Early Entrance Kindergarten

Children must turn five between September 1 and November 30 to participate in the early entrance evaluation.

Children must be 5 on or before August 31.

• Mental Ability
• Gross Motor Skills
• Fine Motor Skills
• Visual Discrimination
• Auditory Discrimination
• Emotional / Social Development

Students must demonstrate advanced levels of 5 years, 6months age equivalent and /or standard scores at the 95 percentile on approved tests.

Approximately 15% of applicants qualify for early entrance admission.

During the application period:  February 1-June 28, you will be able to download the application. Or, you may call the Office of Elementary Education at 425.408.7705 to request an application packet be mailed to you. Please leave a message with that request including your address.  Please speak slowly.

The district is working through the challenges associated with the pandemic, including plans for the Fall and requirements regarding social distancing which significantly impact test taking.  We want to ensure that all learners, families, and staff remain safe. We will have a plan for this program in early August. Thank you for your patience. 

The child is individually evaluated by a school psychologist.

The assessment session lasts approximately 1.5 - 2 hours.  Parents will not be allowed in the testing rooms.

Children must complete the entire early entrance to kindergarten evaluation on their assigned test date.  Children who are unable to complete the assessment will not be allowed to complete the evaluation at a later date.

Children are not allowed to take the entrance to kindergarten assessment more than once.

Test results may be shared with parents immediately following the evaluation or a maximum of 10 days following.  If your child qualifies, the neighborhood school will also be notified.

The cost of the test is $200 and is non-refundable.

Instructions for payment will be found in the application packet.

You may not take the test unless you currently live in the Northshore School District and have current proof of residency, or have proof of a purchase or rental agreement for a Northshore service area residence.

You may not register your child until he/she has been found eligible through the assessment process. If your child is found eligible, you may then contact your local school for registering. Please note elementary schools are closed during the month of July.

Following a decision to enter the child, there will be a conditional six-weeks trial period.

The district does not accept private testing results in the early entrance process.  Results from other school districts will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Your child does not need to be proficient in reading and writing for this assessment.

There is no studying or practice test for these developmental assessments.

Our district policy states that underage children who have successfully completed a state-approved  or accredited kindergarten program of 450 or more hours including instruction in language arts, arithmetic, and reading, may be placed in a temporary classroom assignment for the purposes of evaluation prior to making a final determination of the student's appropriate placement. Such determination shall be made no later than the 30th calendar day following the student first day of attendance.

We do not test for early entrance to first grade.

Please continue to check the website for updated information about Summer 2020 testing.  New information will be posted as soon as it is determined. 

The safety of students and testers is our priority.  We are currently evaluating our testing procedures for students and testers based on state and medical guidelines.  New procedures will be shared with applicants once they are determined.  If we are unable to assure safety of all, we will cancel the program for this year.  Applicants will be contacted directly at that time.