State law says that “students may enter 5 year old kindergarten in the public schools of this State if they will attain the age of five on or before September first of the applicable school year.”

To enroll a new student in kindergarten, a parent must present the following at registration:

• Photo ID
• State-issued Birth Certificate
• Signed  SC DHEC Certificate of Immunization, SC Conditional Certificate of Immunization or SC Religious Exemption Certificate (Religious Exemption Certificate provided by SC Health Department or a doctor's office)
• Two current “proof of residency” document such as a current electric bill or current mortgage/lease statement

Please note: If your student attended an SDOC 4K program, your student is considered a "returning student." You will not need the items above because you provided them when you registered to attend the 4K program.

Attendance is mandatory and compulsory for five-year-olds. State law states “students may enter kindergarten in the public schools of this State if they will attain the age of five on or before September 1^st of the applicable school year or have substantially initiated a public school kindergarten program in another state that has a different attendance age requirement from South Carolina.”  However, parents may sign a waiver at their local school district office if they desire not to send their child(ren) to kindergarten.

Kindergarten Waiver