There is no single national date. Public school open enrollment closed April 30, 2026, in Wisconsin. NYC pre-K and 3-K closed February 27, 2026. College Regular Decision was January 1 to 15, 2026. Find your category below, then set a reminder so you don't miss the next round.
Done in seconds. No sign-up required.
For the 2026-2027 school year. Always confirm on your district or school's official page.
| Wisconsin public school open enrollment | Feb 2 - Apr 30, 2026 |
| NYC pre-K and 3-K applications | Jan 14 - Feb 27, 2026 |
| NYC kindergarten applications | Jan - early Mar 2026 (program-specific) |
| NYC high school applications (fall 2026) | Closed Dec 6, 2025 |
| Most state K-12 open enrollment windows | Feb - Apr 2026 |
| Kindergarten registration (most districts) | Mar - May 2026 |
| College Regular Decision (fall 2026) | Closed Jan 1 - Jan 15, 2026 |
| Common App opens (fall 2027) | Aug 1, 2026 |
| College Early Decision (fall 2027) | Nov 1, 2026 |
| College Regular Decision (fall 2027) | Jan 1 - Jan 15, 2027 |
Sources: Wisconsin DPI, NYC Department of Education, Common App End of Cycle Report.
Most states with public school choice run their open enrollment window between February and April. The exact dates vary by district, and not every district participates. The pattern below covers the largest districts where parents most often search for deadlines.
Statewide open enrollment runs February 2 to April 30, 2026, for the 2026-2027 school year. Applications go through the DPI portal. Late applications are accepted only under special circumstances.
3-K and pre-K opened January 14 and closed February 27, 2026. Kindergarten and middle school applications run on separate timelines through MySchools. High school applications closed December 6, 2025.
Inter-district transfer deadlines vary by district. Los Angeles Unified opens its eChoices window in October and closes in early January. San Francisco USD's open enrollment window typically runs October to January.
Inter-district transfer programs are district-specific. Dallas ISD's Magnet and Open Enrollment window typically opens in October and closes in late January. Houston ISD operates similar Magnet timelines.
The cutoff is the date a child must turn five to start kindergarten that fall. It differs from the registration deadline, which is when you have to submit the paperwork. Both matter.
| California | September 1 |
| Florida | September 1 |
| North Carolina | August 31 |
| Texas | September 1 |
| New York | December 1 (district-set, varies) |
| Most other states | August 1 to October 15 |
If your child's birthday is close to the cutoff, contact the district before the registration window opens. Some districts allow petitions for early entry; others are strict. Knowing this in January saves stress in May.
College deadlines run on a different cycle from K-12. The 2026-2027 admissions cycle, for students entering fall 2027, opens August 1, 2026, and closes between November 2026 and February 2027 depending on the school and the application type.
For more on application cycles, see college application deadlines and FAFSA deadlines.
Finding the deadline takes ten minutes. Acting on it on time takes weeks. Document gathering, immunization records, residency proofs, prior school records, and lottery applications all require lead time. A deadline you discover three days before is functionally a missed deadline.
Set a reminder for four to six weeks before your district's date. That's enough time to gather documents, request transcripts, and submit cleanly. Add a one-week-out reminder as a final check. The school enrollment deadline reminder page has the full setup.
It varies by program. Public school open enrollment in most states runs February through April 2026 for the 2026-2027 school year. Wisconsin's window closes April 30, 2026. NYC's pre-K and 3-K applications closed February 27, 2026. Kindergarten registration is typically March through May 2026. College Regular Decision applications were due January 1 to 15, 2026, for fall 2026 admission.
High school application deadlines are district-specific and vary widely. NYC's high school application deadline was December 6, 2025, for fall 2026 entry. Most other districts running choice or magnet high school programs set deadlines between January and March 2026. Check your district website for the exact date.
Spring 2026 application deadlines mostly fell between July and October 2025. If you missed those, rolling-admissions schools and community colleges still accept Spring 2026 applications into late 2025 and early 2026. For Spring 2027 entry, most deadlines fall July through October 2026.
For public school open enrollment, most states open the window in early February 2026. Wisconsin opened February 2, 2026. NYC opened pre-K and 3-K applications January 14, 2026. The Common App for fall 2027 college admission opens August 1, 2026.
Three places to check: your state Department of Public Instruction website, your district's enrollment or registration page, and your child's current school office. State sites give the open enrollment window. District sites give kindergarten cutoffs and registration dates. Schools confirm grade-specific timelines.
Call the district enrollment office directly. Smaller districts often handle enrollment by appointment rather than a posted deadline, especially for kindergarten registration. Ask: when does enrollment open, when does it close, what documents do I need, and what happens if I register late.
Free. No account. Pick your district's deadline date and we'll send an advance email, a same-day email, and follow-ups until you submit.
Create Enrollment ReminderLast modified: