Preschool in your family's community.

EES runs preschool programs inside Vista Unified elementary school campuses, the same schools your child will attend for the next six years. Bilingual staff. Free meal(s). And a teacher who will know your child by name.

Child wearing a hoodie happily sliding down a tan playground slide on a sunny day.

EES preschool programs serve children ages 3 to 5 across Vista, Linda Vista, Chula Vista, and National City. Part-day programs run inside Vista Unified school campuses; full-day, year-round programs are available in Vista, Linda Vista, and South Bay. All programs include free daily meals and bilingual staff. Free for qualifying families.

Program options

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Inside Vista Unified Schools

Part-Day Preschool

Part-day programs run inside Vista Unified campuses. Your child learns in the building where they'll attend elementary school. The teachers already know each other.

Ages 3–5. School year calendar. A meal is provided.

Child in red shirt watering indoor potted plants with a spray bottle by a window.

Year-Round

Full-Day Preschool

Full-day centers in Vista, Linda Vista, and South Bay. Open year-round, including summers. For working families who need care that doesn't stop when the school year does.

Ages 3–5. Meals and snack included every day.

EES is embedded in communities throughout San Diego County

All of our schools are conveniently located within neighborhoods where your families live, work, and play. Supporting local communities is important to EES. We built it on purpose.

Young child with red glasses smiling and holding a drawing of a person in a classroom.

What a day at EES preschool looks like

We track each child's development using the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) — a structured observation tool, not a test. Twice a year, we share what we're seeing with you.

Your child's day includes:

Time with a teacher who knows how they learn best

Building, exploring, drawing, and pretending

Books read aloud, songs, and conversation that builds language

Free breakfast, lunch, and snack

Time outside

Quiet time

Kindergarten readiness for the whole child

Whole-child readiness means more than knowing the alphabet. By the time an EES child walks into kindergarten, they know how to sit next to a friend without conflict, follow multi-step directions, ask for help, and try again when something is hard.

Over the course of the year, we also check vision and hearing (April) and dental health (February and March). Many children have their first screenings at EES.

Our programs include

Language and early literacy

Number sense and problem-solving

Social and emotional skills

Creative expression and movement

Self-regulation and confidence

Opportunities for vision, hearing, and dental screenings

Tier 4 and Tier 5 — California's highest quality ratings for preschool programs.

EES participates in the Quality Counts California Quality Continuum Framework (QCF) and holds Tier 4 or Tier 5 ratings at all centers. We're assessed annually by independent observers on class size, teacher training, curriculum quality, and family engagement practices. These are California's highest quality ratings for preschool programs.

Young boy playing with colored wooden blocks and looking through a translucent red block in a classroom.

Free meals everyday

Every child enrolled at EES receives free breakfast, lunch, and snack*. Menus exceed USDA Child Care Food Program standards and are planned by nutrition specialists.

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*Meals provided are depenent on hours of care

Teacher and children sitting at tables in a colorful classroom, drinking milk and enjoying snacks.

FAQ's

Got additional questions? Feel free to reach out and we'd be happy to answer them.

How old does my child need to be to start preschool at EES?

EES preschool programs serve children ages 3–5. For younger children, EES offers infant and toddler care starting at 3 months*.

_{*Infant Care only available in Vista}

How much does EES Preschool cost?

Great news! Our preschools are free for families who qualify. Eligibility is based on household income and program type. Many families qualify and pay nothing, and some have small monthly fees. Call us to find out if your family qualifies.

Does EES preschool run in the summer?

Full-day, year-round programs are available in Vista, Linda Vista, and South Bay. Part-day programs inside Vista Unified schools follow the school-year calendar.

Ready to find a free preschool in San Diego County?

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Young boy sitting on carpet reading a book in a classroom with a wooden book rack behind him.