First Grade Readiness

SunRidge School's policy considering first grade placement is that a child must turn six years old by June 1st to be considered for first grade in September of that year. Our program allows for differences in development, and we will have junior children become senior children (or star children turn to sun children) in our two year program. It is important to know that this is not considered "retention", but a developmental program. We recognize that children do not develop and mature at the same rate. A child's chronological age and/or academic readiness are not enough to determine first grade readiness. We look at four major developmental areas as we near the end of the school year: gross motor development, fine motor development, and social/emotional behavior. If there is a question as to a particular child's readiness for first grade that may be chronologically ready, further assessment will be recommended. The assessment of the children is shared between the kindergarten faculty and Educational Director. The teachers will meet with a child's parents to decide the best placement for the child following the assessment. Children enrolled in kindergarten at SunRidge School have first priority for admission to first grade the following year.