Kindergarten

All elementary schools in the Bellingham School District offer a kindergarten program.

For 2010-11, Kindergarten start and end times will be the same as the schedule for grades one through five: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  

For the regular kindergarten program, the schedule will be a full-day, every other day (with alternating Mondays). The 2010-11 kindergarten schedules are listed below and on the right.  Kindergarten assessments will be by appointment Sept. 7-10.

The first day of school for Tuesday/Thursday kindergarten students will be Monday, Sept. 13. 
The first day of school for Wednesday/Friday kindergarten students will be Wednesday, Sept. 15.
The first day of school for full-day, every day kindergarten will be Monday, Sept. 13.

Families will receive information from their schools regarding which schedule their child will have:

Tuesday/Thursday Kindergarten Schedule 2010-11, with alternate Mondays.

Wednesday/Friday Kindergarten Schedule 2010-11, with alternate Mondays.

Kindergarten Early Release and Conference Schedule 2010-11

Kindergarten students in the special education BRIDGES program and LifeSkills program will attend from 9:30 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3:30 p.m.  Students in the special education early childhood/preschool program will attend school 9:30 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. 

For families that prefer a full-day, every day kindergarten schedule, this option will be offered at Alderwood, Carl Cozier, Happy Valley, Lowell, Northern Heights, Parkview, Roosevelt, Silver Beach and Wade King elementary schools on a space-available basis. Because Washington state does not fund full-day every day kindergarten in our district, tuition will be charged on a sliding scale based on a family’s qualifying income for free/reduced meals. Full Tuition is $3,500 paid over ten months, Reduced Tuition is $2,000 paid over ten months, and Limited Tuition is $1,000 paid over ten months. For a full-day, every day kindergarten FAQ, please click here.

Children must be five before Sept. 1 to begin kindergarten. Children attend their neighborhood school. View school attendance maps.  There are 14 elementary schools in Bellingham, serving kindergarten through grade five.

Our average class size for kindergarten through third grade is about 22 children to one teacher. 

Kindergarten registration is ongoing but families are encouraged to register in early spring.  Please contact your neighborhood school to register.  Click here for the 2010 Kindergarten Open House and Tour Schedule.