Enrollment Procedures

PreK-Grade 12 Requirements

Welcome to Columbia Public Schools!

Where should parents/guardians enroll their children in the Columbia Public Schools?
Parents should enroll their children at the school that serves their neighborhood. Use the school locator on the CPS Web site to determine the elementary school, middle school, junior high and/or high school that students in your area attend. If needed, call (573) 214-3400 for assistance.

What forms must be completed by the parent/guardian at the time of enrollment?

• New Student Information (4 pages)

• Health Summary for Enrollment
       Asthma History (required for all students with history of asthma)

• Declaration of Legal Residence

• Language Questionnaire

• Release of Student Records (if previously enrolled in another school/district)

• Lottery Schools Application

Please complete all forms in black ink or download the forms to your computer's hard drive to complete the forms in Microsoft Word. To download forms to your computer's hard drive, right-click on the name of the form and select Save Link As or Save Target As...  Then indicate the name of the directory (folder) on your hard drive where you would like the file to be saved, and click Save. (Word 97 or later is required.)

In addition to the completed registration forms, what other information must be provided when enrolling a child in school?

• Record of the student's birth (birth certificate, passport, visa, or hospital record)

• Record of immunizations
       Bring an immunization record from a physician or public health agency.
       Month/day/year is required for all immunization dates.
       Missouri law requires proper immunizations for children to enroll in or attend school.
       Immunizations for polio, DPT, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and hepatitis B are required.
       In addition, varicella vaccine(s) or proof of disease (chickenpox) is required for students entering kindergarten through 7th grade.
            For kindergartn through 2nd grade, proof of disease must be a signed note from the health care provider with the month and year of the disease.
            For 3rd through 7th grade, proof of disease shall be a signed note from the parent or licensed health provider with the month and year of the disease.
       If immunizations are needed, contact your primary care provider for an appointment as soon as possible.

• Documentation of Legal Residence of Parent/Guardian
       Bring a copy of one of the following items:
            Contract of home purchase
            Real estate lease
            Utility bill showing address (current)
            Notarized letter from owner of residence with whom the family is living

• Social Security Number
       Requested but not required

Title I Preschool

Welcome to Title I Preschool!

Who is eligible to enroll in Title I Preschool?
Children who are identified as needing additional educational experiences as determined through the Columbia Public Schools Early Childhood Screening are eligible to enroll in Title I Preschool. Parents of an eligible child receive a notification letter from the Title I Preschool office.

When is preschool registration?
Parents may register their child after receiving a letter of confirmation from the Title I Preschool office.

Where should parents and children enroll in preschool?
The letter of confirmation provides specific information about where enrollment is completed. Parents and children must also attend preschool orientation scheduled by the preschool teacher.

Early Childhood Special Education

Welcome to Early Childhood Special Education and Columbia Public Schools!

Who is eligible to enroll in Early Childhood Special Education?
Eligible children are identified as having a disability as determined by criteria outlined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. An active Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed and implemented through the Columbia School District's Early Childhood Special Education Program.

When is ECSE preschool registration?
Parents may register their child after eligibility has been determined through the evaluation process. An eligible student may begin services with Early Childhood Special Education upon his or her third birthday.

Where do eligible children receive ECSE services?
The location for service delivery is determined on an individual basis through the IEP process. A child may receive therapy itinerantly in the community or through the Early Childhood Education Center.

Where should parents enroll their child in the ECSE program?
Parents receive an enrollment packet when an IEP is developed. Completed enrollment forms should be returned to the Early Childhood Special Education office at 555 Vandiver Drive. Enrollment must be completed prior to the start of services.

Kindergarten

Welcome, Class of 2024!

Who is eligible to enroll in kindergarten?
Children who are five years old before August 1, 2012 may enroll in kindergarten for the 2012-13 school year.

When is kindergarten registration?
Wednesday, March 14, 2012, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at all elementary schools.

Where should parents and children enroll in kindergarten?
Parents and children should enroll at the elementary school that serves their neighborhood. Use the school locator to determine the school your child should attend. Call (573) 214-3400 for assistance.

Grades 1-12

Welcome to Columbia Public Schools!

Where should parents/guardians enroll their child in school?
Parents should enroll their children at the school that serves their neighborhood. Use the school locator to determine the school your child will attend. Call (573) 214-3400 for assistance.