Kindergarten is more than a grade. It’s the beginning of everything that comes next — the reading habits, the friendships, the way a child learns to walk into a classroom and feel they belong. For fifteen years, Academy Del Sol has welcomed Tucson families across that threshold. Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year is open now, and if a child in your life turns five before September, this is the year to start planning.
More Than the Alphabet
Kindergarten at ADS starts with the foundations every parent expects: phonics-based reading instruction, early math, learning to write your name, learning to listen. But it doesn’t stop there. From the first week, our kindergartners sing in music class, paint in art, move their bodies in dance, and start to understand the rhythms of a school day that has room for both academic work and creative joy.
That’s not an add-on. It’s the heart of what makes ADS a Fine Arts charter school. The arts aren’t a reward kids earn after they finish “real learning” — they ARE real learning. A five-year-old who learns counting through a clapping song internalizes math differently than one who only sees numbers on a worksheet.
Small Classes, Big Attention
Kindergarten class sizes at ADS are small enough that every teacher knows every child — what makes them laugh, what they’re nervous about, where they need a little extra time. That’s not marketing language. It’s how we operate.
For first-time school families, that matters. The transition from home or preschool to a full school day is real, and kids do better when the adults in the building know their name on day one — not week six.
Two Campuses to Choose From
ADS has two Tucson campuses, and both welcome kindergartners for 2026-27. Star Valley in West Tucson (the Firebirds) and Roger Road in Central Tucson (the Roadrunners) offer the same curriculum and the same commitment to every child — each with its own community personality. Most families pick based on proximity, but we recommend touring both before you decide.
How to Apply
Academy Del Sol is a tuition-free public charter school — no application fees, no testing, no income requirements. The 2026-27 application is open now through our PowerSchool enrollment portal. We recommend applying early because kindergarten spots tend to fill first. Spanish-speaking families: our enrollment process is fully bilingual, and we have Spanish-speaking staff at both campuses to help.
Ready to see ADS in person? Tour either campus or apply today — it takes about 15 minutes and there’s no fee.
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