All students attending a District 25 school on a tuition-­free basis, must reside within the boundaries of the district.  All families will be required to prove that they live at the in-district address that they provide during registration.

To verify that you live within District 25 boundaries, please consult the Cook County Map Website and enter your address, click directly on the property, and click on the "View District Details". If you have verified that you live within the District 25 boundaries, but you are unsure which school you will attend, please contact the District 25 Administration Office at 847-758-4900 or click here to visit the map page on our site.

To be considered a legal District 25 resident, a child must reside within the school district with: 

• a natural or adoptive parent listed on the birth certificate;
• a court-ordered guardian;
• an adult that receives public aid on behalf of the child; or
• an adult who has assumed and exercises responsibility for the child and provides him/her with a fixed, night­time residence. The child must eat and sleep at this residence on a regular basis, and not for the sole purpose of having access to District 25’s educational programs.

Property owners within District 25 boundaries who do not live on the property are not considered legal residents and their children do not qualify to attend school on a tuition-free basis.

QUESTIONS

Questions regarding residency requirements or student registration should be directed to Lana O'Brien in the Superintendent's Department, at (847) 758-4871 or lobrien@sd25.org.

New Families
The Verification of Residency Form must be fully completed (both pages), signed and returned to your child's school office along with three (3) acceptable proof of residency documents.  The list of acceptable documents can be found on the form (one document must be from Category A & two documents must be from Category B).  Documents must be the most recent available.  Please note that if you have a child(ren) currently enrolled in a District 25 school, then you are considered a returning family, so you do not need to complete this form for any siblings registering for the first time.

2024-2025

CLICK HERE to print the 2024-2025 Verification of Residency Form 

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ para imprimir el Formulario de verificación de residencia 2024-2025

2025-2026

CLICK HERE to print the 2025-2026 Verification of Residency Form 

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ para imprimir el Formulario de verificación de residencia 2025-2026

If there is any question regarding a student's residency within the District 25 boundaries, the family will be contacted directly and the district may require additional documentation to verify where the student is living.

In the event a family meets one of the special circumstances below, they may complete and submit the corresponding affidavit form, in lieu of one of the standard Category A required residency documents:

• Letter of Residence in Lieu of a Lease - If a family is unable to produce a copy of the lease for their residence, the property landlord must complete and sign an affidavit as a component of proof of residency.

• Letter of Residence - If the person seeking to register the child is living with a district resident without a lease (doubled-up), for purposes other than school attendance, the district resident must complete and sign an affidavit as a component of proof of residency.

• Evidence of Non-Parent's Custody, Control, and Responsibility of a Student - If a person other than the child's legal guardian has assumed custody, for purposes other than school attendance, and wishes to enroll the child, he/she must complete and sign an affidavit.

Questions regarding residency requirements should be directed to Lana O'Brien in the Superintendent's Department at (847) 758-4871 or lobrien@sd25.org.

A student whose family moves out of the district during the school year is permitted to attend school tuition ­free for the remainder of the school year. If a student moves within the attendance boundaries of a different District 25 school, the student may complete the year at the original school of attendance. Parents are required to provide the new address and phone number to the school of attendance. Parents are responsible for providing transportation to and from school for the remainder of the school year. If the change of residence is due to a military obligation of the person with legal custody of the child, the child may maintain his/her residence for the purpose of registration and enrollment as determined prior to the military obligation. This request must be submitted in writing.

If a family is unable to prove residency due to the sharing of housing with other persons (district residents) due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason ("doubled­ up"), the student(s) may be eligible for enrollment under the McKiney-Vento Act. Please click here for more information on McKinney-Vento and school registration.

Non-­resident students may attend District schools upon the approval of a request submitted by the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) for non-­resident admission. Students will only be accepted if there is room and acceptance is made on a year-­to-­year basis. Parents will be charged the maximum amount of tuition allowable under state law. Parents are responsible for transportation to and from school if admission is granted. Requests for non-­resident admission should be made to the Superintendent.

