Register your K-12 student
This page of our registration section is for families wishing to enroll a student in grades K-12. If at any point you need assistance or have questions, please feel free to contact our Central Registration Office at (518) 475-6125.
There are two ways you can register your child: online or in person.
To enroll in the City School District of Albany, New York State Education Law requires that students be residents of the district and of age to attend school. The following documents must be submitted to demonstrate this:
1) Documentation of birth
One of the following:
- Original birth certificate
- Original baptismal certificate
- Passport*
The following will be permitted as proof of birthday only if none of the above documents exist or can be produced*
- Official driver’s license
- State or other government issued identification
- School photo identification with date of birth
- Consulate identification card
- Hospital or health records
- Military dependent identification card
- Documents issued by federal, state, or local agencies
- Court orders or other court-issued documents
- Native American tribunal documents
- Records from non-profit international aid agencies and volunteer agencies
2) Parent/guardian photo identification
If you are not the parent listed on the birth certificate, you will need to provide certified copies of legal guardianship. Please also provide certified copies of any legal custody documents if applicable.
3) Proof of address
Two different items required in one parent/guardian name
- Each must include the name and address of a parent or guardian and must be dated within 30 days prior to registration date
- Parent or guardian must be able to produce one document from each category. Two forms of proof of address from Category 2 will be acceptable only if the parent/guardian is unable to produce a document from Category 1.
Category 1
- Copy of a residential lease; deed; or mortgage statement
- A notarized statement by a third-party landlord, owner, or tenant from whom the parent/guardian lease from or live with
- Other notarized statement by a third party establishing physical presence of parent/guardian within the school district
Category 2
- Cell phone/telephone bill (welcome letter from phone company is acceptable)
- Utility bill (electric, gas)
- Satellite/cable television bill or installation receipt
- Furniture rental statement (e.g. Aaron’s, Rent-A-Center)
- Auto insurance ID card
- NYS driver’s license, learner’s permit, or non-driver ID
- Payroll check (dated within the last two weeks) or income tax form
- Social security statements
- DSS documentation
- State or other government issued ID
- Documents issued by federal, state, or local agencies
4) Official immunization record
Must be signed by physician or clinic staff
5) Evidence of custody
Custody papers in the form of a court order or stamped petition are acceptable
- If the student is not the biological child, documentation must be presented which proves a permanent and total transfer of custody and control has been achieved
- Parents must be able to demonstrate they are the person in parental relation to the child, over whom they have total and permanent custody and control
- Under special circumstances, an affidavit may be used in substitution with approval from Pupil Personnel Services.
6) Report card or transcript
Required for all new students entering middle school and high school
Physical Exam Requirements
New York State Education Law requires all new entrants and students in pre-K, kindergarten, and grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 to have physical exams. New entrants must submit proof of physical exam within 30 days of the start of the school[Education Law §903, 8 NYCRR §136.3 (c)(1)]. If proof of physical exam is not returned to school before our school physicians come for physicals, your child will have a health appraisal in school.
The NYS mandated health form is the only physical exam form we are allowed to accept. Dental certificates are also requested but not required for entrance to school.
Vaccination Requirements
Proof of vaccination (Public Health Law §2164) is required within 14 days of the first day of school or day care. Children must receive the first age-appropriate dose in each immunization series to attend or remain in school or day care. The 14 days may be extended when the student is transferring from out of state or from another country.
Electronic copies of vaccination information and proof of physical exam may be uploaded when completing the Health Form during the online registration process.
If you do not have proof of physical exams or vaccinations, you may also complete and upload a medical release form to allow school personnel to request medical records from your child's physician on your behalf.
If you are registering a student with a disability who has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan be sure to indicate this information so necessary records can be requested.
For additional information or assistance, please contact our Special Education Department at (518) 475-6150.
Register in person
To register in person, visit our Central Registration Office located at our Harriet Gibbons Student Services Center at 75 Watervliet Ave.
Please be sure to review the "what you will need before you get started" section above, and ensure that you have the required documentation when registering in person.
Additional information
Students must be 5 years old by Dec. 1 of the school year they are registering for.
If your child currently is enrolled in a prekindergarten program in one of the district's elementary schools or community based collaboration locations they automatically will be registered for kindergarten in the district for next school year.
- Students in pre-K at Albany School of Humanities (ASH), the Dual Language Program, Montessori Magnet School, and Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST) will continue to attend kindergarten at the same school.
- Students who attend pre-K in their neighborhood school also will be automatically enrolled and continue in the same school.
- Students who attend pre-K outside their neighborhood school zone automatically will be registered to attend kindergarten in their neighborhood school based on the current home address on file.
Please note that while we we try our best to ensure students can attend kindergarten in their neighborhood school, this is not a guarantee due to the total number of seats available.
All students must be registered at Central Registration, but before you go you can use our list of school attendance zones to find out which elementary and middle school your child will attend based on where you live.
Please note that the list does not include the district's four magnet elementary schools, which are enrolled each spring via lottery.
Please note that children and youth in temporary housing can enroll in school without the documents normally needed to enroll.
Children and youth are temporarily housed or homeless if they lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, which includes, for example:
- living in a shelter or,
- sharing the home of a relative or a friend because they lost their home or were evicted.
For more information on receiving assistance while in temporary housing, please visit our homelessness and temporary housing page.
If you need assistance registering in a language other than English, please contact our Office of ENL and Refugee Services at (518) 475-6147.