EDUPRIZE Schools’ Gilbert campus is thrilled to announce the launch of its full-day Pre-K program starting in the 2025–2026 school year. This exciting offering provides Gilbert families with a joyful, structured, and enriching start to lifelong learning for their 4-year-olds. As Arizona’s only seven-time A+ Award-winning charter school, EDUPRIZE is proud to extend its exceptional early education program to a full-day schedule, combining nurturing care with a developmentally rich curriculum. In this post, we’ll highlight the benefits of full-day Pre-K, the flexible part-time options available, and all the details you need to know about enrolling your child in this top-tier program.
A Nurturing Full-Day Pre-K Experience in Gilbert
At EDUPRIZE Gilbert, our Pre-Kindergarteners embark on their educational journey in a nurturing, engaging environment where learning is synonymous with fun. Children learn through hands-on activities, songs, games, and stories, all carefully designed for early learners. Our classrooms are led by Arizona Department of Education-certified early childhood teachers, chosen for their dedication and understanding of young learners. This means your child is guided by caring professionals trained to support preschoolers’ growth socially, emotionally, and academically in a safe and encouraging setting.
Why choose a full-day Pre-K? With a longer school day (8:15 AM – 2:30 PM), children have more time for both learning and play each day. Research shows that doubling the time in pre-K can lead to big benefits in vocabulary, literacy, and math skills. In fact, a recent study found that students who attended full-day preschool performed significantly better in reading and math by the end of 3rd grade – and also showed stronger social-emotional skills – compared to those who attended half-day programs. The extended hours allow for a deeper exploration of subjects, unhurried practice of new skills, extra story times and projects, and even a quiet rest period to recharge. Full-day Pre-K provides a gentle introduction to a full school-day routine, helping kids build stamina and adjust to the structure they’ll experience in kindergarten and beyond. It’s a fantastic way to give children a stronger foundation during this critical developmental stage.
At the same time, EDUPRIZE maintains a joyful and developmentally appropriate atmosphere. Even with a longer day, play and creativity are central to our approach. Whether they’re conducting a simple science experiment, building with blocks, or creating an art project, Pre-K students at EDUPRIZE Gilbert are exploring big ideas and making big discoveries – all while having fun! Our goal is to instill a love of learning that will carry into elementary school and beyond.
Balanced Curriculum: Building Skills through Play and Discovery
Our Pre-K curriculum is thoughtfully designed to build foundational skills across all key learning areas while tapping into children’s natural curiosity. Through themed units and play-based lessons, EDUPRIZE Pre-K students develop early competence in:
- Literacy: Letter recognition, phonics, and joyful storytelling that spark a love for reading.
- Math: Number recognition, counting, patterns, and basic math concepts introduced with hands-on manipulatives and games.
- Science: Exploration of the world through simple experiments, nature observations, and STEM activities that encourage little “scientists”.
- Art & Music: Creative expression through drawing, painting, singing, and movement. Children explore various art mediums and musical instruments to boost creativity.
- Social-Emotional Development: Guided play and group activities that teach cooperation, sharing, following routines, and understanding feelings.
Every day is filled with variety – from circle time and story time to outdoor play and center activities – giving children a well-rounded Pre-K experience. Technology is also integrated in a limited, age-appropriate way to enhance learning (for example, using interactive learning apps under teacher supervision). By touching on literacy, math, science, art, music, and social skills each week, the program ensures children build a strong all-around foundation. Your child will come home with new songs to sing, stories to tell, and exciting facts to share!
Flexible Full-Day and Part-Time Options
We understand that families have different scheduling needs. In addition to our new full-day Pre-K program (Monday through Friday), EDUPRIZE Gilbert will continue to offer flexible part-time Pre-K options. Whether your child is ready for five days a week or you prefer a part-time schedule to start, we have you covered:
- Full Week (M–F) – Attend five days per week. Choose full-day for a complete experience, or mornings-only if you prefer a half-day schedule.
- Three Days (M/W/F) – Attend Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week. Available as full-day or half-day (mornings).
- Two Days (T/Th) – Attend Tuesday and Thursday each week. Available as full-day or half-day (mornings).
These part-time schedules provide the same caring teachers and enriching curriculum, with a consistent routine on selected days. It’s a great option for families who want a gentler transition into school or need to accommodate other activities during the week. No matter which schedule you choose, your child will be part of the EDUPRIZE family and will benefit from our high-quality Pre-K program.
