Enrollment Information for Joplin Schools

Any school age child who resides within district boundaries and who meets legal and Board of Education requirements may enroll in Joplin Schools. All student enrollment (including kindergarten registration) is handled at the school that serves the attendance area in which the child resides.

To determine the school attendance area for a specific address, please contact Joplin Schools’ Transportation Department at (417) 625-5300. To verify that a specific address lies within district boundaries, contact county tax authorities.

Kindergarten Enrollment

• Children must turn five years old before August 1st to enter kindergarten.
  
  
• Parents may schedule their child’s kindergarten screening by contacting the Parents as Teachers office at (417) 625-5294 or (417) 625-5290. Screenings help to determine a child’s readiness for kindergarten. Parents as Teachers typically begins conducting kindergarten screenings in March.
  
  
• Parents may pre-enroll their child during kindergarten registration week, which is typically held in March. To find out the specific dates for kindergarten registration, please contact the Early Childhood Coordinator at (417) 659-8004 or district administration at (417) 625-5200.
  
  
• Parents are encouraged to enroll soon-to-be kindergartners in JumpStart – a summer program designed to prepare Joplin students for kindergarten. JumpStart is held concurrently with Joplin's summer school programs. For more information about JumpStart, please contact the Early Childhood Coordinator at (417) 659-8004.

New Student Enrollment

• New students needing to enroll before the fall semester may do so on specific dates and times prior to the first day of school. To find out specific enrollment dates and times, please contact the school directly or contact the Joplin School District administrative offices at (417) 625-5200.
  
  
• New students needing to enroll during the school year may do so on any regular school day in the office of their assigned school.

To Enroll Your Child, Please Bring the Following:

• Your Photo ID (Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID is acceptable, such as a driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or tribal photo ID.)
  
  
• Child's Legal, State-Issued Birth Certificate
  
  
• Child's Up-to-date Immunization Records as required by the State of Missouri
  The list of 2010-2011 Missouri State Immunization Requirements is available here. (pdf)
  
  
• Child's Social Security Card (if available)
  
  
• Proof of Residency [Examples of acceptable documents include: property tax statement, mortgage documents, house closing documents, lease/rental agreement, construction contract with proposed occupancy date, current utility bill (water, gas, electricity), or current charge card statement.]
  
  
• Proof of guardianship if the student lives within district boundaries with someone other than a parent.
  
  
• Evidence of comprehensive vision exam performed by a state-licensed optometrist or physician. This is required for kindergarten and enrolling 1st grade students ONLY. The official Missouri Eye Exam Form is available here. (pdf)
  
  
• For students transferring from another district, please bring:
  
  • The name and address of the previous school attended or an unofficial transcript from that school
    
  • Special Education records, if applicable, such as an Individual Education Plan and a current diagnostic summary.

School of Choice Policy

The Joplin School District has adopted a policy of school choice. An in-district transfer permit is required for an elementary student to attend a school outside of their designated attendance area. (Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, the district will no longer allow transfer permits at the middle school level.) For more information about permit procedures and requirements, please contact the child’s assigned school or the Joplin School District administrative offices. [Reference: Board of Education policy #5120]

If you have any other questions about enrollment procedures, please contact the child's assigned school or district administration at (417) 625-5200.