Enrollment and Registration – HCPSS
Source: https://www.hcpss.org/enroll
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:11
Enrollment and Registration – HCPSS
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Register your Child for School
Step 1
– Assess Eligibility and Needs
New Students
Students who have never attended a HCPSS school
must be registered by their custodial parent (biological, adoptive, legal guardian).
New Kindergarten Students
Children must be 5 years old by September 1 in order to enroll in kindergarten. Every child who is 5 years old by September 1 must be enrolled in a kindergarten program this fall or have an approved waiver.
More information about registering a Kindergarten student →
New Prekindergarten Students
HCPSS offers a high-quality, full-day pre-k program at selected elementary school sites. Students must be four years old on or before September 1 of the enrolling school year to be considered for the program. Unlike enrollment for K-12, parents must first
apply
and be accepted into the program before beginning online registration.
Learn more about prekindergarten program →
Seeking Early Admission?
The early admission process is designed for students who are born between September 2 – October 13 and are seeking enrollment to school one year early.
Learn more about Early Admission to see if your child qualifies →
Current Students
Current HCPSS enrolled students moving between schools within the system
Moving over the
summer?
Find and contact your child’s
upcoming school
to begin the transfer process.
Verify your child’s upcoming school →
Moving
during the school year?
Every family has the option to complete the current school year at the school in which they are presently enrolled or to transfer to the school associated with their new address. Submit a
change of address in Family File
;
contact your child’s current school
for more information.
Current HCPSS prekindergarten students
do not need to be re-registered for kindergarten because they are already enrolled as an HCPSS student.
Students who need ELD services or parents who need language support should contact the Multilingual Family Registration Center at 410-313-1297.
Step 2
– Find Your School
Parents must live in the attendance area of the school where they plan to enroll their student. Use our
School Locator
tool to find and verify your school and attendance area.
Verify your child’s school attendance area
Step 3
– Gather Documentation
Having all your documentation prepared in advance of registration will keep the process moving quickly. If you have a change of address, please
submit it and the required documentation in Family File
.
Student Identification Documentation
Student’s evidence of birth (birth certificate, passport/visa, physician’s certificate, baptismal or church certification, hospital certificate, parent/s affidavit or birth registration.)
Proof of parental relationship, custody, or guardianship. If applicable, bring legal proof of custody (court order).
Any additional paperwork that may be necessary due to special living arrangements or circumstances.
Academic Documentation
Student’s most recent grade report, transcript, report card from last school attended at time of withdrawal.
Documentation of Special Education (IEP), 504, Psychological Report, or related services.
Health Documentation
A
physical exam form
is required for students who have never attended a Maryland Public School, including Prekindergarten and Kindergarten.
An
immunization form
is required for students who have never attended a Maryland Public School, including Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. Proof of immunizations from a Maryland school outside of Howard County can also be used.
Additional
health information/forms for students
who have never attended a Howard County public school is available online.
Parent Identification and Proof of Residency Documentation
Parent picture ID: driver’s license, passport, MVA identification or other legal form of photographic identification.
A signed original, current, and complete lease or a complete deed with the parent/guardian’s name, address, valid dates, signatures.
Current utility bill with the parent/guardian’s name and address (i.e., gas and electric, non-cellular telephone, or cable bill issued in the last 45 days.)
Proof of residency must be submitted:
At the time of enrollment.
Each time there is a change of residency.
If there is cause to suspect the student/family is not living at the address they have presented.
Annually if the student is enrolled through a Multiple Family Determination (MFD) and the parent/guardian does not have a lease or deed in their name.
Additional information on student residency
can be found online.
Step 4
– Begin Registration Process
Begin Online Registration
After clicking on the green Begin Registration Process button above, please be sure to select the correct school year in the registration portal.
Guide to Online Registration for New Students
Kindergarten
Parents/guardians of children who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2026, must enroll their children in kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year. To register your child, please complete the online registration by selecting the green “Begin Online Registration” button to the left. While completing the online registration form, you can also upload the required documents.
Prekindergarten
Before you can begin the online registration process for the pre-k program, please make sure that you have completed the
HCPSS Pre-K Application
. Families accepted into the HCPSS Pre-K program will receive an official acceptance letter. This letter is a required piece of the online registration process and should also be used as a point of reference when making pre-k program selections throughout the online registration process.
Learn more about the HCPSS Pre-K program →
Step 5
– Finalize Registration and Meet Your New School
After completing the registration process online, a staff member from your child’s school will contact you in the near future to schedule an appointment to complete your child’s enrollment. At this appointment, you must provide the school with your government issued photo ID and any required documents that were not submitted during the online registration process.
Find your school’s contact information
Additional Enrollment Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Enrollment and Registration
Read
Policy 9000 Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment and Assignment
For additional information or questions, please contact your
anticipated school of enrollment
.
