Enrollment Procedure

YCS Preschool and Kindergarten Age Eligibility Guidelines

2024-2025 School Year 

Welcome to Ypsilanti Community Schools Preschool and Kindergarten Programs. We look forward to getting to know you and your family.  The information below will assist you in the registration process.

Link to Guidelines to download

Preschool

Eligibility: Age 3 by December 1st, 2024

• DOB Eligibility: 12/1/2020 through 11/30/2021

Eligibility: Age 4 by December 1st, 2024 

• DOB Eligibility: 12/1/2019 through 11/30/2020

Our preschool program focuses on the social, emotional and academic needs of the Three and Four-year-old child. Our teaching staff provides developmentally appropriate activities in Math, Science, Reading and Writing. Your child will learn Kindergarten Readiness skills and help build a solid foundation for success in his/her educational journey.

Young Fives

Young Fives is a two-year program designed for children turning 5 years old between June 1 and December 1st. 

• DOB Eligibility: 6/1/2019 through 12/1/2019

The program provides a strong foundation for future success in all areas of learning. Children are taught with hands-on materials, songs, and games. They are assessed by observation and work samples. Upon completion of the two-year program, children enter first grade.

Students who turn 5 after August 31st should enroll in the preschool program. 

Kindergarten

Eligibility: According to Michigan Compiled Law under MCL 380.1147 and 388.1606 enrollment age for incoming kindergarten students are as follows:

• Students must turn 5 by September 1, 2024. 

• DOB Eligibility: 12/1/2018 through 9/1/2019

Exceptions Provided for Kindergarten Enrollment Age

If a child is not 5 years of age by September 1st, but will be 5 not later than December 1st.  Kindergarten Waiver Request form must be submitted prior to beginning school. 

A school district that receives this written notification may make a recommendation to the parent or legal guardian that the child is not ready to enroll in kindergarten due to the child's age or other factors. The school will work with the parent/guardian to make the best placement decision for your child. 

Great Start Readiness Preschool(GSRP) and Headstart

Preschool registration started TODAY!!!

Have you heard?! We're offering FREE quality preschool for 3 & 4 year-olds!

See if you qualify:

Link to the Interest form 

Welcome to Washtenaw County Quality Preschool Partnership

Are you looking for free high quality preschool within Washtenaw County for a child who is 3 to 5 years old and wondering if you qualify? Please fill out our interest form below or call 1(800) 777 - 2861 to determine if your child is eligible to attend a FREE Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) or Head Start preschool program in Washtenaw County.  For more information on available local programs and eligibility criteria, click on 

About Us. Any family wishing to apply for GSRP or Head Start in Washtenaw County must complete this interest form.

Link to the Interest form 

YCS is Offering Kindergarten and two new classrooms: a New Preschool, 1st grade, 2nd grade, and a new 3rd grade English & Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program

This program is open to in-district and school of choice students.

Link to sign up form

Link to Spanish Immersion program information

Link to Spanish Immersion Kindergarten Round-up at Ford - information

YCS ofrece jardín de infantes y dos aulas nuevas: un nuevo preescolar, 1er grado y un nuevo programa de inmersión bilingüe en inglés y español para 2do grado Este programa está abierto a estudiantes del distrito y de la escuela de su elección. 

Este programa está abierto a estudiantes del distrito y de la escuela de su elección.

Ypsilanti International Elementary School  (Y.I.E.S.)

Admissions Process 2024-25

*Before enrolling, click here for age eligibility guidelines for your student:

YCS Preschool and Kindergarten Age Eligibility Guidelines

YIES Enrollment Application and Process for 2024-25

YIES Enrollment Priorities

Kindergarten-5th Enrollment Priority

1. Sibling Priority-Scholars whose siblings are currently enrolled at YIES, and has a confirmed placement for the requested school year, pending space availability.
2. Resident Priority-Scholars who live within the boundaries of Ypsilanti Community Schools (a lottery will be held if necessary).
3. YCS Employee Priority-Scholars whose legal guardian is currently employed by Ypsilanti Community Schools  (a lottery will be held if necessary). 
4. School of Choice (SOC)- Scholars who live outside of the boundaries of Ypsilanti Community Schools (a lottery will be held if necessary).

1st-5th Grade Enrollment Priority

1. Sibling Priority-Scholars whose siblings are currently enrolled at YIES, and has a confirmed placement for the requested school year, pending space availability.
2. Resident Priority-Scholars who live within the boundaries of Ypsilanti Community Schools (a lottery will be held if necessary).
3. YCS Employee Priority-Scholars whose legal guardian is currently employed by Ypsilanti Community Schools (a lottery will be held if necessary). 
4. School of Choice (SOC)- Scholars who live outside of the boundaries of Ypsilanti Community Schools (a lottery will be held if necessary).

February 2024

• February 1st

Complete​ ​the​ ​YIES ​Re-Enrollment Survey ​for current YIES students only located​ ​at: 2024-25 Re-Enrollment Survey.

This survey is required for EACH child currently attending YIES to reserve an enrollment slot for the 2022-23 school year. The re-enrollment survey is open February 1st-March 1st at 11:59pm. If we do not receive a re-enrollment survey for your child, we will not reserve an enrollment slot for the 22-23 school year.

*5th Grade Students Do Not Complete a Re-Enrollment Survey

• February 1st

YIES Sibling Interest Survey is open February 1st-March 1st. This form is NOT for students who currently attend YIES. This survey is for sibling enrollment priority for the 22-23 school year, which allows families a greater opportunity for their children to attend school together. 