Parents/guardians who wish their child to attend a District 25 school outside of their attendance boundary may submit a written request for permissive transfer by May 1 (for the following school year). Decisions for transfers are made on a case­ by ­case basis in consultation with the building administrators. Requests for transfer must be made each year and parents are responsible for transportation to and from school. Decisions regarding transfers are generally made in August, prior to the start of the school year. Requests for transfer should be directed to the Superintendent.

Arlington Heights School District 25 places students in grade levels based on their birthdate, in compliance with Illinois law and School Board policy.  For instance, to be eligible for admission to kindergarten, a child must be five (5) years old on or before September 1st of that school term. Children who enter first grade must be six (6) years of age on or before September 1st of that school year.

STUDENTS TRANSFERRING FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF ILLINOIS

District 25 recognizes that states may have different enrollment guidelines.  Children who transfer during the school year to District 25 from another public school district within the United States or a U.S. Government Employee Dependents’ School, will be placed at the same grade level and will move on to the next consecutive grade level the following year.

STUDENTS TRANSFERRING FROM SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES

District 25 understands that the age/grade levels in the United States may not be the same as those in other countries.  Frequently, families new to the United States request that their children be placed in the same grade level that they would be placed in their native country. However, District 25 must abide by state laws and Board policy and will place students by age.

STUDENTS TRANSFERRING FROM NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS INSIDE THE UNITED STATES

District 25 recognizes that private and parochial schools may have different enrollment guidelines.  Some families have chosen to enroll their children in private/parochial schools for a year or more, at a grade level above where they would be placed in public school.  For a student who has completed two years or less at a non-public school, the student would be placed at the grade level that corresponds to their age*.  For a student who has completed three consecutive years or more at a non-public school, the student would be placed at the next consecutive grade level (pending review of records and documentation of successful completion).  Students who come from a home-schooling experience will be placed at the grade level that corresponds with their age.

If parents believe their child may be a good candidate for early entrance to kindergarten or first grade, please click the dropdowns below.

Arlington Heights School District 25 complies with Illinois law which specifies that to enter kindergarten, children must be five years of age by September 1st of their kindergarten year. However, District 25 allows exceptions to this law for children whose potential and skills are in the very superior range when compared with their peers.

District 25 has identified early entrance to kindergarten as whole-grade acceleration, appropriate for those students who are intellectually and socially advanced. District 25 is responsible for determining whether a child is appropriate for early entrance, and the school district will complete all necessary assessments.

The decision for children to enter school early can have a profound effect on their academic and social performance for the remainder of their school career. It is a decision that needs to be taken seriously. Research indicates that early entrance and/or early reading ability is not a predictor of continued high achievement in the future.

Students who enter school early may demonstrate adaptive and social-emotional differences from peers who enter at the age-appropriate time due to their relative physical and emotional immaturity.  As they progress through school, children who are young for their grade level may have more difficulty fitting in with their peers in social situations. The impact on extra-curricular activities that place students based on age or grade alone should also be considered.

To be considered for early entrance, students must demonstrate advanced characteristics in the cognitive, academic, functional, and social-emotional domains. District 25 utilizes a systematic process that involves review of records, standardized assessment, and other components for determination. Very few children who complete the process meet the criteria to enter kindergarten early.

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Requesting Early Entrance to Kindergarten

To be eligible for consideration for early entrance to kindergarten, the child must:

• Turn five years old by October 31st of the school year for which they are seeking entrance,
• Have attended an early childhood center/preschool (public or private), and
• Have a recommendation from a preschool teacher endorsing early entrance to kindergarten.

Parents/guardians wishing to apply for early entrance for their child must:

• Contact their building principal,
• Provide a copy of the student’s birth certificate,
• Visit the residency requirements page on the district website for more information about how to verify residency and to download the Verification of Residency Form that must be submitted,
• Complete the Early Entrance Request Form:
• If parents have a Gmail account, they may open the Early Entrance Request Form and complete the requested information.
• If parents do not have a Gmail account or prefer to hand write the information, they may access the form as a pdf of the Early Entrance Request Form.  Please print and hand write your answers or type in your responses using Adobe Acrobat, Preview, etc.
• Once parents have completed the Early Entrance Request Form, they should print and submit it to the building principal along with the other required documents listed below no later than April 15th.
• Provide a copy of the student’s report card or other rating document from the current school placement or written letter from the current teacher recommending placement,
• Sign a Release of Information Form to allow District 25 to communicate with the child’s current school, and
• Return the above documents to the building principal by April 15 of the school year prior to the school year for which early entrance is sought. All documents must be received before the student can be considered for early entrance.

