Dallas Center-Grimes Transitional Kindergarten Program

Transitional kindergarten offers our students more time with licensed educators. It also removes transportation barriers. Transitional kindergarten promotes purposeful play and allows our team to meet the individualized needs of each student enrolled. Transitional Kindergarten prepares students for a successful transition into kindergarten the following school year.

If you live outside of the district and would like to register your child, please call the District Office at (515) 992-3866 and speak with the District Registrar about the open-enrollment process. You can access the open enrollment application by visiting the School Registration section of the website. Even if you already have students open-enrolled in the DCG school district, you must also complete the open- enrollment application for your Transitional Kindergarten student.

Any student who is 5 years of age on September 15 will be eligible.

Yes, normal neighborhood walk zones, pay zones, and free zones apply if you live within the North Ridge Elementary School boundaries.

If you live within another elementary school boundary, we will provide shuttle service to and from your neighborhood elementary school.

Existing families with Parent Portal accounts will need a digital copy of your child’s immunization record and proof of birth. The immunization record must state the student’s full name and birthdate. New families to the district will need the paperwork listed above along with a digital copy of proof of residency (ex: a scanned copy of a utility bill or purchase/lease agreement with your name and address listed).

All students in Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade require payment of an annual book/technology fee.

Your Transitional Kindergartener will not be visible in your Parent Portal until the school year starts on July 1st.

Enrollment will be based on the family questionnaire and preschool teacher’s input.  The family questionnaire will be sent by North Ridge Elementary. For placement and planning, it’s important to get an accurate count of student interest. Please complete your registration and express interest transitional kindergarten as soon as possible. By expressing interest during registration, you will receive a follow-up phone call from North Ridge Elementary. There are limited spots available.

19 students.

Students will enroll a kindergarten classroom for the following school year.

Transitional kindergarten students will participate in all of the specials offered at North Ridge Elementary – PE, music, guidance, art and library. Students will also eat lunch in the North Ridge Cafeteria.

Yes! Please refer to the School Registration section of the website and follow the process for an existing family. Be sure to include your Kindergarten child under the “Student” tab, “Add New Student” when you are registering for the upcoming school year.

Transitional kindergarten will be using the Iowa Academic Standards. This is the same curriculum used in all kindergarten classrooms at Dallas Center-Grimes. We take your child where they are and adjust our curriculum to support academic, social, and emotional readiness.

There is a registration kiosk available at the Administration Office located at 2405 W. 1st Street, Grimes. Please come between the hours of 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM or by appointment. You may also visit the public library, as they have public computers available with internet access.