The Cambridge public school system’s elementary school enrollment policy is designed to achieve a balance of minority and non-minority children in all the elementary schools. Families must therefore indicate at least three choices of elementary schools when registering their children. Children will be accepted at a chosen school provided that the requirement for racial balance is met and space is available. Elementary schools serve children from kindergarten through grade 8. Grades 9 - 12 are all in one high school.

As soon as possible after locating housing in Cambridge, we suggest families obtain a school information packet from the Parent Information Center, 2 Felton Street (between Broadway and Cambridge Street), Cambridge, MA 02138. Office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m.. Telephone numbers: 349-6550 or 349-6551.

It is important to realize that, before most foreign families arrive at Harvard, several Cambridge school registration periods have already taken place. Therefore, spaces in some grade levels of some schools may already be filled. The Coordinator of Primary Education is always available to speak to parents about schools for their children. Specific information about various programs should be directed to her (349-6482) or to staff at the Parent Information Center. For questions about school assignments, please call the City-wide Parent Coordinator (349-6066) or the Student Assignment Office in the Parent Information Center.

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Documents Required for registration of students:

The following documents are required for application to the Cambridge public schools: Age Verification: A birth certificate or passport. A child is eligible for two-year kindergarten in September of each year (beginning of the school year), if he or she is four years old on or before the previous March 31, or for one-year kindergarten if he or she is five years old on or before the previous March 31. A child is eligible for first grade if he or she will be six years of age by the following December 31.

Address Verification:
A Certificate of Address is required for each child. This form will be included in the school information packet obtainable at the Parent Information Center. The Harvard International Office also has copies of this form. The form should be signed first by the building manager where you live and then taken to a Notary Public (a person who has been legally authorized to certify a signature) to be signed in his or her presence by the parent. Notaries can be found in most banks, or look under Quick Reference - Legal in the Harvard University telephone book.

Immunizations:
The Massachusetts School Immunization Law requires that each child entering school must have an MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) immunization, and immunizations for diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, and polio. For children entering kindergarten, a lead test and a tuberculosis test (within 1 year of entry) are also required. Children entering Grades 7 through 12 must have a second MMR immunization Information about the location of health centers in Cambridge which offer these tests is available at the HIO.