Enrolling in Kindergarten

When to register

Children must be five years old on or before September 1 to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment.

If the child's birthday falls between September 2 and September 14, the child qualifies for testing. If the child meets the qualifications for free/reduced meals, the district will cover the cost of the test. If the child does not qualify for free/reduced meals, the parent must pay to have a licensed psychologist do the test.

If a family is moving into the district from another state and the child is not yet five years old but was enrolled in a public school in their previous location, the child may be eligible to be enrolled in an ASD school. Enrollment in any other type of school in Anchorage (private, parochial, etc.) does not qualify a child for enrollment here, and they will need to meet the age criteria. 

Required documents

In addition to the  documents required for all students, parents should also bring:

• Names and phone numbers of emergency contacts and individuals who may pick up the child from school
• Copies of legal papers if there is a custody situation

Family Meetings During Back-to-School Week
During our Back-to-School event, you will have the opportunity to schedule a family meeting with your child’s classroom teacher.

Kindergarten teachers will hold brief, individual meetings with parents and students during the first week of school. These welcome meetings include light assessment activities and help teachers get to know each child.

Please note that Kindergarten classes begin one week later than the rest of the district, allowing time for these important family meetings.

This time together helps teachers make informed decisions about instruction and builds a strong, positive partnership between home and school.