Kindergarten

kindergarten students learning page header

At Littleton Public Schools, we pride ourselves on kindergarten programs that are child-centered and meet the needs of the whole child. Children receive a balanced program to meet their individual needs for cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth. Our goal is to start our youngest learners on the road to a lifetime of success through a love of learning.

The state of Colorado funds full-day kindergarten programs in its public schools. Because we believe strongly in the importance of early childhood education, all LPS elementary schools provide free full-day kindergarten.  In addition, all LPS elementary schools offer tuition-based before- and after-school childcare. Please visit specific school websites for more information.

Students are eligible for kindergarten if they turn five years of age on or before October 1 of the year of enrollment. 

FIRST STEPS...
Kindergarten today is more academic and more challenging than programs of the past. While still based on an atmosphere of inquiry and play, it is the kind of active learning that teaches children to think, solve problems, share ideas, and learn language development skills. As your child’s first teachers, you can help prepare your child for kindergarten. 

Creative Expression
Children at the kindergarten level need to have their creative skills challenged. Exposure to many types of learning helps to develop the whole child.

  • Encourage your child’s natural curiosity about his or her world by asking questions and pointing out things to see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.
  • Encourage painting, use clay, draw with chalk, markers, and crayons.
  • Encourage dramatic play such as pretending, playing dress-up, setting up housekeeping, playing school, and playing with small objects, such as cars, blocks, etc.
  • Sing songs, dance, listen to all types of music and play rhythm instruments.
  • Tell stories or have your child finish a story you start.

Language ArtsGirl smiling

  • Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are all important to your child’s development and success in school.
  • Talk with your child and listen carefully to what he or she says so you can have meaningful conversations with your child.
  • Read aloud with your child every day for at least 20 minutes.
  • Encourage your child to predict what will happen while reading stories and to retell the story.
  • Play rhyming games with words.

Writing

  • Help your child practice writing his or her name.
  • Practice writing notes, letters, and stories, even if your child uses pretend writing or scribble writing.
  • Allow your child to dictate stories and letters or notes while you write them down.

Mathematics

  • Kindergarten math builds the groundwork for later mathematical understandings. Working with objects and manipulatives, grouping, sorting, problem-solving, patterning, and estimating are all part of the kindergarten curriculum.
  • Play counting games.
  • Sort and group stuffed animals, cereal pieces, candy, rocks, and toys.
  • Practice address and phone number.
  • Practice writing numbers to ten.
  • Create patterns with simple objects. 

 

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration will be held for each elementary school starting on December 1. You can register your kindergartner by completing an online pre-registration form and emailing all documents to the school registrar.

STEP ONE:

Families/Students New to LPS  

Existing LPS Families

STEP TWO:

Attend the Kindergarten Information Session for your elementary school before January 15. Please check your school's website for dates and times of information sessions.  

BEGINNING JANUARY 27, 2025:
After January 27, Kindergarten Registration will take place by following the new student instructions on the How to Enroll page. For questions, contact the district registrar at districtregistrar[at]lps.k12.co[dot]us or call 303-347-4360.

WHAT WILL I NEED TO PROVIDE? 
To complete the registration process, please complete and email or drop off the online pre-registration form and all documentation to your child's school of attendance before January 15th. Documentation to be included:

  • A printed copy of your online preregistration, which you completed and printed at home
  • Birth certificate
  • Immunization records
  • Proof of residency (house contract, deed, utility bill or lease agreement)
  • Emergency contact information
  • Parent Identification, i.e. driver’s license

Review the Registration Procedures and learn more!

Parent Checklist

  • Attend your school's LPS Kindergarten Information Nights
  • Complete the online pre-registration form* (Registering a sibling? Click here to find out how.)
    • Online pre-registration for the 2025–2026 school year will be available after December 1, 2024
    • School registration will begin on December 1, 2024 and continue through January 15, 2025

Please email or drop off the following documentation with your online pre-registration form to your school registrar:

  • Proof of residency**    
  • Child’s birth certificate
  • Child’s immunization record
  • Parent identification, i.e. drivers license or other government issued identification

*The pre-registration form can be completed at home or on computers at the ESC, by appointment only.
**Proof of residency is a utility bill, house contract, deed, or signed lease agreement.

If you have a unique residency situation, please contact Central Registration: 303-347-4360.

Kindergarten FAQs

 

Do you offer full-day kindergarten?

We believe strongly in the importance of early childhood education.  LPS offers free full day kindergarten in all of our elementary schools. 


Missed School Registration

What if I am unable to attend a school's kindergarten registration?

If you miss a school's kindergarten registration window, please complete the online pre-registration form and email our Central Registrar.  For more information, visit our "How to Enroll" page.


Age Requirements

What is the minimum age requirement for kindergarten?

Students are eligible for kindergarten if they turn five years of age on or before October 1 of the year of enrollment.  


Kindergarten Early Access

Does LPS offer early access to kindergarten?

Early kindergarten access may be an option for students who do not turn five years old on or before October 1.   Applications for Early Access to kindergarten may be submitted beginning January 3, 2025, through April 1, 2025. No late applications can be accepted.  Out-of-district families must apply for open enrollment prior to being considered for early access. Contact the Gifted and Talented Education office, 303-347-3477, for additional information. 


Kindergarten Open Enrollment
(Residents and Non-Residents)

 For more information regarding the open enrollment process and/or to download an open enrollment application, please visit our Open Enrollment page.


Kindergarten Information Nights

All LPS elementary schools will be hosting Kindergarten Information Nights for the 2025 ~ 2026 school year. Please see individual school websites for dates and times.

Kindergarten Information Nights and Registration Days/Hours for the 2025–2026 School Year


Centennial

School Tours
Offered as needed
Please call office to schedule

Information Night
January 8, 2025
5:30-7:00 p.m.


Field

School Tours
1st Friday Sept.-Dec.
Offered as needed starting in January
Please call office to schedule

Information Night
January 9, 2025
5:30-6:30 p.m.


Ford

Kindergarten Parent Tours
Oct. 23, 2024 @9:15 a.m.
Nov. 4, 2024 @3:00 p.m.
No RSVP necessary

Information Night
January 9, 2025
5:30-6:30 p.m.


Gaskill

School Tours
October 15, 2024 @ 9:00 a.m.
Other months as needed
Please call office to schedule

Information Night
January 9, 2025
5:30-6:30 p.m.


Hopkins

School Tours
First Tuesday of the month @ 9:00
Please call office to schedule

Information Night
January 8, 2025
5:30-6:30 p.m.


Lenski

School Tours
October 22, 2024 @ 9:00 a.m.
Also as needed. Please call office to schedule

Information Night
January 9, 2025
5:30-6:30 p.m.


Little Raven

School Tours
October 10, 2024 and November 14, 2024 
Also as needed. Please call office to schedule

Information Night
January 9, 2025
6:00-7:00 p.m.


Runyon

School Tours
Scheduled monthly throughout the school year
Please call office to schedule

Information Night
January 8, 2025
6:00-7:00 p.m.


Sandburg

School Tours
October 11, 2025, then once a month for remainder of the school year
Please visit Sandburg's website to schedule 

Information Night
January 9, 2025
5:30-7:00 p.m.


Wilder

School Tours
Second and fourth Thursday of each month
Please call office to schedule

Information Night
January 9, 2025
6:00-7:00 p.m.