Kindergarten Enrollment Requirements

Age

Children must be 5 years old on or before June 1 of the upcoming school year to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment.

Immunization

All children must have current and complete immunizations as required by state law. We are not able to accept medical, religious, or personal waivers or exemptions.

Academics

While not required, we strongly encourage families to enroll their child in a preschool or early education program. Participation in such programs helps support kindergarten readiness and smooths the transition into elementary school.

Family Engagement

At Mandela, we value strong partnerships between families and the school. Families are asked to commit to 25 hours of engagement each school year. These hours may include:

• Supporting your child's attendance and punctuality,
• Helping with academic learning at home,
• Participating in school community events, and
• Encouraging your child's extracurricular interests.

Recommendation

Prospective families will be asked to submit a Kindergarten Readiness Evaluation.

This evaluation should be completed by:

• The child's current caregiver, and
• The current teacher (if the child is enrolled in a preschool or early childhood program).

Summer Availability

Selected applicants must be available to attend our full-day Summer Kindergarten Jump Start Program, held in June and July before the new school year begins in the fall.

Other Qualifications:

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

1. The applicant lives within 1.5 miles of the school
2. The applicant qualifies for Free and Reduced Lunch or Title XX assistance.
3. The applicant lives in a single-parent household or with a non-biological parent or guardian as their primary caregiver
4. One or both biological parents did not complete high school in a traditional four-year program.

5. The applicant has a sibling who lives full-time in the same household and is already enrolled at NME