Kindergarten

Welcome to Kindergarten in District 196!

Learning at a young age nurtures curiosity, confidence, creativity, and compassion. Through hands-on, engaging experiences, children build the foundation for future learning and independence.

Our programs support:

Social development and cooperation
Problem-solving and communication
Growing independence and responsibility

Upcoming Open Houses

Join us at one of our upcoming 2026 kindergarten open houses! We look forward to welcoming your family and supporting your child’s journey in District 196!

Cedar Park: 5-6:30 p.m., Thu, April 30
Deerwood: 6-7 p.m., Thu, April 16
Diamond Path: 5-6 p.m., Thur, April 30
East Lake: 6-7 p.m., Thu, April 16
Echo Park: 4:30-5:45 p.m., Thu, April 9
Emerald Trail: 5:30-6:30 p.m., Tue, May 12
Glacier Hills: 4:15-5:15 p.m., Thu, April 30
Greenleaf: 5-6 p.m., Thu, April 30
Highland: 5:45-7 p.m., Thu, May 7
Northview: 5:30-7 p.m., Tue, April 28
Oak Ridge: 5-6 p.m., Thu, April 23
Parkview: 5-6 p.m., Tue, April 28
Pinewood: 6-7 p.m., Wed, April 22
Red Pine: 5-6 p.m., Thu, April 16
Rosemount: 5-6 p.m., Monday, May 4
Shannon Park: 5:45-7 p.m., Thu, April 9
Southview: 5-6:30 p.m., Mon, April 27
Thomas Lake: 5-6:30 p.m., Tue. May 5
Westview: 5-6 p.m., Thu, April 23
Woodland: 4:30-5:30 p.m., Tue, April 28

Plan My Ride

Required

%22School Bus Transportation 2026-27%22 with a photo of young students riding in a school bus

2026-27 School Bus Transportation - New to District Students

Welcome to District 196—we’re excited to have your child starting in our schools!

Please complete the Plan My Ride form to tell us how your student will get to school next year. This new system helps the district create simpler, more reliable bus routes for everyone. Please submit this form by Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Please only complete this form if your student is NOT currently attending grades K-11 in District 196.

Parent/Guardian Phone Numberrequired

Format 10-digit number: 123-456-7890

Parent/Guardian Email Addressrequired

Student's Legal Name required

First Name

Last Name

Student's Birthdaterequired

Must contain a date in MM/DD/YYYY format

School your student will attend?

Transportation eligibility is based on your student’s primary address. Students may be eligible for transportation services only within their school attendance area or magnet school zone.

Use the School Finder Tool to see your attendance-area school and the driving distance.

Are you requesting transportation next year?required

No transportation needed or address does not qualify for transportation.

Yes, our address is beyond 1 mile from elementary, or 1.5+ for middle and high school, or qualifies due to a hazardous crossing (per district policy 707.2AR sect.4) .

Yes, my student qualifies for special education services based on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

Yes, we live within one mile of school and want to sign up for pay-to-ride (fee-for-service). (Sign-up deadline is June 4, and payment is due June 30.)

I don't know. Please contact me.

Does your student need morning transportation to school?

Yes

Does your student need afternoon transportation from school?

Yes

Do you have an intradistrict transfer or daycare form submitted for next year?

Yes

Does the child reside in two households?

Yes

Choosing a School

We are proud to offer learning options:
- Attend your neighborhood school
- Apply to an elementary magnet school
- Open enroll (non-residents)
- Request intradistrict transfer (change schools within district)

Learn more and enroll today!

Early Childhood Screening

Children are required to complete a free health and developmental screening before entering kindergarten. We encourage this between ages 3 and 4 to allow time for early-learning supports, if needed.

Make an Early Childhood ScreeninG Appointment

Learn More

Eligibility

Transportation

District 196 provides busing for elementary students who live one mile or more from their school. Bus stop information is shared with families in August.

Families can track their child’s bus in real time using the Here Comes the Bus app. A school code and student ID number are required and will be provided in the fall. Please arrive five minutes before scheduled pick-up and drop-off times. If you are running late, call Transportation at 651-423-7685.

Learn more about transportation in District 196.

Health Services

Nutrition Services

All students receive free breakfast and lunch each school day. Students use a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for meals and other services. View menus and nutrition information.

Notify your school nurse of any food allergies, especially life-threatening allergies. The nurse will work with staff to reduce risk and provide training on a need-to-know basis. Families are encouraged to also connect directly with their child’s teacher at the start of the school year.

Prepare for School

Families support learning every day. You can help by:

Building Everyday Skills

Practice zippers, buttons, and shoes
Use crayons, scissors, glue, and pencils
Say first and last name
Recognize their name in print
Clean up after activities

Supporting School Success

Establish routines for sleep and mornings
Ensure regular attendance
Read school communications and calendars
Label belongings

Learn more in our Welcome to Kindergarten Booklet (Bienvenido al jardín de infancia) (Ku Soo Dhawoow Buug-yaraha Xanaanada)

Navigation