Kindergarten

Kindergarten Eligibility

A child is eligible for kindergarten if he or she will be 5 years old on or before September 1 of the year he or she will begin school.

Early entrance guidelines are available for parents wishing to enroll students who do not meet the age requirement. Parents may also call 651-423-7739 for more information on early entrance to kindergarten testing.

Early Childhood Screening 

Minnesota requires that all children complete a free screening to detect any health and/or developmental concerns prior to entering kindergarten in a public school. District 196 encourages early childhood screening between three and four years of age. This allows time for a preschool experience or other social/educational opportunities to benefit the child.  
If your child has not been through the screening process, please schedule your appointment using one of the following ways:

Online:  www.district196.org/screening
Phone:  651-423-7899
Email:  ecscreening @district196.org

Screening appointments are available on weekdays, as well as select evenings and Saturdays each month.

Enrolling Your Child for Kindergarten

1. If you have not already done so, schedule your child’s early childhood screening (see paragraph above).
2. Pre-register for kindergarten online by clicking on this link: Enrolling your child and following the 4 registration steps.
3. After completing the online pre-registration your school will contact you to provide the following items to finalize the registration process:

• A birth certificate, passport of other evidence of your child’s age
• A copy of your child’s immunization record, medical exemption or conscientious objection
• Proof of early childhood screening if your child was screened outside District 196
• School year childcare information, if applicable, including name, address and phone number of your childcare provider for transportation purposes
• If a parent or guardian lives at a different address than the primary household, complete the Additional Family Household Census Information form
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School Choice

Selecting a school for your child is an exciting process. We offer many excellent school choices for your child — including four elementary magnet schools. A magnet school has a theme-based learning environment. This theme is woven into how most classes are taught and expressed.

Your child may attend the neighborhood school in the attendance area where you live or you may apply for your child to attend a magnet school. Families who live outside of District 196 can open enroll into the district through the State Enrollment Options Program. Additionally, interdistrict transfer options allow District 196 students to transfer to another District 196 school.