Transitional kindergarten · San Luis Obispo

6 of San Luis Obispo’s public and charter campuses ran a TK class in 2025–26, enrolling 258 four-year-olds.

Source: CDE 2025–26 October enrollment count, 6 campuses in San Luis Obispo.

Los Ranchos Elementary: 53 in TKSinsheimer Elementary: 51 in TKC L Smith Elementary: 46 in TKHawthorne Elementary: 45 in TKBishop's Peak Elementary: 35 in TKPacheco Elementary: 28 in TK
  1. Los Ranchos Elementary53 in TK
  2. Sinsheimer Elementary51 in TK
  3. C L Smith Elementary46 in TK
  4. Hawthorne Elementary45 in TK
  5. Bishop's Peak Elementary35 in TK
  6. Pacheco Elementary28 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 San Luis Coastal Unified

Campuses

Which San Luis Obispo campuses have a TK class?

6 campuses in San Luis Obispo had a TK class in 2025–26.

Campuses by TK headcount

  • 53in TK

    Los Ranchos Elementary

    Grades TK–6 · San Luis Coastal Unified

    Scope Score 83Strong · 81st percentile

  • 51in TK

    Sinsheimer Elementary

    Grades TK–6 · San Luis Coastal Unified

    Scope Score 84Strong · 83rd percentile

  • 46in TK

    C L Smith Elementary

    Grades TK–6 · San Luis Coastal Unified

    Scope Score 79Solid · 68th percentile

  • 45in TK

    Hawthorne Elementary

    Grades TK–6 · San Luis Coastal Unified

    Scope Score 76Solid · 53rd percentile

  • 35in TK

    Bishop's Peak Elementary

    Grades TK–6 · San Luis Coastal Unified

    Scope Score 82Strong · 80th percentile

  • 28in TK

    Pacheco Elementary

    Grades TK–6 · San Luis Coastal Unified

    Scope Score 80Solid · 74th 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?

San Luis Obispo has 14 licensed child care programs.

0

child care centers

14

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 San Luis Obispo’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.