Universal Preschool (UPK) offers free preschool to all children in Colorado in their year before kindergarten. For the 2023-24 school year, all children in their year before kindergarten (birthday Oct 2, 2018 - Oct. 1, 2019) are eligible for a 15 hour per week program. D11 accepts all 3-year-olds for preschool, even if they don’t qualify. 

Several of our elementary schools offer preschool.

• Adams Elementary
• Audubon Elementary
• Chipeta Elementary
• Columbia Elementary
• Edison Elementary
• Freedom Elementary
• Fremont Elementary
• Henry Elementary
• Howbert Elementary
• Jackson Elementary
• Keller Elementary
• King Elementary
• Madison Elementary
• Martinez Elementary
• McAuliffe Elementary
• Monroe Elementary
• Penrose Elementary
• Rogers Elementary
• Rudy Elementary
• Scott Elementary
• Stratton Elementary
• Taylor Elementary
• Trailblazer Elementary
• Twain Elementary
• West Elementary
• Wilson Elementary

No, you can choose any school you want. We encourage families to select several District 11 schools when applying. 

Yes. District 11 welcomes preschoolers from out of district, as space allows. You can select a D11 school when browsing options on the UPK website.

We can help! All children are welcome in D11 preschool, regardless of their skills or needs. Our classrooms provide a full range of special education services for children who qualify. We can evaluate your child to determine if they are eligible for added services (such as speech, support with play skills, etc.). If you have any concerns about your child’s development, please call our Early Childhood Child Find office at 719-520-2542. 

If you think preschool is a good next step for your child, he or she is ready! The goal of our preschool program is to help your child develop the foundational skills, in all areas of development, that will help them succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Our preschool team is ready to help with separation anxiety, potty training, social-emotional skills, or any other issue that might have you questioning your child’s readiness. Enrolling in preschool is a personal choice for each family. If you want your child to experience preschool, we will ensure that school is a joyful and successful experience for your child. 

D11 preschool LOVES family involvement! There are take-home activities you can engage in with your child, volunteer opportunities, and field trips you can join. All preschool families are invited to parent-teacher conferences twice a year, and teachers are happy to schedule additional time for conversation whenever it’s needed. Some families also organize play groups with students from their preschool class. 

D11 is unable to provide transportation for most preschool-age students. Students must be picked up and dropped off by a parent or parent-approved caretaker each day. Very rarely, students with Individualized Education Plans are offered transportation as a special education service. 

Nearly every elementary school offers preschool. If you are interested in a school that does not offer preschool, you can select a nearby school instead. 

After you have applied, you will receive communication from D11 notifying you of your acceptance within a few weeks. In the event that the school you have applied for does not have room, the D11 Early Childhood Office may reach out to see if we can find another school that would work for you.