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Early Entrance Assessment and Decision-Making Process

Based on a review of the information provided above, District 25 will determine if the child should participate in an evaluation for grade advancement.

Assessment Process:

1. District 25 completes a screening of academic skills in reading, math, and school readiness. The child must score above the 90th percentile on mid-year curriculum-based measurement probes at the kindergarten level. The child must score in the 130 or higher on school readiness.
2. District 25 completes a language screener to determine English proficiency for students who speak a second language or who have a second language present in the home.

If the student meets the criteria on the above academic and school readiness screeners, the process continues.

1. District 25 completes an individual assessment of student intelligence. The child must score in the 130 or higher range of intelligence as measured by an individually administered cognitive assessment. District 25 does not accept private cognitive evaluations.

If the student meets the criteria on the individual assessment of student intelligence, the process continues.

1. District 25 will administer a standardized academic achievement assessment. The child must receive a standardized score above 121, using mid-year kindergarten norms.
2. District 25 will determine whether the student demonstrates above average social-emotional development. This may be determined by interview, observation in the current school placement, and/or behavior rating scales completed by District 25 staff.

Based on the completed evaluation, and any additional data provided by parents, District 25 will make a decision regarding the appropriate grade placement.

Children who are accepted for early entrance will be enrolled on a probationary basis. The school staff will assess each child’s initial adjustment to school during the first 20-30 school days. If a child’s initial adjustment is not satisfactory, District 25 will require that the child enroll when the child meets the state’s enrollment age requirement for the appropriate grade level.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. If I choose to enroll my child in preschool or junior kindergarten a year early, will he/she automatically be eligible for kindergarten the following year (as a four-year old)?       

No. To be considered for early entrance to kindergarten, children who turn five after September 1st will have to participate in the above assessment process and meet the early entrance requirements.

2. Why do children applying for early entrance have to be assessed when other children entering school do not?

Children who turn five on or before September 1st are age-eligible according to Illinois state law and therefore entitled to enter kindergarten. A child whose birth date falls between September 1st and October 31st may be considered for early entrance to kindergarten, but must meet the district’s criteria outlined above.

3. Is early entrance the best choice for my child? Please consider the following:

• The intent of the early entrance process is to offer a stimulating academic and social environment for students who are capable of excelling in a classroom setting with children one year older.
• The standards for early entrance are high to ensure that students are not frustrated by their advanced placement.
• It is important to consider your child’s social-emotional strengths and development when considering grade advancement.

4. What are the assessors looking for in the assessments?

1. Children cannot study or prepare for developmental readiness. Assessments include a variety of activities that measure each child’s progress in the following developmental domains:
   • Intellectual development
   • Academic skills and/or readiness
   • Personal/social readiness

Arlington Heights School District 25 complies with Illinois law which specifies that to enter first grade, children must be six years of age by September 1st of their first grade year. However, District 25 allows exceptions to this law for children whose potential and skills are in the very superior range when compared with their peers.

District 25 has identified early entrance to first grade as whole-grade acceleration, appropriate for those students who are intellectually and socially advanced. District 25 is responsible for determining whether a child is appropriate for early entrance, and the school district will complete all necessary assessments.

The decision for children to enter school early can have a profound effect on their academic and social performance for the remainder of their school career. It is a decision that needs to be taken very seriously. Research indicates that early entrance and/or early reading ability is not a predictor of continued high achievement in the future. The foundational skills that students develop in preschool and kindergarten are essential to continued success in school, for both academic and social-emotional development.  

Students who skip kindergarten may demonstrate adaptive and social-emotional differences from peers who enter at the age-appropriate time due to their relative physical and emotional immaturity.  As they progress through school, children who are young for their grade level may have more difficulty fitting in with their peers in social situations. The impact on extra-curricular activities that place students based on age or grade alone should also be considered.

