San Antonio's Free Preschool Program Boosts Kindergarten Readiness

The city's Pre-K 4 SA initiative provides high-quality early education to low-income families, helping close the readiness gap.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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San Antonio's Pre-K 4 SA program offers free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds from low-income families, providing a 'whole child' approach that develops academic, social-emotional, and motor skills. The program has helped boost kindergarten readiness among its participants, who have scored higher than the state average on third-grade math and reading tests. Other cities like Denver and New York have also launched similar initiatives to expand access to high-quality early education and support for families.

Why it matters

Nationwide data shows a substantial gap in kindergarten readiness between the poorest and wealthiest families, with low-income children often having less access to experiences that boost school readiness. San Antonio's program aims to close this gap by providing free, high-quality preschool to families who need it most, setting children up for success in elementary school and beyond.

The details

San Antonio's Pre-K 4 SA program offers 2,000 preschool seats for 3- and 4-year-olds, with 80% of them free for low-income and working-class families. The program takes a 'whole child' approach, developing academic skills as well as social-emotional and motor skills through activities like using tongs to eat lunch, engaging in 'risky play' outdoors, and receiving guidance from teachers on conflict resolution. The program also provides wraparound services for families, such as healthy cooking classes, mobile vaccination clinics, and job application assistance.

  • Pre-K 4 SA opened in 2013.
  • The program expanded last year to include four infant and toddler classrooms in its new South Education Center.

The players

Pre-K 4 SA

A citywide early childhood education program in San Antonio, Texas, that provides free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds from low-income and working-class families.

Sarah Baray

CEO of Pre-K 4 SA.

Tonda Brown

Chief of Schools at Pre-K 4 SA.

Deziree Arce

A teacher at Pre-K 4 SA who grew up in a low-income family.

Sandra Mosqueda

A mother whose two older sons attended Pre-K 4 SA, helping set them up for success in elementary school.

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What they’re saying

“The quality is so high that even families who could afford to go anywhere try to get into our schools.”

— Sarah Baray, CEO of Pre-K 4 SA

“When I see kids that come from, like, where I came from, I'm giving them something that I never got.”

— Deziree Arce, Pre-K 4 SA teacher

“It's showing them you can still do anything, no matter what comes in your way, and having the help to do it makes it possible.”

— Sandra Mosqueda

What’s next

More than 1,600 families were on Pre-K 4 SA's waitlist this school year, so the program is working to connect wait-listed families with other local preschool options.

The takeaway

San Antonio's Pre-K 4 SA program demonstrates how high-quality, accessible early childhood education can help close the kindergarten readiness gap for low-income families, setting children up for long-term academic and life success.