- Newton Public Schools
- Kindergarten Registration

Welcome to Kindergarten
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Welcome to the Newton Public Schools! We are happy you are here. This is an exciting time for you and your family as your child gets ready for Kindergarten. While there is much information to absorb and many forms to complete, our goal is to make the process as seamless as possible.
Kindergarten Census Survey
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To assist us with planning for the coming year, we ask that families with students eligible to enroll in kindergarten in the 2024-25 school year, please complete this short online survey to let us know your plans for your child’s school registration.
Providing this information now helps us to plan for staffing and support in your child’s potential school for the upcoming school year. Even if you will not be registering your child to attend kindergarten in the Newton Public Schools or are unsure, information about your plans is incredibly helpful for our planning for the year ahead.
Below please find a timeline for kindergarten registration:
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November 7, 2023: Kindergarten Census Survey open. Please complete.
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February 29, 2024: New Kindergarten Parent/Guardian Information Night virtual webinar for all families enrolling a student for the first time in the Newton Public Schools. Links to the webinar will be posted on our kindergarten registration page in late February.
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March 1, 2024: Our online registration system will be open for kindergarten registration. Please register your kindergarten-age child by March 22, 2024, so that we can plan staffing and programming for the year ahead.
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Kindergarten Registration for 2024-25 School Year
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Kindergarten registration for the 2024-25 school year is will open on March 1, 2024. Please check back for the online registration link in March.
Please note: you must reside in the City of Newton to enroll in the Newton Public Schools.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email registration@newton.k12.ma.us.
Information Night for Families NEW to NPS
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On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the Newton Public Schools held a virtual webinar for families NEW to the Newton Public Schools. A PDF of the presentation can be found here:
Age Requirement for Kindergarten
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The Newton School Committee policy for kindergarten age requirement is as follows:
“Children who will be five years of age prior to September 1 of the school year during which they wish to enroll will be eligible to enter kindergarten for that school year.”
This means that your child must be five years old on or before August 31 of the school year in which they are seeking enrollment.
Online Registration
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Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-25 school year will open on March 1, 2024. Please note: you must reside in the City of Newton to enroll in the Newton Public Schools.
While there is no deadline for registration of students in the Newton Public Schools, we ask families to register their kindergarten-age child as soon as possible so that we may plan staffing and programming for the year ahead.
Individual schools review all student registrations and will communicate with parents/guardians about any additional information that is required. In the spring, each school will also host a gathering for parents and children to meet the school principal and teachers and have an opportunity to get to know each other. Information on kindergarten orientation dates will be sent directly from your assigned school at a later date.
For students living in a buffer zone, notification of school placements will be made as close to April 12, 2024 as possible, and parents/guardians will be notified in writing of that decision.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email registration@newton.k12.ma.us.
Helpful hints when registration opens:
- Prepare by gathering all the required documents noted in the Registration Checklist (PDF document linked below)
- Additional information documents, such as immunization and residency requirements, are also posted below
- Use your cell phone number when registering so that you can receive a text that will allow you to upload required documents via your smartphone
- If you need language assistance, please email our English Language Learners office: elloffice@newton.k12.ma.us
- If you need general registration assistance or have questions, please email: registration@newton.k12.ma.us
- If you need technical assistance, please email: registrationtechsupport@newton.k12.ma.us
Please note: you must reside in the City of Newton to enroll in the Newton Public Schools. To review a summary document of all registration information, please follow this link:
Registration Forms
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Immunization Requirements
A list of required immunizations for enrollment in the Newton Public Schools.
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Proof of Residency and Occupancy
Outlines residency conditions that must be met for a student to enroll in the Newton Public Schools. Also identifies specific documents that must be produced to prove residency and occupancy.
Proof of residency does not apply to homeless students and families covered under the McKinney-Vento Act. All homeless families should contact the Newton Public Schools McKinney-Vento liaison who will work with you to enroll your students. The liaison can be reached at 617-559-9003.
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Residency Certification Form (Parents/Guardians)
This form is for parents/guardians to complete on behalf of child under 18. Form to be completed when purchase & sale, lease, and utility bills cannot be produced or are not in family name. All forms must be notarized.
Proof of residency does not apply to homeless students and families covered under the McKinney-Vento Act. All homeless families should contact the Newton Public Schools McKinney-Vento liaison who will work with you to enroll your students. The liaison can be reached at 617-559-9003.
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Residency Certification Form (Student Over 18)
Form to be completed when purchase & sale, lease, and utility bills cannot be produced or are not in family name. Forms must be notarized.
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Kindergarten Parent Interview Form
A required form to be submitted at school registration to help us learn more about your child.
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CORI/SORI Form (for volunteers)
This form must be completed prior to volunteering in your child's school.
Find Your School
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You can find your districted school (which may be subject to change based upon upcoming districting decisions) by following this link:
Find Your School Link
Important note! You may see two schools listed in the database under elementary or middle school. This means you live in a "buffer zone." Please see below.
"Buffer Zones"
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A buffer zone is geographical area in which residences are assigned to two schools. This allows the district flexibility in balancing class and school sizes.
Your online registration will automatically note if you are in a buffer zone and will provide an opportunity for you to select a preferred school.
Your final school placement will be determined by the assistant superintendents of elementary and secondary education as close to April 12, 2023 as possible.
Please visit our Buffer Zone page for more detailed information.
English Language Learners (ELL)
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By law, if a language other than or in addition to English is spoken at home, a teacher from the ELL program will assess your child's English Language proficiency during the Kindergarten screening at your school. If you need an interpreter, please inform the school prior to your screening appointment. For more information on Newton's ELL program, please visit the website page.
