We are pleased to welcome kindergarten students and their families to schools across the Shawnee Mission School District.​ The Shawnee Mission School District offers full-day kindergarten at each of the district's 34 elementary schools. Recognizing children are eager to discover and explore the world around them, there are many positive learning and social behavioral benefits for children who attend full-day kindergarten programs.  

By Kansas statute, children must be age 5 on or before Aug. 31 to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment. 

 

2025-2026 Pre-K and Kindergarten 
Enrollment Open

The Shawnee Mission School District's full-day kindergarten program:

• Integrates new learning with past experiences through project-based activities.
• Provides learning in a literacy-rich environment.
• Emphasizes language development through appropriate pre-reading and literacy skills.
• Provides mixed skill-level groups.
• Emphasizes reading as well as listening to literature.
• Engages students in hands-on, STEM-focused learning. 
• Utilizes 1:1 technology to support relevant learning in the classroom.
• Offers a balance of individual, small group, and whole group instructional experiences.
• Assesses student progress through teacher observation, performance, and student work samples.
• Provides sufficient time and practical application for individual progress on basic skills.
• Extends and enriches students in various concepts and areas of interest​.

2025 SMSD Kindergarten Kick-Off 

Kindergarten Kick-Offs are evening events hosted at each elementary school.  This event gives families of incoming kindergarteners the opportunity to learn about kindergarten in the Shawnee Mission School District.  Events are held at all elementary schools April 7-18. See below for your school's Kick-Off date.

Please follow specific direction from your home area school regarding the event.

What you need to know about Kindergarten Kick-Off:

• Per the state of Kansas, children must be age 5 on or before August 31 to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment.
• At Kindergarten Kick-Off information nights, parents and guardians will finalize the enrollment process if necessary, ask questions, meet the principal, and hear from teachers about what students will learn in kindergarten.
• Children may participate in fun activities and should attend.

Take with you to Kindergarten Kick-Off:

• Any required paperwork not already submitted to the school office (birth certificate, immunization records, physical examination, parent photo ID, proof of residency – mortgage statement/tax bill/lease agreement AND two current utility bills).

2025 SMSD Kindergarten Kick-Off Dates

 

All times are 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.