If you have a rising kindergartener intent on Durham Public Schools (DPS), it’s time to get ready. Kindergarten registration for the 2025–26 school year is officially open, and DPS is encouraging families to act now so students can hit the ground running.
A “Children’s Garden” for Lifelong Learning
The word kindergarten comes from the German for “children’s garden,” and DPS embraces this concept wholeheartedly. Kindergarten is a space where learning takes root – with resources, routines, and relationships designed to grow a child’s confidence and love of school. It’s a critical time for mastering early reading, cognitive, and social skills that build the foundation for long-term academic success.
When School Begins
- Year-Round Calendar Start: Monday, July 21
- Traditional Calendar Start: Monday, Aug. 25
- Age Requirement: Child must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2025
Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?
Academic Readiness
There are no academic prerequisites to begin kindergarten in DPS—every child is welcome just as they are. Teachers use early-year assessments to get a sense of where each student stands in areas like:
- Letter recognition
- Reading readiness
- Basic math (counting, colors, shapes)
- Language skills
These baseline assessments guide classroom instruction and individual learning plans. Many parents enjoy seeing how far their child grows between that first assessment and the end of the school year.
Five Key Areas of School Readiness
Parents can support a successful transition to kindergarten by helping children develop in these five domains:
- Language and Literacy
- Cognition and General Knowledge
- Approaches toward Learning
- Physical Well-being and Motor Development
- Social and Emotional Development
Skills to Practice
You can help your child get classroom-ready with these everyday habits:
- Routines & Transitions: Practice moving between tasks or places.
- Meal Skills: Teach your child to open lunch items, drink without a straw, and carry a tray.
- Social Skills: Encourage interactions with peers and adults, problem-solving, and separation from caregivers.
- Expressing Needs: Teach how to ask for help and communicate preferences.
What You’ll Need to Register
All families will use the new Infinite Campus system to register. To enroll your child, make sure you have:
- Certified birth certificate
- Immunization records (due within 30 days of the first day of school)
- North Carolina Health Assessment form (also due within 30 days)
- Proof of legal domicile
Only parents or legal guardians domiciled within the DPS district may enroll. Domicile refers to a permanent residence, not a temporary address.
Early Admission: For the Exceptionally Ready
DPS offers an early admission pathway for children who turn four by April 16, 2025, and show exceptional academic readiness. The two-step process includes:
- Phase I: Families submit an Intent to Apply form and provide aptitude and achievement testing results (both at the 98th percentile or above), administered by a licensed NC psychologist.
- Phase II: Qualified applicants undergo a performance review and interview with the school’s principal and Early Admission Committee.
Note: Testing is arranged and paid for by the family; DPS does not provide screening for early admission.
Countdown to Kindergarten 2025 Celebration
Get a head start on the school year with this special event just for rising kindergarten families:
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Museum of Life and Science, 433 W. Murray Ave, Durham
6 to 8 p.m.
- Explore DPS schools and programs
- Get help with registration
- Learn what to expect in kindergarten
Still Have Questions?
- Student Assignment Office: 919-560-2059
- ESL Registration Center: 919-560-2559
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