ALACHUA COUNTY – With newly redrawn school attendance boundaries set to take effect for the 2026-27 school year, many families of incoming kindergarten students may find their assigned school has changed — a shift that district officials say makes this year’s Kindergarten Kick-Off especially important.
Hosted by Alachua County Public Schools, the annual event invites families to visit their zoned campus, meet teachers and staff, and become familiar with the school environment ahead of the first day of class.
All but one of the district’s elementary and K-8 schools serving kindergarten students will hold their events Wednesday, May 6, beginning at 2:15 p.m. The new Oak View K-8 School in Newberry will host its kick-off later in the day at 3:30 p.m.
The district recently completed a redrawing of attendance boundaries as part of its planning for the upcoming school year, prompting officials to encourage parents to confirm where their child will attend. Updated maps and an address lookup tool are available through the district’s “Our Schools Future Ready” webpage.
The Kindergarten Kick-Off is designed to give children and their families a chance to explore classrooms, tour campuses and ask questions before school begins — a step that can help ease anxiety for students entering school for the first time.
The first day of the 2026-27 school year is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 10, for most students. Under Florida law, children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to enroll in kindergarten.
Online registration for incoming kindergarten students and others new to the district opens May 6. Families can begin the process through the district’s enrollment website.
In addition to completing the online application, parents will need to provide required documentation before the start of the school year. Those documents include a birth certificate, proof of a physical exam conducted within the past year, immunization records and two forms of proof of residence, such as a lease agreement, utility bill or property tax statement.
Although school offices will remain open during the summer to assist with enrollment, district officials are urging families to complete the process as early as possible to avoid delays ahead of the August start date.
More information about Kindergarten Kick-Off, including school-specific details, is available on the district’s website.
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