Enrollment: Infants – Preschool

** Click here to apply for the 2026-2027 school year**

Please email SEEC-Enrollment@si.edu with questions concerning enrollment.

Admission Policy

Enrollment in the SEEC program is based upon an annual random number drawing lottery process that includes consideration of factors such as guardians’ place of employment, child’s birth date, and sibling status. Smithsonian employees get priority for all open spaces at SEEC. Each spring, enrollment is determined for the upcoming fall through the lottery process.  

Lottery Process 

All applicants must submit an application by April 1st to be eligible for the enrollment lottery. Applications received after April 1st will be added to the bottom of the waitlist in their respective category. Offers for space will be extended via email following the lottery in April. A non-refundable registration fee and partial student deposit will be due at the time of acceptance to guarantee a child’s enrollment.  The remainder of the student deposit is due in early summer. 

Mid Year Openings

If a vacancy occurs during the school year, a child will be selected from the remaining applicants according to the current year’s lottery results, but always giving priority to Smithsonian staff members. If spaces are still available after the waitlist is exhausted, late applications will be evaluated as they are received.

Enrollment Open Houses and Tours: 

Caregiver Enrollment Tours

These tours are intended for caregivers. If you are bringing your child, strollers or carriers are recommended.  

Each tour is held at one of our 3 centers and is for a different age group. Please click the link below to register for the tour that matches your child’s age. Tours will begin promptly at 4:00 PM.

The Tours and Open Houses are for the 2026-2027 school year. If you are interested in enrolling for the 2025-2026 school year, please contact SEEC-Enrollment@si.edu.

American History Center:

Please join us for an enrollment tour for our two’s and three’s age groups located in our American History center in the National Museum of American History. For the 2026 –27 school year this includes children who were born between Sept. 2022 and Aug. 2024.

East Court Center:

Please join us for an enrollment tour for our toddler and Pre-K four age groups located in our East Court center in the National Museum of Natural History. For the 2026 –27 school year this includes children who are born between Sept. 2024 and Aug. 2025 for the toddler ages and between Sept. 2021 and Aug. 2022 for the fours. 

Main Building Center:

Please join us for an enrollment tour for our infant age groups located in our Main Building center in the National Museum of Natural History. For the 2026 –27 school year this includes children who are born between Sept. 2025 and Aug. 2026 for infants, between Sept. 2024 and Aug. 2025 for the toddler ages, and Sep. 2023 and Aug. 2024 for the twos.

Family Open Houses:

Join us for a free morning of exploration and fun with your family while you learn about the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center’s programs including: our full-time school for infants – Preschool, part-time toddler and caregiver Smithsonian Early Explorers program, and our weekend Families Together Workshops! SEEC’s Executive Director and our program staff will be available to answer your questions.

Each of our open houses will be held at one of SEEC’s three centers. Anyone is allowed to attend any open house, but only the classrooms in the featured center will be available to see. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee which class your child would be accepted into.

American History Center: Sunday March 1, 2026- 10am – 12pm

 This open house is held in our American History center, the classroom in that center are: 

  • Twos Classrooms (Fireflies and Otters): birthdays between Sept. 2023 and May 2024)  
  • Pre-K 3’s Classrooms (Wallabies and Koalas): birthdays between Sept. 2022 and Aug. 2023)  

East Court Center: Sunday January 25, 2026- 10am – 12 pm

This open house is held in our East Court center, the classroom in that center are: 

  • Pre-K 4’s Classroom (Bears): birthdays between Sept. 2021 and Aug. 2022
  • Toddler Classrooms (Toucan and Dragonfly): birthdays between Feb. 2024 and August 2025

Main Building Center: Sunday February 1, 2026- 10am – 12pm

This open house is held in our Main Building center, the classroom in that center are: 

  •  Infant Classrooms (Cottontails & Ducklings): birthdays between Sept. 2025 and Aug 2026 
  • Toddler Classroom (Owls): birthdays between Sept. 2024 and Jan. 2025 
  • Twos Classroom (Penguins): birthdays between May and Aug 2024