Register Your Child for School
Step 1: Determine the student's eligibility
Children who reach age 5 by September 30 are eligible for enrollment. Virginia law states that a child may not enter kindergarten if he/she is not five by September 30. The Code of Virginia does not permit waivers or considerations based on out-of-state school transfers or student skills. Complete information on starting school is available.If a parent elects to place a child in a private kindergarten program because the child does not meet the public school age requirement, the child will be considered eligible for kindergarten the following year. However, the principal shall have the option of promoting the child to first grade upon review of the child’s academic records and staff assessment of performance.
Step 2: Identify and contact the school
Most registrations take place at the child's school (see exceptions below under Central Student Registration). To determine what school serves your specific address, check the online boundary locator service or call 703-329-9831. The results of your online search will display the elementary, middle, and high schools that serve your address along with their phone numbers. Call the school office to make a registration appointment; all schools are open during the summer.Step 3: Complete the paperwork
Register now! Don't wait until September. To enroll a student, parents can complete much of the paperwork online. These forms need to be submitted by the parent or guardian at the time of registration. The following are required:- the presence of a natural or adoptive parent (a photo ID of the parent may be requested)
- original birth certificate
- proof of residency in Fairfax County, generally a lease or a deed
- transfer slip or report card from the previous school and/or original transcripts
- evidence of a physical examination (Commonwealth of Virginia School Health Entrance Form PDF document)
- evidence of required immunizations
Central Student Registration
Make an appointment to register a student at 703-876-5240 if any of the following apply:- your home language is other than English.
- you are the guardian or legal custodian of a child and the parents do not reside in Fairfax County.
- your child will be enrolled on a tuition-paying basis.
- you are the host parent of an exchange student.
- you have a child in foster care from another Virginia county or another state.