Student Registration
The Cranford Public School District serves students in kindergarten through Grade 12. To be eligible to attend school your child must be a resident of Cranford. Kindergarten students must be five years of age on or before October 1st of the school year.
Kindergarten is provided to students as a half-day session, either AM or PM. The district also offers two full-day, tuition-based kindergarten classes. The number of sections is based on available space and enrollment. Students for these classes are selected through a lottery system each January.
Cranford Public Schools also offers an inclusive half-day preschool program. This program is a regular education preschool program that places children with special needs with their typical peers. The philosophy is based on the rationale that children learn through modeling and imitation and are motivated by other children. By integrating students with disabilities into typical preschool classes, maximum growth and development is achieved for all children. The preschool program is a tuition-based program and because of its popularity, students are selected through a lottery system each January. Special education students are included in the preschool program as determined by the Child Study Team. In order to be eligible, children must be three years old or four years old on or before October 1st of the school year.
Preliminary Information: Please Read Before Proceeding
The questions asked during registration will enable us to determine your student’s eligibility to attend school in the Cranford School District in accordance with New Jersey law. Please be aware that N.J.S.A. 18A:38-1 and N.J.A.C. 6A:22 require that a free public education be provided to students between the ages of 5 and 20, and to certain students under 5 and over 20 as specified in other applicable law, who are:
- Domiciled in the district, i.e., the child of a parent or guardian, or an adult student, whose permanent home is located within the district. A home is permanent when the parent, guardian or adult student intends to return to it when absent and has no present intent of moving from it, notwithstanding the existence of homes or residences elsewhere
- Living with a person, other than the parent or guardian, who is domiciled in the district and is supporting the student without compensation, as if the student were his or her own child because the parent cannot support the child due to family or economic hardship
- Living with a person domiciled in the district, other than the parent or guardian, where the parent/guardian is a member of the New Jersey National Guard or the reserve component of the U.S. armed forces and has been ordered into active military service in the U.S. armed forces in time of war or national emergency
- Living with a parent or guardian who is temporarily residing in the district
- The child of a parent or guardian who moves to another district as the result of being homeless
- Placed in the home of a district resident by court order pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-2
- The child of a parent or guardian who previously resided in the district but is a member of the New Jersey National Guard or the United States reserves and has been ordered to active service in time of war or national emergency, resulting in relocation of the student, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-3(b)
- Residing on federal property within the State pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-7.7 et seq.
Note that “guardian” means a person to whom a court of competent jurisdiction has awarded guardianship or custody of a child, provided that a residential custody order shall entitle a child to attend school in the residential custodian’s school district subject to a rebuttable presumption that the child is actually living with such custodian; it also mean the Department of Children and Families for purposes of N.J.S.A. 18A:38-1(e). Also, note that a student is entitled to attend school in the district of domicile notwithstanding that the student is qualified to attend school in a different district as an “affidavit” student or temporary resident.
Note that the following do not affect a student’s eligibility to enroll in school:
- Physical condition of housing or compliance with local housing ordinances or terms of lease
- Immigration/visa status, except for students holding or seeking a visa (F-1) issued specifically for the purpose of limited study on a tuition basis in a United States public secondary school
- Absence of a certified copy of birth certificate or other proof of a student’s identity, although these must be provided within 30 days of initial enrollment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A: 36-25.1
- Absence of student medical information, although actual attendance at school may be deferred as necessary in compliance with rules regarding immunization of students, N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.1 eq set.
- Absence of a student’s prior education record, although the initial educational placement of the student may be subject to revision upon receipt of records or further assessment by the district
Registration Information
Please review the information below and follow the instructions provided for each section to start the registration process:
Preschool: The preschool program is an inclusive half-day program which places children with special needs with their typical peers in a regular education preschool setting. This program is a tuition-based program and because of its popularity, students are selected through a lottery system that will run through 4:00 p.m. on January 10, 2025. Special education students are included in the preschool program as determined by the Child Study Team. For additional information on the preschool program and registration lottery please click here.
