Early Entrance Kindergarten FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the early entrance to kindergarten evaluation:

What is the birthday cutoff for testing?

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

What is the cutoff date for registering for kindergarten without doing early entrance testing?

Children must be 5 on or before August 31.

What assessment areas are evaluated for early entrance to kindergarten?

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

How well do children need to score on the assessment to qualify for early entrance?

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

What percent of children tested qualify for early entrance?

Approximately 15% of applicants qualify for early entrance admission.

Where do I get the application?

You may download an application here during the application period:  February 1-June 28, 2019. You may also call the Office of Elementary Education after January 15, 2019 at 425.408.7705 to request an application packet be mailed.

When will I know the testing dates?

Early entrance evaluations will be scheduled and completed by the first week of August each year. Upon receipt of completed application and payment, families will receive a call or email to schedule their student's assessment session.  Testing will take place at the Northshore School District, 3330 Monte Villa Parkway, Bothell WA  98021, or a local school to be determined jointly.

Who does the testing?

The child is individually evaluated by a school psychologist.

How long does the assessment session take?

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

What happens if my child cannot complete the assessment?

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.

Can my child take the assessment more than once?

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

When will I know the results of the testing?

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.

How much does the testing cost?

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

Instructions for payment will be found in the application packet.

What if I do not live in the Northshore School district attendance area?

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.

When will I be able to register my child in Kindergarten?

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. 

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

I had my child privately tested and/or assessed in another school disrict. Can I submit these results with the application?

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.

Does my child need to read and write?

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

What can I do to prepare my child for the assessment?

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

If my child attends a private kindergarten can they then go into the public school for 1st grade?

Our district policy states that underage children who have successfully completed a state-approved 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.

What do I do if I would like my child to attend first grade early?

We do not test for early entrance to first grade.