Ready, Set, Kindergarten!
MAY 2026 UPDATE:
Spots remain available in both the K-Lab (Kindergarten Lab) and Chinese Immersion programs. Click below to watch short virtual presentations about each program and scroll down to visit each program's page to learn more about each of them.
Welcome to Barrington 220!
Barrington 220 offers full-day kindergarten at each of our eight elementary schools. Students in kindergarten spend time in core subject areas: literacy, math, science, global studies, and health. In addition, they participate in elementary specials throughout the day such as art, music, STEM, library, and physical education.
Our kindergarten day runs from 8:00 a.m.-2:40 p.m. Click here to view a sample schedule. Read below for important dates and take a few moments to watch and learn more about the Barrington 220 kindergarten experience!
Full-Day Kindergarten in Barrington 220 from Barrington 220 School District on Vimeo.
Eligibility
To be eligible for enrollment in Barrington 220's kindergarten programs, children must turn five years old on or before September 1 of the enrollment year. Barrington 220 School Board Policy 7:50 follows the Illinois State Administrative Code for grade-level placement based on a child's birth date. By following these placement policies, we can ensure consistency with developmental standards and meet state requirements. If you have questions about your kindergartener's readiness, please reference the list of resources linked on this page or contact Dr. Lisa West at lwest@barrington220.org.
To verify your elementary home school click here to use our address finder.
In addition to traditional kindergarten, Barrington 220 offers three choice programs:
Chinese Immersion
The Chinese Immersion Program is a full-day program that begins in kindergarten, where 50% of the day is instructed in Mandarin and the other 50% is instructed in English. The 50/50 model continues through 5th grade. The program teaches students to become bilingual, bicultural, and biliterate in Mandarin. From 6th grade to 12th grade, students enrolled in the Chinese Immersion Program will take Mandarin as their world language course.
Kindergarten Lab (K-Lab)
The "K-Lab" includes up to two kindergarten classes, providing unique learning opportunities to students, thanks to its location at Barrington High School. Students are enrolled in the program utilizing a lottery system similar to the district's Spanish Dual Language and Chinese Immersion programs.
Spanish Dual Language
The Spanish Dual Language Program is a full-day program that teaches students to become bilingual, bicultural and biliterate in Spanish. The program begins in kindergarten, where 80% of the day is instructed in Spanish and 20% in English. Parents who want their incoming kindergarten students enrolled in the program must complete an application during the application period.
Important Steps To Follow
GENERAL KINDERGARTEN INformation night presentation
Step 1: Attend one (or more) of our Ready, Set, Kindergarten information nights listed below!
**Please note, all meetings are informational meetings intended for parents only.
| Monday, February 2 6 p.m. |
Kindergarten Parent Information Night (at your home elementary school). To verify your elementary home school click here to use our address finder. |
|
Wednesday, February 4 |
Chinese Immersion Program Parent Information Night at North Barrington Elementary School |
| Thursday, February 5 6 p.m. |
Spanish Dual Language Program Parent Information Night at Arnett C. Lines Elementary School Click to see info night presentation (English) |
| Tuesday, February 10 6 p.m. |
Kindergarten Lab Program Parent Information Night at Barrington High School |
Step 2: A customized online registration application link will be emailed to you on or around February 3rd. This is due by February 28th.Please do not share your customized link or obtain one from a friend or neighbor, as each link is specific to your household and will not work for others. Your online pre-registration application must be submitted by February 28th along with all required documents. A student will not be assigned to a school if the pre-registration process is incomplete.
Step 3: You will be sent an email on or around May 6th to finish the registration process as part of the districtwide Online Registration (OLR) that all returning families must complete.
Still Have Questions?
Check out our 2026-2027 Frequently Asked Questions document that has guidance for:
- Families currently enrolled in our Early Learning Center
- Brand new families entering our system in Grades K-8
- Brand new families entering our system in Grades 9-12
Didn't Register By February 2nd?
Don't worry, there's still plenty of time to get your student enrolled. We will post the links to the updated slide shows following each of the presentations. The previously mentioned Central Registration Questionnaire will be offline. Please contact the Central Registration Office at registration@barrington220.org
Important Dates for 2026-27 Kindergarten Enrollment
Monday, February 2nd @ 6 p.m.
Kindergarten Parent Information Night at each elementary school
Monday, February 2nd @ 11:59pm
Deadline to complete the Central Registration Information Questionnaire
Tuesday, February 3rd
Pre-registration link sent to families who completed the Central Registration Information Questionnaire
Wednesday, February 4th @ 6 p.m.
Chinese Immersion Program Parent Information Night at North Barrington Elementary School
Thursday, February 5th @ 6 p.m.
Spanish Dual Language Program Parent Information Night at Arnett C. Lines Elementary School
Tuesday, February 10th @ 6 p.m.
Kindergarten Lab Program Parent Information Night at Barrington High School
Saturday, February 28th
Pre-registration access window closes!
Tuesday, March 31st
Last day to submit/register your student for K-Lab or language program consideration
Friday, April 10th
Notifications will be sent to all K-Lab, Spanish Dual Language, and Chinese Immersion families
Wednesday, May 6th
Barrington 220 will send an email with details to complete online registration.
ContactS
Central Registration Office
registration@barrington220.org
Dr. Becky Gill
Director of Elementary Education
bgill@barrington220.org
847.842.3526
Rebecca Wiegel
Director of Language Programs
rwiegel@barrington220.org
847.842.3522
Resources
- 2026-2027 Frequently Asked Questions
- Kindergarten Welcome Letter
- Kindergarten Welcome Letter - Spanish
- Kindergarten Preregistration Checklist
- Kindergarten Preregistration Checklist - Spanish
- Request for Delayed Entry Form (English)
- Request for Delayed Entry Form (Spanish)
- Language Program Locations
- Early Entrance for Kindergarten & 1st Grade
- Tips: Getting Ready for Kindergarten
- Required Health Documents
- Core Curriculum Information
- Student Home Language Survey