Frequently Asked Questions

A: Which students need to be registered for kindergarten?

Parent/guardians may enroll their child for kindergarten if the child turns five years old on or before September 30, 2026. All kindergarten students complete registration at their zoned school, based on home address.

B: When is the kindergarten registration window?

The kindergarten registration window opens April 15, 2026 and runs through the summer.

C. Where do I register my child for kindergarten? 

As long as you register before the first day of the school year, you will register your kindergarten child at your zoned elementary school.  If you are unsure of your zoned school, you can put your home address in the ACPS Attendance Zone Locator to determine your school.

If your family has a home language other than English and you are also enrolling 1st-12th students, you have the option of also registering your kindergartner at the ACPS EL Office when you enroll the older students.  Information on enrolling older students with a home language other than, or in addition to, English is available at 703-619-8022. Beginning the first day of school, all kindergartners with a home language other than English should register at the ACPS EL Office.  

D: Can I register my child for kindergarten if my child won’t turn five until October, but is very advanced?

No. Only children who turn five years old before September 30 may register for kindergarten. The age requirement is set by Virginia law and we are unable to make any exceptions.  The Alexandria community has many enrichment opportunities if you are interested in keeping your child intellectually engaged before he or she is old enough for kindergarten enrollment.

E: What if I want to delay my child’s kindergarten enrollment until the following school year?

In Virginia, parents must ensure that a child, who has reached his or her 5th birthday on or before September 30 of any school year, attends school in compliance with the state compulsory attendance law as specified in §22.1-254 of the Code of Virginia. However, any child who will not have reached his sixth birthday on or before September 30 of each school year and whose parent or guardian notifies the school division that s/he does not wish the child to attend school until the following year because the child, in the opinion of the parent or guardian, is not mentally, physically, or emotionally prepared to attend school, may delay the child's attendance for one year.

If you are a parent who believes your child is not mentally, physically or emotionally prepared to attend school, you should notify ACPS Student Services in writing (write to ACPS Student Services, 1340 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314 or or email: student_services@acps.k12.va.us) to indicate that you want to delay compulsory attendance until the following year.  If a child will have reached his or her 6th birthday on or before September 30th, school enrollment is required.

F: Do I need to register my child for kindergarten if my child already attends an ACPS Preschool, Head Start or a community preschool program?

Yes, students who are currently in a preschool program, including ACPS Preschool, still need to complete kindergarten registration, including submitting the 26-27 application form and scheduling and attending a registration appointment with the registrar at their zoned school to present the required registration documents.

A: Are appointments required for kindergarten registration, or can I just walk-in?

All schools require registration appointments which can be scheduled by calling or emailing your zoned school registrar.  

B: If I am new to ACPS, can I register all of my children at the kindergarten registration appointment? 

In many cases, school registrars can accommodate this if the siblings are all of elementary age.  Please ask the school registrar when making your kindergartner’s registration appointment.

If there are siblings of multiple grade levels, the ACPS EL Office will register all K–12 students in the family, as long as there is a home language other than, or in addition to, English.

C: What should I expect at my kindergarten registration appointment?

The school registrar will meet with you to go over your paperwork and to make copies of your registration documents. 

If there is a language other than English in the home, an EL assessor will briefly assess your child’s English proficiency and determine if your child is eligible for English Learner services. 

D: Will somebody at the school help me if I don’t speak English?

If you would like translation services during your appointment, please ask the school registrar to call the Language Line for live translation. The kindergarten registration application is offered in English, Spanish, Amharic, Dari and Arabic.

E: Can my child’s grandmother, friend or relative register my child?

The legal guardian needs to register the child. If the person registering the child is not listed as a parent on the child’s birth certificate. Proof of legal guardianship or custody requires a legal document signed by a judge verifying legal custody or legal guardianship. Note: A notarized statement from the parent is usually not sufficient for enrollment.

A: What do I need to bring to my registration appointment?

See this list of required documents that need to be brought to the registration appointment.
The School Registrar will be able to access the student’s online application; parents do not need to bring a printed copy of that.

B: Can I bring a copy of my child’s birth certificate, not the original?

Original birth certificates are required. We make a copy and the original is returned to you during the appointment.

If you are in need of an original birth certificate from a US state, there is a fairly simple process to request it.  The link to the Virginia site is www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/  or you can find the process for other states at www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm. Please contact your school registrar if you have a special situation, such as difficulty accessing a birth certificate from another country.

C: Where can I access the online registration form?

The  online registration portal is available on the  website. The registration portal will require the applicants to create a password that allows them to revisit their account. It is advised that applicants write down their username and password. Note: registration opens April 15, 2026.

ALERT: Please do not complete the 2025-26 kindergarten registration form if you are enrolling for next year (the online system does not allow those applications to roll over into  the 2026-27 school year application).

D: Can I fully register my child using the online portal, without scheduling an in-person appointment?

