Young Fives & Kindergarten

Online enrollment for Young Fives and Kindergarten for 2025-2026 opens on February 19, 2025. 

At this time the Board of Education has not determined the grade levels accepted for the 2025-2026 school year.  The website will be updated soon. 

Schools of Choice Page

Parents who reside within district boundaries may request that their child attend a Clarkston school outside of their home-school attendance area. Parents must complete an “In-District School of Choice Request” and submit it to centralenroll@clarkston.k12.mi.us. Requests must be submitted by June 1, 2025. Parents will be notified by mid-August regarding the status of their request. Approvals for School of Choice are based on class size. Transportation is the parent/guardian's responsibility. 

If a child turns five years old between June 1– August 31, 2025, he/she is eligible to attend our Young Fives program.

Students turning five years old between September 1 and December 1 attend our Young Fives program to develop:

• Confidence
• Social skills
• Oral language development
• Motor skills
• Attention span
• Independence
• School readiness

Our Young Fives Program is a full-day program with classes located at our elementary sites.

Please contact the principal of the building your child will (or may) be attending. They will be happy to speak with you and answer any questions you may have.

Please contact your home school to discuss this placement decision.

Clarkston residents attending Kindergarten or Young Fives at their home school will be provided district transportation. (District transportation is provided to children living more than one mile from their home school.)

Parents will be required to provide transportation for children attending Kindergarten or Young Fives outside of their home school attendance area.

The enrollment process does not have to be done again if your student is currently in the Young Fives Program. Your student will be rolled up to Kindergarten in their home school. This is also true for Kindergarten students, they will be rolled up to First Grade.

When your child starts riding a school bus, it can be a very exciting event for them, but parents may be apprehensive. There are a lot of new procedures and routines for your family to become accustomed to. We have answered some frequently asked questions to help you feel more at ease with this new adventure. 

Can my student be dropped off/picked up at different locations?
The safest plan for your child is consistency. We ask that you establish a five-day per week pick up/drop off.

Is my child safe on the bus without a seat belt?
Yes, the school bus is the safest mode of transportation. The bus is built with the safety of the children in mind (compartmentalization). The seats are padded on the front and rear. In the event of an accident, the seats are designed to absorb the forward motion of the students.

What if my child is moving around and not seated properly on the bus? 
It is important that your child is sitting properly in the seat. The driver will work with the students on how to sit properly on the bus. If this fails, the driver will write a bus referral. If the situation does not improve, the student will be given a second bus referral and suspended from bus riding privileges.

Why did the bus drive past our bus stop?
Many times students are missed because they are waiting for the bus inside the home, on the porch, in the garage, or are sitting in a vehicle. We ask that students be at the bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive and that they are standing in full view of the driver as the bus approaches.

We missed the bus - can we chase it?
Never chase the bus. If you miss it, you will have to transport your student to school.

What if my student has to cross the street when boarding or exiting the bus?
Always have your stu­dent cross in front of the bus, staying ten large steps ahead of the stopped bus. The driver will give the student a "thumbs up" signal when it is safe to cross. 
 
Why can’t the bus stop closer to my home? Don’t my taxes pay for transportation service? 
Every homeowner in the Clarkston Schools attendance area pays taxes re­gardless if they have children attending school in the district or live in an area where transporta­tion service is not offered. The school district only collects dollars from the state based on student headcount. Each dollar spent on transportation reduces the amount spent on educational programs. School districts are NOT required by law to transport general edu­cation students. Clarkston strives to transport students to and from school in the safest, most effective way, while directing district funds to educating students.

It is the first day of school...why is the bus late?
The first week of school, bus schedules run late due to the extra time it takes for students and drivers to get into a routine. Many parents want to talk with the driver, take pictures, etc. We may also have to stop the route to assist a student who may have gotten on the wrong bus.
 
Isn’t it a state law that kindergarten students are dropped off and picked up at the door? 
No, it is not. We will attempt to pick up and drop off kindergarten students as close as we can. In most cases though, students will use the bus stop that is centrally located for all elementary students. Please keep in mind that many of our kindergarten students live in a non-transportation area and have to walk to school.    

Will the driver drop off my student if I am not at the bus stop?
A parent/guardian is expected to be at the bus stop ready for the students anytime after the dismissal bell. The driver will always attempt to watch for a parent/caretaker. However, please  be aware that this is done as a courtesy and not an expectation. You should have an emergency plan in place and your child should know where to go or what to do if you are not home.