General School Information - Enrollment/Entrance Requirements

Enrollment/Entrance Requirements

Age of Kindergarten Entrance

Students enrolling for kindergarten shall have reached their 5th birthday on or before September 30 of any school year. A child whose 5th birthday falls between October 1 and December 31 may enter kindergarten, on a space-available basis, under the following criteria:

• Must demonstrate readiness
• Must pay a tuition fee

Mandatory Entrance Requirements

The Commonwealth of Virginia mandates the following requirements prior to entrance in public schools:

1. School Physical Examinations: State law (Ref. Code of Virginia § 22.1-270) requires that a qualified licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant sign Part II of the MCH-213 E. See Part II MCH-213 E.
   
   
   1. A physical examination is required for all students entering schools, grades K-7.
   2. The physical examination must be dated within 12 months prior to school entry.
   3. If a parent has a copy of a physical examination in hand, that was acceptable where the child first entered school in another state (as long as the physical examination was completed within 12 months prior to entry) the child meets entry requirements for NPS. Example: If a child had a physcial examination dated June 4, 2001 to enter school in California in September 2001, and has transferred to Norfolk to attend NPS, and is in the 4th grade, this child can enter NPS system and does not need another physical examination.
   4. Faxed copies of physical examinations and telephone calls from the transferring school verifying copy of physical exam in student record can be accepted at time of enrollment.
   5. Any student entering Pre-K (i.e. 2, 3, 4 years of age) for the first time is required to have a physical examination within 12 months prior to entry into Pre-K (Documentation of required screening test results are needed. If screening was not done on the date of the curent physical examination, document the date and results of the last screening test done).
      
      This one physical examination is sufficient until the child enters kindergarten. Another physical examination within 12 months prior to kindergarten entry is required. Immunizations are age appropriate.
      
      
2. Immunization Requirements (K-12): Documentary proof shall be provided of adequate age-appropriate immunization with the prescribed number of doses of vaccine indicated below for attendance at a public or private elementary, middle or secondary school, child care center, nursery school, family day care home or developmental center. Vaccines must be administered in accordance with the schedule of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Family Physicians and must be administered within spacing and age requirements.
   
   Diphtheria, Tetanus, & Pertussis (DTaP, DTP, or Tdap): A minimun of 3 doses. A child must have at least one dose of DTaP or DTP vaccine on or after the 4th birthday. If the child has received 6 doses of DTaP or DTP before the 4th birthday, additional doses are contraindictated. DT (Diphtheria, Tetanus) vaccine is required for children who are medically exempt form the pertussis containing vaccine (DTaP or DTP). Adult Td is required for children 7 years of age and older who do not meet the minimum requirements for tetanus and diphtheria. The 2006 General Assembly approved legislation effective July 1, 2006, that requires a booster dose of pertussis-containing vaccine prior to entering the sixth grade if at least five years have passed since the last dose of tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine.
   
   Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib) Vaccine: This vaccine is required ONLY for children up to 60 months of age. A primary series consists of either 2 or 3 doses (depending on the manufacturer) followed by a booster dose at age 12-15 months. However, the child's current age and not the number of prior doses received govern the number of doses required. Unvaccinated children between the ages of 15 and 60 months are only required to have one dose of vaccine.
   
   Hepatitis B Vaccine: A complete series of 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine is required for all childredn born on and after January 1, 1994. However, the FDA has approved a 2-dose schedule ONLY for adolescents 11-15 years of age AND ONLY when the Merck Brand (RECOMBIVAX HB) Adult Formulation Hepatitis B Vaccine is used. The 2 RECOMBIVAX HB Adult doses must be separated by a minimum of 4 months. If the 3-dose Hepatitis B vaccine schedule is used, there should be at least 1 month spacing between the 1st and 2nd doses and 4 months spacing between the 1st and 3rd doses.
   
   Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR) Vaccine: A minimum of 2 measles, 1 mumps, and 1 rubella. (Most children receive 2 doses of each because the vaccine usually administered is the combination vaccine MMR). First dose must be administered at age 12 months (365 days) or older. If 1st dose is administered before 12 months of age, the dose does not count and must be repeated. 2nd dose of measles vaccine does not have to be administered until age 4-6 years (usually at entry to kindergarten) but can be administered at any time after the minimum interval between dose 1 and dose 2. The minimum interval is 4 weeks (28 days).
   
   Pneumococcal (PCV) Vaccine: 2 to 4 doses, dependent on age at 1st dose, of pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine for children less than two years of age.
   
   Polio Vaccine: A minimum of 3 doses of all IPV or all OPV polio vaccine. If a child has had only 3 doses of polio vaccine, 1 dose must have been administered on or after the 4th birthday. However, a child who has received 4 doses of any combination of IPV or OPV polio vaccine before the 4th birthday is adequately immunized and does not need a dose after the 4th birthday.
   
   Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine: All susceptible children born on and after January 1, 1997, shall be required to have a dose of chickenpox vaccine not earlier than the age of 12 months (365 days). NOTE: The 4-day grace period for administration of vaccines does not apply to MMR vaccine or Varicella vaccine.
   
   
3. Tuberculin Skin Test (All students):
   
   
   1. Any child entering K-12 grades is required to have a tuberculosis skin test done within 12 months prior to entry into Norfolk Public Schools.
   2. Any child entering pre-K, whether entry is at ages 2, 3, or 4 years is required to have a tuberculosis skin test done within 12 months prior to entry into Norfolk Public Schools. This one testing is sufficient until they enter kindergarten, at which time another tuberculin skin test within 12 months prior to entry is required.
      
      
4. Birth Certificate (All students): Birth certificates are required to be shown to the appropriate school official prior to admission.
   
   
5. Social Security Number (All students): Virginia law requires all students in public schools to have a Social Security number.
   
   
   
   

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