kindergarten · Orange
17 of Orange’s public and charter campuses ran a TK class in 2025–26, enrolling 654 four-year-olds.
Source: CDE 2025–26 October enrollment count, 17 campuses in Orange.
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.
Campuses
Which Orange campuses have a TK class?
17 campuses in Orange had a TK class in 2025–26.
Campuses by TK headcount
80in TK
Orange County Classical AcademyCharter
Grades TK–12 · Orange County Department of Education · Check how it admits students.
Scope Score 85Strong · 86th percentile
46in TK
Cambridge Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 73Developing · 40th percentile
46in TK
Taft Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 78Solid · 62nd percentile
41in TK
Palmyra GATE MagnetMagnet
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified · Check how it admits students.
Scope Score 80Solid · 71st percentile
40in TK
Chapman Hills Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 88Strong · 90th percentile
40in TK
Fletcher Mandarin Language & GATE AcademyMagnet
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified · Check how it admits students.
Scope Score 84Strong · 84th percentile
40in TK
Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 74Developing · 43rd percentile
40in TK
La Veta Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 82Strong · 77th percentile
40in TK
West Orange Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 74Developing · 46th percentile
39in TK
California iInspire Academy
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 75Developing · 48th percentile
38in TK
Sycamore Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 75Developing · 47th percentile
36in TK
Prospect Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 71Needs Support · 23rd percentile
33in TK
Handy Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 73Developing · 38th percentile
31in TK
Linda Vista Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 82Strong · 79th percentile
24in TK
Tomorrow's Leadership Collaborative (TLC) CharterCharter
Grades TK–6 · Orange County Department of Education · Check how it admits students.
Scope Score 72Developing · 29th percentile
22in TK
Esplanade Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 73Developing · 39th percentile
18in TK
Olive Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Orange Unified
Scope Score 74Developing · 46th percentile
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?
Orange has 57 licensed child care programs.
45
child care centers12
family child care homesA child born after September 1, 2023 isn’t old enough for TK in 2027–28. Until they are, look at Orange’s centers and family child care homes, and ask each one about ages and openings.
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.