Kindergarten

In the months before school starts, you can work with your student on counting, ABCs, knowing the letters of their own name, tying shoes, zipping coats, snapping buttons and more. During enrollment, you'll be asked to complete an Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) to help your student's teacher understand where your student is at in their development.

You have choices and opportunities for your kindergarten students. Beginning as early as October of the year before your student enters Kindergarten, you can explore those options by researching magnet schools, identifying your neighborhood school through School Finder, and attending our Showcase of Choices and Opportunities. 

Held each year in early May, Intro to Kindergarten is your opportunity to visit your student’s school, meet some of the leaders and teachers, see your student’s potential classrooms, and ask questions about what to expect during your student’s kindergarten year. If you want to get a head start with resources and see what last year’s parents learned, you can visit the Intro to Kindergarten page at any time. 

Look for the list of needed supplies for elementary school students to be posted by early July. If you need help with providing supplies for your student(s), reach out to the counselor or social worker listed on the school's website. 

At some schools, supplies will include purchasing uniform dress clothing.

Parents of incoming kindergarten students are required to attend in-person enrollment during the final week of July.

Be sure to have ready your proof of address, student’s birth documents, health and immunization records, and payment for fees. Details on what are accepted for each of these are available on the enrollment website.

This is also your opportunity to ask follow-up questions, sign up for latchkey (before and after school care) and sign up for which day your kindergartener will attend during the first week of school. Schools set up staggered attendance for our kindergarteners so that they have some time to adjust to the classroom in smaller groups, and so that the teachers can start to develop those strong relationships early in the school year.

Students need some time to adjust to attending school all day. A few weeks before school starts, you can practice having them wake up early, get ready for and go to bed on time. You might also practice things like waiting their turn, raising their hand, asking to go to the bathroom, or asking a classmate to play. 

Most schools will have an open house or back-to-school night just before or just after the first day of school. This is your opportunity to meet other students' families, connect with teachers, sign up for activities, and learn more about the school. Check the website's calendar or outdoor sign for these dates.

During the first quarter (or 9-week period) your student is in school, you will have the opportunity register as a volunteer to help in their class or school building, as well as to attend Parent-Teacher Conferences. These first conferences are important to help you understand our approach to grading (Standards Referenced Grading) and how their teacher will help you understand your student's progress throughout the year. You'll have a second parent-teacher conference opportunity in the spring semester.