Southwest Allen County Schools

Preschool Enrollment (Starting at Age 3)

If your child is at least three (3) years old, you may apply for one of Southwest Allen County Schools’ preschool programs. Please note that enrollment is limited and spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Welcome to Preschool at SACS

At Southwest Allen County Schools (SACS), we are proud to offer two unique preschool options, each designed to meet the diverse needs of young learners. Our goal is to provide every child with a strong, confident start by placing them in the learning environment that best supports their growth and readiness for school.

• Spartan Kids PreK: A full-day, five-day-a-week preschool designed for young children ready to begin their school experience. This program emphasizes kindergarten readiness through a balanced mix of play, exploration, and structured learning. Students benefit from caring and qualified educators, daily meals, provided transportation, and a warm, welcoming environment that helps them prepare academically and socially. Southwest Allen County Schools

• Special Education Developmental Preschool: A program for children ages three to five who are experiencing developmental delays or disabilities, as well as a “typical peer” track for children without delays — providing opportunities for all children to learn together in an inclusive, supportive setting. This program supports early development in areas such as communication, motor skills, self-help, social/emotional growth, and pre-academic skills, helping prepare children for a smooth transition into kindergarten. Southwest Allen County Schools

We encourage you to learn more about each program and consider which aligns best with your child’s strengths, needs, and readiness. Our goal is to help every child thrive — whether they are just beginning their educational journey or need specialized support.

Which Preschool Program Is Right for My Child?

Choosing the right preschool program is an important step, and we want to make that decision as easy as possible for your family. Use the guide below to help determine which SACS preschool program may be the best fit for your child.

✅ Your child may be a good fit for Spartan Kids PreK if:

• Your child is 4 years old by August 1

• Your child is ready for a full-day school experience

• You are looking for a general education preschool focused on kindergarten readiness

• Your child does not have identified developmental delays

• You want a program that includes:

  • Daily instruction

  • Transportation

  • Meals

  • A structured schedule that mirrors an elementary school day

➡️ Learn more about Spartan Kids PreK if this sounds like your child.

✅ Your child may be a good fit for the Special Education Developmental Preschool if:

• Your child is 3–5 years old

• Your child has:

  • A developmental delay

  • A speech, physical, cognitive, or social/emotional need

• Or, your child is a “typical peer” and you are interested in:

  • A play-based learning environment

  • An inclusive classroom with peer modeling

• Your child would benefit from:

  • Smaller class sizes

  • Individualized support

  • Specialized services while building early learning and social skills

➡️ Learn more about the Special Education Developmental Preschool if this sounds like your child.

Still Unsure Which Program Is Best?

Our preschool team is happy to help guide you through the decision-making process. Every child develops differently, and we are here to ensure your child is placed in the program that best supports their growth, learning, and success.

⚠️ Preschool enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year is now CLOSED. Fee-based enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year will open in January 2026.

Kindergarten Enrollment (5 years old by August 1st)

To enroll in kindergarten, children must be five (5) years old on or before August 1, 2025. If your child meets these criteria you may proceed to Step 1 in the next tab.

ABOUT KINDERGARTEN

Kindergarten Early Entrance (5  years old by September 30)

SACS allows parents to apply for eligibility for their child as "early entrance to kindergarten" if they turn five (5) on or before September 30, 2025 as verified by a birth certificate. Parents must submit an Application for Early Entrance to Kindergarten before August 1, 2025. The application will be reviewed, and the district will contact you to determine the next steps, including an assessment to determine advanced readiness. The district will make and communicate a determination about kindergarten advanced readiness to the family prior to enrollment.

Applications for Early Entrance to Kindergarten will begin on February 1, 2025, and close on August 1, 2025. Please do not cancel preschool or daycare plans for the 2025-2026 school year until you have received official notification from the district.

A child who transfers to Southwest Allen County Schools from another state or country and was previously enrolled in an accredited kindergarten program is entitled to continuation of services in kindergarten. In such cases where the accredited program is a 2-year kindergarten program, the student must have been enrolled in year 2 of the program to be considered for a continuation of services under this provision. 

Application for Early Entrance to Kindergarten 2025-2026

First Grade Enrollment (Completed Kindergarten or Moved from another State/Country)

If your child has successfully completed an accredited kindergarten program outside of SACS, you will need to provide evidence such as a report card and an attendance report, or another assessment documentation in order to enroll as early entrance to first grade. Evidence will be reviewed by the Assistant Superintendent, or designee, to determine the eligibility of enrollment

If your child moved to SACS from another state or country, is six (6) years old, or has otherwise met eligibility requirements for first grade in another state or country, they are entitled to continue to first grade. This is applicable if they attended an accredited public or private kindergarten program prior to enrolling in SACS.

Early Entrance to First Grade (Has Not Completed Kindergarten)

If your child has not completed an accredited kindergarten program, was homeschooled, or does not have evidence of successful kindergarten mastery, you must apply for Early Entrance to First Grade by August 1, 2025. As part of this process, your child must participate in an interview/assessment with the building or the district administration. The district will make and communicate a determination about first-grade advanced readiness to the family prior to enrollment.

Applications for Early Entrance to First Grade will begin on February 1, 2025, and close on August 1, 2025.

Application for Early Entrance to First Grade 2025-2026

Documents Required:

Before you begin your enrollment application, using either a computer or tablet, there are several required documents you will need to have ready.

1. State-issued Birth Certificate
2. Parent or Guardian Photo ID
3. Proof of Guardianship or Custody (if applicable)
4. Child's current immunization records
5. Two proofs of residency
6. Transcript from your previous school.

How to Upload Your Documents:

Using a Scanner:

• Scan each document separately and send to your primary email.
• From your email, save the document to your computer and/or easily accessible storage.
• Upload your documents when directed in ‘Step 5’ of the enrollment application.

Using a Mobile Phone:

• Take a clear picture of each document separately and send to your primary email.
• From your email, save the document to your computer/easily accessible storage.
• Upload your documents when directed in ‘Step 5’ of the enrollment application.

If you do not have online access or are unable to upload required documents remotely, you may complete the application and/or present the required documents to be scanned at the school.

Find Your School

Use the Google Maps tool above to locate which school aligns with your home address. On the menu to the left side of the map, select your grade level. To navigate the map effectively, you might need to "zoom out" as the initial search result zooms into your precise location. This way, you can view the entire map and determine the school more easily. We recommend viewing this map on a laptop or desktop computer, however it is viewable on mobile devices.

Please note, if you're relocating to a new area, the information may not instantly appear on Google Maps. In such instances, we recommend giving us a call at (260) 431-2051 to verify the school your student will attend.

SACS’ Address Verification system will send you to the enrollment page for the school your student is zoned to attend. Once you have conmpleted the first step of the registration process, instructions will be sent to you via email on how to create a PowerSchool account. These instructions will include the unique Access ID and Password generated for you. (*See Sample PowerSchool Account Creation Instructions)

To begin online enrollment:

1. Enter your address to find the elementary school your student will attend – Address Verification
2. Complete student enrollment provided by the link on the Address Verification page.
3. Once approved, follow the instructions on the approved enrollment email.