PCSD says preschool tuition up 19% due to full-day expansion, rising costs

Jeremy Ranch Preschool. Photo: Dan Gallery // Park City School District

Even with the increase, the district expects preschool to continue to operate at a loss, characterizing the subsidy as a long-term investment in early learning.

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City School District officials say a 19% tuition increase for district preschool in the 2026–27 school year reflects the true cost of a program that has expanded significantly in recent years, and that the district will continue to subsidize.

In an email response to TownLift, district spokesperson Colton Elliott said district preschool does not receive state funding and operates without the per-pupil allocation that supports K–12. The program costs about $1.5 million annually to run, he said, and tuition covers only part of that total.

What changed and why now

Elliott said the preschool program has shifted from a more limited, part-time model into a full-day, five-day-a-week program for 3- and 4-year-olds at every elementary school in the district, following the same calendar and daily schedule as K–12.

He said the expansion included:

• full-day programming at all elementary sites
• optional after-school care
• integrating preschool students into elementary “specials” such as library, P.E., music, art, and coding
• added instructional coaching and curriculum alignment to support consistent instruction across classrooms

District leaders said they implemented program improvements first, then adjusted tuition after the expansion was complete, rather than raising rates incrementally while the program was still more limited.

Even with the increase, Elliott said, the district expects preschool to continue operating at a loss, describing the subsidy as a long-term investment in early learning.

The new tuition rates

For 2026–27, the district’s published rates are:

Full-day preschool

• $950/month (September–May)
• $400 (August, prorated)
• $235 (June, prorated)
• Schedule: Mon–Thu 8:10 a.m.–3:05 p.m.; Fri 8:10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Half-day preschool

• $475/month (September–May)
• $235 (August)
• $120 (June)

Families with two or more children enrolled at the same time receive a 10% sibling discount, according to the district.

Staffing, supplies, and operating costs

Melissa Tschabrun, the district’s preschool coordinator, said several practical pressures contributed to the increase, including competitive staffing and retention, curriculum and classroom investments, and rising operating costs.

“To attract and keep the most talented early childhood educators and support staff, we have an excellent pay scale,” Tschabrun wrote. She added that the district is investing in curriculum materials, professional development focused on areas such as social-emotional learning and executive functioning, and covering higher costs for supplies, snacks, and facility maintenance.

Tschabrun said the district reinvests tuition revenue directly into preschool staffing and classrooms.

Affordability and financial support

Elliott said the district believes its preschool remains less expensive than many private options in the area, estimating comparable private programs in Park City typically range from about $1,250 to more than $2,000 per month.

He also said that about one-third of district preschool students receive some form of tuition support, including:

• free tuition for students receiving special education services
• reduced tuition for families who qualify for free or reduced lunch
• sibling discounts
• scholarships supported by Summit County, Park City, and the Park City Education Foundation
• additional community resources for families earning below the Area Median Income

District officials said they understand the increase is significant for families, but described it as aligning tuition with an expanded program that still relies on district subsidy to operate.