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:
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Determine if you are an existing or new family.
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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.
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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.
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New families have never had a child enrolled in our District. New families should proceed by going to the online registration form.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 options.
All full-day and half-day programs will take place at Pickerington Kindergarten Center (formerly Diley Middle School), a space designed specifically for our youngest learners, with staff, programming, and supports tailored for kindergarten success.
Kindergarten Options & Daily Schedule
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Pickerington Kindergarten Center (Diley) |
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Pickerington Kindergarten Center (Diley) |
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Pickerington Kindergarten Center (Diley) |
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Transportation & Shuttle Model
Our transportation model ensures every kindergarten student is supervised, safe, and supported. Students are never expected to navigate bus movements independently.
Morning (AM) Shuttle
- Shuttle staging at neighborhood elementary schools: 9:05 a.m.
- Attendance verification and guided transfer: 9:05–9:15 a.m.
- Direct transit to Diley (≤12 minutes)
- Arrival: 9:35 a.m.
Afternoon (PM) Shuttle
- Shuttle staging at Diley: 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 will continue to receive door-to-door service.
Food Services
Breakfast – Grab-and-go upon arrival at Pickerington Kindergarten Center (Diley), 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 (Diley).
- 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 will registration open?
March 16 2025