Kindergarten Enrollment

Under Georgia state law, children must turn five (5) on or before September 1 in order to enroll in kindergarten. Children must turn six (6) on or before September 1 to enroll in first grade. For prekindergarten, children must turn four (4) on or before September 1 to be eligible.

The only exception allowed is for students who have been living in another state or country for the two years preceding their enrollment in a Georgia public school and who were enrolled in kindergarten under that state's rules before moving to Georgia. In these cases, children who turn five (for kindergarten) or six (for first grade) by December 31 may transfer their enrollment from the out-of-state/out-of-country kindergarten or first grade.

There are no exceptions for students who have been enrolled in a Georgia private school, for advanced students based on evaluation or testing, for students moving into Georgia from out of state who were not previously enrolled in school or for any other reason.

The superintendents and local boards of education do not have the discretion to make an exception to the state law.

Please contact your zoned school for additional dates and times for enrollment. Each school will plan Round-Up events to help parents enroll their Kindergarteners, and contacting the school directly will help with specific dates and times for any school events.

Please visit our student transfers page for information regarding student transfers to an out-of-zone school.

Student Transfers

To determine which schools serve your particular address, please use our school zone locator tool. If you have any questions, please call or email the Department of Assignment & Records at 404.802.2233 or Facility Services at 404-802-3731.

School Zone Locator

The official zone boundary for each elementary, middle, and high school is established by the Atlanta Board of Education. See Administrative Regulation JBCCA-R(1) School Attendance Areas. Students are to attend the school in the zone in which is located the bona fide residence of their parents/legal guardians, unless they have administrative approval to enroll elsewhere.

JBCCA-R(1) School Attendance Areas

If your child is enrolled in public school for 20 days or more, your child is subject to the Compulsory Attendance Law. Compulsory Attendance requires that every parent, guardian, or other person residing within this state having control or charge of any child or children between their sixth and sixteenth birthdays shall enroll and send such child or children to a public school,  a private school, or a home study program that meets the requirements for a public school, a private school, or a home study program.

 The first day of school for the 26-27 school year is Monday, August 3, 2026.

Parents can do the following with their child to prepare for school.

• Together parents and teachers make a team. The year is about cooperation and trust. If something may be affecting your child, let the teacher know. If you have concerns, share them.
• Start your child’s school-night routine at least a week before school starts to allow everyone time to adjust to an earlier bedtime and wake-up time.
• Practice the morning routine of dressing and eating breakfast.
• Have your child get plenty of rest the night before school starts.
• Make sure your child has time to eat a healthy breakfast, either at school or at home.
• Talk positively about kindergarten and school.
• Read aloud to your child for at least 20 minutes each day. Afterward, discuss the character, the illustrations and the story with your child. Reading increases vocabulary. Read everything and everything from books to the cereal box!
• Talk and listen to your child about his or her thoughts and feelings about school.
• Make paper and crayons available around the house to encourage writing and drawing.
• Point out numbers and letters everywhere — on the bus, at the store, on a walk.
• Help your child follow simple instructions
• Help your child develop strategies to resolve peer conflicts and to know when to ask an adult for help.
• Promote the attitude of respect for rights and properties of others.
• Reinforce skills he/she already are learning, encourage activities that involve sharing, let your child help with chores.
• Encourage healthy habits (i.e., eating nutritious foods, getting ample rest, having regular bedtime, and being physically active).
• Promote regular attendance by making sure your child is at school daily and on time.

Parent Guide to Kindergarten Readiness

Contact your zoned school to see if they offer after-school care. If your zone school does not offer after-school care, they may have a list of child care providers in the immediate area.

Generally, APS provides bus transportation for kindergartners living more than a mile from their zoned school. Unless your Kindergarten student is attending a school on a transfer, in these cases, transportation is the responsibility of the guardian. 

Parents may prepay for meals. Information on prepaying for meals and online meal payments is available at the following link: 

Sign-Up For Meals & Menus