Early Entry Guidelines

David Douglas School District will adhere to the state policy of admitting five-year-olds to kindergarten that meet enrollment age criteria.

Kindergarten:

Early Entrance to Kindergarten Information

In special cases, a child who turns five during the month of September may be considered for early entrance to kindergarten.

Screening Process

  • Children take a test of mental ability (this is not a kindergarten readiness test).
  • The test measures three areas:
    • Verbal – understanding and using language
    • Non-verbal – solving visual or pattern-based problems
    • Quantitative – understanding numbers and reasoning
  • To qualify, your child must score at or above the 85th percentile.

Timeline

  • Application and $175 testing fee due: June 10, 2026
  • Testing date: Mid-August 2026
  • Follow-up conference (for accepted students): October 2026, to review your child’s progress.

How to Apply

To request an application or learn more, please contact:

  • Michelle Armstrong, District TAG Coordinator –  503-261-8458
  • Brian Reichhoff, Student Services –  503-256-6500 ext. 4458

First Grade:

A student will be admitted to first grade as a five year old if:

  1. The parent submits documentation that the child attended a State accredited kindergarten program whose curriculum matches David Douglas’s scope and sequence.
  2. The parent submits a written reference letter from the child’s kindergarten teacher commenting on the student’s academic, social, emotional, and physical attributes and accompanying assessment data.

If the student has not attended an accredited institution, then the child will begin in a kindergarten classroom and may be tested during the first few weeks of school. If the child scores at the 97th percentile on a test of mental ability, and the teacher observes advanced maturity, then the child will be considered for first grade. If the child is accepted into first grade there will be a conference in October to review the child’s progress.

Parents requesting early entry into first grade must first contact the building principal at their neighborhood school.