Starting Kindergarten
Welcome to Dare County Schools
We look forward to welcoming your kindergartener to their first day of school and the start of their school journey. This an exciting milestone and we want to provide resources to help make this transition as smooth as possible.
To prepare your student for kindergarten, explore the upcoming events, resources and opportunities available.
Children must be five years old on or before August 31, 2026 to be eligible to enroll in kindergarten for the 2026–2027 school year.
Step 1: Complete Registration
Kindergarten Registration Opens March 30
Online registration will open March 30, 2026 and can be completed through our Student Information System, Infinite Campus. Please complete the online registration on a computer instead of a mobile device. For more tips and information, visit our Register for School page.
Families are encouraged to complete their child’s online registration before attending their school’s Kindergarten Kick-Off event. To find your child's home school, look up your Attendance Zone.
Get Prepare: Required Documents
- Birth Certificate
- Immunization Record and NC Health Assessment
- Health History
- Custodian's Affidavit of Residence plus two of the following:
- NC driver's license
- NC state-issued ID
- Voter's registration card
- Rental agreement or deed
- Current utility bill
- Automobile registration card
- Registration Affidavit
Translation Support
Families needing language assistance with registration, please complete the form linked below. Someone will contact you to schedule an appointment at the Newcomer Center.
Language Support Request Form
Language Support Request Form
Step 2: Submit Your Required Documents
After registering, submit copies of the required documents listed above to your child's home school. This can be done at Kindergarten Kick-Off or by scheduling an appointment at your child's future school.
If you do not have a way to make copies of your documents, call your child's home school to schedule a time to have copies made.
Step 3: Attend a Kindergarten Kick-Off Event
Dare County Schools invites families of rising kindergarten students to attend the 2026 Kindergarten Kick-Off events, hosted this spring at each elementary school across the district.
These events are designed to help families begin the kindergarten journey by completing registration steps, exploring classrooms, and learning more about what to expect during the upcoming school year.
What to Expect at Kindergarten Kick-Off
Kindergarten Kick-Off events provide a welcoming introduction to elementary school for both students and their families. During the event, families will be able to:
- Explore a kindergarten classroom
- Learn about school nutrition services
- Get information about Dare County Schools transportation
- Discover the After School Enrichment Program (ASEP)
- Learn about the Dual Language Immersion Program
- Meet school staff and ask questions about the upcoming school year
Considering enrolling in the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program?
We invite you to see the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program in action. Schools offering kindergarten DLI will host classroom observations in the morning prior to their Kindergarten Kick-Off event. During these observations, program leaders will be on-site to answer questions and share more about this exciting opportunity for your future kindergartener to become bilingual.
Please be sure to indicate your interest in the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program by June 1, 2026.
DLI Classroom Observation Schedule
- Manteo Elementary School - April 14, 2026 from 8:30 - 9:30 AM
- First Flight Elementary School - April 21, 2026 from 8:30 - 9:30 AM
- Kitty Hawk Elementary School - April 14, 2026 from 1:10 - 2:10 PM
- Nags Head Elementary School - May 12, 2026 from 8:30 - 9:30 AM
For questions, contact DLI Coordinator Mora Velazquez.
Step 4: Tour Our Elementary Schools
Coming Soon
Take a virtual tour of your child's soon-to-be school and an opportunity to meet the teachers and get familiar with the classrooms and faces they will be seeing soon.
Step 5: Prepare for the First Day of School
Over the Summer
- Plan fun activities with your child. Spend time outside, visit the library and local museums, and take advantage of free events, like a farmer's market or summer festival.
- Find out if the new school has an Open House at the end of summer to visit the classroom.
- Create and practice morning & evening routines that you will have during the school year.
- Read with your child, including books about going to kindergarten.
- Encourage your child to speak with other children to learn what kindergarten is like.
- Gather kindergarten supplies. Be on the lookout for free school supplies in the community.
- Practice opening food packages at lunch (i.e., applesauce cups, ketchup packets, yogurts).
- Have your child spend time with other people over the summer, as you are able. Talk about the transition and how you will be back to pick them up soon, just like you will when they start school.
A Week Before School Begins
- Talk with your child about clothes and supplies for the first day of school.
- Ask if your child has any questions about the first day of kindergarten.
- Talk about the school routines (e.g., lunch time, recess, the bus ride, and others).
- Continue reading with your child, including books about going to kindergarten.
- Help your child learn the names of the teacher, principal, and other staff at school.
- Review the family schedule and routine:
- Who will take your child to school or bus stop?
- Who will pick up your child?
- What might your child have for lunch?
- Begin working toward a reasonable bedtime.
The Night Before Starting Kindergarten
- Aim for an early bedtime.
- Talk with your child about the morning routine and what to expect.
- Pack a school bag or make lunch, if your child needs to bring lunch or snacks.
- Think of ways you can offer comfort to your child while you're apart. For example:
- Put a family photo in their school bag
- Leave a kiss on your child's hand to press on their cheek when they miss you
- Ask your child to draw a picture for you to share at the end of the day
First Week
- Talk with your child about the routines for bedtime, waking up, and getting ready for school in the morning, and what to expect.
- Get up in time to get ready and have breakfast unrushed—or be at the school for breakfast—each morning.
- Plan to arrive at the bus stop or school early. Do you see any of your child's friends from the preschool program? Point them out!
- Give lots of hugs to start the new day.
- The first days and weeks in a new classroom can be exhausting, so spend extra time relaxing together at home afterward.
- Check in with your child about how they felt and what happened at school each day.