New Student Enrollment

Kindergarten - Children who turn five years old by August 31, 2026, are eligible for fall 2026 enrollment. 

If you are unsure of which school your student will attend, call (785) 330-1921 or simply enter your address in this interactive elementary boundary map. 

Lawrence Public Schools Preschool Programs:

Early Application Dates: February 2nd through March 22. 

Please Note: Families with children currently attending a LPS preschool need to re-apply each year through the New Student Enrollment Link. 

Our preschool programs were created to support at-risk children who may not otherwise have access to early education opportunities.

Preschool Classrooms

Our preschool program includes classrooms at:

• Kennedy Early Childhood Center
• New York Montessori School
• Deerfield Elementary School* (Coming 2026-27)
• Prairie Park Elementary School* (Coming 2026-27)
• Sunflower Elementary School
• Woodlawn Elementary School

We encourage you to visit our Preschool webpage to learn more about our early childhood education programs and to review the eligibility requirements for at-risk children.

Early Childhood Programs Information

Cost: 

• District preschool programs are provided at no cost to families who meet state eligibility criteria.
• For families who do not qualify for state-funded preschool, we offer a tuition-based enrollment option at a rate of $690 per month.
• The enrollment fee for the Peer Model Program at the Kennedy Early Childhood Center is 150.00 per month.

Learn more about our Preschool programs by clicking the link below.

Early Childhood Programs Information

Learn more about Lawrence Virtual School (LVS), by clicking the link below.

Learn About LVS

New Student Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is now open! Click the link above for more information about Lawrence Virtual School and to enroll. 

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For current USD 497 students wanting to transfer to LVS for the 2026-2027 school year, please submit a Transfer Request Form for consideration. Please note that transfers are granted on a space-available basis. 

New York Montessori is Kansas' first public Montessori school.

The program began a phased approach to offering Montessori education tuition-free to qualifying families at New York Elementary School. Priority enrollment is given to students who live within the New York Elementary school attendance area.

All district preschool programs are free to eligible families meeting state requirements. A fee-based preschool option of $690/month is available for students who are accepted but do not qualify for funding. 

Learn more about New York Montessori and its Pre-K Program for three- and four-year-old children by using the link below.

New York Montessori Info
Montessori Pre-K Program Info 

Interested USD 497 families who reside outside the New York Elementary boundary may submit a Transfer Request Form for consideration during spring enrollment for the following school year. Transfers are granted on a space-available basis.

STEAM@LMCMS is a program that approaches teaching and learning in the classroom with a focus on S.T.E.A.M. concepts.

Located at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, STEAM@LMCMS has students combine science, technology, engineering, arts, and math to solve practical problems through creative projects, collaborative discussion, and hands-on experimentation. All students will learn English, math, science, and social studies in accordance with the state standards. This program is open to all students in Grades 6-8. 

Learn more about STEAM@LMCMS by clicking the link below.

STEAM@LMCMS Info

Interested USD 497 families who reside outside the LMCMS boundary, may submit a Transfer Request Form for consideration during spring enrollment for the following school year. Transfers are granted on a space-available basis.