If your child will be five years old by September 1, 2026 then kindergarten is right around the corner! Starting kindergarten is a big and exciting step. Whether you’re planning on homeschooling or on enrolling your child in a Montessori school, a parochial school, a district school, or something in-between, there are things you can do right now to start preparing. First, be sure to mark your calendar for two events:
- May 17 – Blast Off to Kindergarten, a space-themed community event for all rising Oak Park kindergarteners and their families at Rehm Park, 1000 S. Scoville Avenue in Oak Park!
- May 18 – Kindergarten Readiness Workshop: a conversation with District 97 Kindergarten teachers at 6:00 p.m. via zoom.
Kindergarten Registration Information:
If you will be enrolling your child in your local public school, you can find information on our local districts below. You can explore additional school options by visiting our Early Childhood Resource Directory and filtering by listings that are “School Based.” (Do this by clicking on the drop down titled “select the program type” and then click on “School Based”).
Oak Park District 97
- Kindergarten and new student registration opened in January, so go ahead and get started on registration if you haven’t yet.
- If you’re new to the district or have a child starting kindergarten, you must upload all required residency documents to the online registration system. For details on requirements for different living scenarios, visit the main registration page and scroll down to “Proof of Residency Requirements.”
- Oak Park Elementary School District can also provide additional support for families to help them smoothly register their child or children.
River Forest District 90
- Kindergarten registration opens on March 24 for River Forest families.
- Join District 90 for their Kindergarten Information Night on Thursday, March 12 from 6-7 at both Lincoln School, 511 Park Ave, and at Willard School, 1250 Ashland Ave, in River Forest.
- Families registering new students in District 90 for the first time must contact the District 90 Registrar, Devin Howe, to begin the registration process.
- For residency requirements, forms and more, please visit the District 90 registration page.
- Families are encouraged to register their child on or before June 12, 2026 in order to help the district plan accordingly.
Forest Park District 91
- Registration will open on April 1.
- Join District 91 for their Registration Night on April 22, where you can come with your necessary paperwork and complete everything in one stop! Translators will be available to assist families.
- If you live north of I-290, your child will enter kindergarten at the Garfield Primary Elementary School. Reach out to registrar Alicia Raglin by emailing traglin@fpsd91.org or by calling 708-366-6945.
- If you live south of I-290, your child will enter kindergarten at Betsy Ross Primary Elementary School. Reach out to registrar Megan Dickel by emailing mdickel@fpsd91.org or by calling 708-366-7498.
- General registration information for Forest Park District 91 can be found here.
For links to neighboring school districts, please visit our kindergarten webpage.
What is Kindergarten Readiness?
Starting kindergarten is an exciting milestone for children and families! Kindergarten readiness is about helping your child feel confident, capable, and excited on their first day. When families, schools, and our whole community work together, children’s transitions to kindergarten are smoother, more predictable, and more joyful.
There are four key aspects of child development that families can nurture to help ensure their children experience a smooth transition to kindergarten. The Collaboration refers to these as the 4 Building Blocks of Kindergarten Readiness. They are:
- Social & Emotional Development – learning to manage feelings, make friends, and interact positively with adults and peers.
- Self-Care, Physical Well-Being, & Motor Skills – practicing independence, healthy habits, and movement skills.
- Language & Communication Skills – talking, listening, and early reading skills.
- Cognitive Skills – curiosity, problem-solving, and early math and reasoning abilities.
Your role as a parent/caregiver:
- Encourage your child to try new things, express their feelings, and practice everyday skills like dressing, washing hands, or tidying up.
- Read together, tell stories, and ask questions to support language and thinking skills.
- Share what you know about your child with teachers, like the routines, interests, and things that help them thrive.
You can learn much more about what these Building Blocks of Kindergarten Readiness look like and how to nurture them in your own child on our kindergarten webpage.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us!