Parents → Getting started in MCPS (The Basics) → Enrolling Your Child in School
All children living in Montgomery County have the right to attend the public schools. A child is eligible for enrollment if he or she is 5 years old by September 1 and not age 21 on the first day of school. According to Maryland law, every child between the ages of 5 and 16 must attend school.
A child whose birth date is between September 2 and October 15 may be considered for early entrance to kindergarten.
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Most students must attend the school that serves the area in which they live. To find out which school serves your address, call 240-314-4710 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays or check on the school assignment locator.
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All Montgomery County public schools are organized into clusters. Each cluster consists of one high school (which provides the cluster's name), and the middle and elementary schools within its attendance boundary. Each grouping of four or five clusters is supervised by a community superintendent. In addition, three consortia allow students living within the attendance areas of the member schools to choose their middle or high school, based on their interests and program offerings at each school.
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Registration takes place at the school your child will attend. All new students or students who are reentering MCPS after withdrawing must provide proof of age, legal identity of the parent or guardian, residency, and immunizations. Examples of acceptable verification documents are available online. If your child has attended school elsewhere, you also need to bring the most recent report card. Parents of students who have received special education services should bring a copy of the child's Individualized Education Program (IEP).
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All students entering MCPS must present a Maryland Immunization Certificate 896 or a printout from a doctor's office. This form becomes part of your child's permanent health record. A list of immunizations required for enrollment, the Immunization Certificate, and additional information on immunizations can be found online. A physical examination also is required for students entering Maryland public schools for the first time or transferring from a private school.
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The following students must begin the enrollment process at the Residency and International Admissions office (RIA):
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Students are considered homeless if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate night time residence. School placement decisions are made on the basis of the best interest of the student.
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Maryland recognizes home schooling as an alternative to public school enrollment and has regulations that must be followed if parents chose this option.
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Students are assigned to public schools based on their place of residence or in accordance with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and are expected to attend their assigned school. However, changes from one school to another are permitted for students who are exempt or who are granted a change of school assignment based upon unique hardship.
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