Preschool & Pre-K in Ennis, TX: Kindergarten Readiness Through Play
ABC Early Learning Academy runs Preschool & Pre-K in Ennis, TX for children 3 to 5 years, open 6 AM to 7 PM weekdays. Kids build kindergarten skills through circle time, daily lessons, and seven hands-on learning centers, with a hot breakfast, lunch, and snack cooked on-site and included.
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What does a preschool day look like?
Schedules are a guide that teachers adjust to the group, but every day follows the same dependable flow.
- 1
Morning Room, 6:00 to 8:00 AM
Early arrivals play together, then head to class for a hot breakfast.
- 2
Morning meeting and circle time
Calendar, songs about numbers, letters, days, and months, and a look at the day ahead.
- 3
Learning centers
Children rotate through hands-on centers that build early literacy, math, science, and problem-solving with friends.
- 4
Lesson time and outdoor play
A focused lesson on letters, numbers, and colors, plus at least two supervised outdoor sessions a day, weather permitting.
- 5
Hot lunch and rest
Lunch is cooked on-site. Rest is quiet time on a mat; no child is forced to sleep.
- 6
Snack, small groups, and pickup by 7:00 PM
Afternoon snack, small-group learning, and free play until you arrive.
Which learning centers do preschoolers use?
- Art
- Science & Discovery
- Manipulatives & Math
- Home Living & Dramatic Play
- Literacy & Library
- Multicultural Learning
- STEM & Building
What are the preschool ratios?
| Three-Year-Olds | 1:15 |
| Four & Five-Year-Olds | 1:18 |
How much is preschool?
2 – 5 years: $185 per week when paid on Monday ($220 published rate).
One-time $150 enrollment fee. Refer a new student and get 50% off your first week. CCS enrollment help is available; ask us about current CCS status.
What should I pack for preschool?
Label every item with your child's name. Meals and snacks are cooked on-site, so there's nothing to pack for lunch.
- Blanket for nap
- 3 extra pairs of underwear
- 3 extra clothing sets, labeled, in a bag
- Outdoor gear for the season (jacket, hat, gloves, boots)
- Extra pair of shoes
- Sunscreen and bug spray, labeled
- Any medication in its original packaging, labeled
How do teachers guide behavior?
Every classroom follows the Conscious Discipline approach, with positive guidance that helps children work through big feelings and conflicts with friends. Corporal punishment is never used. Parents are welcome to visit the classroom anytime after checking in at the front office.
How does Preschool & Pre-K in Ennis, TX build kindergarten skills?
Children don't get ready for kindergarten from worksheets alone. Our teachers build the skills a little at a time, through play and routines that repeat every day. Every child grows at their own pace, and teachers share what they notice with you along the way.
Early literacy
Songs about the alphabet at circle time, daily story time, and a Literacy & Library center where children handle books, match letters, and practice the sounds in their names.
Early math
Counting songs, calendar time, and a Manipulatives & Math center for sorting, patterns, shapes, and comparing more and less.
Independence
Hanging up a backpack, washing hands, serving themselves at family-style meals, and cleaning up centers, the everyday routines kindergarten classrooms expect.
Getting along
Conscious Discipline gives children words for big feelings and simple ways to solve problems with friends, practiced every day in real moments.
Why do working Ennis families choose our preschool?
Many preschool programs end early in the afternoon, which doesn't work when you commute on I-45 or US 287. Our preschool and Pre-K classrooms run inside a full child care day: drop off from 6:00 AM, pick up by 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday. We are the only child care center in Ennis open past 6:30 PM. Why we're open until 7 PM.
Breakfast, hot lunch, and afternoon snack are cooked in our own kitchen and included, so there's no lunch to pack. Older siblings can join after-school care with rides to and from school, so one stop covers the whole family.
Starting preschool with us
Tour on a weekday between 9:30 AM and noon or 2:00 and 4:00 PM, meet the teacher, and complete the enrollment forms. A one-time $150 enrollment fee and the first week's tuition confirm a Monday start date, and referring a new student makes that first week 50% off. If a class is full, the waiting list is free.
How do you keep preschoolers safe?
- • Secure entry at the front door, and every visiting adult signs in and wears a visible badge
- • Children are signed in and out every day; a valid photo ID is required, and only adults on your pick-up list can take your child
- • Cameras monitor key areas, including entrances, hallways, and common spaces
- • Every teacher and assistant passes a background check and completes the annual training Texas HHSC requires, including CPR, first aid, and health and safety
- • Regular fire, severe weather, and lockdown drills
A fever of 101°F or higher means pickup within 30 minutes, and children return after 24 hours fever-free without medication.
How will I know what my child is learning?
- • A parent board by the front door with reminders and announcements
- • A monthly calendar and a weekly curriculum overview so you know what your child is learning
- • Photos and updates on our Facebook page
- • Emergency and weather closure alerts by text, email, phone call, and social media
- • An open door: parents are welcome to visit the classroom anytime after checking in at the front office
Questions parents ask about preschool and Pre-K
How does preschool at ABC Early Learning Academy prepare kids for kindergarten?
Preschool and Pre-K children ages 3 to 5 build kindergarten skills through daily circle time, focused lessons on letters, numbers, and colors, and seven hands-on learning centers, including literacy, math, science, and STEM building. Conscious Discipline guidance helps them practice managing feelings and solving problems with friends.
What is the teacher-to-child ratio for preschool and Pre-K?
ABC Early Learning Academy follows, and aims to beat, Texas HHSC Child Care Licensing Minimum Standards: one teacher for every 15 three-year-olds and one teacher for every 18 four- and five-year-olds. Every teacher passes a background check and completes the annual training Texas HHSC requires.
How much screen time do preschoolers get?
Very little. Classroom screen time at ABC Early Learning Academy is capped at 45 minutes per week, age-appropriate and tied to the weekly theme. Personal devices like tablets, phones, and smartwatches stay home, and screens are never used as a reward or a discipline tool.
Do preschoolers still nap at ABC Early Learning Academy?
Every child has quiet rest time on their own mat after lunch, but no preschooler is forced to sleep. Teachers may pat backs or sit nearby during the first half of rest. Children who stay awake then get a quiet toy or book, so the room stays calm for friends who need sleep.
Can ABC help with a CCS scholarship for preschool and Pre-K?
Yes, ABC Early Learning Academy offers CCS enrollment help; ask us about current CCS status. Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas decides eligibility and your copay, and its posted wait time was up to 36 months in September 2026. You can enroll now at our published weekly rate while you wait.
What age does preschool start in Ennis, TX?
At ABC Early Learning Academy, Preschool and Pre-K serve children 3 to 5 years old in a full-day program, open 6 AM to 7 PM. Younger children are in toddler care from 12 months to 2 years. If you are also considering public Pre-K, ask your school district whether your child qualifies.
How much does preschool cost in Ennis, TX?
Preschool and Pre-K for ages 2 to 5 is $185 a week when paid on Monday, $205 Tuesday through Thursday, or $220 at the published Friday rate. That includes hot breakfast, hot lunch, afternoon snack, and learning materials. The enrollment fee is $150 one time, and referring a new student gets you 50% off week one.
Is preschool at ABC full day or half day?
Full day. Preschool and Pre-K at ABC run inside our regular child care day, Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, so drop-off and pickup fit around work instead of a midday dismissal. Breakfast, hot lunch, and afternoon snack are cooked on-site and included in weekly tuition.
See toddler care and after-school care for older siblings, browse all child care programs, compare weekly tuition, or read the full parent FAQ.