Young 5s

A Young 5’s program aims to ensure Kindergarten readiness for children born later in the calendar year. Young 5s is developmentally designed to help improve children’s abilities in a variety of academic areas as well as social, language and fine motor skills so they are fully prepared for Kindergarten. Our Young 5’s program is staffed by NPS certified teachers and is tuition free!

A student who turns five between 7/1/26-12/1/2026. If your student will not turn five until December 2nd or after, they are not eligible for this program*. Please see our Early Childhood Website for more information about Pre-Kindergarten programs.

*Students born prior to 7/1/21 are not eligible for this program. The Young 5’s program is tailored for those students with mid to late summer birthdays through December 1st. Educators and researchers know that these few months make a huge difference in what a child is ready to learn. The curriculum is age appropriate for the students born within this window.

Enrollment for next school year begins in January each year. Please visit the Northville Public Schools enrollment page. Enrollment is open ONLY to Northville Public Schools residents and employees.

There is no cost to enroll. Our new Young 5’s program is free and open to all age-eligible children residing in the Northville Public School district or children of a Northville Public Schools’ employee.

Our Young 5s will not be held in all of our elementary schools. Locations include Ridge Wood and Winchester Elementary Schools. The number of enrolled students for Young 5s will determine the number of classrooms offered at each of those buildings.

Young 5 classes will have up to 20 students. The district will endeavor to create consistent class sizes; therefore, students with the same boundary building could attend different schools.

The schedule will follow the K-12 District Calendar along with the regular elementary school start and end times, scheduled days off, unexpected snow days, etc.

Yes. Young 5s is a full school day and will follow the elementary school schedule of days in class, including start and end times. There is not an option for half days or less days.

Yes, they will eat lunch in the school cafeteria as their Kindergarten peers do also. They will have the option of hot lunch or to bring their own lunch.

Our Young 5s curriculum is based on Kindergarten standards modified to meet the independence, academic, social and emotional, and structure needs of younger students. Students who attend our Young 5’s program will go on to attend a full year of traditional Kindergarten the following school year.

Kindergarten Common Core and State Standards will be taught in Young 5's along with some preceding standards. Due to the age of the students, teachers will incorporate more play-based learning than what we would see in a regular kindergarten classroom. The same instructional materials will be used in Young 5s as are used in kindergarten (Bridges in Mathematics, Fountas & Pinnell, FOSS Science and TCI Social Studies). However, the class will have a different pace than kindergarten and content within these materials will be differentiated to avoid duplication.

We plan to offer ELA (English Language Arts) - reading & writing, math, science, social studies and SEL (Social Emotional Learning). Students will also attend humanities classes such as music, art, PE (physical education), library and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math). Students who qualify for special services like speech and language services, social work, etc. will also receive those services.

Yes, bussing will be offered to those students who meet the district transportation criteria. Bus stops and routes are finalized in August each year and you will have access to them through your MiStar Parent Connection.

Yes, all students who live within the boundaries to attend Northville Public Schools and meet the age requirements may enroll.

Yes, Kids’ Club will be available for those who are enrolled in Northville Public Schools and enroll though Early Childhood, space permitting. Please see our Early Childhood Website to learn more about Kids’ Club including information on how to enroll your student and tuition rates.

All families will receive confirmation when enrollment is completed by our Student Data department. Students’ boundary school will be taken into consideration when placements are made and priority placement will be given to students who are fully enrolled by March.

Yes, families of Young 5 students will be able to complete an In-District Young 5s Open Enrollment form requesting a specific building for placement. Please note, open enrollment requests are approved based on space availability within the program and principal input. Transportation is not provided for those that elect and are approved for In-District School of Choice.

Teacher placements will be shared in late August with all other Kindergarten - 5th Grade teacher announcements.

More information can always be found on this webpage.

If you have questions or concerns, not addressed here, please email studentdata@northvilleschools.org