- Assignment Zone:
- Boston is divided into three school assignment zones: East, North and West. Elementary school families may choose from schools within their zone, or within one mile of their home, regardless of the assignment zone. They may also consider any citywide options.
- Family Resource Centers (FRCs):
- There is one FRC in each zone. Staff at any of the three locations (or the satellite offices that are open during Round One) can explain your choices, help you register for school, address concerns about transportation, or address anything you may want to ask before or after your child enters school.
- BPS:
- Stands for Boston Public Schools.
- Charter Schools:
- These public schools are NOT part of the BPS system. They are overseen by the state Department of Education. For a list and more information, call (781) 338-3227 or visit www.doe.mass.edu/charter/.
- Early Education Centers (EECs) and Early Learning Centers (ELCs):
- These BPS sites offer K0 or K1 through 1st grade and include free before- and after-school care. Seats in these centers usually fill up in the first round of registration (January 5 – February 6).
- Home Schooling:
- Some parents prefer to teach their children at home, which is legally allowed, as long as you get approval from the Boston School Committee by calling the BPS Alternative Education Department at (617) 635-8035.
- K0:
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There are a very small number of seats available for children who will be 3 by Sept. 1 (called K0). Most of these seats are filled by children with special needs or by siblings of current BPS children.
* Remember that a school day is six hours (typically 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM or 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM). Be sure a school’s hours fit your needs, including its after school options, and also be sure to have a back-up child care plan. Seating is not guaranteed for K0 and K1, and most schools do not host after school services for children under five. For additional pre-school and Head Start program options call Child Care Choices of Boston at (617) 348-6641.
- K1:
- BPS is expanding its kindergarten programs for four-year-olds (called K1). BPS currently has 84 K1 schools with 2,100 seats available. Seating in these programs is still limited and assignment for K1 cannot be guaranteed.
- K2:
- This is full-day (6-hour) kindergarten for children who are 5 by September 1. BPS guarantees a school seat for every child who registers for K2.
- METCO:
- Through this program, minority students from Boston attend school in more than 30 suburban school districts at no cost and with transportation provided. The wait list is long for this program. Call (617) 427-1545.
- Pilot Schools:
- Part of BPS, these public schools help parents, teachers and school administrators try out new education strategies to share with other schools.
- School Preview Time (SPT):
- This is the period from November through January when Boston Public Schools invite you to see what they have to offer before you register your child. You can get a schedule starting in November at any BPS Family Resource Center, any public library, or here at the Countdown to Kindergarten website.
- Walk Zone:
- Fifty percent of seats are saved at each school for families in its walk zone. Visit www.bostonpublicschools.org or call any BPS Family Resource Center to get an update on Walk Zones and to find out which schools your child is eligible to attend, including a list of those in your walk zone.
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