Kindergarten Kick-off to be held on Wednesday, May 6

Press release from Alachua County Public Schools

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Incoming kindergarten families are invited to bring their children to the annual Alachua County Public Schools Kindergarten Kick-Off to become familiar with the school they’ll be attending in the fall.

All but one of the district’s elementary or K-8 schools that serve kindergarten students will open their doors on Wednesday, May 6, at 2:15 p.m. The new Oak View K-8 School in Newberry will hold its kick-off at 3:30 p.m. Children and their parents/guardians will have a chance to talk to teachers and staff, tour the campus, and learn more about their school. 

The first day for students in the 2026-27 school year will be Monday, August 10, for students at most schools. Under Florida law, children must be five years old on or before September 1 to enroll in kindergarten. 

With the redrawing of school attendance boundaries for the upcoming school year recently completed, some addresses will be zoned for different schools for the 2026-27 school year. Parents of incoming kindergarten students are encouraged to visit alachuaschools.net/ourschoolsfutureready to find new attendance maps. Instructions for accessing the maps and the address look-up system can also be found on that page. 

Parents can begin the online registration process on May 6 for their incoming kindergarten students and any student who will be new to the district by going to alachuaschools.net/enrollment. Before school starts, and preferably well in advance, they will also need to provide to their child’s zoned school several required documents, including a birth certificate, proof of a physical exam performed sometime within the last year, immunization records, and two proofs of residence in the parent’s name. Examples of a proof of residence include a lease agreement, a property tax statement, a utility bill, or other documents. 

Schools will also be open during the summer months to assist families with enrollment, although parents are encouraged to enroll their students as soon as possible to avoid the last-minute rush.

More information about Kindergarten Kick-Off is available at alachuaschools.net/kindergartenkickoff.