Marathon schools open registration for incoming kindergarten and pre‑K

With the school year winding down, Marathon Central School District is opening registration for the 2026–27 class of kindergarten and pre‑K. District staff are asking families with children who will be eligible this fall to begin paperwork now and watch for screening appointments at Appleby Elementary.

Information and forms are available on the district website and from the Appleby Elementary main office. Families new to the area—whether you’ve recently settled along the Tioughnioga or moved in from elsewhere in Cortland County—are encouraged to call the school for guidance on age eligibility and the documents required for enrollment.

What to expect:

- Registration requires proof of your child’s age, immunization records, and proof of residency within the district. The district’s checklist also includes emergency contact information and any prior preschool or childcare details, if applicable.
- Appleby schedules kindergarten and pre‑K screenings by appointment, typically including basic readiness activities. Vision and hearing checks are often coordinated as part of this process. The school will contact families after forms are submitted.
- Transportation planning begins as registrations come in. If your child will need a bus stop near home or a local childcare provider, the transportation form helps the district map routes across the village and surrounding roads.

For families preparing a first-time student, Appleby staff recommend simple at‑home routines over the summer: reading together, practicing writing names, and building comfort with zippers, lunch containers, and lining up. A visit to the school playground when it’s open to the public can also help new students feel at home on campus.

The district notes that all final details—program times, classroom assignments, and any orientation events—will be shared with registered families later in the summer. If you have questions about health forms or immunization requirements, the school nurse can advise on what the state requires for new entrants.

Helpful local resources include Peck Memorial Library’s children’s section and summer reading programs, which many Appleby teachers point to as a good way to keep new learners engaged between June and September.

To begin registration or to confirm age eligibility for kindergarten and pre‑K, visit marathonschools.org and follow the links to Appleby Elementary, or contact the main office for assistance.

Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).