Kindergarten In Westerville

Half-day Kindergarten program locations for the 26-27 school year have been determined based on many data points, including enrollment projections, staffing resources, and transportation supports:

• Alcott/Fouse HDK students will attend Fouse Elementary School
• Annehurst/Whittier HDK students will attend Annehurst Elementary School
• Hawthorne/Minerva France HDK students will attend Hawthorne Elementary School
• Huber Ridge/Wilder HDK students will attend Huber Ridge Elementary School
• Mark Twain/Cherrington/Pointview/Robert Frost HDK students will attend Mark Twain Elementary School
• McVay HDK students will remain at McVay Elementary School

Welcome letters will be sent from your assigned building’s principal in early August.

Families are not required to participate in ADK. It is one of two kindergarten options for families.  We offer Half Day Kindergarten (HDK) at no cost, and ADK is available for a cost of $3,000 per year.

HDK seats will be available based on registration, and transportation will be provided to and from the assigned school. In some cases, this may be a different building than your child’s assigned homeschool. If that happens, your child will return to their assigned homeschool for first grade the following year.

Westerville City Schools has prepared a listing of ways you can help your child prepare to begin school (see website). The Ohio Department of Education also has resources at education.ohio.gov/Parents

Typically, children must turn five years old before the first day of school, to enroll in kindergarten for the coming school year. However, children who turn five after the first day of school and before December 31 can be considered for under age admission upon meeting the criteria set by the district as per the Ohio Department of Education guidelines.

Early Entrance Request Timeline for the 2026-2027 school year

🗓️ Request window: March 16 – May 15, 2026

📄 Form will be available at: Gifted Education – Westerville City Schools

Please Note:
Early entrance is designed for children who demonstrate exceptional readiness for kindergarten—skills and abilities well beyond what is typical for their age. Because only a few children qualify, families are encouraged to plan for other care or preschool options in case early entrance is not approved.

If you have any questions, please contact our district’s Gifted Education Department or your child’s potential school for more information. You can also find additional information in our district’s Early Entrance Parent Guide.

Yes, state law requires compulsory attendance of children between the ages of 6 and 18.

Yes, Ohio Revised Code 3321.01 specifies a child must successfully complete kindergarten. The kindergarten requirement may be waived in the case of a child who is at least six years of age by August 1 of the year of admittance and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the committee that he/she possesses the social, emotional, and cognitive skills necessary for first grade.

Contact your child's school of attendance should you have additional questions regarding building-based opportunities and activities

In order for your child to attend Westerville City Schools, you must be both the Legal Guardian and a resident of the school district.

Please visit the district's Health Services page for immunization information.

School district boundaries within the school district are established by the Superintendent. Students attend the school in their designated attendance area in which they reside, unless open enrollment is requested and approved.

Yes, the Board permits students to apply for attendance at their school of choice provided parents transport their child and meet other established guidelines per the district's open enrollment policy.

You can quickly identify your child's school of attendance by CLICKING HERE and inserting your home address. For further clarification on attendance boundaries, contact either the Office of Transportation at 797-5950 or our Enrollment and Family Resource Center at 797-7700.

You may complete an application at www.lunchapplication.com or pick-up a paper application available in the school offices after July 1.

A letter is sent to your home the end of July indicating whether your child will attend the AM or PM session, your child’s teacher, and your child’s “Gentle Start” date and time.

Requests for AM or PM sessions may be made by contacting the building secretary after the completion of the enrollment process. While every effort is made to accommodate requests, it may not be possible based upon enrollment numbers and transportation routes and scheduling. Decisions are based on many factors including the number of students in your building who walk or ride. Other determining factors can include enrollment in neighboring schools.

Bus transportation schedules are available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal (you will receive a letter from your building in July with information on how to create an account). For additional information, please go to www.wcsoh.org/mybus or contact transportation at (614) 797-5950.

There is not an assessment designed to determine if your child will attend kindergarten. The only requirement for entrance into kindergarten is that he or she be five years of age by August 18, 2026 for the 2026-2027 school year. Kindergarten students will take a series of assessments throughout the fall, as part of the Ohio Department of Education’s KRA (Kindergarten Readiness Assessment). This assessment will provide teachers specific information on what each student knows and is able to do. This information will be used to drive instruction and identify areas of intervention for students.

If you know, or suspect, your child has a disability, contact Westerville City Schools’ Special Education office at (614) 797-5900. You can find more information about special education services by visiting our WCS Special Education website.

WCS students are evaluated in 2nd grade to determine giftedness in reading, math, and overall cognitive ability. Students who are identified as gifted begin receiving gifted services in 3rd grade.

Parents are not permitted to attend school with their child. Your school may provide an opportunity to visit the classroom for a brief amount of time during that first day. Please contact your school with specific questions.

You will receive a copy of supplies needed in the Back-to-School mailing.

Student fees cover the costs of consumable items. Fees for the upcoming year are posted on the district website.
 

Ohio’s Learning Standards define what your child should know and be able to do at every grade level. Visit our Elementary Curriculum website for more information about specific curriculum for Kindergarten students.

Kindergarten families will receive information about their student's progress through quarterly achievement records.
 

Westerville City Schools welcomes volunteer participation. Volunteers provide needed assistance at all levels of district programming and serve as excellent resources to enrich the lives of our students. Find more information about becoming a vounteer by visiting our Volunteer Information website. Your school and student's teacher will share opportunities to volunteer throughout the school year.

Though the school district does not offer a traditional “latchkey” program, there is a school age child care program, YWCA Kids Place, available before and after school through the YWCA for all of our elementary schools. This is a fee-based program that operates independently from the school district. For more information, call the YWCA at (614) 224-9121, ext. 1204.

Measures are in place in every building to make certain new students board the proper busses, including teachers and volunteers who walk students to their bus, bus numbers indicated on student nametags, and assistance from older students.