January 26, 2022 -- Today, the City of Houston announced a 10-year lease agreement with Bezos Academy to open a tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschool in the Denver Harbor area to open in fall 2022. Following consultation with multiple civic agencies and community organizations, this project came to fruition, including the Houston Health Department, The Mayor's Office of Education and the Mayor's Office of Complete Communities.
"Our partnership with the Bezos Academy in the Denver Harbor neighborhood will be a game-changer for many families. Underserved children will have access to education that inspires their creativity and challenges them to succeed in the classroom," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "By focusing on underserved communities, we are ensuring that every child will have equitable opportunities for education that propels them to a meaningful and successful future."
"The partnership between Bezos Academy and the City of Houston supports the healthy development and successful childhood of some of our City's neediest children, and helps ensure that our future workforce will be prepared for the jobs," said Houston City Council Member Karla Cisneros. "We are helping women get back to work, and we are giving young children a good shot at a better life."
"When we look for partners to host Bezos Academy preschools, we try to find opportunities that meet more than just the educational needs of the child," said Mike George, President of Bezos Academy. "The City of Houston helped us identify a site at Denver Harbor that will situate our tuition-free preschool in the midst of residential support programs for families ranging from a food pantry to health education. We couldn’t be more excited to join and support this community."
The Bezos Academy preschool will be located in the Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center at 6402 Market St., Houston, 77020. The school, to be named Bezos Academy Houston – Denver Harbor, will feature two classrooms. The school will follow a full-day, year-round schedule and will be slated to open in Fall 2022.
Families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty limit with children aged 3-4 are eligible to apply. More information and an application to the lottery-based selection process will be posted at www.bezosacademy.org once the school opening date is set.
About Bezos Academy
Bezos Academy is a non-profit organization that is building a network of tuition-free preschools. Our preschools offer year-round, full-day programming, five days a week, for children ages 3-5 years old from low-income families. Bezos Academy also provides students with all necessary educational supplies and services to set each student up for success, including Montessori materials, books, arts and crafts, field trips, and meals. For more information, visit: www.bezosacademy.org.
