Enroll in the Early Childhood Program

If your child is currently enrolled at the Family Center, your child is already in our student information system. You will not go through the regular pre-registration process. Please email Clayton Enrollment and provide your child's name and your current address in the email. We will follow up with next steps.

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We offer children from 15 months to five years a range of preschool programs designed to make the most of each child’s natural desire to learn. Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year begins on Feb. 2, 2026.

Visit the Program Overview page to learn more about our program and curriculum. For questions, please call The Family Center at 314.854.6900.

Enrollment Requirements

Children must be within the age parameters designated for each class.  Age ranges coincide with the State of Missouri’s kindergarten entrance date.

The District is committed to an ECE program that reflects the diversity of our community and includes the following:

1. School District of Clayton Resident Families
2. School District of Clayton Employees’ Families
3. Non-Resident Families

Application Process (2026-27)

Families with currently enrolled children and siblings are asked to meet the initial application deadline by returning the application form to the office by Feb. 2, 2026. An enrollment deposit is required with this application for currently enrolled families. The deposit is 1/9 of the total tuition. If we cannot accommodate your first choice and you do not accept placement in your second choice, the deposit will be returned. Otherwise, the deposit is non-refundable. Class placement will be determined by Feb. 9, 2026 when we then begin accepting new families.

• Children who are currently enrolled in any of the 2025-26 ECE classes are given first priority. Siblings of currently enrolled children are given second priority.
• Families who are interested in newly enrolling a child in the ECE program are invited to apply as well.  New resident applicants are given third priority, and will be informed of the status of their application (enrolled or wait-listed) beginning Feb. 10, 2026.  New non-resident applicants will be informed beginning Feb. 23, 2026.  Non-refundable deposits will be due upon acceptance of class space.
• If your child has special education needs (IEP, First Steps enrollment), please address questions to Jean Das, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator, at 314.854.6900.

Completed applications can be returned to the Family Center office at 301 Gay Ave., Clayton, MO, 63105 or by email Bridget Hihn. Deposit is due with the application for currently enrolled families.

For more information about Annual Tuition and the Program Overview, please visit the Program Overview page.