Student Enrollment

FCPS provides free public education to eligible Frederick County students ages 4-21. Students are assigned to schools based on their home location. Children who attend a childcare center may attend the school that serves the center unless that school is closed to out-of-district students due to overcrowding or is in its first year of operation (here's the latest Closed Schools List).

To Enroll

You may enroll your student by using the secure PowerSchool online enrollment portal. After submission, a representative from FCPS will reach out to you to complete the enrollment process and ensure that all necessary documents have been provided. 

Do you need to enroll a student for the 2022-2023 school year ending June 1, 2023? Click here for English or click here for Spanish.

Do you need to enroll a student for the 2023-2024 school year starting August 23, 2023? The online student enrollment system is open. Click here for English or click here for Spanish.

Do you need to transfer your student for the 2023-2024 school year? Reach out to the transfer school to set up an enrollment meeting.

Note: It is important to enroll your student into the proper school year. The enrollment cannot be transferred from one year to the next.

If you are unable to enroll your student using our online portal, you may download an official FCPS enrollment form and return to your student’s school. Enrollment Form Template: English | Spanish.

NOTE: FCPS offers a Remote Virtual Program option for students. If you would like your child to attend the Remote Virtual Program after enrolling in an FCPS school, please discuss this option with your child’s home school. Please know that students will only be able to be admitted in the program if there are openings. Before making the decision, be sure to review the expectations for participation in the Remote Virtual Program.

The following information will be needed in order to enroll your child.

The required enrollment documentation may be easily uploaded as part of the online enrollment process. Parents who are not able to upload the required enrollment documentation may return those items to your child’s school or  via US mail to your student’s assigned school building. Please be sure that your student’s name is visible on the document.

• Immunization and health records, provide BOTH of the following:
  • Department of Health and Mental Hygiene form 896 Immunization Certificate or other proof of immunizations (view the complete immunization schedule here), and 
  • Documentation of a recent physical exam, recorded on the Maryland Schools Record of Physical Examination (Registro de Examen Físico de las Escuelas de Maryland). If your child's last physical exam was more than 9 months prior to the start of school, you may wait to submit the form until this year's exam is completed. NOTE: This is not the same documentation required to participate in Athletics programs. Please refer to the Athletics section for more information.
• Proof of date of birth (provide one of these: Birth certificate, physician's certificate, hospital certificate, baptismal or church certificate, parent's affidavit, or passport/visa)
• Proof of residency (provide one of these: current property tax bill, current rental bill, current utility bill for water, gas, or electric)
• Parent photo identification
• For Pre-K, must have income documentation

Often a parent/guardian and child do not own or rent the home in which they live.  If this is your case, then the person who actually owns or rents the home must provide the same proof of residency as listed above (current property tax bill, current rental bill, current utility bill) and must complete and have notarized the FCPS Parent Residence Affidavit Multi-Family form.

FCPS may obtain discipline and expulsion records when a student transfers from another school system. The superintendent may deny admission to a student who is currently expelled from another school system for a period of time equal to the expulsion.

FCPS Regulation 400-7 provides further information about enrolling a student. You may also contact Student Support Services.

FCPS also has an International Office to help non-English speaking families.

FCPS International Office:

International and/or multilingual families who need assistance utilizing the online system for enrollment, please contact the International Office 240-236-8761 (for grades K-5) or 240-236-8765 (for grades 6-12).

The FCPS International Office assists in pre-enrolling students who:

• Are new immigrants or international students that speak a language other than English
• Are bilingual/multilingual or not yet able to speak standard English
• Have international or foreign transcripts in other language other than English that FCPS needs to evaluate for high school credits

During pre-enrollment, the International Office will administer an English language placement test to determine their level of English proficiency.

When pre-enrolling a student, the FCPS International office can provide notary services and help check and fill out all the paperwork needed at school:

• Enrollment form
• Proof of Date of Birth
• Proof of Address
• Immunization Record
• Student Supplementary Survey English and Spanish
• Notification of Placement

Additional forms for grades 6-12 only

• School records
• Curriculum history

English Learner (EL) services are not mandatory but are highly recommended. Federal and state law require school systems to offer EL services.

Here is a link with directions to the FCPS International Office:

201 Waverley Drive
Frederick, MD 21702

Pre-Kindergarten

Frederick County Public Schools is committed to providing a variety of early childhood programs based on the diverse needs of our families and students. FCPS is proud to offer the following programs for Pre-K Students:

Traditional Pre-K: This program is intended for students who are four by September 1st. This is a full-day general education program based on income eligibility requirements. Class sizes are approximately 20 students. Transportation is provided for those attending their residential school (school location by address). 

Inclusion Pre-K (four year olds): This program is intended for students who are four by September 1st. This is a full-day inclusive preschool education program where half the student population has an identified disability and half of the student population is selected to serve as a peer role model. Students are placed via an IEP Meeting (students with specialized needs) or via income eligibility requirements. Class sizes are approximately 16 students. Transportation is provided for those attending their residential school (school location by address) and those requiring specialized transportation per their IEP. 

