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Sioux Falls district to expand junior kindergarten to four schools; enrollment opens Feb. 3
Summary
District leaders announced an expansion of the Junior Kindergarten Academy to four elementary schools — Robert Frost, JFK, Cleveland and Hayward — for fall 2025. Enrollment opens Feb. 3 and a family preview event is March 6.
Sioux Falls School District 49-5 announced an expansion of its Junior Kindergarten Academy to four elementary schools, officials said, and opened enrollment Feb. 3 for the 2025–26 school year.
Diane Conrad, director of community relations, told the board that junior kindergarten "is a program for children who will be 5 years old on or before September 1st, but who may benefit from some additional time to develop their literacy and numeracy skills, finding gross motor development, social, emotional growth." She said the program has previously been offered at Robert Frost and JFK and will be added at Cleveland and Hayward this fall.
The district described the Junior Kindergarten Academy as a free, all-day model that splits time between academic instruction and social, emotional and physical development. Conrad said the program may be a good option for children with summer birthdays and for families deciding whether a child is ready for kindergarten. "It does not mean that you have to enroll on February 3rd, but we know a lot of parents are asking questions about that," she said, and encouraged families to attend district preview events.
Parents and guardians are invited to a preview event on March 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. at their child’s school to meet teachers and submit enrollment documents, the district said. The first day of school for the 2025–26 year was announced as Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025.
Conrad also noted that transportation and CLC after-school care will be available where applicable; families should consult the district website for details on bus eligibility and community learning center enrollment. The district said expanded sites and program details are posted online and will be promoted through social media.
Board members acknowledged the announcement without objection.
Enrollment timeline and key details: enrollment opens Feb. 3, preview events March 6 (4–6 p.m.), program sites: Robert Frost Elementary, JFK Elementary, Cleveland Elementary and Hayward Elementary, eligibility: children who will be 5 on or before Sept. 1, 2025. Busing and CLC after-school care are available where eligible.