Additional Newton Public School Resources
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Once you register, you may have additional questions. Below are links to information you might find useful as your enroll your student in the Newton Public Schools. Again....WELCOME!
Before School Care Program (Elementary)
Kindergarten Resources
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Early Years are Learning Years (National Association for the Education of Young Children)
Preschool Information Form
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The preschool information form is sent to all local Newton preschools. Staff at the preschool is asked to fill out the form and return it to the school your child will attend in the fall. If your child attends school outside of Newton, you can provide this form to the school and ask that they complete and return it. It is an optional form that serves only to provide more information about your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How many elementary schools are in Newton?
There are 15 elementary schools in Newton. The elementary schools feed to four middle schools and two high schools. School feeder patterns are assigned according to address.
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How is my child assigned to a school?
Each address in Newton is assigned to a school. Students are required to attend their neighborhood school unless approved to attend another school through the School Transfer Requests placement process or specific program placement. If you find that you are assigned to two schools, you live in Buffer Zone. See above for details on the Buffer Zone process for Kindergarteners.
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Can I choose a school other than the one assigned to my address?
Each year, the Newton Public Schools considers applications for students to transfer to a school outside of their home ("assigned") district. Out-of-Assigned district placements are limited and made on a space available basis. For more information on the policy, please visit this webpage.
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Can I tour the school?
Group tours are scheduled on a school-by-school basis during the orientation process. Individual school tours are not available.
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Is there an age requirement for Kindergarten?
Yes, the Newton School Committee policy for kindergarten age requirement is as follows:
“Children who will be five years of age prior to September 1 of the school year during which they wish to enroll will be eligible to enter kindergarten for that school year.”
This means that your child must be five years old on or before August 31 of the school year in which they are seeking enrollment.
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Can a parent decide to defer kindergarten registration even though their child is age-eligible?
Kindergarten entry in the Newton Public Schools is for all students who turn five-years old prior to September 1st. Children enter kindergarten with varied learning abilities and experiences. The Newton Public Schools encourages registration in kindergarten for all children who are age-eligible to attend. Massachusetts State Law requires a child must attend school in September of the calendar year in which they turn six-years old.
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How long is the Kindergarten day?
The Kindergarten day begins at 8:10 a.m. and ends at 2:50 p.m. Every Wednesday is an early release day and students are dismissed at 12:20 p.m.
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Will my child ride the bus to school?
In Newton, there is no bus fee for any student in grades K-5. Please visit the Newton Transportation webpage at www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/214 for more information.
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What is the Blue Zone?
The City of Newton has created designated drop-off and pick-up areas at many schools in the city. These school drop off and pick up zones are commonly referred to as “Blue-Zones”. “Blue Zones” are designed to allow for improved traffic flow and safer drop-off and pick-up of students. “Blue Zones” are in effect Monday through Friday when school is in session. Information on the Blue Zone procedures for each school will be provided by the principal of the building.
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Is there an option for early drop-off?
Newton Public Schools offers an Early Morning Program for students in Grades K through 5 in each of the elementary schools. The program is fee-based and designed to provide a needed service by giving parents the opportunity to bring their children to school prior to the beginning of the regularly scheduled school day. Within the program, each elementary school will offer supervised before school care from 7:30 a.m. until 8:20 a.m. when students are admitted to their classrooms. Registration forms and other important information is located on our webpage at http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/106.
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Are there after school care programs?
Each elementary school has an after-school program for the enrichment and enjoyment of children in kindergarten through grade 5. The program is fee-based and separate from the Newton Public School System. These programs, along with some community-based after-school programs, are part of the Newton After-School Association (NASA), which was initiated by school-aged child care directors to create a support network among peers. Families should call the after-school program located at their particular school for registration fees, hours and space availability. Contact information for after-school programs can be found on our webpage at http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/1165.
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What is the immunization requirement for school attendance?
Immunization requirements can be found on the School Health Services webpage on the City of Newton's website.
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How do schools handle a child with food allergies?
Newton has a Life Threatening Food Allergy Policy. Parents whose children have a food allergy will meet with the school nurse and develop a Medical Emergency Plan. The School Committee Guidelines can found on our website at http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/2902. Additional information on Medical Emergency Plans is on the Newton Health Department webpage - http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/health/school_health/default.asp
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Why does my child have a kindergarten screening?
At registration, a screening, required by Massachusetts Chapter 766 State Law, is given to each child who will be entering kindergarten. This screening is not used to determine readiness for kindergarten. It is used only as a tool to provide local schools with information concerning any special learning needs a child might have before entering school.
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Is my child ready for Kindergarten?
Children come to kindergarten from a wide variety of experiences and settings and we do not expect all kindergarteners to know the same things on the first day of school. We welcome the opportunity to partner with you in determining how best to meet the needs of your child. If you have questions about your child’s readiness, please let the staff at your neighborhood school know the day of the kindergarten registration/screening.
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What will my child learn in Kindergarten?
Newton has a standards-based curriculum which is developmentally appropriate with strong focus on student learning. Curriculum is aligned to state and national standards and you can access the kindergarten curriculum overview document on our webpage at http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/772.
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How do teachers communicate with parents/guardians?
Home/school communication is an important part of school attendance. Each classroom teacher and/or school will determine the best way to communicate between home and school regarding student learning. Parents are encouraged to contact classroom teachers with any information that they feel is important concerning their child.
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Can I request my child be in a class with a friend or a specific teacher?
Our primary goal is to create classes with a range in children's learning styles, interests and social maturity. A heterogeneous mix of students, who can flourish and learn together, is our most important consideration. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate requests for specific teachers either named or described.