Kindergarten

When Should My Child Start Kindergarten?

Any child who turns 5 on or before August 1, 2024, can enroll in full-day kindergarten beginning in the 2024-25 school year. Children must enroll in kindergarten by the time they are 6, since under Kentucky state law, all children must be enrolled in school between the ages of 6 and 18.

Children who have mastered kindergarten benchmarks before age 5, and who turn 5 years old between August 2 and October 1, may be eligible for early admission to kindergarten. The deadline to submit the Early Admission to Kindergarten application is March 1, 2024. After the March 1, 2024, deadline, there will not be any opportunities to petition the district for Early Admission to Kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year. The application window for the 2024-25 school year will be November 6, 2023–December 22, 2023.

Health Requirements

To enter kindergarten, children must have a physical exam, a dental exam, and an eye exam. They must also have completed their immunizations. Learn more about JCPS health requirements.

Preparing for Kindergarten