This is only an interest survey. Completing this survey helps us project how many slots we will have available for each grade level. This is not an application for admissions, or placement. Once the 2022-23 application for admissions is open, the parent/guardian will need to fill out the new student application to be considered for placement. 

NON-YIES 2024-25 Sibling Interest Survey

March 2024

This survey will close at 11:59pm on March 1st.  If parents/guardians do not submit a re-enrollment survey for their child(ren), YIES will not reserve an enrollment slot for the 2022-23 school year, which means the student(s) will be removed from the YIES enrollment roster for the 2022-23school year. 

April 2024

• April 1, 2024

YIES​ 2022-23 ​application​ opens for any additional slots available.  Click on link for Website and Application:

Ypsilanti International Elementary School Webpage

YIES 2024-25 Kindergarten through 5th Grade Application

*No Open Houses, or building tours are scheduled due to COVID-19 social gatherings guidelines.

June 2024

• June 1st

Deadline to submit application for early notification.

• June 9th at 1:00pm: Lottery (if necessary) for all slots available. 

A live streamed lottery will be held due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. A link to view the live streaming will be posted closer to the date.  

• June 24th

Accepted and​ ​waitlist​ ​communications ​emailed to parent/guardian for open slots

*If slots remain, the enrollment application will remain open until August 12, 2022.

August 2024

• August 12th

Application for 2024-2025 admission closes.

• August 18th

Kindergarten Readiness Assessment for registered incoming kindergarten and young 5’s students.  This assessment is in-person and by appointment only.  

Frequently​ ​Asked​ ​Questions:

1. What​ ​type​ ​of​ ​school​ ​is​ ​YIES?

We​ ​are​ ​a​ ​public,​ ​non-tuition, K-5​ ​International​ ​Baccalaureate(IB)​ ​authorized​ ​school​ ​offering​ ​a​ ​whole child​ ​emphasis,​ ​exceptional​ ​academic​ ​standards,​ ​mission-centered​ ​curriculum​ ​and​ ​21st-century skill-based​ ​assessments.​  ​All​ ​YIES​ ​courses​ ​are​ ​designed​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​the​ Primary​ ​Years Programme (PYP)​ ​International​ ​Baccalaureate standards.​ ​​ 

• Free K-5 public school 
• K through 5th Grade International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Option, and priority enrollment to WIMA, a public consortium, International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle School. 
• Spanish classes for all grades
• Unified Arts for all grade levels: Music, P.E., Art, Spanish, Science
• Kids Clubs: Girl Scouts, Spanish, Drama, YMCA, Bright Futures, and more!
• YMCA-Ann Arbor Before and After School program on site 
• A full range of Special Education Services in the least restrictive environment
• Family and Community Environment
• Caring, Dedicated, and Highly Qualified Staff

2. Can​ students entering K-5th​ ​grade​​ ​apply​ ​to​ ​YIES?

Yes,​ ​but​ ​space is ​limited ​and​ ​based​ ​on​ ​returning​ ​enrollment.

3. What​ ​if​ ​we​ ​do​ ​not​ ​have​ ​access​ ​to​ ​a​ ​computer​ ​or​ ​the​ ​internet,​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​the​ ​application?

If you do not have internet access, or need assistance completing the admissions application, call the main office at 734-221-2401. Leave a detailed message, including your name and contact number, and a YIES staff will return your call to support you with the application process. 

4. Does​ ​YIES​ ​offer​ ​sports?

YIES ​students​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​play​ ​sports​ ​through​ ​Ypsilanti​ ​Community​ ​Schools.​ ​​ ​Please visit​ ​​http://ypsigrizzlies.com/​,​ ​for​ ​more​ ​information.

5. Does​ ​YIES​ ​offer​ ​any​ ​extra​ ​curricular​ ​activities?

YIES ​currently​ ​offers​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ before and ​after​ ​school programs:

• Kids Clubs: Spanish, YMCA, Bright Futures, Legos Club and more!
• 3-5 Student Council
• YMCA-Ann Arbor Before and After School program on site 

6. What​ ​languages​ ​does​ ​YIES​ ​offer?

Spanish​ ​is​ ​the​ ​only​ ​world language​ ​currently​ ​offered​ ​at​ YIES. 

YCS Enrollment - Registration

Applications must be submitted online

You will receive a call from YCS to finish up the registration process.

Link to Registration Gateway, online registration

Enrollment Process

1. Parent completes online registration application.
2. Secretary checks online registration for any in her building.
3. Secretary calls the parent to schedule an appointment to receive all required documents & finalize the application.  At that time, the secretary gives the parent their start date and sends a request to Transportation.
4. Takes 24 hours for RG to populate to Powerschool.

You are considered a returning student if you previously were enrolled at YCS. 

Families returning to the district should contact the school where their student is enrolling for more information. Following contact with the school, complete the Registration Gateway and physical paperwork.

Use this link below to update information for returning students only after contacting the school first.
Link to Registration Gateway, online registration for Returning students

Online Application Form - All incoming students need to complete this form to begin the application process.

New Enrollment Application - If you are new to YCS, please submit a copy of this application to the registration office with other enrollment paperwork. 

School profiles are useful and informative that can help parents connect their prospective students with the best-fit school.

Link to YCS School Profiles

CTE Application

Ypsilanti Community Schools is offering a variety of educational programs designed to give students a jump start on college and careers. The high school counselor will assist students with enrolling in these dynamic programs.

Link to CTE Application