School Basics | Choosing a School | Eligibility
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Answers to Common Questions About Schools

ELIGIBILITY

At what age is my child eligible to start school?

Public schools begin with kindergarten, an optional year before first grade, when a child is approximately five years old, but the exact age requirement varies by school system. For example, in Somerville and in Brookline, a child must be five before entering kindergarten (birthday before August 31); in Arlington and Belmont, a child may enter kindergarten at four years, nine months (birthday before December 31); and in Cambridge, a child may enter kindergarten at four years, six months (birthday before March 31).

The Center for Work, Family & Personal Life has a list of the kindergarten age requirements for many of the towns near Boston. Others are available by checking the web site for the specific town, using the Center's list of school-related web sites, or by contacting the office of the Superintendent of Schools for the specific town.

What if my child is too young to begin school?

The Center for Work, Family & Personal Life can assist you in finding a preschool program for your child. Also, some private schools have nursery and kindergarten programs that start at younger ages. Both options, however, generally carry a fee for tuition of approximately $10,000 to $20,000. See our Child Care Information for details.

What if my child speaks a language other than English?

It is common for a child in the Boston area to begin school speaking a language or languages other than English and to learn English very quickly. All public school systems in the metropolitan Boston area provide ESL (English as a Second Language) support, should you decide your child needs it, and some offer transitional bilingual programs. While private and parochial schools are less likely to have formal ESL resources, children often learn English readily in the normal classroom environment.

For resources in any particular public school system, check the school system's web site using the Center's list of school-related web sites, or school profiles.

What if my child has special needs?

Every school is required by law to provide appropriate accommodations for children with various levels of needs. In some instances, aides are provided for individual students, or classes are provided for groups of students with similar needs. For more information, see the Massachusetts Parent's Rights Brochure regarding special education at http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/prb/ (multilingual), consult the Federation for Children with Special Needs at http://www.fcsn.org/, or contact the Center for an individual consultation.