Children must turn (5) years old on or before August 31 to be eligible to enroll in kindergarten. However, KSD offers a fee-based assessment to determine if younger children can enter kindergarten early.

1. The child must turn five (5) years old between September 1 and October 31. There are no exceptions to this date.

2. The family must provide proof of address within the Kent School District boundary.

Families who wish to pursue early entry to kindergarten must apply in the spring prior to their child's kindergarten year in order for their child to take the assessment.

During the in-person assessment children will:

• Participate in a group observation with kindergarten teachers.

• Receive one-on-one pre-academic testing with a school psychologist. 

Assessment includes measures of school readiness in the areas of:

• Mental ability

• Gross motor skills

• Fine motor skills

• Visual discrimination

• Auditory discrimination

• Social-emotional development

Children who demonstrate at least 5 years, 6 months age equivalent in each of the assessed areas may be considered for early enrollment in kindergarten. After the assessment, results will be reviewed, and families will receive communication from the Teaching and Learning team.