Kindergarten Roundups set for 2026

Dearborn Public Schools > The First Bell > News > Kindergarten Roundups set for 2026
A student shows his first day of kindergarten coloring page

Parents living in the Dearborn School District with students planning to start kindergarten in the fall are invited to Kindergarten Roundups at their local elementary school. 

Each of the district’s 21 schools with kindergarten is planning to hold a roundup during March or April. Kindergarten Roundups provide parents of our future kindergarteners with important information about starting school, needed doctor and dentist exams, required student assessments, and how to help prepare a child for class. Enrolling students in the spring, if possible, allows the district to have accurate information to make staffing decisions for the fall.

There are many reasons for parents to choose Dearborn Public Schools. Dearborn Schools is proud to offer one of the lowest teacher-to-student ratios of any district in Wayne County, with an average classroom size of 22 students in kindergarten through second grade and 24 for third through fifth. Dearborn students show above-average academic growth each year as measured on national tests, and the district maintains a 95 percent high school graduation rate and has been recognized for the high number of students who enroll in college. Dearborn Public Schools has received six National Blue Ribbon Awards in the last nine years.

To enroll in kindergarten, students must be five years old by September 1 and live within the Dearborn Public School District. Waivers are available for students who will turn five after September 1 but by December 1.  For parents already living in the district, the waivers need to be submitted by June 1.  See the district website at dearbornschools.org/enroll for the waiver and more information.

Dearborn Public Schools also offers a free Young 5s program for students who will turn five between June 15 and December 1 this year.  That all-day program is offered at select schools and follows the kindergarten curriculum, including music, art, physical education, and STEAM classes. The extra year allows those children to better develop the academic and emotional skills they need to succeed in school. The following year, they would enroll in kindergarten at their neighborhood school. 

Space is limited for Young 5s.  Parents interested in the program are encouraged to attend Kindergarten Roundup at their neighborhood school or at the school with a Young 5s program they are interested in attending. The district is planning to offer Young 5s at Geer Park, Henry Ford, Haigh, Lindbergh, Maples, McCollough, and Salina elementary schools. See the Young 5s brochure.

  For more information, contact Student Services at (313) 827-3005.  Busing is available only if the student attends their home elementary and lives in an area where busing is provided.  In most cases, parents will need to provide transportation for their child.

All incoming kindergarten students will need a completed health appraisal from their medical office. Incoming kindergarten students also now need to show they have had a dental health checkup.

For students still a year away from kindergarten, the district also offers the Great Start Readiness Program.  This state-sponsored preschool is free to families who qualify and is available at 15 locations around the district. Enrollment applications for GSRP will be distributed starting March 13. The state has been slowly expanding GSRP eligibility.  For next year, students must turn 4 by Sept 1 to enroll.  Parents with a child of that age are encouraged to submit an application if they are interested in the program.

Learn more about the district’s programs for our youngest students at www.dearbornschools.org/ welcome. 

Parents have the option of completing student enrollment entirely online. Enrollment can be started at https://dearbornschools.org/enroll, but will not be complete until the required paperwork is submitted. To see which school your child would attend, visit our elementary school enrollment map or call Student Services at (313) 827-3005. Kindergarten students are expected to attend the school for their neighborhood, unless they opt into Howe School’s Montessori-style program. Older students can also opt to attend the online Dearborn Virtual K-12, but VK-12 no longer offers kindergarten due to a lack of interest.

The Kindergarten Roundup schedule is below. Events are in-person. Check the school websites closer to that building’s event for more information. Parents may contact the elementary school to request more information.  

2026 kindergarten roundup schedule

Kindergarten Roundup 2026 flyer