A new preschool offering tuition-free education to qualifying families is now open on Texas Woman’s University’s Denton campus.
Bezos Academy Denton celebrated its opening Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony involving Texas Woman’s University, the City of Denton and the Texas Women’s Foundation.
The six-classroom facility has space for up to 120 children between the ages of 3 and 5. The program provides full-day, year-round, Montessori-inspired education to qualifying families at no cost. Classes are scheduled to begin Sept. 8.
The project represents a $6 million investment in a new preschool facility and outdoor spaces. The City of Denton contributed $1.5 million toward the project, which helped increase the center’s capacity as the city continues to address its need for child care.
The academy is also designed to serve as a learning opportunity for TWU students. The university and Bezos Academy will work together to give students pursuing education and child development degrees opportunities for hands-on experience in a classroom setting.
TWU Chancellor and President Carine Feyten previously described the partnership as an important resource for families dealing with the cost of child care.
“This partnership will be a game-changer for the many families in our communities who struggle with childcare costs,” said TWU Chancellor Carine Feyten. “Texas Woman’s and Bezos Academy share a mission to develop lifelong learners and leaders by increasing educational access.”
According to Texas Women’s University, the Bezos Academy will have twenty percent of the preschool’s seats reserved for children of TWU students, faculty and staff, while the remaining 80% are available to eligible families in the Denton community.
Through its fully funded scholarship program, Bezos Academy provides eligible students with meals, educational materials and other programming at no cost to families.
The preschool comes as families across Texas continue to face high child care costs.
In 2024, the Texas Women’s Foundation found that in Texas, childcare costs “have risen sharply” putting a strain on parents’ income. TWF’s research found that on average child care in Texas costs $11,000 annually. In just Dallas County, TWF found that families spend approximately 12.5 percent of their median income on child care.
The Denton location is the largest Bezos Academy preschool in Texas and brings the organization’s total number of Texas locations to 12. Six are located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, five are in the greater Houston area, and one is in San Antonio.
WFAA reported that the Denton location is already fully enrolled for Fall 2026 following a lottery process, but parents can still look at future enrollment opportunities and review eligibility requirements and information through Bezos Academy.
