Congratulations! Your child is eligible to enter kindergarten in fall 2023. 

Register at mpsaz.org/enroll. Find your in-boundary school on our school locator. If you would like to attend a school outside your boundary, please note, transportation options will not be available.

*Open enrollment acceptance is contingent on availability.

Parents have several young learner options for children who will turn 5 between September 1 and December 31.

• Option 1: You may choose to have your child participate in other prekindergarten options for 3 1/2 to 5 year olds. 

• Option 2:  Children who turn 5 between September 1 and December 31 may be assessed in order to qualify for acceptance into the district's regular kindergarten program. Please keep in mind that children who are accepted into regular kindergarten are entering kindergarten a year earlier and will be expected to move to first grade the next year. For more information, parents should go to their neighborhood school or access the Kindergarten Early Admission Packet (English) (Spanish) on this site. Early entrance to kindergarten will not be granted once school has begun.

• Option 3: You may also choose to wait another year to enroll your child in Mesa Public Schools.

View all pre-K options

Here are some of the key things your child will be learning this year. Use this list with your child’s teacher to set goals and to make sure they are on track to succeed.

English Language Arts & Literacy

• Demonstrate reading behaviors such as: following words on a page from left to right, top to bottom; holding a book correctly; and turning the page as you read.
• Recognize the name and sound of all uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet.
• Identify, segment, and manipulate sounds in a one syllable word (initial sound in mop is “m”, the sounds in cat are “k” “a˘” “t”, if you change the “n” in nap to “m” you get map).
• Read easily at a kindergarten level and recognize common sight words such as and, the, two, or my, as well as one syllable words such as pan, tin, lap, or sip.

Mathematics

• Count the number of objects in a group and compare the quantities of two groups of objects.
• Understand addition to mean putting together and adding to and understand subtraction to mean taking apart and taking from.
• Count to 100 by ones and tens.
• Solve addition and subtraction word problems up to the number 10 using objects or by drawing pictures.

Fun activities to do at home

• Read with your child at least 20 minutes every day. Follow the words on the page with your finger. Ask your child to explain his favorite parts of the story.
• Have your child use a finger to trace a letter while saying the letter's name and sound. Do this on paper, in sand, or on a plate of sugar.
• Write stories with your child. Have your child draw a picture and then tell you a sentence that goes with the picture.
• Have your child count items that can be found around the house. For example, how many light switches are in the house? How many shoes are in your closet? How many forks are in the drawer?
• Ask your child to count groups of objects around the house and identify which group has more, less or an equal number of objects. For example, are there more crayons or markers in the box? Do you have more books or stuffed animals? How many more?

Note: Every child develops at their own pace. These expectations are based on Arizona's current academic standards that students should master by the end of each school year. If you have specific questions about the grade-level standards, please contact your child's teacher.

(Information courtesy of Expect More Arizona)

Not sure what to expect this upcoming school year? Follow these simple tips below to ensure your child is ready for success in kindergarten.

1. Practice personal skills
   Practice buttoning, snapping, zipping, tying, washing hands and putting things away. Providing opportunities for your child to manage their personal life skills will build confidence in their new setting.
   
2. Create a task chart
   Having simple jobs at home builds responsibility, self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
   
3. ABCs and 123s
   Help your child notice numbers, shapes, letters and words everywhere you go. Provide opportunities for your child to count, measure and compare.
   
4. Read, read, read
   Reading is a valuable time to bond with your child and prepare them for success. Take time to ask your child questions that allow them to retell the story in their own words.
   
5. Practice language
   Practice language by singing songs, reciting poems and talking about the world around them.
   
6. Build home skills
   Encourage home-skills activities like cooking and laundry to build fine motor skills, such as scooping, pouring, stirring, sorting and matching.
   
7. Play games
   Play following-direction games like Simon Says to get them running, jumping, climbing, walking in line and skipping.
   
8. Schedule a school tour
   Schedule a time to visit campus for a tour so your child can see where they will be spending their day, including the cafeteria and playground. Ask the principal about their health and safety mitigation strategies.