Kindergarten Registration

Welcome to Kindergarten

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 Registration Timeline and Events

Below please find a timeline for kindergarten registration:

March 1, 2024: Our online registration system is now open. Please register your kindergarten-age child by March 22, 2024, so that we can plan staffing and programming for the year ahead. Begin with the online Kindergarten Registration.
March 12, 2024, 6:30 pm: On March 12, 2024, NPS held a new Kindergarten Parent/Guardian Information Night virtual webinar for all families enrolling a student for the first time in the Newton Public Schools. You can find the presentation here: New Student Information Night Presentation

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

Age Requirement for Kindergarten

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

Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-25 school year is now open. Please register using this link: Kindergarten Registration Portal.

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:

Kindergarten Registration Summary Document

English Language Learners (ELL)

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 ELL website.

Kindergarten Resources

Kindergarten Book List

Early Years are Learning Years (National Association for the Education of Young Children)

Preschool Information Form

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.

Preschool Information Form (PDF)

Find Your School

Buffer Zones

When you register online, you may find that you live in a "buffer zone." A buffer zone is a residence that may be 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 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 in the spring, as close to April 12, 2024 as possible. Please note that students in these zones do not have a designated home school until such time as they are assigned a school.

To view elementary, middle or high school district maps, visit the City of Newton official Map Library.

Online Student Registration

Registration Forms

Registration Checklist
A checklist to help you keep track of materials and forms to submit.
Immunization Requirements
A list of required immunizations for enrollment in the Newton Public Schools.
Physical Exam Form
Student's health record form to be completed by a physician.
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.
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.
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.
Kindergarten Parent Interview Form
A required form to be submitted at school registration to help us learn more about your child.
CORI/SORI Form (for volunteers)
This form must be completed prior to volunteering in your child's school.

Kindergarten Frequently Asked Questions

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.

What will my child learn in Kindergarten?

General NPS FAQs

Are there after school 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 After School Programs page..

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.

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 the School Transfer Requests page.

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Kindergarten Registration

Welcome to Kindergarten