Early Admission

  • Early Admission to Kindergarten 

     

    To apply for Early Admission Testing please click here!

     

    Early Admission to Kindergarten Applications are accepted from April 3-May 15, 2024.

     

    Information is subject to change if applicable. 

     

    Early admission to kindergarten's application process is remote. This is the first part of the early admission to kindergarten application process.  Early admission to kindergarten testing will occur over the summer (June 17 - June 27, 2024).   

     

    • Students must turn five years old between September 2, 2024 and October 15, 2024
    • Parents/guardians must bring their child’s birth certificate and proof of residence
    • After submitting the early admission paperwork, parents/guardians will be contacted to schedule testing at a designated testing location, and receive specific information about the test.
    • Early admission results will be mailed to parents/guardians within 10 business days after testing is complete
    • Please click for additional Important Guardian Information Regarding Early Admission Testing

     

     

    Age of School Attendance for Kindergarten 

    Pursuant to Maryland regulations, a child must be 5 years old on or before September 1 of the school year in which the child applies for entrance to be admitted to kindergarten.

     

    Criteria for Early Admission to Kindergarten 

    Children who will turn five years old between September 2 and October 15, 2024 are eligible for consideration for the early entrance to kindergarten process. To be recommended for early entrance to kindergarten, children will need to demonstrate above average performance and development in academic skills as well as social/emotional and physical development. The standards for early entrance are very high to ensure that students are not frustrated by their advanced grade placement. There will be no consideration for children with birthdates beyond October 15th.

    In accordance with Maryland regulations, an age-eligible child who has demonstrated capabilities warranting early admission by meeting the Anne Arundel County Public Schools early admission criteria on the required assessments, may be granted early admission.

     

    Prior Enrollment in an In-State Nonpublic School 

    In accordance with State law and regulations, a child who is 5 years old on or before September 1 of the school year in which the child begins kindergarten in a nonpublic kindergarten program for part of the year may transfer to a public kindergarten program.

    A child who is not 5 years old on or before September 1 of the year the child begins at a nonpublic kindergarten program may not transfer to kindergarten in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Parents/Guardians who request a transfer during the kindergarten year for a child admitted early to a nonpublic kindergarten program must apply for early admission to kindergarten and the child must meet the established criteria.

     

    A child who does not meet the age requirements established under Maryland regulations but was granted early admission nonpublic prekindergarten/kindergarten program will not automatically be enrolled in kindergarten/grade 1 in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. The child’s parent(s)/guardian(s) may apply for early admission to kindergarten or grade acceleration for grade 1. If the child meets the criteria established by AACPS, the child will be granted early admission to kindergarten or grade acceleration grade 1. 

     

    Out-of-State Enrollment 

    In accordance with Maryland regulations, a child who is 5 years old and moves to Maryland with previous enrollment in a public kindergarten program  for part of the school year in another state shall be enrolled in kindergarten at AACPS. This reciprocity is granted with the understanding that other states may have established different criteria  for determining the age for school attendance. Students transferring to kindergarten from out-of-state  are enrolled as transfer students without using the early admission to kindergarten regulation.

     

    Students who are 5 years old and have completed a public kindergarten program in another state, with a later age of entry are eligible for full reciprocity and will be enrolled in grade one. This does not apply to students who attended a kindergarten program outside of the United States or a private kindergarten program. 

     

     

    Accommodations for Non-English Speakers

    The Maryland State Department of Education has determined that a local school system is not required to make adjustments in its early admission regulation to kindergarten and first grade for non-English speaking students. Assessments for early admission to kindergarten and first grade will be administered in the language of instruction – English.