Prepare for the first day:
School Start Times
Before- & After-school Care Options
School Meals
Transportation
Find out what your child will learn at HCPSS
skip to main content
Register your Child for School
Step 1
– Assess Eligibility and Needs
New Students
Students who have never attended a HCPSS school
must be registered by their custodial parent (biological, adoptive, legal guardian).
New Kindergarten Students
Children must be 5 years old by September 1 in order to enroll in kindergarten. Every child who is 5 years old by September 1 must be enrolled in a kindergarten program this fall or have an approved waiver.
More information about registering a Kindergarten student →
New Prekindergarten Students
HCPSS offers a high-quality, full-day pre-k program at selected elementary school sites. Students must be four years old on or before September 1 of the enrolling school year to be considered for the program. Unlike enrollment for K-12, parents must first
apply
and be accepted into the program before beginning online registration.
Learn more about prekindergarten program →
Seeking Early Admission?
The early admission process is designed for students who are born between September 2 – October 13 and are seeking enrollment to school one year early.
Learn more about Early Admission to see if your child qualifies →
Current Students
Current HCPSS enrolled students moving between schools within the system
Moving over the
summer?
Find and contact your child’s
upcoming school
to begin the transfer process.
Verify your child’s upcoming school →
Moving
during the school year?
Every family has the option to complete the current school year at the school in which they are presently enrolled or to transfer to the school associated with their new address. Submit a
change of address in Family File
;
contact your child’s current school
for more information.
Current HCPSS prekindergarten students
do not need to be re-registered for kindergarten because they are already enrolled as an HCPSS student.
Students who need ELD services or parents who need language support should contact the Multilingual Family Registration Center at 410-313-1297.
Step 2
– Find Your School
Parents must live in the attendance area of the school where they plan to enroll their student. Use our
School Locator
tool to find and verify your school and attendance area.
Verify your child’s school attendance area
Step 3
– Gather Documentation
Having all your documentation prepared in advance of registration will keep the process moving quickly. If you have a change of address, please
submit it and the required documentation in Family File
.
Student Identification Documentation
Student’s evidence of birth (birth certificate, passport/visa, physician’s certificate, baptismal or church certification, hospital certificate, parent/s affidavit or birth registration.)
Proof of parental relationship, custody, or guardianship. If applicable, bring legal proof of custody (court order).
Any additional paperwork that may be necessary due to special living arrangements or circumstances.
Academic Documentation
Student’s most recent grade report, transcript, report card from last school attended at time of withdrawal.
Documentation of Special Education (IEP), 504, Psychological Report, or related services.
Health Documentation
A
physical exam form
is required for students who have never attended a Maryland Public School, including Prekindergarten and Kindergarten.
An
immunization form
is required for students who have never attended a Maryland Public School, including Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. Proof of immunizations from a Maryland school outside of Howard County can also be used.
Additional
health information/forms for students
who have never attended a Howard County public school is available online.
Parent Identification and Proof of Residency Documentation
Parent picture ID: driver’s license, passport, MVA identification or other legal form of photographic identification.
A signed original, current, and complete lease or a complete deed with the parent/guardian’s name, address, valid dates, signatures.
Current utility bill with the parent/guardian’s name and address (i.e., gas and electric, non-cellular telephone, or cable bill issued in the last 45 days.)
Proof of residency must be submitted:
At the time of enrollment.
Each time there is a change of residency.
If there is cause to suspect the student/family is not living at the address they have presented.
Annually if the student is enrolled through a Multiple Family Determination (MFD) and the parent/guardian does not have a lease or deed in their name.
Additional information on student residency
can be found online.
Step 4
– Begin Registration Process
Begin Online Registration
After clicking on the green Begin Registration Process button above, please be sure to select the correct school year in the registration portal.
Guide to Online Registration for New Students
Kindergarten
Parents/guardians of children who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2026, must enroll their children in kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year. To register your child, please complete the online registration by selecting the green “Begin Online Registration” button to the left. While completing the online registration form, you can also upload the required documents.
Prekindergarten
Before you can begin the online registration process for the pre-k program, please make sure that you have completed the
HCPSS Pre-K Application
. Families accepted into the HCPSS Pre-K program will receive an official acceptance letter. This letter is a required piece of the online registration process and should also be used as a point of reference when making pre-k program selections throughout the online registration process.
Learn more about the HCPSS Pre-K program →
Step 5
– Finalize Registration and Meet Your New School
After completing the registration process online, a staff member from your child’s school will contact you in the near future to schedule an appointment to complete your child’s enrollment. At this appointment, you must provide the school with your government issued photo ID and any required documents that were not submitted during the online registration process.
Find your school’s contact information
Additional Enrollment Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Enrollment and Registration
Read
Policy 9000 Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment and Assignment
For additional information or questions, please contact your
anticipated school of enrollment
.
Prepare for the first day:
School Start Times
Before- & After-school Care Options
School Meals
Transportation
Find out what your child will learn at HCPSS