Completing the application is the first step in the process, and we strongly request all families complete the application as soon as possible. After the application is submitted, families will be asked to meet with their a the zoned school Registrar to verify information and show documents

E: If I uploaded all my documents when I submitted my child’s application, do I still need to bring the originals to the appointment?

We ask families to bring their documents with them to their School Registration appointment. ACPS is required to view the original birth certificate. In addition, sometimes the uploaded copies are missing pages, or did not sufficiently scan. The school does not keep any of your originals. 

F: If I don’t have access to a computer, how can I complete the online registration?

Throughout the kindergarten registration window, ACPS is offering ongoing registration support stations where technology and language support will be available to assist the families in completing the online application, as well as other parts of preparing for their meeting with their zoned school registrar. 

Families can also use a smartphone or tablet to complete and submit the application.

In addition, the Alexandria Library has a Chromebook Check out program if you are interested in free device rental.

G: What hours will the schools offer for registration appointments?

The hours vary by site. Please contact your school registrar for more information. Many School Registrars will offer a link to an electronic appointment calendar so families can self-book their own registration appointment.  

H: Do I need to bring my child to the kindergarten registration appointment?

Yes. Your child will meet the school registrar. In addition, if there is a language other than English in the home, an EL assessor will briefly assess your child’s English proficiency and determine if your child is eligible for English Learner services. 

Please note that school tours will not be part of the registration appointment.  

I: Can I start registration if I have everything except my child’s school physical?

Yes. ACPS understands that sometimes it takes several months to secure an appointment for a kindergarten physical. It is fine if you want to submit the physical at a later date. Note that the physical must be submitted to the school registrar before the registration is considered complete. 

In general, it is advised that parents secure all other documents prior to the registration appointment so the family does not have to return to the school multiple times. 

A: Why is proof of home location in Alexandria City required for school registration? 

Only students who have a legal residence within the boundaries of the City of Alexandria may be enrolled in Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) per Regulation JEC-R School Admission Regulations.

• List of acceptable documents is available

B: If my child’s grandparents live in Alexandria City and provide childcare before and after school, can I use their address for residency?

• No, this does not meet the residency requirements.  The child must live at the residence, defined as sleeping at the residence nightly, to be considered a legal resident. The only exception is if the grandparent is the official legal guardian of the child and is able to present the required guardianship documents. 

C: I own a condo or home  in the city of Alexandria, but I do not live there. Can my child attend school in ACPS?

• No, this does not meet the requirement. The child must live at the residence, defined as sleeping at the residence nightly, to be considered a legal resident of the city. In addition, the address must be your primary residence based on your taxes that are filed annually. 

D: Is proof of Alexandria City residency  related to immigration status?

No. Immigration or citizenship status is not relevant to confirming a home address. School staff members will not ask for documents regarding regarding U.S. citizenship, social security information or any other citizenship documents.

E: If my child lacks a fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residence, like a hotel or doubled up with another family, how can I prove residency? 

Families experiencing housing challenges may contact ACPS- Homeless Education and Foster Care Liaison Jacquelyn Washington at 703-619-8034, email jacquelyn.washington@acps.k12.va.us, or your child’s school social worker to discuss your residency concerns.

A: When is the first day of school?

The first day of school for traditional  calendar schools is currently listed as Monday, August 24, 2026. Check the ACPS Calendar throughout the summer for updates.

Samuel Tucker Elementary implements a modified school year calendar. Students at Samuel Tucker Elementary begin school on July 27, 2026. 

B: Is there before and after school care?

ACPS does not offer daily before and after care for kindergartners.   There are community extended care opportunities that are sometimes housed in our ACPS school buildings. See information below:

Campagna Center

City of Alexandria Recreation Program

Sometimes school PTAs offer a wide variety of after school enrichment programs. Check with your school PTA for more information.

C: Will transportation be provided once my child is in kindergarten?

ACPS provides safe transportation to and from school for enrolled students living beyond a one-mile walking distance from elementary and middle schools and a one and one-half mile walking distance from high schools. Learn more about bus transportation

D: How do I sign up for the school to provide breakfast and lunch for my child? 

ACPS Office of School Nutrition Services include Lunch and Breakfast programs at all school locations, several After School Snack programs, and Supper programs in select schools. Learn more about  nutrition services

Also note that free or reduced price meals are available for students who qualify. If interested in applying for free or reduced price meals, please request the school registrar provide information on the 2024–2025 meal application.

A: I’m a parent, what are my specific steps to registering my child?

1. Check to see if your child meets the age requirements.

2. Complete the ACPS registration form. The 2026-27 school year form is available through the online portal             English | Español. 

   *When your home address is entered in the ACPS Registration form, the online portal will autopopulate with your zoned-school.  

   The Attendance Zone Locator can also be used to find the assigned school, based on home address

3. Gather the required documents

4. Visit your school to complete in-person verification of documents. Call the school or contact the school registrar first to find out what time to visit. You must bring all required documents to complete the registration process.