A “too young” notification means just that, and schools would welcome your continued interest in applying the following year. If you are interested in waiting a year, as recommended by the school, you are highly encouraged to apply for the following year. If we receive a notification that our child is too young for a kindergarten program, should we reapply in the following year? Should the educators, along with the admissions committee, feel that your child could use another year in pre-K, they will send you a notification that your child is deemed too young for the year in which you are currently applying. These educators will be assessing, among a number of other factors, student readiness for their program.

Your child will be screened by experienced educators for admission to kindergarten. How will I know if my child presents as too young for an ongoing kindergarten program in New York? A young 5-year-old may present as having the maturity to handle a kindergarten curriculum, or they may present as benefitting from an additional year in preschool. Although the age of your child is taken into consideration age is not the sole determinant of acceptance. Schools want each child to transition to kindergarten with success. If I decide to apply to kindergarten, will the schools take age into consideration? You know your child best, but consult with your preschool Director and your child’s teacher to help you with the decision. The decision to apply for kindergarten, when it will mean that your child will be one of the youngest in the class, is not an easy one. There is no hard and fast rule to applying as long as your child turns 5 by the published deadline. Should I apply to kindergarten if my child will be a very young 5-year-old in September, placing him or her as potentially the youngest in the class? With a late-August birthday, your child just makes the cut-off date for independent and private school kindergarten programs in New York City that require a child to turn 5 years old by September 1 st. Just know that you are not alone! Every year families call the Parents League with questions about August birthdays, so we’ve compiled a list of common questions and answers for this special admissions situation. Applying to kindergarten is an important step, but it can be extra challenging if your child was born in the month of August.

Kindergarten age