January 12, 2026
Dear Arlington Community,
This letter serves as a notification that Arlington Public Schools new student registration for the 2026-2027 school year will open on 1/12/2026 at 11:00AM. Below you will find detailed information about our registration process, timelines, afterschool, buffer zones, events, and support available. Please share this letter with community members who have children who will be entering kindergarten in the fall and new families to the community.
Entrance Age Requirements: Kindergarten eligibility applies only to children who will be five years old on or before 8/31/2026. First grade eligibility applies only to children who will be six years old on or before 8/31/2026. These age requirements are set by district policy and exceptions cannot be made.
Students in grades K-12 who are currently attending the Arlington Public Schools DO NOT need to re-register.
Online Registration will open on, January 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM.
Process: What are the steps to register my student?
- Review the New Student Registration Slideshow, which walks you through the registration process.
- Review the Student Registration Checklist and gather the required documents that will need to be uploaded during the registration process. It is best to gather the required documents prior to beginning the application.
- If you are a new family to Arlington Public Schools, please create a PowerSchool account for School Year 2026 - 2027. If you already have an account, such as one used to register an older sibling, simply log in to your existing account. Then, “Add Student” by entering your student’s name and birth date. Once this step is completed, you can begin the registration process.
- Please select the correct student type. If your student is new to Arlington Public Schools, please choose “Registration for New Arlington Student.” If your student is currently enrolled or received the service at Menotomy Preschool, please choose “Kindergarten Registration for Existing Menotomy Preschool Student.”
- Proceed with completing the application, ensuring that information is entered accurately and the relevant documents are uploaded.
- After you submit the application, you will receive an automatically generated submission confirmation email from the PowerSchool Enrollment portal. Upon receipt and review, registration personnel may contact you if there are any additional questions or if there are missing/incomplete documents.
Note: Your application is not complete until ALL required documents have been received and approved. For the list of required documents, please refer to the Student Registration Checklist.
- Students who live in buffer zones (an area of residence between two possible elementary school assignments) that submit a complete application with all required documents by February 13, 2026 will be assigned to their school by the Superintendent by February 27, 2026. You will receive a notification of your buffer zone assignment shortly after it has been decided by email.
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- Once your application has been reviewed and approved by registration, you will receive an approval email confirming that your application has been completed and assigned to a school.
- After approval, the school your child will be attending will reach out to you by email in regards to potential screenings, academic questions, or with details on potential welcome events at the school.
- Further information regarding your student’s welcome process, including classroom assignments and meeting teachers will come directly from your child’s school. Contact information for each school can be found on the Arlington Public School Website.
- Once your application has been reviewed and approved by registration, you will receive an approval email confirming that your application has been completed and assigned to a school.
Application: What information should I prepare?
The Enrollment & Registration Home Page provides links to the registration form and provides answers to commonly asked questions. In the registration form, you will be asked to provide the following: Student Information, Family Demographics, Emergency Contacts, Health Information, Survey and Media Permissions, Technology and Internet Responsible Use Policy Agreement, Education History and the Home Language Information.
Document Uploads: You will need to provide supporting documents to complete your application. These documents are necessary to prove residence and occupancy in Arlington, verify your student(s)’s age, acknowledge compliance with health regulations, and permissions. It is best to gather the required documents before beginning the application. Please refer to the Student Registration Checklist to prepare the appropriate documents.
If you do not have all forms readily available while filling out the application, you will still be able to submit the online form; however, your application approval cannot begin until all documents are received by the Registration Team. The application is not complete until all documents have been uploaded and approved.
Approval Process: What should I expect after submitting my application?
Submission: Once your application is submitted you will receive confirmation of receipt by email. You will be contacted again once your application has been reviewed and approved. Please note that processing times may be longer than usual due to the high volume of applications. We appreciate your patience.
Approval: Once your application has been approved, school teams will connect with you by email in regards to potential screenings, academic questions, or with details on when your child will meet the teachers for the upcoming school year.
Registration Support: How do I receive support with completing my application?
Registration is completed online through the PowerSchool registration system.
We kindly ask that families schedule an appointment in advance. If you need assistance, in-person support is available on Tuesdays & Thursday, 9AM - 3PM at the APS Welcome Center located at 14 Mill Brook Drive, Arlington, MA. If you need assistance in registering or your child for school please use this form to schedule an appointment. For any questions, or to schedule an appointment outside of these hours, please email us at [email protected] or call 781-316-3332.
Buffer Zone Information
In Arlington, some families live in “Buffer Zones.” Buffer zones are neighborhoods where two possible elementary schools may be assigned based on the address. They allow the district to balance class sizes and sections across schools. To find out if your address is in a buffer zone, please use the school locator tool.
If you are located in a buffer zone, you may indicate your preferred school when completing the registration form. However, the Superintendent will make the final school assignment, based on several factors outlined in the district’s Buffer Zone Policy.
All registrations that have been submitted with all required documentation (proof of residency, proof of occupancy, birth certificate, and any other required forms) by February 13, 2026 will receive their buffer zone decision by February 27, 2026. You will receive a notification of your assignment shortly after the decision is made.
To the extent possible, students will be assigned to their preferred school. If the preferred school is not assigned, families may choose to have their student placed on a waitlist. The waitlist will be determined according to the Buffer Zone Policy.
For more information on buffer zones, please refer to the links below.
Understanding Buffer Zones: Provides families with a clear overview of how buffer zones work in Arlington.
School Locator by Address: Identifies school assignments and possible buffer zones based on address
Assignment of Students to Schools/Buffer Zones/Open Registration Policy: School placement based on address, buffer zones, and open registration policies
Buffer Zone/Open Enrollment Application: This is the open enrollment application for families to complete to request a change of elementary school
After School Information
Information about how to register for After-School Programming at each school can be found on our After-School Programs Page. Registration for APS on-site after-school programs opened on March 2nd. All on-site programs will accept applications for their lotteries through April 3rd, and lottery results will be announced to families on April 10th. Programs external to Arlington Public Schools may have different application deadlines; please check their websites for more information.
Arlington After School Programs: Website and Contact Information for all Arlington After School Programs
Out-of-School Time Childcare options near Arlington : List of afterschool programs/activities
Arlington After School Programs Financial Aid Information: Financial support for families to assist with after school care
District Resources
APS Family Support Request Form; A public facing form that families can use to request support with situations such as food insecurity, clothing needs, mental health support, housing needs, or other needs. Responses will filter to school based leaders and social workers via the Welcome Center based on needs requested.
Arlington Community Resources: Resources available to families in the community. This includes areas such as food pantries, mental health resources, and various other school and community based resources.
APS Family School Partnership Guide: A guide updated annually that reflects all district-wide engagement opportunities available for families.
Best Regards,
Weslie Etienne Pierre
Director of Communications and Family Engagement