Cumberland County Schools details kindergarten registration, orientation dates and required documents

Lindsey Whitley, associate superintendent for communications and community engagement for Cumberland County Schools, and Ashley Peterson, the district’s beginning teacher support facilitator, reviewed the district’s kindergarten registration process and resources for the 2025–26 school year during a Cumberland Family Academy presentation.

The district requires that children be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2025, to enroll in kindergarten. "As long as they are 5 on or before 08/31/2025, they will be able to enroll in school," Peterson said. Families should begin registration in the district’s Infinite Campus portal and upload a certified birth certificate, record of immunizations, a health assessment, and current proof of residency.

The kindergarten showcase initiative covers orientation nights, staggered entry in August and related events to help families prepare for the transition to school. Orientation nights are scheduled districtwide on Tuesday, April 22 or Thursday, May 1, with times generally between 5 and 7 p.m.; individual schools list their chosen date and time on the Cumberland County Schools kindergarten web page. "When you walk in during your orientation night at your local school ... we want to make sure that you have the information you need for each part of that process," Whitley said.

Peterson encouraged families to start the application early because Infinite Campus lets users save work and return later. The portal includes parent directions in English and Spanish. She also highlighted a district web tool, Find My School, that returns assigned elementary, middle and high schools by address and provides school contact information if families encounter enrollment issues.

On health requirements, district staff said families have 30 days after enrollment to submit outstanding immunizations or health documentation. "After enrollment, if you do not have everything completed, ... you have 30 days to get that done," Peterson said. The district urged parents to schedule doctor appointments early in the summer because medical offices are busy during back-to-school season.

The presenters described outreach efforts to military-connected families at Fort Bragg and to families enrolled in Head Start as part of broader efforts to reach community stakeholders. They said each elementary school will set up its own orientation activities for children, such as scavenger hunts or classroom visits, to familiarize students with school routines and staff.

Peterson and Whitley offered tips for preparing children for kindergarten, including establishing sleep routines, practicing self-help tasks (shoe-tying, opening lunches), and reading with children and using library story times to build listening skills.

The district’s presenters closed by encouraging families to use the online resources, attend orientation nights, and contact local schools or central services with enrollment questions.