School Resources for Children

International Services Office

Education is mandatory in the United States from ages 5 to 16. Parents may choose to enroll their children in education in private, fee-based schools or public (free) schools. In general, the school system is organized in the following age groups:

Early childhood – Under the age of 5
Primary/Elementary – Kindergarten to 5^th grade (age 5 to 10)
Middle/Junior High – 6^th grade to 8^th grade (age 11 to 13)
Secondary/High – 9^th grade to 12^th grade (age 13 to 17/18)
Postsecondary Education – age 17/18 and beyond

Enrollment and documents

You can find information on the enrollment process and requirements on your school district's website. To enroll your child in school, it is likely you will need the following documents:

Proof of California/Florida residency
Proof of immunization (in English), provided by your child’s physician
Child’s birth certificate
If applicable, prior school records

Children of international students and scholars are eligible to enroll in public school in their city of residence. The school that your child will be able to attend is determined by your residential address. You must have a residential address before you will be allowed to enroll your child in public school or know which school is closest to you. In addition, please be aware that in order to enroll in a public school in the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), your child must be here for at least one full semester. Finally, in the La Jolla/San Diego area, the public school nearest where you live may be full, especially if you arrive in the summer or after the school year starts. In that case, if your child is here for at least one school semester, your child will be enrolled in the next closest school that has space, which may require the use of a car, as public transportation is limited.

For more information on public school districts in San Diego County, refer to the San Diego County Office of Education Website.

Here is a list of a few public school districts near Scripps Research:

Jupiter, Florida, is a small town. There is one public school system, which is the School District of Palm Beach County. Review their website for information on enrolling your child in public school.