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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. We will be accepting applications from December 1, 2025-December 31, 2025. Please anticipate this application taking 20-30 minutes to complete. After submitting your application, you may go back and edit your responses until December 31, 2025.

After completing the application, you must attend a mandatory informational meeting on Zoom. Details for the meeting will be provided upon completion of this application. Please ensure your email address is valid and can accept messages.

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:

Lives within 1.5 miles of the school
Qualifies for Free and Reduced Lunch or Title XX
Scholar lives in a single-parent household or with a non-biological parent as their primary caregiver
One or both biological parents did not complete high school with a traditional four-year experience
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.

Please complete the form below. Required fields marked with an asterisk *

Child Information

Child Last Name:*

Answer required for "Child Last Name:"

Child First Name:*

Answer required for "Child First Name:"

Child Date of Birth*

Answer required for "Child Date of Birth"

Child Gender*

Answer required for "Child Gender"

Female

Male

Other:

Child Race/Ethnicity (Select all that apply)*

Answer required for "Child Race/Ethnicity (Select all that apply)"

Asian

American Indian or Alaska Native

Black or African American

Hispanic or Latino

White

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

Middle Eastern or North African

Child Home Address*

Answer required for "Child Home Address"

City*

Answer required for "City"

State*

Answer required for "State"

Zip/Postal*

Answer required for "Zip/Postal"

Parent/Guardian Information

Please note: Whoever's information is listed in this section will receive all communication updates from the school. Make sure contact information is accurate and can accept messages.

Last Name*

Answer required for "Last Name"

First Name*

Answer required for "First Name"

Current legal guardian?*

Answer required for "Current legal guardian?"

Yes

Relationship to the child:*

Answer required for "Relationship to the child:"

Email - Make sure this email address is correct and can accept messages.*

Answer required for "Email - Make sure this email address is correct and can accept messages."

Phone - Make sure this phone number is correct and can accept messages.*

Number Required

Additional Contact Information

Are there any other individuals who have legal rights or responsibilities regarding the child's care? If yes, please specify their names, relationships to the child, and the nature of their rights or responsibilities.

Answer required for "Are there any other individuals who have legal rights or responsibilities regarding the child's care? If yes, please specify their names, relationships to the child, and the nature of their rights or responsibilities."

Are there any court orders or custody agreements in place related to the child? If yes, please provide details.

Answer required for "Are there any court orders or custody agreements in place related to the child? If yes, please provide details."

Additional Child Information

What is the education level of the child's biological mother? (Please select the highest level completed)*

Answer required for "What is the education level of the child's biological mother? (Please select the highest level completed)"

Some High School

High School or GED

Trade School

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Ph.D. or Higher

Other:

What is the education level of the child's biological father? (Please select the highest level completed)*

Answer required for "What is the education level of the child's biological father? (Please select the highest level completed)"

Some High School

High School or GED

Trade School

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Ph.D. or Higher

Other:

What is the child's previous educational experience? Check all that apply.*

Answer required for "What is the child's previous educational experience? Check all that apply."

Daycare

Headstart

Educare

Home

Nelson Mandela Early Childhood Development Center

OPS Early Childcare

Pre-School

Other:

A note about educational supports:

Nelson Mandela Elementary is committed to supporting every scholar in their educational journey. We believe the curricula that we have selected are well-suited to most learners. Sometimes, scholars need additional support to reach their educational goals. Mandela works closely with teachers, our counselors, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, and our family liaison during Mandela Intervention Team (MIT) meetings to provide those supports. Families are an integral part in working with the school to determine the best educational support for their scholar(s). Although there is not a self-contained special education classroom, Mandela partners with Omaha Public Schools to offer the supports for scholars with 504 plans, IEPs, and who are in need of Title I services.

Does your scholar use or receive any of the following services? Check all that apply.

Answer required for "Does your scholar use or receive any of the following services? Check all that apply."

English Language Learner (ELL) Programs

Mental Health Services

Speech Therapy

Physical Therapy

Psychological or Behavior Support

Occupational Therapy

Specialized Equipment and/or Assistive Technology

Tutoring

IEP/504/Special Education

Other:

If you selected one or more of the above options, please describe below.

Answer required for "If you selected one or more of the above options, please describe below. "

Does your family qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch and/or Title XX? Check all that apply. If you are unsure, please use the links below.

Answer required for "Does your family qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch and/or Title XX? Check all that apply. If you are unsure, please use the links below. "

Free and Reduced Lunch

Title XX

Free and Reduced Lunch Income Eligibility Guidelines

Title XX Child Care Eligibility Guidelines

Does your child have a sibling that is currently attending Nelson Mandela Elementary? If yes, please provide their first and last name.

Answer required for "Does your child have a sibling that is currently attending Nelson Mandela Elementary? If yes, please provide their first and last name."

Application Questions

Please provide thoughtful and honest responses. Your answers will be an important factor in our decision about your child's potential enrollment at Nelson Mandela Elementary.

Why are you interested in having your child attend Nelson Mandela Elementary?*

Answer required for "Why are you interested in having your child attend Nelson Mandela Elementary?"

Why are you interested in having your child attend a year-round school?*

Answer required for "Why are you interested in having your child attend a year-round school?"

What are your child’s favorite activities or hobbies? How do they enjoy spending their free time?*

Answer required for "What are your child’s favorite activities or hobbies? How do they enjoy spending their free time?"

How does your child learn best? Can you describe their strengths and areas where they might need support?*

Answer required for "How does your child learn best? Can you describe their strengths and areas where they might need support?"

Has your child faced any challenges in their learning or social interactions? How have you responded to these challenges?*

Answer required for "Has your child faced any challenges in their learning or social interactions? How have you responded to these challenges?"

What values are most important to your family, and how do you encourage these values in your child's upbringing?*

Answer required for "What values are most important to your family, and how do you encourage these values in your child's upbringing?"

Families at Nelson Mandela Elementary are required to complete 25 hours of engagement per school year. What does family engagement mean to you?*

Answer required for "Families at Nelson Mandela Elementary are required to complete 25 hours of engagement per school year. What does family engagement mean to you?"

We believe that attendance and punctuality are essential to a scholar's success. How dependable do you believe you are in this area?*

Answer required for "We believe that attendance and punctuality are essential to a scholar's success. How dependable do you believe you are in this area?"

Is there anything else you would like us to know about your child that could help us understand them better?*

Answer required for "Is there anything else you would like us to know about your child that could help us understand them better?"

I certify that I have answered all of the questions in this application truthfully and to the best of my knowledge. I agree that it is my responsibility to provide current contact information so that I can receive communication about my child's potential enrollment.*

Answer required for "I certify that I have answered all of the questions in this application truthfully and to the best of my knowledge. I agree that it is my responsibility to provide current contact information so that I can receive communication about my child's potential enrollment."

Agree

Confirmation Email

Confirmation Email *

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