Nelson Mandela Elementary School Application for Kindergarten for the 2026-2027 School Year

Thank you for your interest in having your child attend Nelson Mandela Elementary for kindergarten. The application for the 2026-2027 school year is now closed. The application will reopen in December 2026 for the 2027-2028 school year.

View the full details of the enrollment process here. 

This application will open on December 1, 2025.

Thank you for your interest in having your child attend Nelson Mandela Elementary for kindergarten. We will be accepting applications from December 1, 2025-December 31, 2025. 

Acceptance Requirements

Age
We require incoming kindergarteners to be 5 years old on or before June 1 of the upcoming school year.

Immunization
Your child must have all required immunizations. We do not accept waivers or exemptions of any kind.

Academics
Although not required, we strongly encourage interested families to enroll their scholar in a preschool or early education program, as it will greatly support kindergarten readiness.

Family Engagement
Mandela is interested in families who are ready to commit to the requirements of completing 25 hours of engagement each school year, which includes a commitment to attendance, punctuality, supporting a child’s academics, school community, and extracurricular interests. 

Recommendation
Prospective families will be asked to submit a kindergarten readiness evaluation, to be completed by both the current caregiver as well as a current teacher if the prospective scholar is enrolled in a preschool, or early childhood program.

Summer Availability
Selected applicants must be available to participate in the full-day, summer Kindergarten Jump Start Program in June and July before the school year starts in the fall.

Other Qualifications:

Applicant’s who meet the following criteria will be considered first priority for admission: 

  1. Lives within 1.5 miles of the school

  2. Qualifies for Free and Reduced Lunch or Title XX

  3. Scholar lives in a single-parent household or with a non-biological parent as their primary caregiver

  4. One or both biological parents did not complete high school with a traditional four-year experience

  5. There is a sibling living full-time in the same household who is already enrolled at NME

View more information about our enrollment process by clicking here.