The Dorchester County Public School System invites parents to register their school age children beginning April 25, 2024, for the 2024-2025 school year.  Internet access/assistance will also be available beginning on April 25, 2024 by appointment at all elementary schools.  Please contact the school for more information.

CHOPTANK – 410-228-4950

SANDY HILL – 410-228-7978

HURLOCK – 410-943-3303

SOUTH DORCHESTER – 410-901-6934

MAPLE – 410-228-8577

VIENNA – 410-943-3775

WARWICK – 410-943-3588

PK3 Programs

• PK3 programs (limited slots) for the 2024-2025 school year will be available at Maple Elementary, Hurlock Elementary, Sandy Hill Elementary and Vienna Elementary

  Schools.

• Families will be notified on/after July 1st if their child is accepted for the 2024-2025 school year by letter and email.

Age Eligibility

• PK3 students must be 3 years old on or before 9/1/2024

• PK4 students must be 4 years old on or before 9/1/2024

• Kindergarten students must be 5 years old on or before 9/1/2024.  Attendance is compulsory—exemptions can be obtained from Student Services.

• 1st grade must be 6 years old on or before 9/1/2024

Required Documents

The items below MUST be included:

• Proof of Age and Identity of Student

  • Birth Certificate

  • Valid Unexpired Passport

  • Hospital Certificate (proof of live birth) with name of child and parent

  • Parents’ notarized affidavit

  • Birth Registration, or other legal or notarized identification for child’s identity and date of birth verification

• Proof of Identity of Person Enrolling Student and Relationship to Student

  • Driver’s License

  • Passport

  • Motor Vehicle ID Card

  • Other legal form of identification with photograph
    

• Proof of Residency

  • If homeowner, an acceptable document is a current property tax bill or utility bill with property address

  • If renter, an acceptable document is a current rental lease. If the original term of the lease has expired, a copy of a current utility bill with property address or a lease extension should be provided, if applicable.

  • If shared housing with a homeowner or renter who has bona fide residence in the County, notarized documentation must be provided
    

• Proof of relationship to student- Examples include:

  • Birth certificate of child which identifies the parents

  • Court Order

  • Separation Agreement or Divorce Decree

  •  Other legal form of identification

• Immunization Records and lead testing results
  

• Prekindergarten:  Proof of Family Income (all adults in family)— Examples include:

  • Tax return -1040, W2s, Schedule C/1099

  • Pay stubs (one month of consecutive pay stubs required)

  • Notarized Employment Letter

  • Notarized letter of no income

  • Military Income

  • Proof of additional income (TCA letter, child support, rental income, unemployment verification, etc.)
    

• Out-of-District Requests

  • Transportation is not provided for out of district students

  • K-12 students:  the deadline to request out of district consideration is April 30th. Only families who move after April 30th and provide updated proof of residency would be considered after that time. A link will be posted in February on the DCPS webpage and removed on May 1st.  Letters of confirmation will be sent by June 15th.

  • PK3 schools/slots are limited; therefore, no out of district requests will be considered for PK3.

  • PK4 out of district approvals are extremely limited/rare due to income restrictions.  The link for PK4 out of district will be posted to the DCPS webpage in May.  The deadline to apply is July 20th.  Letters of confirmation will be sent by October 1st. 

Things you should know:

If your child is currently in a DCPS PreK4 class there is no need to enroll again.  You will receive a Returning Student email and/or letter to update your student’s information prior to the start of the school year.

 If your child is currently in a PreK3 class, you will need to be requalified at their school of residence to attend PreK4.  Please contact your School Registrar to complete this process as soon as possible to secure your PreK4 slot. 

The enrollment process is explained on this webpage.  We encourage our families to begin this process as soon as possible.

For more information, please see our Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Enrollment Guidance 2024-2025