Full Day Kindergarten: The district offers two full-day, tuition-based kindergarten classes located in Bloomingdale Avenue School and Walnut Avenue School. The number of sections is based on available space and enrollment. Students for these classes are selected through a lottery system that runs through 4:00 p.m. on January 10, 2025. For additional information on the Full Day Kindergarten program and registration lottery please click here.
New Student Registration: This applies to any student wishing to register for the current school year (2024-2025) or the next school year (2025-2026). Please be sure to select the correct year when completing the online form.
Students currently enrolled in the Cranford Public Schools do not need to register for the 2025-2026 school year.
This registration is required for:
- Students new to Cranford Public Schools and will be entering kindergarten through Grade 12.
- Students who previously attended the Cranford Public Schools but are now returning. This does not apply to students who currently attend the Cranford Public Schools
- Students who will be attending the Full Day Kindergarten program and did not attend the Cranford preschool programs through June 2025.
- Students who will be attending the preschool program and did not attend the program through June 2025.
Getting Started:
- Submit a Pre-Registration Form through PowerSchool.
- Follow the instructions that will be emailed to you regarding completing additional registration forms, once your pre-registration is approved. Please allow a few business days for approval.
- For those applying for the 2024-2025 school year only: Schedule your in-person registration appointment by sending an email to [email protected] once you submit your forms, do not use the Sign-up Genius link.
- For those applying for the 2025-2026 school year only: Upon approval, your message will include a link to a Sign-up Genius so you can schedule your in-person appointment. Appointments will be held at Lincoln School (playground entrance) between the hours of 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18 through Friday, February 21. In addition to the times stated, we will have limited appointments available on Thursday, February 20 until 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 22 from 8:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Should the district close due to inclement weather during the in-person registration period, make-up days will be held on February 24th and 25th, in order and keeping the same appointment, for those scheduled on the day of closure.
For your in-person appointment, the following documents are required. You may bring a copy, but originals may need to be shown as indicated. Only a CUSTODIAL PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN can officially enroll a student; therefore, they MUST be present at the registration appointment.
- Proof of Age - original certificate of birth (please bring the original; we are required to make a copy of it). A passport is also acceptable.
- Proof of Residency - complete the Domicile Form if the student is the child of a parent or guardian, or an adult student, whose home is the address given on the Registration Form, and that address is located in the district. The Domicile Form with an original signature will need to be submitted at the time of registration.
- Please check which forms of proof you will provide to demonstrate that the address given on the Registration Form is your permanent home. The following documents may demonstrate a student’s eligibility for enrollment in the District. Please select one primary and one secondary form
*If the Domicile Form does not apply to your situation, or you are unable to provide one of the listed forms of proof, please contact the registration office at [email protected]. Please email us if you require any affidavits for residency. We cannot accept generic versions found on the internet or letters from landlords.
- Parental identification (drivers license, passport, voter registration, military card)(optional)
- Proof of Guardianship / Custody - if you are a single parent, please bring documentation with you that shows you as the custodial parent. If you are not the natural parents please provide any court orders or agency agreements regarding custody.
- Medical Enrollment Form (to be completed by the student’s physician and can be submitted by August 15th to the school nurse)
- Medical History Enrollment (to be completed by the parent/guardian and submitted at the time of registration)
- Record Release Form - if the student has attended another school prior to enrolling Cranford
*Please note, documents need to be current.
*Due to individual situations at the time of registration, additional documents may need to be submitted.
*In accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:22-3.4, the District may accept other forms of documentation not listed above and shall not exclude any documentation or information presented to enroll the child. Enrollment decisions shall be based on the totality of information and documentation offered to enroll the child, and the failure to provide a particular document or subset of documents will not be a reason to deny enrollment.
Additional Registration Information
- School Schedules - times for each school
- School Boundaries - chart of Cranford streets and which school each address attends
- Medical Forms - a listing of medical forms to be completed, including those for specific medical conditions such as allergies, asthma, diabetes, or seizures.
- Local Child Care Providers - a list of before and after care providers. You may visit their respective websites or call them directly for additional information.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - a list of some of the common questions answered for you
If you have any questions regarding registration please email us at [email protected]
If you experience any difficulties with the enrollment process, please contact Gregg Caverly at [email protected]