Funding note: The universal ESA starts at kindergarten. For ages 3-4, look at DES child care assistance, Quality First scholarships or, for a child with a disability, the preschool ESA.
The universal ESA begins at kindergarten, and the child must be 5 by January 1. For younger children, look at DES child care assistance, Quality First scholarships, Head Start through Child-Parent Centers, or the preschool ESA for a child with a disability.
Where they are: Central Tucson, the University & the West Side (7), Northwest Tucson, Oro Valley & Marana (6), Catalina Foothills & the East Side (3).
STOs that list these schools
| School Tuition Organization | Tucson-area schools on its list | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IBE | 14 | Tucson-based multi-school STO on North Swan Road; lists the most Pima County schools. Opens 2027-28 applications Feb 1. |
| ACSTO | 6 | Statewide Christian-school STO, the largest since 1998; next-year cycle opens Feb 3, awards four times a year. |
| School Choice Arizona | 4 | Chandler-based STO, mostly low-income corporate money; good to check if your income qualifies. |
| APSTO | 1 | Scottsdale multi-school STO certified in 2018; lists many Tucson Catholic and independent schools. |
Counts schools in our directory that appear on each STO's published school list (Oct 2026). A school on a list can receive scholarships through that STO; an award is never guaranteed.
All 16 preschool & kindergarten programs
| School | Type | Community | Grades | STO lists | Students* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension Lutheran Preschool 1220 W Magee Rd, Tucson 85704 | Christian Schools Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod | Northwest Tucson, Oro Valley & Marana | PK-K | 3 ACSTO, IBE, School Choice Arizona | 18 |
| Beautiful Savior Academy 7570 N Thornydale Rd, Tucson 85752 | Christian Schools Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | Northwest Tucson, Oro Valley & Marana | PK-K | 3 ACSTO, IBE, School Choice Arizona | 18 |
| Catalina Hills Preschool and Kinder Tucson · from STO lists only | Independent Schools | Central Tucson, the University & the West Side | Not reported | 1 IBE | — |
| Lambs Gate Christian School 4700 N Swan Rd, Tucson 85718 | Christian Schools Christian (no specific denomination) | Catalina Foothills & the East Side | PK-K | 3 ACSTO, APSTO, IBE | 4 |
| Mis Manos Montessori School 100 W Magee Rd, Tucson 85704 | Independent Schools | Northwest Tucson, Oro Valley & Marana | PK-K | 1 IBE | 2 |
| Northminster Christian School 2450 E Fort Lowell Rd, Tucson 85719 | Christian Schools Presbyterian | Central Tucson, the University & the West Side | PK-K | 1 IBE | 5 |
| Resurrection Lutheran Child Development Center 11575 N 1st Ave, Oro Valley 85737 | Christian Schools Other Lutheran | Northwest Tucson, Oro Valley & Marana | PK-K | 2 ACSTO, IBE | 12 |
| Second Street Children's School 2430 E 2nd St., Tucson 85719 | Independent Schools | Central Tucson, the University & the West Side | PK-K | 1 IBE | 12 |
| Sonshine Preschool Tucson · from STO lists only | Christian Schools | Central Tucson, the University & the West Side | Not reported | 1 IBE | — |
| St. Andrew's Preschool & Kindergarten 7650 N Paseo del Norte, Tucson 85704 | Christian Schools Presbyterian | Northwest Tucson, Oro Valley & Marana | PK-K | 2 ACSTO, School Choice Arizona | 15 |
| St. Andrews Kindergarten Tucson · from STO lists only | Independent Schools | Central Tucson, the University & the West Side | Not reported | 1 IBE | — |
| St. Joseph Catholic School 215 S Craycroft Rd, Tucson 85711 | Catholic Schools | Catalina Foothills & the East Side | K | 2 IBE, School Choice Arizona | 22 |
| St. Mark's Early Childhood Center 1431 W Magee Rd, Tucson 85704 | Christian Schools Methodist | Northwest Tucson, Oro Valley & Marana | PK-K | 1 IBE | 14 |
| St. Thomas the Apostle Pre & K Tucson · from STO lists only | Catholic Schools | Central Tucson, the University & the West Side | Not reported | 1 IBE | — |
| Tanque Verde Lutheran PreK & K Tucson · from STO lists only | Christian Schools | Central Tucson, the University & the West Side | Not reported | 1 IBE | — |
| Tanque Verde Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten 8625 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson 85749 | Christian Schools Christian (no specific denomination) | Catalina Foothills & the East Side | PK-K | 1 ACSTO | 13 |
* Enrollment reported to the NCES Private School Survey (2023-24 or 2021-22). "STO lists" counts the School Tuition Organizations whose published school list included the school (Oct 2026). Arizona has no state list of ESA schools; ask each school whether it accepts ESA payments through ClassWallet.
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