DATE:
November 24, 2025
TO:
Building Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries
Secondary Registrars
Secondary School Counselors
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services
SUBJECT:
November 2025: Reminders and Guidelines on Enrollment Age
Please review the following guidelines and reminders on enrollment ages:
Kindergarten:
- A student must be five years old before September 2 to enroll in kindergarten.
- If a student misses the deadline (typically meaning they turn 5 between September 2 and December 31), a parent/guardian may enroll in private preschool and provide proof to the school of mastery of the kindergarten core. Upon receipt of this documentation, the student may be enrolled the following year in first grade.
- Previous guidance has stated that the student must enroll in “an accredited kindergarten.” Accredited kindergartens do not exist. The student must complete the core through a private kindergarten program.
- A student who moves to Utah from another state where the student was actively enrolled in kindergarten may enroll in kindergarten in Utah even if they do not meet Utah’s age deadline upon receipt of documentation of the enrollment.
Other Grades:
- A student enrolling for the first time is placed in their age-appropriate grade.
- Students enrolling in Utah from foreign countries are placed in their age-appropriate Utah grade, regardless of what grade they may have last completed in their home country.
- Parents who disagree with the placement may pursue acceleration or retention AFTER enrolling.
- Foreign exchange students participating in a one-year program may be placed in a different grade at the discretion of Student Services.
- Jordan District will honor grade placement decisions made by other education agencies in the United States to a maximum of one year’s difference (meaning one year’s acceleration or retention). Contact Student Services for additional guidance, if needed.
Maximum Age in High School:
- Utah Code §53G-6-201(10) defines a “school-age child” as a minor who is at least six years old but younger than 18 and has not been legally emancipated.
- This means that compulsory education applies to students from 6-17. At age 18, a student (who is now a legal adult with all associated rights) can choose to withdraw themselves from school, as they are no longer legally required to attend.
- Eighteen-year-olds may continue to attend for the remainder of their senior year. They may also choose to withdraw to attend Southpointe.
- Because Jordan District honors grade placements from previous states to a maximum of one year’s difference, there may be instances where a student (due to a previous retention or late-start to kindergarten) turns 19 during their senior year. These students may continue through to graduation, but additional steps or precautions may need to be put in place for extracurricular events or trips to ensure the safety of all students.
- Students should not remain enrolled in regular public school after turning 20 (with the exception of students on IEPs receiving appropriate services). Students in this situation should be directed to adult education offerings. Exceptions to this guideline require the approval of the relevant Administrator of Schools and Student Services.