Inclusion Pre-K (three year olds): This program is intended for students who are three by September 1st. This is a half-day inclusive preschool education program where half the student population has an identified disability and half of the student population is selected to serve as a peer role model. Students are placed via an IEP Meeting (students with specialized needs) or via income eligibility requirements.  Students attend Monday-Friday for 2.5 hour class sessions. There are no classes on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month for all 3 year old students. Class sizes are approximately 14 students. Transportation is provided by families and those requiring specialized transportation per their IEP. There are no options for bus transportation for peers. 

More information about the Pre-K Application Process can be found at https://www.fcps.org/ece/pre-k

PreKindergarten Out of District Transfers

Use the following forms for PreKindergarten Out of District Transfers

• PreK Out of District Transfers - English
• PreK Out of District Transfer - Spanish

Please contact Sandy Truax for PreK Out of District Transfers only at (240) 236-5323 or PreKEnrollment@fcps.org if you have questions.

Kindergarten

All FCPS kindergarten programs are full day, most starting at 9 a.m. and dismissing around 3:30 p.m. To enter kindergarten in August, a child must turn 5 years old on or before September 1 of that calendar year. Children entering first grade must have completed public kindergarten or have been approved for entry by FCPS. Whenever possible, parents are encouraged to register their children well in advance of the first day of school so that schools and teachers are prepared to accommodate enrollment.

Parents who do not wish to enroll a 5-year-old in a kindergarten or other approved program may request a 1-year waiver (Waiver Form | Waiver Form in Spanish). At the end of the waiver year, the student will enter kindergarten rather than first grade. ECE Office will accept K Waiver Forms for the next school year starting on April 1st of the current school year.

Early Entrance to Kindergarten

The early entrance to kindergarten process identifies exceptions to the state-mandated age of entry for children whose curriculum achievement level far exceeds the norm. The intent of Early Entrance to Kindergarten is to identify highly able children born between September 2nd and October 16th, missing the September 1st cutoff. Additional information on Early Entrance to Kindergarten can be found here. Applications for consideration must be submitted no later than May 31.

Immunizations and Health Records

The following are required to enroll a student in a Maryland public school for the first time.

Verification of all state-required immunizations, recorded on Department of Health and Mental Hygiene form 896 Immunization Certificate.

Schools also require that you fill out a Health Information Card for your child. We send this form home at the start of every school year or when you enroll.

Documentation of a recent physical exam, recorded on the Maryland Schools Record of Physical Examination (Registro de Examen Físico de las Escuelas de Maryland).

Pre-k and kindergarten students may require evidence of blood lead testing if the student resides or has ever resided in an area designated as at-risk by the Maryland Targeting Plan for Childhood Lead Poisoning. The Blood Lead Testing Certificate form 4620 (or another written document signed by a healthcare practitioner) can meet this requirement.

Exemptions from immunizations, a physical examination and blood lead testing are permitted if they are contrary to a students' or family's religious beliefs. Students may also be exempted from immunization requirements if a physician/nurse practitioner or health department official certifies that there is a medical reason for the student not to receive a vaccine.

Lack of these records may cause delayed enrollment or exclusion from school. For assistance in obtaining immunizations or a physical examination, please contact the health staff in your child's school or contact FCPS Health Services.

FCPS encourages medical and dental exams for students entering middle school to help identify health concerns that may affect educational performance. All students who participate in interscholastic sports must have a physical exam before the sport begins.

Non-resident students

Families who wish to have their children attend Frederick County Public Schools but live in another Maryland county or outside the state of Maryland, must complete a Non-Resident application and a tuition fee will be charged. Please click here to access the Non-Resident application. Please contact Cathy Zier, Department of Student Services, 301-644-5238, for an estimate of the tuition charges.

Students in State-Supervised Care

State law and regulations govern the transfer of educational records for students who are in the custody of, committed to or otherwise placed by a placement agency, such as a local department of social services. For more information, contact Student Support Services.

Student Information Form

School offices maintain a Student Information Form for every child and refer to it anytime there is a question, concern or emergency. The form is printed with previously supplied information for each student and sent home at the beginning of the school year to be reviewed, corrected and returned.

Insurance

FCPS does not have insurance coverage for students' personal property. Students are responsible for their personal property. Limited student accident insurance may be purchased through a company approved to offer the program through Maryland schools. A football accident policy is also available. Consult with your insurance agent to see if policies you already hold provide adequate coverage. FCPS does not endorse these programs and does not handle claims or associated problems.

The Maryland Children's Health Program offers health insurance for children up to age 19 and pregnant women of any age from low to average income families. Applications are available in school health rooms or by contacting the Frederick County Health Department.

Foreign Exchange Students

Frederick County Public Schools value the benefits of welcoming foreign exchange students through the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET), as these experiences contribute to the diversity of our classrooms and schools.

2023-2024 School Year
Frederick County Public Schools will be accepting applications for the enrollment of foreign exchange students for the 2023-2024 school year.  We value the benefits of welcoming foreign exchange students through the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET), as these experiences contribute to the diversity of our classrooms and schools. Please see FCPS Regulation 400-74: Enrollment of Foreign Exchange Students for program details.