Kindergarten Registration

Start Your Journey with FREE ALL DAY Kindergarten! 2026-2027 Academic Year

Starting with the 2026–2027 school year, Pickerington Local Schools will offer free, all-day kindergarten at the following locations:

Pickerington Kindergarten Center, 750 Preston Trails Road

The District’s new Kindergarten Center will be located in the current Diley Middle School building. This centralized location will welcome all incoming kindergarten students across the District—except those residing within the Tussing Elementary boundaries—providing a dedicated space for students to begin their educational journey in a supportive, focused environment. The Center will offer full day; AM and PM kindergarten sessions.

Tussing Elementary School, 7117 Tussing Road

Tussing Elementary will offer only an all-day kindergarten program for students who live within the school’s attendance boundaries, following the school’s current bell schedule.

What You Need

1. Gather Required Documents

Parent/Guardian ID (must have the current resident address)
Student's birth certificate & complete immunization records
Two proofs of residency
Custody documents (if applicable)

2. Register Online

Registration Open Online March 16
Complete the forms and upload the required documents
Choose your preferred session: Full Day or Half Day (morning/afternoon)

3. Attend Kindergarten Screening

After your registration is complete, you will receive an email to schedule your screening date

Kindergarten registration for fall 2026 opens on Monday, March 16. To attend kindergarten in the fall, a child must be at least 5 years old on or before August 21, 2026. The District will now offer full-day and half-day kindergarten. Parents may request full-day or half-day kindergarten. Depending on the number of parents with half-day preferences, a lottery may be held to determine placement.

The kindergarten registration process begins by filling out the online registration form that goes live online March 16. Access to the kindergarten registration system will be open by approximately 9:00 a.m. that morning. Please note - this is only for 2026-2027 Kindergarten registration. Newly incoming students for grades 1-12 will be able to register for the 2026-2027 school after May 1, 2026.

Registration Process

To register your student for kindergarten, please complete these steps:

Determine if you are an existing or new family.
- Existing families are those who have a student currently enrolled in our District. These families should register students by logging into their existing Infinite Campus parent portal account. If you do not know your access information, you can complete a Help Request and your information will be reset and emailed to you: Infinite Campus Help Request. Please plan accordingly as a high volume of requests may delay your response.
- Please choose 26-27 School Year New Student Registration. Please do not complete your student's enrollment registration as an “Annual Update." You must still provide the required residency documents.
- New families have never had a child enrolled in our District. New families should proceed by going to the online registration form.
- Please note: If you are not a residential or custodial parent or if you do not currently live in the district, call the Welcome Center at 614-920-6180 before beginning the enrollment process.
- Complete the online enrollment registration and submit. Please be sure to upload any required documentation. Once submitted, Welcome Center staff will review your student's registration and contact you by email if there is anything else needed.
If the application is completed without issue, an email will be sent to the parent stating the application has been processed, and the paperwork will be forwarded to the appropriate school. Please wait for further communication to come directly from the school regarding readiness assessments and teacher assignments. At this time, parents will not be setting up an appointment for a readiness assessment. Those assessments will be scheduled before school begins in August.
Parents are advised that, due to the high number of calls, our staff and phone lines at the Welcome Center may be very busy at the beginning of kindergarten registration. Please be patient and leave a voicemail or send an email with questions or concerns. We appreciate your patience!

Please ensure all sections of the registration form are completed, including your preferred kindergarten placement and the transportation form below.

Click for Transportation Form

Universal All-Day Kindergarten – 2026–2027

Starting in the 2026–2027 school year, Pickerington Local Schools will offer Universal All-Day Kindergarten for every kindergartener in the District. Families may choose full-day, AM half-day, or PM half-day program options.

All full-day and half-day programs will take place at Pickerington Kindergarten Center, 750 Preston Trails Drive (formerly Diley Middle School), a space designed specifically for our youngest learners, with staff, programming, and supports tailored for kindergarten success.

Tussing Elementary School, which successfully piloted a two-year full-day kindergarten program, will continue offering full-day kindergarten within its building.

Kindergarten Program Options & Daily Schedule

Program	Location	Time
Full Day Kindergarten	Pickerington Kindergarten Center	9:35 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
AM Half-Day (PKC Only)	Pickerington Kindergarten Center	9:35 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
PM Half-Day (PKC Only)	Pickerington Kindergarten Center	1:00 - 3:45 p.m.

Transportation & Shuttle Model

Our transportation model ensures every kindergarten student is supervised, safe, and supported. Students are never expected to navigate bus movements independently.

Kindergarten Center Transportation FAQs

Transportation & Kindergarten Shuttle Model

Our transportation model is designed to ensure every kindergarten student is supervised, safe, and supported throughout the school day. Staff members supervise students throughout the shuttle process, including attendance checks, guided boarding, and bus transfers between the kindergarten center and home elementary schools.

