Kindergarten is an exciting time for kids and parents alike — but it can also be a stressful time filled with lots of questions.
Is your child actually ready, are you actually ready and what do you need to do to get them enrolled in your district, or the district of your choice, for the upcoming school year?
It’s a lot to manage, so we spoke with Roberta Farina, the Supervisor of Pupil Accounting and the Lead Pupil Membership Auditor with the Macomb County Intermediate School District (MISD), to find out what parents need to do in order to enroll their Macomb County student for the 2025-26 school year.
Is my child ready for kindergarten?
Officially, kids have to be at least 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2025, to enter kindergarten.
You can find a helpful list of items of what’s needed to have a successful start to kindergarten by reviewing the MISD kindergarten entry packet.
Parents whose children turn 5 between September 1, 2025 and December 1, 2025 may choose to enroll their child in kindergarten IF they notify the district “in writing”, of their intent to enroll, according to Farina.
How to I enroll my child?
“One of the best resources for information is to go onto the local district website and the easiest way to get to that is through the MISD website,” Farina says. “Every school in Macomb County is listed there, so that’s the first place to find information on your local district, contact information and enrollment requirements.”
The actual enrollment process typically varies from district to district, but many offer online enrollment and all will require a copy of the student’s birth certificate and immunization record.
In addition, by law, parents will need to make a physical appearance at the school with proof of their identification — no matter if their child is attending in person or virtually.
Parents who choose to use school of choice for their kindergartners must follow their chosen school district’s application process to complete the enrollment.
The enrollment timeline
Like the enrollment process, each school’s enrollment timeline varies, but it is important that you start sooner than later, even if you aren’t sure that you want to send your child to kindergarten this year.
“Don’t wait to get the ball rolling if you haven’t, and even if you’re not sure. You can always change your mind,” Farina explains. “School enrollment can be overwhelming, so getting things in place in a timely fashion helps everyone. It helps the students and parents with the transition, and helps the district ensure that classrooms are ready.”
You can find more information on kindergarten enrollment in Macomb County, including accommodations for non-English speaking residents and kids with disabilities, through the Macomb County Intermediate School District’s website.
For more information on living and learning in Macomb County, visit Make Macomb Your Home. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s A Family Guide to Macomb County.
