Washington state and Seattle Public School legally require that students entering kindergarten in the fall must have turned five (5) years of age on or before August 31 of the enrollment year.

A child whose fifth birthday falls on or between September 1 and October 31 may enter kindergarten if they meet rigorous entrance-screening requirements. These are rare exceptions.

To assure that your child will be more likely to have a great first year of school, they will be expected to meet standards at least six months above their age in all areas assessed.

Before continuing, please go to the WAKids link describing state expectations for kindergarten readiness.

“Readiness” is exhibited socially, emotionally, physically and academically. These pieces are equally important for parents to understand when deciding to have their child evaluated for EEK. Parents should take these factors into consideration as the potential risk of frustration, embarrassment, and sense of failure is substantially increased for these youngest students throughout their school years.

Since the development of self-esteem is an important goal for all students, setting them up to be successful should be of foremost concern. Research findings point out that, on a national level, the youngest students in any classroom perform at lower levels in almost all areas compared to their classmates.

Please Note: It is highly advised you retain your preschool or day care plan for school year 2025-26 until you receive your final notification of eligibility.

Before continuing, please go to the WAKids link describing state expectations for kindergarten readiness.

Screening evaluation for all applicants

All applicants will be evaluated using an online social emotional skills inventory. This process helps us determine if a child has the developmental skills necessary to be successful in a kindergarten classroom. The online screening form will be completed by both the parent and the preschool teacher, caregiver, or other non-family adult.

Eligibility Determination

A Multidisciplinary Placement Committee will review each student’s screening results to determine if they meet the required criteria to participate in a four-weeks Kindergarten trial in the Fall 2026. Results will be sent to families by email approximately 10 school days after the evaluation is completed.

Families of students found eligible for the Kindergarten Trial must complete the regular registration process through Admissions in June to ensure the student’s enrollment in a kindergarten classroom for September 2026.

Step 1: Complete application and pay Processing Fees

Parents/Guardians need to complete the online application form between March 1-31. The processing fee is $65, plus a transaction fee for online payment. For families that qualify for reduced fee based on family income, the processing fee is reduced to $15.00. Payment can be made through a link included in the online application form. The online application form is available in the following languages:

Amharic, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese

Step 2: Complete Social Emotional Skills Inventory

Once the Highly Capable Services team receives the online application form and processing fee, you and the preschool teacher or caregiver will be invited to complete a Social Emotional Skills Inventory within 10 school days of receipt.

SPS is committed to an equitable eligibility process for students participating in Early Entrance to Kindergarten. The screening process is rigorous and designed to determine whether a student is developmentally ready to begin kindergarten early. While we understand families’ interest in early enrollment, the initial screening decision is final and cannot be appealed.