How Do I Register My Child?
Nearly all parents choose to enroll their 5-year-olds in kindergarten even though the state does not require children to be enrolled in school until the age of 7. Wake County offers a full-day program.
In order to attend kindergarten, children must be 5 years old on or before August 31 of the current school year. In accordance with state law, gifted children who are age 4 by April 16 also will be considered for admission.
If you are new to Wake County and need to enroll your kindergartner during the current 2011-12 school year, you will be assigned to a base school determined by your address. Contact the Office of Student Assignment at 919-431-7333 to find out your base school assisgnment.
All incoming kindergarten students for the 2012-13 school year will need to participate in the new Choice Selection Process to receive their school assignment. The choice selection process gives your family access to at least five elementary schools. Families can see their school choices here.
You will need to register your rising kindergartner prior to participating in the Choice Selection Process. You may register at any nearby elementary school, the Office of Student Assignment or the Center for International Enrollment located in the Central Services Building at 5625 Dillard Drive in Cary. Contact the Office of Student Assignment at 919-431-7333 with any questions that you may have about registration and the Choice Selection Process. If you choose to register your child at your nearby school, please contact the school or check their website for enrollment schedules. School staff will have different times set up to receive your forms and walk you through the process.
Center for International Enrollment
There are more than 125 unique languages spoken by Wake County families. The Center for International Enrollment (CIE) assists non-native English speaking families with the registration process. International families arriving from another North Carolina school district, out-of-state, out-of-country or with children who have never previously attended school, may visit the CIE for assistance. The CIE helps families complete enrollment paperwork, provides testing for English as a Second Language (ESL) services and enters new student information into the system for schools. Parents can contact 919-431-7404 to schedule a visit.
Registration Checklist
Your child does not have to be present during registration, but you will need to bring several documents with you.
- Parent/legal guardian photo ID
- Proof of residence in the form of a current electric, city gas or city water bill, signed lease agreement or closing statement in the name of the parent(s) or court-appointed guardian with a closing date within 45 days (telephone, cable television bills and driver's licenses do not qualify).
- A certified copy of the child's birth certificate, which can be obtained from the county or state health department where the child was born.
Additional items will be required once your school assignment has been made. To save time, please bring these documents with you to register your child if they are available.
- An updated immunization record. Medical evidence of the following immunizations must be submitted:
- Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP or DtaP): 5 doses. If the 4th dose was given on or after the 4th birthday, the series is complete.
- Polio (OPV): 4 doses. If the 3rd dose is given on or after the 4th birthday, the series is complete.
- Measles: 2 doses received at least 30 days apart: one dose on or after 1st birthday and a second dose before enrolling in school (k-1) for the first time. (Commonly given as MMR)
Mumps Vaccine: 2 doses. One dose on or after the 1st birthday and before 16 months and a second dose before enrolling in school for the first time - Rubella: 1 dose of each on or after the 1st birthday. (Commonly given as MMR)
- Haemophilus Influenza type b (Hib): 1 dose at or after 15 months or the complete series. Hib is not given if the child is 5 years or older.
- Hepatitis B (HBV): 3 doses (children born on or after July 1, 1994)
- Varicella: 1 dose for children born on or after April 1, 2001 without documented history of disease.
If you do not have a certified immunization record, contact your physician or the Wake County Human Services. A new series of shots can be administered. If a record of completed immunizations is not received after 30 days, the principal is required by law to suspend the child from school on the 31st day until evidence of immunizations is presented.
- A completed Kindergarten Health Assessment. North Carolina law requires that a kindergarten health assessment be completed on or before the first day of school before a child can enter kindergarten. The health assessment must be completed no more than 12 months prior to the date of entry. Physical examination forms are available at Wake County schools, area doctors' offices or at the Wake County Health Department. Parents whose children do not have a regular physician can get health assessments and immunizations through the Wake County Health Department. First-time appointments should call (919) 250-3947.
- If coming from another school system, a completed Discipline Status Enrollment form (PDF) is required. A copy of the child's latest report card and the previous year's achievement test results are helpful.
If you need help determining where you need to go to register your child, or to ask questions about the required documentation, call 919-431-7333.
Forms and Other Documents
Enrollment Forms (Adobe Reader)
Kindergarten Registration Information (Adobe Reader)
Wake County Certified Birth Certificate Copies - English
Wake County Certified Birth Certificate Copies - Español
-wcpss-