To be considered for grade acceleration, students must demonstrate advanced characteristics in the cognitive, academic, functional and social-emotional domains. District 25 utilizes a systematic process that involves review of records, standardized assessment, and other components for determination. Very few children who complete the process meet the criteria to enter first grade early.

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Requesting Early Entrance to First Grade

To be eligible for consideration for early entrance to first grade, the child must:

• Turn six years old by December 31st of the school year for which they are seeking entrance,
• Have completed one year of kindergarten in a non-public school, and
• Received the highest ratings from his/her kindergarten teacher.

Parents/guardians wishing to apply for early entrance for their child must:

• Contact their building principal,
• Provide a copy of the student’s birth certificate,
• Visit the residency requirements page on the district website for more information about how to verify residency and to download the Verification of Residency Form that must be submitted,
• Complete the Early Entrance Request Form:
• If parents have a Gmail account, they may open the Early Entrance Request Form and complete the requested information.
• If parents do not have a Gmail account or prefer to hand write the information, they may access the form as a pdf of the Early Entrance Request Form.  Please print and hand write your answers or type in your responses using Adobe Acrobat, Preview, etc.
• Once parents have completed the Early Entrance Request Form, they should print and submit it to the building principal along with the other required documents listed below no later than April 15th.
• Provide a copy of a report card or other rating document from current school placement,
• Sign a Release of Information Form to allow District 25 to communicate with the child’s current school, and
• Return the above documents to the building principal by April 15 of the school year prior to the school year for which early entrance is sought. All documents must be received before the student can be considered for early entrance.

---

Early Entrance Assessment and Decision-Making Process

Based on a review of the information provided above, District 25 will determine if the child should participate in an evaluation for grade advancement.

Assessment Process:

• District 25 completes a screening of academic skills in reading and math. The child must score above the 90th percentile on end-of-year curriculum-based measurements at the first grade level. If a child meets screening criteria, a cognitive assessment will be administered.
• Students who speak a second language or who have a second language present in the home will participate in a language screener to determine English proficiency.
• District 25 completes an individual assessment of student intelligence. The child must score in the 130 or higher range of intelligence as measured by an individually administered cognitive assessment. District 25 does not accept private cognitive evaluations.

If the student meets the criteria on the academic screener AND the intelligence assessment:

• District 25 will administer a standardized academic achievement assessment. The child must receive a standardized score above 121, using first grade norms.
• The child must demonstrate above average social-emotional development. This may be determined by interview, observation in the current school placement, and/or behavior rating scales completed by District 25 staff.

Based on the completed evaluation, and any additional data provided by parents, District 25 will make a decision regarding the appropriate grade placement.

Children who are accepted for early entrance will be enrolled on a probationary basis. The school staff will assess each child’s initial adjustment to school during the first 20-30 school days. If a child’s initial adjustment is not satisfactory, District 25 will require that the child be moved to kindergarten.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

1. If I choose to enroll my child in private kindergarten as a four-year old, will he/she automatically be eligible for first grade the following year?

• No. To be considered for early entrance to first grade, children who turn six after September1st will have to participate in the above assessment process and meet the early entrance requirements.

2. Why do children applying for early entrance have to be assessed when other children entering school do not?

• Children who turn six on or before September 1st are age-eligible according to Illinois state law and therefore entitled to enter first grade. A child whose birth date falls between September 1st and December 31st may be considered for early entrance to first grade, but must meet the district’s criteria outlined above.

3. Is early entrance the best choice for my child? Please consider the following:

• The intent of the early entrance process is to offer a stimulating academic and social environment for students who are capable of excelling in a classroom setting with children one year older.
• The standards for early entrance are high to ensure that students are not frustrated by their advanced placement.
• It is important to consider your child’s social-emotional strengths and development when considering grade advancement.

4. What are the assessors looking for in the assessments?

1. Children cannot study or prepare for developmental readiness. Assessments include a variety of activities that measure each child’s progress in the following developmental domains:
   • Intellectual development
   • Academic skills and/or readiness
   • Personal/social readiness