Registration

Kindergarten & Junior Kindergarten

Starting school is an exciting milestone for children and families! The Sioux Falls School District offers full-day kindergarten at all elementary schools and an expanded Junior Kindergarten program beginning in the 2027–28 school year.

Junior Kindergarten provides an extra year of support for students who would benefit from additional time to develop the skills needed for a successful start in school.

Children must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2027, to be eligible for kindergarten.

Enter your email here to be reminded when Kindergarten Registration opens after February 1, 2027!

Important! Signing up for an email reminder does not register your child. Families will still need to complete the kindergarten registration process when it opens.

Kindergarten

SFSD's Kindergarten curriculum is designed to provide the essential skills and knowledge necessary to engage your child in the learning process, inspire their curiosity, provide them with a sense of accomplishment and help them understand the value of what they are learning.

Students learn all core subject areas and participate in 'specials' - (art, music, physical education). Breakfast and lunch are also available daily, with fees determined by income eligibility.

Locations

  • All Elementary Schools

Kindergarten Registration

Junior Kindergarten

Junior Kindergarten Students learning about shapes

Beginning in the 2027–28 school year, SFSD is expanding Junior Kindergarten to a full-day program at 15 elementary schools throughout the District.

Junior Kindergarten provides an extra year of support for children who would benefit from additional time to build important skills before moving on to traditional kindergarten.

Learning and development in the early years involve much more than knowing letters and numbers. Junior Kindergarten supports growth in areas such as:

  • Early literacy and math

  • Language and communication 

  • Social and emotional development 

  • Following directions and learning routines 

  • Independence and approaches to learning 

  • Physical development 

The goal is to help students build a strong foundation and develop the skills they need to be successful in school.

How do I register for Junior Kindergarten?

There is no separate registration form for Junior Kindergarten. Please follow the same steps to register for Kindergarten on February 1st, 2027. 

Junior Kindergarten Locations

The full-day Junior Kindergarten program will be offered at these 15 elementary schools:

  • Anne Sullivan

  • Cleveland

  • Eugene Field A+

  • Garfield

  • Hawthorne

  • Hayward

  • John F. Kennedy (JFK)

  • Laura B. Anderson

  • Lowell

  • Marcella LeBeau

  • Oscar Howe

  • Robert Frost

  • Rosa Parks

  • Susan B. Anthony

  • Terry Redlin

Who Is It For?

Elementary Access & Preparation

How and What We Learn!

Information for All Families!

  • Kindergarten Open House is held at each school in March.

  • Attendance at this event is highly encouraged as it allows the schools to better plan for the number of students in the fall. Families can tour the school, bring address verification documents, birth certificates, and immunization records (if complete).

  • In order to successfully complete the kindergarten application, please have the following information available:

    • Household information – address where the family resides

    • Parent information – work and cell phone numbers, email addresses

    • Student information – personal and health/medication information

    • Local Emergency Contact(s) – address and phone numbers

    • Previous school address, phone, and fax numbers

  • Once online registration is complete and all required documents are submitted to your child's school, parents/guardians begin receiving information about the child's teacher and open house dates in mid-August.

  • The Community Learning Centers (CLC) offers out-of-school time care at (24) elementary locations.

Learn More About CLC
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Julie Mahlum

Kindergarten & Junior Kindergarten Contact

✆ (605) 367-7943
✉ Email Julie Mahlum
➢ IPC