Pre-K 4 SA
Pre-K 4 SA is a San Antonio municipal initiative delivering evidence-based prekindergarten education across five education centers and a citywide grant, professional learning, and shared services network, funded by a voter-approved sales tax.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSan Antonio, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Pre-K 4 SA does
Pre-K 4 SA is a privately operated but publicly funded municipal early childhood education initiative headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, established in 2012 following a citizen vote to dedicate a portion of the city's sales tax to pre-kindergarten education. The organization delivers high-quality prekindergarten services to 3- and 4-year-olds through five purpose-built education centers (North, South, East, West, and Gardendale) using the evidence-based HighScope active-learning curriculum, with a 10-hour program day that exceeds the typical 7-hour pre-K schedule at an FY 2025 cost of $11,470 per student. Specialized program components include social-emotional learning frameworks, outdoor learning environments requiring a minimum 60 minutes outside daily, the CHEF (Culinary Health Education for Families) nutrition program, and the Gracias civic engagement curriculum. Annual enrollment exceeds 2,000 students at the four model centers, with more than 21,000 young learners served cumulatively since inception.
Beyond direct service delivery, Pre-K 4 SA operates a citywide ecosystem that includes a Professional Learning Program for educators (workshops, coaching, CDA certification preparation, earning CDA Gold Standard recognition in 2021), the San Antonio Shared Services Alliance (SASSA) supporting other child development centers, and a Competitive Grants Program distributing over $4.2 million annually to local public, charter, private, and parochial schools. The initiative is funded primarily by the voter-approved sales tax (reauthorized in 2020 for another eight years through approximately 2028) supplemented by tuition, scholarships, and grants, with FY 2025 revenue and expenditures balanced at $61.2 million. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors appointed by the Mayor of San Antonio, and the organization holds NAEYC accreditation across three centers, MCCYN military certification, and validated long-term outcomes including 16.9 percentage point higher 3rd grade math scores than the state average and 7 weeks more instruction time due to improved attendance.
Pre-K 4 SA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pre-K 4 SA
- Legal name
- Pre-K 4 SA
- Website
- https://prek4sa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Pre-K 4 SA is a San Antonio municipal initiative delivering evidence-based prekindergarten education across five education centers and a citywide grant, professional learning, and shared services network, funded by a voter-approved sales tax.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pre-K 4 SA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early Childhood Education
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (62441), Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Academic/School-Readiness Preschools (EDACABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers (EDACABAL), Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK), Parenting Skills & Child Development Education (EDACALAA)
Keywords
Where Pre-K 4 SA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Antonio
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Pre-K 4 SA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Voter-Approved Sales Tax Revenue: Pre-K 4 SA was established through San Antonio citizens voting 'yes' in 2012 to invest in four-year-olds. The program was reauthorized by voters in 2020 for another eight years. This voter-approved sales tax provides the primary government funding for operations.
- Tuition and Fees: Families pay tuition for the extended day program while parents are at work or school. The program offers scholarships to support access for eligible families.
- Competitive Grants Program: Pre-K 4 SA distributes over $4.2 million annually in grants to local private, parochial, and public schools throughout the city to increase access to high-quality early childhood learning. This is an outflow rather than revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Pre-K 4 SA Education Center Program |
| Subscription | Monthly | Extended Day Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Pre-K 4 SA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pre-K 4 SA delivers high-quality pre-kindergarten education for 3- and 4-year-olds in San Antonio through four model Education Centers (North, South, East, West) and the Gardendale Early Learning Program, using the evidence-based HighScope curriculum. The program extends beyond direct instruction through Professional Learning and CDA certification for educators, the San Antonio Shared Services Alliance (SASSA) supporting other child development centers, and a Competitive Grants Program distributing over $4.2 million annually to schools citywide.
Product overview
Pre-K 4 SA is a comprehensive early childhood education initiative offering a multi-component portfolio centered on its four Education Centers (North, South, East, West) providing high-quality prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds using the HighScope curriculum. The program extends beyond direct service delivery through its Professional Learning Program offering workshops and CDA certification for educators citywide, the San Antonio Shared Services Alliance (SASSA) supporting other child development centers, and its Competitive Grants Program distributing over $4.2 million annually to expand access citywide. Specialized program components include the Gardendale Early Learning Program (Pre-K through 2nd grade partnership), CHEF nutrition education, Outdoor Learning environments, Social-Emotional Learning frameworks, the Gracias San Antonio civic engagement curriculum, Family Engagement Services, and Extended Day programming. Together, these products form an integrated ecosystem addressing the full spectrum of early childhood education from direct student instruction to educator development and community capacity building.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gardendale Early Learning Program: An innovative school partnership with Edgewood Independent School District providing prekindergarten through 2nd grade education using Pre-K 4 SA methodologies.
