Need Straight Answer About Kindergarten

[Anonymous]

I’ve posted here a couple of times in the past day or two and still don’t have a straight answer. I’m really worried!! My husband and I are moving from out of town this summer. He’s going to work in Arlington and I’m going to graduate school in DC starting in December (hopefully). Our daughter is all set—she’s easy!! We need to register our son in kindergarten though but he has a mid summer birthday and will be 6. He’s never had PreK or kindergarten before. A couple of questions:

1. What is the cut off for kindergarten? Can he still register for kindergarten if he’s already 6 or is he too old?
2. Can’t we just enroll in our neighborhood school or do we have to enter the lottery? We’ve already missed the lottery because we only just found out about the transfer. So where would he go to kindergarten?
3. If our daughter is enrolled at the local public school where we live, wouldn’t he automatically get in?
4. Would it make sense to live in PG county?!

Also posting in VA and MD threads. Thanks!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve posted here a couple of times in the past day or two and still don’t have a straight answer. I’m really worried!! My husband and I are moving from out of town this summer. He’s going to work in Arlington and I’m going to graduate school in DC starting in December (hopefully). Our daughter is all set—she’s easy!! We need to register our son in kindergarten though but he has a mid summer birthday and will be 6. He’s never had PreK or kindergarten before. A couple of questions:

1. What is the cut off for kindergarten? Can he still register for kindergarten if he’s already 6 or is he too old?
He is too old. They’re supposed to be 5 and not turn 6 until At least October 1.
2. Can’t we just enroll in our neighborhood school or do we have to enter the lottery? We’ve already missed the lottery because we only just found out about the transfer. So where would he go to kindergarten?
You can just enroll in first grade in your IB no problem.
3. If our daughter is enrolled at the local public school where we live, wouldn’t he automatically get in?
Yes, I mean even if she weren’t he has a right to attend it.
4. Would it make sense to live in PG county?!
No....I think their cutoff is similar or maybe Sept 1.

Also posting in VA and MD threads. Thanks!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Where you enroll will be based on where you live, not where you work, so chose a neighborhood that has schools acceptable to you.

The cutoff in DC is September 30.

Since your housing budget will dictate where you can live, if you post that folks can give suggestions on school zones/neighborhoods, taking into account relative commutes.

[Anonymous]

Are you planning on living in DC proper or in NoVa?

[Anonymous]

Do you have any reason to believe your son is not prepared for 1st grade? Does he have any literacy or numeracy at all?

In general, they are going to want you to enroll him in the grade for which he is eligible, age-wise. For a 6 year-old, that's 1st Grade.

Now, you can make a case that you want him essentially held back, but I would be prepared to actually make that case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have any reason to believe your son is not prepared for 1st grade? Does he have any literacy or numeracy at all?

In general, they are going to want you to enroll him in the grade for which he is eligible, age-wise. For a 6 year-old, that's 1st Grade.

Now, you can make a case that you want him essentially held back, but I would be prepared to actually make that case.

There’s zero chance they will put a kid who has no school experience in first grade

[Anonymous]

OP - you sound really stressed out. Can you tell us more about what's going on here?

Why didn't your son go to Kindergarten? Does school start at 6 where you are living now?

What's your budget, and where are you planning to live? Where is your older child going to attend school? Why are you talking about lottery if you already have a plan for her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve posted here a couple of times in the past day or two and still don’t have a straight answer. I’m really worried!! My husband and I are moving from out of town this summer. He’s going to work in Arlington and I’m going to graduate school in DC starting in December (hopefully). Our daughter is all set—she’s easy!! We need to register our son in kindergarten though but he has a mid summer birthday and will be 6. He’s never had PreK or kindergarten before. A couple of questions:

1. What is the cut off for kindergarten? Can he still register for kindergarten if he’s already 6 or is he too old?
2. Can’t we just enroll in our neighborhood school or do we have to enter the lottery? We’ve already missed the lottery because we only just found out about the transfer. So where would he go to kindergarten?
3. If our daughter is enrolled at the local public school where we live, wouldn’t he automatically get in?
4. Would it make sense to live in PG county?!

Also posting in VA and MD threads. Thanks!!!!!

When you move, call your neighborhood school and talk to the principal. Say that your son has not had K and you want to enroll your child in K. They will not have a problem with it. They want to do what is best for your child.

Good luck with your relocation.

[Anonymous]

If he's turning 6 this summer, he'll be one of the oldest in the class, but not out of the range entirely. If he's never been to school before, kindergarten is likely what's appropriate. Go ahead and register him for K and discuss it with the school if there are any problems. Depending on the school, he won't be the only kid of his age.

And, yes, he automatically gets a spot in your neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

In DC, you have "rights" to enroll in your neighborhood school. This is based on your address. You do not need to lottery into your neighborhood school.

You can also walk in the 1st day of school with all of the required paper work and sign them up. This is not optimal - but you can do it.

[Anonymous]

Huh wow I thought it was harder to redshirt in dcps but maybe there are exceptions? That’s what you’d be doing. Yes more info on possible neighborhood but don’t worry he can go to school without lotttery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve posted here a couple of times in the past day or two and still don’t have a straight answer. I’m really worried!! My husband and I are moving from out of town this summer. He’s going to work in Arlington and I’m going to graduate school in DC starting in December (hopefully). Our daughter is all set—she’s easy!! We need to register our son in kindergarten though but he has a mid summer birthday and will be 6. He’s never had PreK or kindergarten before. A couple of questions:

1. What is the cut off for kindergarten? Can he still register for kindergarten if he’s already 6 or is he too old?
2. Can’t we just enroll in our neighborhood school or do we have to enter the lottery? We’ve already missed the lottery because we only just found out about the transfer. So where would he go to kindergarten?
3. If our daughter is enrolled at the local public school where we live, wouldn’t he automatically get in?
4. Would it make sense to live in PG county?!

Also posting in VA and MD threads. Thanks!!!!!

You need to talk to the school. If he hasn't been in kindergarten before, they will likely enroll him in kindergarten, even though he will be older.

You have the right to enroll in your neighborhood school for K and up, so you just show up with the paperwork and documents and enroll him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he's turning 6 this summer, he'll be one of the oldest in the class, but not out of the range entirely. If he's never been to school before, kindergarten is likely what's appropriate. Go ahead and register him for K and discuss it with the school if there are any problems. Depending on the school, he won't be the only kid of his age.

And, yes, he automatically gets a spot in your neighborhood school.

He will be more than a year older than some kids, for sure.

[Anonymous]

You managed to get into graduate school but you never sent your child to preschool or kindergarten and in MAY when your child is almost SIX you start thinking about enrolling him in school. What have you been doing with him these 6 years?

[Anonymous]

My DS with a mid-summer birthday started school in a private school where almost every boy was held in PK until he turned 6 and then started K as a six year old.

We later enrolled in DCPS and he was/is a full year older than a few kids in his class. I was surprised at how young the DCPS classes are, because in other parts of the country is it very normal to have a 6 year old entering K (especially a boy).

I don't think DCPS will force you to put your kid in 1st if he has never had K (you should call and ask), but know that he will be an outlier in the class. If you ever consider private school in the area (or public in parts of Montgomery County, from what I understand), I think you will find that the kids are a little older on average than in DCPS. 9/30 is a late cutoff in general compared to other states. The majority of states use 9/1.