The Kershaw County School District is encouraging families who have not yet registered their kindergarten students for the 2014-15 school year to do so as soon as possible. All 11 elementary schools will be accepting registrations during regular school hours.

“Registering now allows the school district to better prepare for next school year,” Executive Director for Instruction Tim Hopkins said.

“The more time that we have to make plans for teachers and classroom space, the better off everything will be.”
Parents should register five-year-old kindergarten students at the school sites for which their residences are zoned; four-year-old kindergarten students should be registered at the school closest to their residence where the program is offered.

Kershaw County School Board policy requires parents to bring all of the following documents to enroll a student for the first time in the Kershaw County School District: a copy of the child’s birth certificate, the child’s South Carolina Certificate of Immunization, a parent/guardian’s valid South Carolina ID such as a driver’s license, a tax document with the current and correct address, a check stub with the current and correct address, and either a mortgage or lease agreement or legally notarized documentation from the landlord.

A child’s registration will not be complete without this documentation.

To be eligible for application to programs for four-year-olds, students must be four years old on or before Sept. 1, 2014. Students applying for the four-year-old program must take an admissions test.

Four-year-old child development programs are scheduled for Baron DeKalb Elementary, Blaney Elementary, Midway Elementary, Pine Tree Hill Elementary and Wateree Elementary although programs are subject to discontinuation in the event of funding shortages.

To enroll in five-year-old kindergarten programs, a child must be five years old on or before Sept. 1, 2014.

Parents of students currently enrolled in four-year-old programs in Kershaw County who are now registering their children for five-year-old kindergarten do not have to provide the above documentation since they had to do so last year for acceptance into the four-year-old program.

All elementary schools have five-year-old kindergarten programs.

Students who will be first graders in 2014-15 and are not currently enrolled in the Kershaw County School District are also encouraged to register now.

To participate in this registration for first grade, a student must be 6 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2014.  All elementary schools have first grade programs.