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Register for Pre-Kindergarten at Bridgeport ISD!

We are so glad you are joining the Bridgeport ISD family and enrolling in our pre-kindergarten program. Registration is officially OPEN for the 2026-27 school year. Attend our upcoming Roundup event to learn more about the program offerings.

Click to Find Out How to Get Started

Enroll Your Child in Pre-Kindergarten

Bridgeport ISD serves eligible 4 year old students in full-day, pre-kindergarten classes. BISD offers three opportunities to attend pre-kindergarten classes: Free pre-K (must qualify), Tuition-based pre-K, and Head Start Advantage.

Are you wondering if your child will qualify? Click to learn more.

Upcoming Event:

Pre-K & Head Start Roundup

Join us for a come and go event on Monday, April 27, 4-6 p.m. to learn about our Bridgeport ISD pre-K & Head Start programs.

Find out more about the pre-K & Head Start programs
Meet the pre-K teachers
You will have an opportunity to Register for the 2026-27 school year

We highly recommend completing Part 1 of the online registration prior to attending the Roundup Event

Enrollment for 2026-27 is now OPEN!!

There are two Parts to completing your enrollment. Please ensure that you complete both Parts for your student(s) to be enrolled.

Pre-K Enrollment - Part 1

Pre-Kindergarten Enrollment - Part 1

There are two Parts to completing your enrollment. Please ensure that you complete both Parts for your student(s) to be enrolled.
New Student Enrollment Quick Guide Handout pdf

Create Ascender Parent Portal Account:

Go to Ascender Parent Portal, where you will create a new account.
Click on the Create An Account tab in Ascender Parent Portal

User Info

Create User Name
Create Password (between 16 & 46 characters) Re-enter your password. Must match exactly.
Enter Email Address
- IMPORTANT: This email must match the email address the school will have on file for the student. If you have multiple students, the email address must match for all of the students. This will be the email address where school communication will be delivered.

Registration - Security Question

Select a Security Question from the drop down menu, then type the security question answer. This question/answer will be used to recover a forgotten password. Note: The security question answer IS case-sensitive.
Click Next
You have successfully created your Parent Portal Account.
Click Finish on the next page.
You have successfully created your Parent Portal Account.
Click Finish on the next page.

Verifying Account:

You will receive an email with a verification link. You MUST click on the link to verify your account before you can enroll your student.
If you added a Mobile Number when creating your account, you will receive a text message with a verification code. Enter that code under the Contact Information heading of the My Account page to verify your mobile number.

Enrolling Your Student:

Student Name

On the My Accounts page, click on Enroll a New Student.
Scroll Down, enter Student's Name (legal name)
Click Continue

Proceed through the remaining steps completing:
*In this section, you will need to upload the required documents

Addresses and Contacts
Student Information
Enrollment Forms
Click Enroll Student when finished completing the steps for that student

Final Steps

Add additional students, if needed
Once finished, you should see all students under Enrollment Confirmation
Print responses for each student

The campus will be notified of your submission and will reach out to you by email with information concerning the completion of Part 2 of Enrollment. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact your child's Campus Registrar or our District Enrollment Ambassador.

The campus will be notified of your submission. Bridgeport Elementary will email parents with instructions on how to complete Part 2 along with how they qualified (free, tuition-based, etc.). Some may not be notified until after July once final pre-K qualifications have been determined.

Pre-K Enrollment - Part 2

Part 2 - Completion of Enrollment

Now that you have your Ascender Parent Portal account created, the next step will need to be completed in-person with the student's Campus Registrar.

The Campus Registrar will contact you, usually via email, once your student is approved for enrollment.
During your in-person time, you will be able to connect your student to your Parent Portal account and and proceed with the enrollment process. Please come prepared with any documents from the necessary documentation needed for enrollment, which were not uploaded during Part 1.

Important Notes:

Once your student(s) is linked to your Parent Portal account and enrolled, Parent Portal can be used to view Grades, Assignments, Discipline, and Attendance.
Ascender Parent Portal should only be used by parents and guardians. Students will have access to Ascender Student Portal (Grades 3-12) during the school year where they will be able to view their own grades and much more.
Although each guardian cna create an Ascender Parent Portal account for access to Attendance, Grades, etc., only one guardian should complete the steps to enroll a student.

Have Questions?

Contact:

District Enrollment Ambassador
Marchelle Smart
940.683.5124
Contact

or your student's Campus Registrar

Helpful Resources

District Calendar

BISD Attendance Boundaries Map

Free/Reduced Meal Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-K Eligibility and Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my child is eligible for Pre-K?

BISD serves eligible 4 year old students in full-day pre-kindergarten classes.

