- Early Learning
- Elementary
Think your 4 year old is ready for kindergarten? Learn more about early entrance.
In Minnesota, children are required to be five years old on or before Sept. 1 to enter kindergarten. Minnesota law also provides local school districts some flexibility in determining procedures for early enrollment for children with fall birthdays.
Stillwater Area Public Schools consider early entrance to kindergarten for children whose fifth birth dates fall between Sept. 2 and Oct. 31. Early entrants must show good physical health, emotional maturity, good social adjustment, exceptional pre-academic skills, and superior intelligence. There must be evidence that the child will experience success with the total school program.
Early enrollment is a big decision for most families. The early enrollment option is intended for children with fall birthdays who have demonstrated a readiness to be successful as grade-accelerated students throughout their entire K-12 schooling experience. Since your child’s school success is extremely important to us, we encourage careful consideration of both the benefits and disadvantages of the early entrance option. Feel free to call us at 651-351-8611 to determine the best option for your child.
Steps for Early Entrance Request
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Complete the Early Entrance Questionnaire online
- It is required to attach a copy of a birth certificate
- Pay the $125 registration fee through Eleyo (if you qualify for financial assistance, you can request a fee waiver)
Decision Making
An appointment will be scheduled during the months of June for an individual assessment of your child by a school psychologist. If appropriate, further evaluation in a simulated kindergarten setting will also be conducted in June.
The results and recommendation for early entrance will be shared with you and the home school principal. School registration for early kindergarten will only be accepted after the full assessment has been completed and the student is found eligible for early admittance.
If you have moved into the district after June 1 and would like your child considered for early entrance, we will do our best to accommodate your request.
- 4 Year Old
- Kindergarten