How old must a student be to enroll in kindergarten?
Per law, a child must be five years old by September 1 in Texas and five years old by September 30 in Louisiana.
Can my child attend if s/he did not attend Pre-K?
Absolutely! The completion of Pre-K is not a requirement.
What are the school hours for a kindergarten student?
Kindergarten students follow the same school schedule as the 1-12 grade IDEA students. The instructional day begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 3:45 p.m.
Why do we test students before they begin kindergarten at IDEA?
The test we give students is not at entrance exam and does not impact a student’s enrollment at IDEA. Instead, we test our students to be able to place them in a group of students with similar abilities. We believe in teaching students at their individual level and testing gives us the information to be most impactful. We test them on following directions, identity statements, statement repetition, prepositions, sounds, and number recognition. Testing takes approximately five minutes per student.
How many students are in each class?
We have a 14:1 student to adult ratio. Each kindergarten classroom always has two adults present—a teacher and a co-teacher.
Do kindergarten students have recess?
Yes! We understand that our students must maintain a healthy body and mind. Our kindergarten students have recess daily.
Do they need supplies?
Yes! A supply list is designed by each campus principal and is distributed over the summer for incoming students.
How are kindergarten students graded?
Students receive grades for their classwork and homework. Grades are recorded in the gradebook and reports are sent home to parents on the same schedule as report card distribution for all students.
Does IDEA offer bilingual classrooms for students who speak English as their second language?
No. We do not offer bilingual classrooms; instead, students with English as their second language will be grouped together in a classroom and provided with instruction using our Español to English program.
