Kindergarten Registration Information

Students entering Salem Public Schools are assigned according to our Student Assignment Policy. A copy of this policy is available on the district website (see School Committee Policy Manual, Policy #5103). This policy allows parents to have options for requesting the schools their children may attend. Programmatic placements, sibling preference, socioeconomic status, and proximity are prioritized.

Parents will be notified by email of their child’s school assignment by the assignment deadline.

Please do not call the Parent Information Center or schools regarding kindergarten assignments before the notification dates.

Transportation will be provided if you meet the distance criteria determined by the School Committee’s transportation policy. Students in grades K-2 who live one or more miles away from school qualify for free transportation.

For questions regarding transportation please contact the Transportation Department at (978) 740-1138.

Kindergarten screening will take place at your child’s assigned elementary school starting at the end of June. Parents will be notified of their child’s appointment by the school staff.

If your child has a health condition such as asthma, diabetes, allergy to food or bees, seizure disorder, cystic fibrosis, bleeding disorder or other health issues, please contact the nurse at your assigned school to advise her of his/her needs and plan for care. Questions or concerns can be directed to the nurse at the school that your child is assigned to or Director of Nurses Jane Morrissey, RN, at 978-825-5500, fax # 978-740-1137.

Class sizes have averaged 18 to 20 students. Classes are staffed by a full-time teacher and a part-time paraprofessional.

There is no “one best school” and each child’s learning needs are unique. Each of our schools has their own theme, character, and opportunities to offer your child.  We are proud to offer many great choices of elementary schools in Salem. We encourage you to learn more about all of our schools and the choices available to you by reviewing the school profiles, visiting school websites and signing up for a tour.

The chances vary depending upon the school requested, meeting the registration deadlines, and the criteria outlined in the student assignment policy, including the proximity of your home to the school(s) you requested.

No. We encourage parents to list three different school choices.  If only one choice is listed and there is no space available, your child will be administratively assigned. By identifying more than one choice, you increase your chances of having your child attend a school of your choosing.

On average, we have been able to provide 90% of our kindergarten parents with one of their three school choices. In situations where this is not possible, parents will be contacted and given options of available seats in other schools. Under these circumstances parents may also request that they be put on a specific school’s “waiting list” should seats become available.

As people move and/or change plans, seats do open up making it possible to assign students from the waiting list. On average this happens approximately 60% of the time, however, sometimes there is a long wait and uncertainty that accompanies this part of the process. There are no guarantees. Students on waiting lists are processed using the same criteria in the district’s student assignment policy.