Products and services
- Pre-K 4 SA Education Centers Four model education centers (North, South, East, West) providing high-quality prekindergarten education for 3- and 4-year-olds in San Antonio, featuring indoor and outdoor learning environments, family-style meals, and the HighScope curriculum. More than 2,000 students per year attend.
- Gardendale Early Learning Program Innovative school partnership with Edgewood Independent School District providing Pre-K through 2nd grade education using Pre-K 4 SA's proven HighScope methodologies.
- Professional Learning Program City's leading resource for early childhood education knowledge offering workshops, seminars, individualized coaching, and CDA certification preparation for educators throughout San Antonio. In 2025, 882 educators received professional learning with 4,888 children benefiting and 18,000 hours of free training delivered.
- San Antonio Shared Services Alliance (SASSA) Network of child development centers and family providers collaborating to share funds and services, providing peer-to-peer support, one-on-one coaching, professional learning, and resources to strengthen sustainable child care businesses.
- Competitive Grants Program Annual grant program awarding over $4.2 million to local private, parochial, and public schools throughout San Antonio to increase access to high-quality early childhood learning.
- Extended Day Program After-school program providing additional active learning, outdoor activities, and quality interactions for children whose parents are at work, building language, academic, and social skills.
- HighScope Curriculum Evidence-based active learning curriculum used across all Pre-K 4 SA programs, emphasizing plan-do-review sequences, child-led activities, and development of executive function skills.
- Family Engagement Services Services supporting families including workshops, Family Cafés with computer access, Parents As Partners program, adult education classes, family literacy events, and kindergarten transition support.
- Infant & Toddler Program (Pilot) Pilot program for infants and toddlers launched at South Education Center in 2025, expanding Pre-K 4 SA's age range beyond 3- and 4-year-olds.
Quantifiable outcome
- Children exceed state average 3rd grade math scores by 16.9 percentage points
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Pre-K 4 SA
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pre-K 4 SA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature5 records
Pre-K 4 SA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Texas A&M University–San AntoniocorePartnership to break ground on Educare San Antonio. Also co-sponsored the San Antonio Early Childhood Learning Landscape Study.
- Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA)coreFirst-of-its-kind partnership to address critical need for child care options for military families. Pre-K 4 SA earned Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) certification.
- Communities in SchoolscorePartnership with Gardendale Early Learning Program to best support children and families with needed resources.
- HOLT CAT (HOLT Group)corePublic-private partnership to build the new South Education Center to address child care desert and population increase on San Antonio's South Side. Center opened October 2025.
- South San Antonio Independent School DistrictcorePartnership entered in 2020 to expand Pre-K 4 SA reach to South San ISD students.
- East Central Independent School DistrictcoreJoined as partner school district in 2017, expanding Pre-K 4 SA reach.
- Edgewood Independent School DistrictcoreOne of seven original partner school districts. Partnership expanded in 2019 to create Gardendale Pre-K 4 SA Early Education Center serving Pre-K through 2nd grade students.
- Harlandale Independent School DistrictcoreOne of seven original partner school districts from the program's first year.
- North East Independent School DistrictcoreOne of seven original partner school districts from the program's first year.
- Northside Independent School DistrictcoreOne of seven original partner school districts from the program's first year.
- San Antonio Independent School DistrictcoreOne of seven original partner school districts from the program's first year.
- Southside Independent School DistrictcoreOne of seven original partner school districts from the program's first year.
- Southwest Independent School DistrictcoreOne of seven original partner school districts from the program's first year.
- HighScopecorePre-K 4 SA follows the HighScope approach to teaching young children, backed by more than 40 years of research.
- Culinary Health Education for Families (CHEF)coreCHEF teaches children about healthy eating through growing their own food, master gardener partnerships, and farmer's markets. CHEF holds the belief that food is medicine.
- Miss Tristan FoundationminorPartnership to teach water safety to Pre-K 4 SA students ahead of summer break.
- San Antonio Food BankminorPartnership to support families with food resources and nutrition education.
- Ready to WorkcoreCo-sponsored the San Antonio Early Childhood Learning Landscape Study along with Economic Development, Human Services, and Pre-K 4 SA.
- H-E-BcoreMajor community partner and sponsor. H-E-B Excellence in Education Award winner. HEB Read 3 literacy initiative partner.
- Morgan's WonderlandcoreHosts the annual Pre-K 4 SA Family Reunion event with 1,500+ adults and 1,600+ children attending.
