Kindergarten Registration, Events, and Information Now Available for ORS 

 OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – Oak Ridge Schools is currently accepting Kindergarten Registration for the 2026-27 school year and is excited to welcome incoming Kindergarten families to upcoming Kindergarten Events. 

Upcoming School-Specific Kindergarten Events 
• Glenwood: May 14 – ORS Preschool visit to Glenwood
May 21 – Kindergarten Kick Off for future students and families – 5 – 6:00 p.m. 

• Linden: May 11 – ORS Preschool visit to Linden 
May 21 – Kindergarten Kick Off for future students and families – 5 – 6:00 p.m. 

• Willow Brook: May 15 – ORS Preschool Visit to Willow Brook
May 21 – Kindergarten Kick Off for future students and families – 5 – 6:00 p.m.. 

• Woodland: May 13 – ORS Preschool visit to Woodland
May 21 – Kindergarten Kick Off for future students and families – 5 – 6:00 p.m. 

Registration Details 

Online registration is now open and available at www.ortn.edu/kindergarten. Kiosks will be available in the lobby of each elementary school to facilitate the online registration process for families without access to a computer or smart device with internet access. If necessary, please contact your zoned elementary school to schedule a time to register by kiosk. The deadline to register is May 15, 2026. 

As part of the online registration process, parents/guardians will be asked to upload images of the following documents: 

• Birth Certificate 
• Immunization Form 
• Parent Photo ID 
• Two forms of Proof of Residency – For more information on acceptable forms of Proof of Residency, please visit our registration page. 

According to Tennessee State Law, children must reach their fifth birthday by August 15 to be eligible for kindergarten. A child who turns five after August 15, and before September 30, may be considered for early kindergarten enrollment on a case-by-case basis. For more information, including helpful resources for incoming Kindergarten families, please visit www.ortn.edu/kindergarten. 

Kindergarten Schedule 

To ease the transition to Kindergarten and give educators time to construct balanced classrooms based on student personalities and needs, Oak Ridge Schools has a stagger start for its Kindergarteners which includes two days of assessments and orientation prior to starting school full-time. With a stagger start, students attend one half day during the first three days of school, then one full day, before beginning a full-time schedule. Bus transportation for Kindergartners begins on Wednesday, August 5. 

The staggered start schedule for 2026-2027 Kindergarteners is below: 

Students with last names A-F 

• Half Day on Monday, July 27 (1:30 p.m. dismissal, students will eat lunch) 
• Full Day on Friday, July 31 (3:30 p.m. dismissal) 
• Begin following ORS Full-time schedule on Wednesday, August 5 (normal District-Wide Early Dismissal at 1:30) 
• Bus transportation for Kindergartners begins on Wednesday, August 5. 
• No School on Thursday, August 6th District-Wide due to Voting Holiday 
• Full-time enrollment beginning Friday, August 7 

Students with last names G-O 

• Half Day on Tuesday, July 28 (1:30 p.m. dismissal, students will eat lunch) 
• Full Day on Monday, August 3 (3:30 p.m. dismissal) 
• Begin following ORS Full-time schedule on Wednesday, August 5 (normal District-Wide Early Dismissal at 1:30) 
• Bus transportation for Kindergartners begins on Wednesday, August 5. 
• No School on Thursday, August 6th District-Wide due to Voting Holiday 
• Full-time enrollment beginning Friday, August 7 

Students with last names P-Z 

• Half Day on Wednesday, July 29 (1:30 p.m. dismissal, students will eat lunch) 
• Full Day on Tuesday, August 4 (3:30 p.m. dismissal) 
• Begin following ORS Full-time schedule on Wednesday, August 5 (normal District-Wide Early Dismissal at 1:30) 
• Bus transportation for Kindergartners begins on Wednesday, August 5. 
• No School on Thursday, August 6th District-Wide due to Voting Holiday 
• Full-time enrollment beginning Friday, August 7 

The regular schedule for Kindergarten appears below: 
Doors Open: 7:45 a.m.
School Starts: 8:30 a.m.
Dismissal Time (M,T,Th,F): 3:30 p.m.
Dismissal Time (W): 1:30 p.m. 

Extended Child Care (ECC) 

Families who would like to take advantage of before and after-school care programming can begin registration on July 1 by contacting clwright@ortn.edu or by calling 865-425-9145. More information about the ECC program is available online at http://www.ortn.edu/parents/extended-child-care.