Students must be 4 years old, on/before September 1 of the school year they enroll for pre-K.
Students must live in the Attendance Zone for Bridgeport ISD BISD Attendance Zone Map

Additionally, students must qualify for free pre-kindergarten by one of the following criteria (Final Pre-K Qualification for free tuition won’t be determined until late July):

Educationally disadvantaged (Eligible to participate in the national school lunch program)
Emergent Bilingual
Child of an active member of the armed forces or killed/injured during active duty
Current or Past Foster Care
Child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award (peace officer, firefighter, or first responder).
Child of classroom teacher

What information is required to register my child?

After completing Part 1 (creating a Parent Portal account) and being approved for enrollment, parents must bring the following documents to the school in order to complete Part 2 (final step) of the enrollment process:

Birth Certificate
- Order a birth certificate from texas.gov.
Immunization Records
- Your child's immunizations must be current in order to complete your child's registration and place them in a class.
- For current Immunization Requirement information from the Texas Department of State Health Services, click here
Social Security Card (if available)
Parent-Guardian Photo ID
- State-issued driver's license
- Texas ID
- Passport with current address
- Military or government-issued ID
- Naturalization Papers
- Permanent Resident Card
Proof of District Residency
- Current utility bill (no telephone bills) with parent's or guardian's name and address OR
- Current lease agreement/mortgage with parent's or guardian's name and address OR
- Closing documents on a home OR
- A notarized letter stating that the family is living with a Bridgeport ISD resident along with that resident's proof of residency (Shared Residency Form can be obtained at your student's campus)
Proof of Income
- Current pay stub with gross income for all household members OR
- Tax Return for previous year (Required for Head Start or Self-Employed)
Proof of Food Stamp/TANF (if applicable)-Public Assistance Award Letter (Food stamp/TANF letter indicating current amount & dates)
Proof of military service for active-duty military parent(s) (if applicable)
Proof of Foster Care/State Adoption (if applicable)

If you cannot upload your documents, you can email them to your students’ Campus Registrar or drop them off at your students’ campus. Please be sure to provide us with a copy as we cannot return originals. If you need access to a copier, we can assist you at the campus on which you drop off your documents.

I work for Bridgeport ISD, is my child eligible to enroll in pre-K for free or at a reduced price?

Pre-K Eligibility for Students of BISD Teachers

Who is considered a teacher under the new pre-K eligibility criterion?

A classroom teacher is an educator who is employed by a school district and who, not less than an average of four hours each day, teaches in an academic instructional setting or a career and technology instructional setting.

Are the children of paraprofessionals, classroom assistants, and instructional coaches eligible?

The term (classroom teacher) does not include a teacher's aide or a full-time administrator [Texas Education Code (TEC), §5.001].

Are the children of classroom teachers eligible for pre-K in the district where the teacher/parent teaches in or the district where the teacher/parent lives?

The child of a classroom teacher who works at a school in a school district that offers pre-K is eligible for pre-K in the district where the teacher/parent is employed.

What happens in pre-K? What are the benefits for our family?

Pre-Kindergarten can be one of a child’s most exciting years in school. 4-year-olds are naturally curious and eager to learn. Pre-Kindergarten children leave the Bridgeport ISD program with a love of learning and the skills they need to be successful students and citizens.

Every BISD pre-kindergarten class has a certified teacher who instructs with state approved curriculum to provide enriching experiences for children. Younger children learn through structured play with focus on phonics, social emotional growth, number sense, expanding vocabulary, and fine/gross motor skills

Students that qualify with limited English Proficiency or students with learning disabilities will have the opportunity to attend a more specialized pre-school experience.

What do Pre-Kindergarten children learn?

The Prekindergarten curriculum is based on the Texas Education Agency's State-Approved Circle curriculum. Areas included are:

Social & Emotional Development
Language & Communication
Early Literacy
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Fine Arts
Physical Development
Technology

Oral language, alphabet recognition, and phonological awareness (awareness of language sounds) are emphasized in prekindergarten. Children learn to interact with others and monitor their own behavior. Expressing themselves through words, art, and music is also part of the curriculum. Children develop observation and thinking skills through math, science, and social studies. Computers are introduced as tools for learning.

How do Pre-Kindergarten children learn?

Pre-Kindergarten children are active learners. They learn through music, movement, and hands-on activities. A typical day in a pre-kindergarten classroom includes time in a large group setting, participating in stories, songs, and rhymes with classmates. During the day, there is also time for small group instruction where the teacher reinforces important skills. Children also have time to choose their activities at learning centers. These may include blocks, dramatic play, computers, library, and writing centers. In prekindergarten, children also eat a meal and play outdoors.

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