- The DoSeumminorSan Antonio's award-winning children's museum. Prior COO Paul Chapman served as VP of Strategy and Communications there.
- United Way of Bexar CountycoreCommunity partner supporting family services and resource connections.
- Avance San AntoniocoreCommunity partner providing early childhood education and family support services.
- CPS EnergyminorCommunity partner supporting energy services and community programs.
- San Antonio SpursminorCommunity partner with recognition awards given to educators.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Pre-K 4 SA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Children's Aid Society: Non-profit operating early childhood centers, after-school programs, and family services in New York City. Comparable as a multi-site, mission-driven ECE provider integrating family services, educator development, and direct center operations, though geographically distinct from Pre-K 4 SA.
- Educare Learning Network: National network of high-quality early childhood schools serving low-income children birth to age five using evidence-based curricula. Most direct comparable: Pre-K 4 SA is actively partnering to launch Educare San Antonio, mirroring Educare's replication model.
- Head Start Programs (ACF/HHS): Federally funded program administered by local agencies providing free early childhood education to low-income children birth to age five. Comparable as a publicly funded ECE program targeting underserved 3- and 4-year-olds, though funded federally rather than via voter-approved municipal sales tax.
- NYC Pre-K for All: New York City's universal pre-K initiative offering free pre-K to all 4-year-olds through community-based organizations and schools. The closest municipal-scale peer to Pre-K 4 SA in scope, funding mechanism (city-funded universal pre-K), and population served, though much larger in scale.
Broad incumbents
- The Goddard School: Franchised private preschool chain emphasizing play-based and STEAM learning. Comparable as a multi-site, premium-priced ECE operator with proprietary curriculum, though operating as a for-profit franchise model.
- Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large-scale operator of early childhood education and care centers serving employer-sponsored and family clients. Comparable as a premium-priced, multi-site ECE provider with extended-day programming, though operating as a commercial enterprise rather than a municipal initiative.
- KinderCare Learning Companies: National for-profit chain operating more than 1,500 early childhood education centers. Comparable as a multi-site preschool operator serving working families with extended-day needs, though with a private/commercial model versus Pre-K 4 SA's publicly funded model.
- Primrose Schools: Franchised private preschool network with a proprietary balanced-learning curriculum and extended-day programming. Comparable as a multi-site, premium-priced ECE provider serving working families with an evidence-informed curriculum approach.
Others
- Children's Defense Fund: National non-profit advocating for child policy and operating model programs including early childhood education. Comparable through mission alignment on early childhood access and policy advocacy, but primarily an advocacy/grantmaking organization rather than a direct service operator.
Emerging players
- KIPP Foundation: National charter school network with a growing pre-K–12 pipeline. Comparable on the early childhood pipeline and evidence-based methodology dimensions, and on targeting underserved populations, though anchored on K–12 rather than ECE specialization.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pre-K 4 SA social profiles
Digital presencePre-K 4 SA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Pre-K 4 SA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pre-K 4 SA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Pre-K 4 SA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Pre-K 4 SA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pre-K 4 SA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pre-K 4 SA
What does Pre-K 4 SA do?
Pre-K 4 SA delivers high-quality pre-kindergarten education for 3- and 4-year-olds in San Antonio through four model Education Centers (North, South, East, West) and the Gardendale Early Learning Program, using the evidence-based HighScope curriculum. The program extends beyond direct instruction through Professional Learning and CDA certification for educators, the San Antonio Shared Services Alliance (SASSA) supporting other child development centers, and a Competitive Grants Program distributing over $4.2 million annually to schools citywide.
Is Pre-K 4 SA a public or private company?
Pre-K 4 SA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Pre-K 4 SA founded?
Pre-K 4 SA was founded in 2012.
Where is Pre-K 4 SA based?
Pre-K 4 SA is headquartered in San Antonio, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pre-K 4 SA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Voter-Approved Sales Tax Revenue is the primary driver. The others are tuition and Fees and competitive Grants Program.
Who are Pre-K 4 SA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Children's Aid Society, Educare Learning Network, Head Start Programs (ACF/HHS) and NYC Pre-K for All. Broad incumbents are The Goddard School, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, KinderCare Learning Companies and Primrose Schools. Children's Defense Fund is listed as an others. KIPP Foundation is listed as an emerging player.
Does Pre-K 4 SA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pre-K 4 SA.
What industry is Pre-K 4 SA in?
Pre-K 4 SA's product category is Early Childhood Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACABAB, Academic/School-Readiness Preschools, with a secondary code of EDACABAL, Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers. Its NAICS code is 62441 and its SIC code is 8351.