Morning (AM) Kindergarten Shuttle

Kindergarten shuttle staging at neighborhood elementary schools: 9:05 a.m.
Attendance verification and guided transfer: 9:05–9:15 a.m.
Direct transit to Pickerington Kindergarten Center (≤12 minutes)
Arrival: 9:35 a.m.

Afternoon (PM) Kindergarten Shuttle

Kindergarten shuttle staging at Pickerington Kindergarten Center: 3:40 p.m.
Attendance verification and guided boarding
Departure: 3:45 p.m.
Transfer to home buses begins: 4:05 p.m.

Special education students with IEP transportation services will continue to receive door-to-door transportation as outlined in their plans.

Transportation Eligibility & Frequently Asked Questions

We understand families have questions about how transportation and kindergarten shuttle services will work with the new Pickerington Kindergarten Center. Transportation eligibility and pickup/drop-off procedures may vary depending on where a student lives and their assigned elementary school.

Will every kindergarten student receive neighborhood bus transportation?

No. Transportation eligibility is based on the District's transportation guidelines and Ohio law.

Ohio law requires public school districts to provide bus service to all K–8 students living two miles or more from school. Pickerington Schools exceeds this requirement by also providing transportation to many students in grades K–12 who live one mile or more from school. In some situations, students living closer than one mile may also receive transportation due to safety considerations. Students who live within a designated non-transportation zone (which may exceed 1 mile from the school) around their assigned elementary school may not receive neighborhood bus service.

Students who live within a designated non-transportation zone around their assigned elementary school may not receive neighborhood bus service.

My family does not receive neighborhood bus service. Can my child still ride the kindergarten shuttle?

Yes. Families who live within a non-transportation zone may still access the kindergarten shuttle service by bringing their child to their assigned elementary school for kindergarten shuttle pickup and dismissal.

Families may also choose to:

Transport their kindergarten student directly to the Pickerington Kindergarten Center; or
Utilize a daycare provider that offers transportation services.

How does kindergarten shuttle drop-off and pick-up work at my child’s elementary school?

Each elementary school has its own arrival and dismissal procedures.

Families using kindergarten shuttle transportation through their assigned elementary school should contact their building principal for details regarding:

Arrival and dismissal times;
Parent drop-off and pickup procedures;
Kindergarten shuttle supervision and transfer procedures; and
Student dismissal expectations.

How will students be supervised during bus transfers?

Students are supervised by staff throughout the kindergarten shuttle process. Attendance checks are conducted before boarding, and staff members guide students during all kindergarten shuttle transfers between the kindergarten center and their assigned elementary school.

Students are never expected to independently navigate bus transfers.

What about students with specialized transportation needs?

Students with specialized transportation services or individualized education plans (IEPs) will continue to receive transportation accommodations as outlined in their plans.

Families with questions regarding specialized transportation should contact their building administration or the Transportation Department.

Will transportation routes or schedules be adjusted for individual family circumstances?

Transportation routes and schedules are developed districtwide to safely serve students across the community and generally cannot be customized for individual family schedules or preferences.

School transportation operates under state and federal transportation standards related to student safety, staffing, routing efficiency, and service levels.

Food Services

Breakfast – Grab-and-go upon arrival at Pickerington Kindergarten Center, at no cost.

Lunch – Students will be served directly by our kitchen staff, using a simplified daily menu:

One main entrée choice
One alternative (typically yogurt)
One vegetable
One fruit (students must take at least one fruit or vegetable)

Kindergarten students will (pilot) using ID cards with their first and last name, a barcode and 6-digit student ID number for meals.

Meal Cost & Applications – Breakfast and lunch are free, but families are encouraged to complete a Free/Reduced Meal Application (available after July 1, 2026) to support district meal reimbursement and fee waivers.

Parent Pick-Up

Parent pick-up is only at the Pickerington Kindergarten Center, 750 Preston Trails Drive.
Students who board shuttles will remain in district supervision until they reach home buses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is all-day kindergarten at Diley Kindergarten Center?
Centralizing the program ensures consistent programming, staffing, and supports tailored to kindergarten learners.

2. Can I choose half-day instead of full-day?
Yes. Families may choose full-day, AM half-day, or PM half-day options.

3. How does the shuttle system keep students safe?
Students are supervised during staging, guided during transfers, and accounted for through attendance checks.

4. Are meals really free?
Yes. Breakfast and lunch are provided at no cost. Completing the Free/Reduced Meal Application is still encouraged.

5. What about special education transportation?
Students with transportation listed on their IEP will continue door-to-door service.

6. When can I register my child for kindergarten?
Registration opens March 16, 2026

Troubleshooting

If you experience technical issues while accessing the online registration system, please try the following: (1) Read and follow all directions carefully. (2) Close applications and files other than the web browser you are using to register. (3) Update your web browser to the latest version, or try a different browser. (4) Registering with a tablet or smartphone is not recommended.

Language Assistance?

If you need language assistance, please contact Deepak Dhakal at 614-833–2110, ext. 6501.