Eligibility

A student must reside in Fairfax County to attend a Fairfax County public school. Permitted exceptions are outlined in Policy 2202.

Virginia law sections 22.1 and 22.1-199 state 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.

There are many private kindergarten programs that will accept children who do not meet the state age requirements. Parents who decide to send their children to private kindergarten programs should check with the elementary school the child would attend first to determine what criteria they would use to decide if your child would be placed in kindergarten or first grade the following school year.