How to Enroll

Kindergarteners

  • 2020-21 Kindergarten Registration Begins: Wednesday, April 15, 2020 from 3 to 7 p.m. at all elementary schools

    After April 15: Call the school to find out what time to visit for registration.

    See a list of Kindergarten Open Houses and Tours.
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  • For Pre-Kindergarten/Preschool registration, visit the Early Childhood Opportunities page.

    How to Enroll

    1. Find your attendance zone with the Attendance Zone Locator.

    2. Gather the required documents.

    3. Complete the enrollment forms. Save time and pick up an enrollment packet at your school or complete the forms online (see below). You may also complete the forms when you visit the school to enroll.

    4. Visit your school* to complete your enrollment. Bring the required documents and forms.
      *If a primary language other than English is spoken in your home, register your child for school at the Office of English Learner (EL) Services located on the first floor of ACPS Central Office at 1340 Braddock Place. Please call 703-619-8332 or email ELOffice@acps.k12.va.us for more information.

    Enrollment Forms

    Parents have three options for completing enrollment forms:

    When to Register

    According to Virginia law, your child must be five years old on or before September 30 to register for kindergarten. There is no deadline for registration, but ACPS urges parents to register early. To be admitted, a child must meet all documentation and health requirements. See the registration packet for details.

    Children who will be six years old on or before September 30, must, by law, attend school. Parents of students who are starting school as first-graders should follow kindergarten registration procedures. If you decide not to register your child for kindergarten, you must contact the school system in writing.

    Parents of students transferring to ACPS from other school districts should enroll their children as soon as possible upon moving to Alexandria. Registration dates for transfer students are ongoing.

    Where to Register

    If English is the only primary language spoken in your home, you must register at your assigned neighborhood school, even if your child will attend a different ACPS school. To determine your neighborhood school, visit the online Attendance Zone Locator.

    If a primary language other than English is spoken in your home, register your child for school at the Office of English Learner (EL) Services located on the first floor of ACPS Central Office at 1340 Braddock Place. Please call 703-619-8332 for more information.

    Residency Requirements

    Parents registering their child must provide three documents proving Alexandria City residency.

    Elementary Transfer Requests

    See the Elementary Transfer Requests page.

    Program Transfers

    Currently, there are three options available for families to opt in to by applying for a Program Transfer:

    • Jefferson-Houston School's K-8 Program
    • Dual Language Program at Mount Vernon Community School or John Adams Elementary School
    • Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School's Modified Calendar Program

    Program options are based on capacity at these schools.

    Families can also opt out of Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School and Mount Vernon Community School. Families may not opt out of John Adams Elementary School due to the availability of English language instruction. Families may not opt out of Jefferson-Houston School at K-5, but may opt out of Jefferson-Houston at middle school.

    Families who opt out of Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School or Mount Vernon Community School will be placed in another school based on capacity and proximity to the student's home.

    See the Elementary Transfer Requests page for forms and policies.

    Registration Lottery (If Needed)

    ACPS uses capacity reassignment as a part of the student placement policy to maintain small class sizes. If the enrollment for kindergarten is above its limit at a traditional calendar school by June 15 (or June 1 for Samuel Tucker), all students who completed registration prior to that date will be put in a lottery to determine which students will be capacity reassigned to another ACPS school. If the enrollment limit has not reached capacity, everyone who has completed registration prior to June 15 will be enrolled at the zoned school. Any students registering after that date will be capacity reassigned to another school if kindergarten enrollment limit has been reached. For additional information, see ACPS School Board Policy JC–R/JCD-R: ACPS Student Placement (PDF). Please note that registration is NOT on a first-come, first-served basis.

    ADA accommodations

    If you need ADA accommodations, please call the Department of Student Services, Alternative Programs and Equity at 703-619-8034.