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ECE-4 SchoolChoice Application Now Open

Denver Public Schools

April 1, 2026

The DPS SchoolChoice Round 2 application for 4-year-old Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs is now open!

Who is eligible?

Children who turn 4 years old on or before Oct. 1, 2026 are eligible to enroll in an ECE-4 program for the 2026-27 school year.

Who should submit the SchoolChoice application?

This application is for families who:

  • Missed the Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) application deadlines.

  • Were not matched to a school during the UPK rounds. (If you submitted the UPK application by March 15 and UPK did not notify you of a school match by March 24, you were not matched to a school.)

  • Were matched to a school during the UPK rounds but want to apply to a different school.

  • Are new to Denver Public Schools.

How do I apply?

  1. Visit schoolchoice.dpsk12.org/apply and log in or create a new account.

  2. Rank up to 12 schools in order of preference.

  3. Submit your application.

Apply now!

What happens after I submit my application?

This application is part of the SchoolChoice Round 2 process. Round 2 applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis within school admission priorities.

  • If the school has available space, your student will be offered a seat, and you’ll have 72 hours to accept or decline.

  • If no seats are available, your student will be added to the waitlist.

Do I need to submit the UPK application?

If you are offered a seat at a school and choose to accept it, you’ll need to submit the UPK application to receive tuition funding for the 2026-27 school year (even if you already submitted the application during the UPK matching rounds). When completing the UPK application, make sure to choose your accepted school as your selected program.

My child has an IEP. Are there additional steps I need to take?

No. If your child remains on a waitlist, DPS will support locating them to the closest available program in alignment with their Individualized Education Program (IEP) while considering your SchoolChoice preferences. (Students located to a Model 1 or Multi-Intensive Autism (MIA) program will be matched directly by DPS.) Once you have accepted a seat at a school, DPS will match your child to the program in the UPK system – no need to submit the UPK application.

What if I have other questions?