Program Hours & Tuition Details
Program Hours: All Pre-K classes start at 8:15 AM. Full-day students stay until 2:30 PM, while half-day AM students finish at 12:00 PM. For families who need an early start to the day, we offer an optional early drop-off at 7:30 AM (for an additional small fee) so you can get to work on time. (Early drop-off is supervised by our staff to ensure a smooth, safe start to your child’s day.)
Tuition: EDUPRIZE is a tuition-based Pre-K program with quarterly rates (with a discount if you pay for the full year upfront). Below is a breakdown of the tuition pricing tiers for each schedule option at the Gilbert campus:
- Full Week (Monday – Friday) – Full-Day: $1,675 per quarter (approx. $6,030 for full year); Half-Day: $1,000 per quarter (approx. $3,600 full year).
- 3 Days (Mon/Wed/Fri) – Full-Day: $1,075 per quarter (approx. $3,870 full year); Half-Day: $670 per quarter (approx. $2,400 full year).
- 2 Days (Tue/Thu) – Full-Day: $750 per quarter (approx. $2,700 full year); Half-Day: $470 per quarter (approx. $1,690 full year).
Note: The first quarter’s payment is due at the time of registration to secure your child’s spot (this serves as a deposit and is non-refundable). A discounted annual price is available if the full year tuition is paid in advance at registration. All tuition fees are fixed for the 2025–2026 school year as listed above, and there are no hidden charges. The early drop-off (7:30 AM) option can be added for an additional fee if you need it.
We strive to keep our Pre-K program affordable while maintaining low student-teacher ratios and a rich educational experience. For many families, full-day Pre-K can also reduce the need for separate childcare, providing value as well as quality education.
Enrollment Requirements & How to Enroll
EDUPRIZE welcomes all eligible Pre-K learners! To enroll in the 2025–2026 Pre-K program, please note the following enrollment requirements:
- Age Requirement: Child must be 4 years old by August 31, 2025 to join our Pre-K for the 2025–2026 school year. (This ensures your child is with peers at a similar developmental stage.)
- Potty Trained: Children must be fully potty-trained and able to use the restroom independently. Our classrooms are not licensed for diaper changing, so this is an important requirement.
- Parent Commitments: Parents/guardians should provide a daily snack and water bottle for their child. Punctual drop-off and pick-up are also required to help your child adjust to the routine and respect our teachers’ schedules. (Doors open at 8:15 AM for the start of class, with early drop-off available at 7:30 AM if arranged.) We also encourage parents to stay engaged – ask your child about their day, read together at home, and partner with our teachers for a great early learning experience!
How to Enroll: Enrollment for EDUPRIZE Gilbert’s Pre-K is now open! To apply, simply visit our website and complete the online Pre-K application (look for the “Apply Now” link on our site). You may also contact our Gilbert enrollment office for assistance or with any questions. Remember, space is limited for each class option, so we recommend enrolling early to secure your first-choice schedule. The first quarter tuition deposit will be collected upon registration to hold your spot. Once enrolled, we’ll invite you to a Pre-K orientation and Open House before school starts, so you and your child can meet the teachers and see the classroom.
A Top-Tier Start to Lifelong Learning
Choosing EDUPRIZE means choosing a top-tier educational experience for your little one. Our proven track record of academic excellence and innovation now extends to our youngest students in Pre-K. We are committed to providing a joyful, structured, and enriching start to your child’s education journey. From the moment they step into our Pre-K classroom, your child will be embraced by the EDUPRIZE ethos of creativity, community, and discovery.
Give your child the gift of a strong foundation and a love of learning by enrolling in our full-day Pre-K in Gilbert program. We can’t wait to watch your child learn, grow, and thrive here at EDUPRIZE Gilbert. Here’s to the start of something wonderful in the upcoming school year!
Enroll today and let’s embark on this exciting journey together – EDUPRIZE is ready to welcome your family into ours, and to give your child a joyful launch into lifelong learning. 🎉👧🧒🌟
Sources: EDUPRIZE Pre-K Program Details; Research on Full-Day Pre-K Benefits. Learn more at – https://www.eduprize.com/pre-kindergarten/
”New Study Provides More Evidence That Full-Day Preschool Benefits Children”
This article discusses a study by the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development, which found that third graders from low-income communities who attended full-day preschool programs showed greater academic and social gains by grade three compared to their peers who attended half-day programs. Specifically, full-day preschool attendees had higher proficiency in reading and math, better social-emotional development, and were less likely to repeat a grade. The study emphasizes the importance of high-quality early childhood education in leveling the educational playing field. Learn more here