Universal pre-K in Seattle

Seattle's universal pre-K is the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP), a city-funded program for three- and four-year-olds on a sliding tuition scale, where most families pay nothing, per the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning. In 2025-2026, 70 percent of enrolled children attended free. A seat offsets private preschool that commonly runs $1,400 to $2,200 per month in 2026.

This guide explains how the Seattle Preschool Program works, who qualifies, how the sliding scale and free tuition work, how to apply at seattle.gov/applySPP, and what private preschool costs if you miss a seat. It sits alongside our daycare cost pillar and our statewide Washington pre-K explainer.

Is preschool free in Seattle?

Often, yes. The Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) uses a sliding scale based on family size and income, and most enrolled families pay nothing, per the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning. In the 2025-2026 school year, 70 percent of enrolled children received free tuition. Higher-income families pay a reduced rate rather than full private cost.

SPP is funded by Seattle's Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy and has expanded toward universal access over the past decade, per the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning. It is open only to Seattle residents, and seats, while growing each year, are still limited.

Who is eligible, and what does a seat include?

Any Seattle resident family with a child who is three or four years old on or before August 31 of the program year is eligible, per the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning. There is no income cap to enroll; income and family size determine where a family lands on the sliding tuition scale, not whether they can attend.

SPP classrooms run a full school-day schedule at Seattle Public Schools sites and community-based providers, per the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning. The table below lays out the main options Seattle families weigh.

The SPP tuition tiers and eligibility are from the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning, and the Head Start and Washington ECEAP options follow federal and state eligibility rules. The private cost range is drawn from Child Care Aware of America and the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices for the Seattle area, and is discussed below.

How do I apply?

Families apply online at seattle.gov/applySPP, by paper, or by phone, per the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning. For the 2026-2027 year, applications submitted between March 16 and April 14 are notified of initial placement by May 1; applications after April 15 are handled on a rolling basis as seats open.

Apply in the priority window and list more than one site to improve your odds of a placement you can use. In-language application help is available, and the program can take applications over the phone for families who need it.

What private preschool costs if you miss a seat

Full-time private preschool in Seattle commonly runs about $1,400 to $2,200 per month in 2026, per Child Care Aware of America and the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices. Washington is a high-cost state for child care, and tuition tends to fall as children age out of the higher infant and toddler ratios.

How to get a seat

1. Confirm eligibility. Your child must be three or four by August 31 and your family must live in Seattle.
2. Estimate your tuition. Use the program's tuition calculator to see whether you fall in the free or reduced tier.
3. Apply in the priority window. Submit at seattle.gov/applySPP between mid-March and mid-April and list several sites.
4. Compare backups. Use our comparison checklist and tour questions in case you miss a placement.
5. Set up tax help. A Dependent Care FSA and the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit reduce out-of-pocket cost; see our tax credit explainer.

Common questions

Is preschool free in Seattle?

Often, yes. The Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) uses a sliding scale based on family size and income, and most enrolled families pay nothing, per the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning. In the 2025-2026 school year, 70 percent of enrolled children received free tuition. Higher-income families pay a reduced rate rather than full private cost.

Who is eligible for the Seattle Preschool Program?

Any Seattle resident family with a child who is three or four years old on or before August 31 of the program year is eligible, per the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning. There is no income cap to enroll; income and family size determine where a family lands on the sliding tuition scale, not whether they can attend.

How do I apply for the Seattle Preschool Program?

Families apply online at seattle.gov/applySPP, by paper, or by phone, per the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning. For the 2026-2027 year, applications submitted between March 16 and April 14 are notified of initial placement by May 1; applications after April 15 are handled on a rolling basis as seats open.

How much is the Seattle Preschool Program if I do not qualify for free tuition?

Families above the free-tuition threshold pay a reduced, income-based rate set by the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning, not full private-market tuition. The exact amount depends on household size and income; the program's tuition calculator gives an estimate. Most enrolled Seattle families still pay nothing, per the city.

What does private preschool cost in Seattle?

Full-time private preschool in Seattle commonly runs about $1,400 to $2,200 per month in 2026, per Child Care Aware of America and the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices. Washington is a high-cost state for child care, so a free or reduced SPP seat is one of the largest savings available to a Seattle family.

Where to go next

If you are weighing options, walk through our comparison checklist and tour questions list, and model your year with the cost calculator. For more, see the Seattle daycare guide, the statewide Washington pre-K explainer, and the DaycareSquare cost pillar.