CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
INEZ — Martin County Schools will begin kindergarten registration later this month for children entering school in the 2025-26 academic year, the district’s Director of Special Education Dena Hardin James announced.
Children must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 1 to be eligible for enrollment. However, parents of children whose birthdays fall between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30 may petition for early entry. Those applicants must demonstrate kindergarten readiness by passing the BRIGANCE Kindergarten Screener, which will be administered 15 days before the first day of school.
Registration and screening events will be held at each of the county’s elementary schools as follows:
- Inez Elementary – Tuesday, April 22
- Warfield Elementary – Wednesday, April 23
- Eden Elementary – Thursday, April 24
Each event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Parents are required to bring the following documents to register their child:
- Immunization (shot) certificate
- Vision evaluation from an optometrist or ophthalmologist
- Official birth certificate
- Recent physical examination record
- Social Security card
During registration, children will undergo screening in several areas including school readiness, speech-language development, and hearing.
Representatives from Head Start and the state-funded preschool program will also be on-site to accept applications for the upcoming school year.